Filling in the Gaps by Peter Keogh Read Free Book Online Page A

journey very late at night the Canberra had started to turn north up the eastern coast of Australia when a huge freak wave hit the ship, which almost totally rolled over. We fell out of our bunks and were frozen with fear as it seemed like ages before the ship slowly was upright again. We raced upstairs over broken glasses and panicking passengers. The ship was a total wreck with dining rooms and bars filled with broken glass. Not one room escaped some kind of damage. The event made the news headlines at that time. Press were waiting at Circular Quay when we docked - as ever, my life is never dull!
    In Sydney I became acquainted with some older gay gentlemen who were involved in organising the first Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. At that time Sach was dancing in a couple of gay clubs but we had not met officially. There was much angst about how the public, but mostly the police, would react to us marching as proud gays. I had already been arrested - falsely - for soliciting as a teenager in the toilets of the Prince Edward Theatre, so my anger was justified. During and after our parade, which was minuscule compared to todays, we were harassed, threatened and physically abused. I can hardly comprehend watching the 2015 parade, with the police and armed forces all legally marching, that I am living in the same world. I am proud that we were amongst the first and I became quite emotional seeing the acceptance now. There is still a long way to go in some areas though.
    Back in Sydney showbiz beckoned. At that time there were two famous radio and television celebrities, one male and one female, whom I thought, were terrific. I still don’t know how I ended up mixing in the same circles as they did but as it happens they were both gay and the gentleman found me appealing, so I was asked back to his apartment for nibbles and a drink - not knowing the nibbles he planned were on my body! After a couple of cokes his clothes flew across the room and without being too unkind to him, his private part was no bigger than a thimble so I could barely stifle a giggle. I know - so cruel! I think that it wasn’t just the size of his member but the fact that I felt insulted because he seemed to be enjoying my company and my sincere interest in all things theatrical when in fact his only interest was knowing me in the biblical sense!
    Around that time, I decided to be totally adventurous, so I flew to Los Angeles and caught the famous Greyhound bus from there to New York - once again on my own! We went via places like Cheyenne, New Orleans, Chicago and many other exciting towns. I always sat at the front of the bus behind the driver because there was a lot of ‘ wacky backy’ being smoked at the rear of the bus. Once again I was alone but not really lonely; besides, I never really knew how to initiate a friendship. Usually sex was the opening topic but definitely not on this bus.
    Following is an episode in my life that was very sweet, totally unplanned and a most charming interlude, which demonstrates how sometimes unplanned is the best way, a perfect example of which is my unplanned relationship with Sacha.
    When I reached New York I had arranged to meet an old acquaintance who was working backstage on a Broadway show. As I was in the star’s dressing room talking to my old friend I caught the gaze in the mirror of a beautiful-looking man called Andrew, who was attending to the star’s wigs. We just smiled and immediately electricity was in the air, something I had never experienced before. It was magical! We exchanged about ten words - the usual pleasantries - then he asked where I was staying and we said our goodbyes. Nothing more than that! Later that night about 2am the phone in my hotel room rang. I picked it up and said, ‘ Hi Andrew’ . I instinctively knew it was him. He was in the lobby so I gave him my room number. A few minutes later I opened the door and asked him in. We still hadn’t spoken a word. We