Initial Impressions
Christopher Setterlund
39 – 3/01/11
Marshside Storytime V – A Forbidden Kiss
Every work place has secret romances, hookups, and real relationships. The Marshside is no different. However, what I am about to share with you is none of those things. What this story entails is a moment that changed the course of two lives forever. I understand that everybody has a different view of what love is, and a different idea of their perfect mate. I repeat, this is not about love, it’s about carnal lust. Enjoy.
We start on a warm and sunny afternoon. Our dear friend Bento had gone next door to the prep area to mix a fresh batch of mashed potatoes. He was always one to take pride in his work, at least when he wanted to have photos of his work taken and sent home to Brazil. Bento had specifically put me in charge of taking a few photos of him ‘hard at work’ to show his family back home just how great he was.
Now after you get over laughing at Bento and ‘hard at work’ in the same sentence we’ll move on. I got Bento’s camera and waited for him on the deck as he walked across the parking lot carrying the mixing bowl of mashed potatoes in one hand like he was carrying a trophy. He was so into looking cool that he was not aware of the life altering moment soon to come.
As he stopped at the bottom of the deck steps to pose for a photo and new waiter named Nick headed outside to head across the parking lot and into the barn for some paper goods. Nick had only been at the Marsh for a few days and his backstory was not known by any of us. However, within a few seconds his legacy would have been made, and a legendary story told.
I held the camera up to my eye and waited expecting Nick to pass on by and head across the parking lot. Rather than do that he stopped next to Bento. I figured he wanted to be in the shot so I went along with it. Then Nick did something unexpected, he kissed Bento on the cheek. For anyone who has seen ‘All In the Family’ the episode where Sammy Davis Jr. kisses Archie, and the face that Archie makes is essentially what happened here. Bento’s proud smile disappeared and was replaced with a horrified blank stare as he realized that I had indeed taken the photo.
Naturally Bento was angry, I mean unless you’re into that who wants to be kissed by another man, especially a total stranger. Nick, after realizing that the ‘joke’ was not going over well, insisted he was not gay. Bento cussed him out in Portuguese and insisted he was going to destroy that photo. I suggested that he send it along to Brazil to show his family his new lifestyle in America. He did not agree.
Nick did not stick around for more than another few days but the image of that forbidden kiss has lasted for now about eight years. Bento has never lived it down. Anytime Nick’s name was mentioned it was met with a barrage of Portuguese swears and a lot of laughter from the rest of us. It was one of the classic moments in Marsh history.
So there you have it. I told you this was not a love story. It was pure carnal lust. Nick needed a piece of that Brazilian Drew Carey look alike and who could blame him. Bento’s magnetism drew Nick in and he needed to quench his desires. Too bad they could not carry that moment with them forever but it will live on here. Cheers!
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