Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Chapter 5 - The Invitation

   Eric Oswald walked out of the windowless Stone Pole book store.  Having
just passed the threshold of his own sexual inhibitions, everything seemed
renewed.  He paused in front of the store.  The exhaust from the cars
passing by was crisp, the clouds dancing over the sky were more lucid, even
the warmth still radiating from his crotch seemed more real.  He thought
that he had previously been living his life behind a curtain, but now it
was raised and the show had started.

   He walked around the corner and onto the gravel parking lot.  While
heading to his car he passed a man sitting on the hood of a car, smoking a
cigarette.  Something seemed familiar about this man and Eric couldn't put
his finger on it.

   When not more than ten feet from the man, Eric heard, "Hell of a ride,
right?"

   Turning around, Eric was able to match the voice with the moans he heard
earlier.  Getting slightly embarrassed he fumbled out, "I'm sorry?"

   "I usually don't stick around to shoot the shit, but I was curious to
see what you looked like in daylight, and I got to tell you," he said
looking Eric over, "you take care of yourself."

   "You were in the other booth...  I didn't recognize you without the
blush and eye-liner," Eric said.  The man was still smoking his cigarette.
He was lean, not quite six foot tall, and had on tight jeans, white t-shirt
and bomber jacket.

   "The name's Brandon," he said extending his hand toward Eric.  "I only
doll myself up for special occasions, mainly to attract the pedigrees."

   "Nice to finally meet you, I'm Eric," he said shaking the others hand.

   "I've never seen you here before."

   "Well, I took the wrong exit trying to get to Galaxy bookstore and I
just stopped here for the hell of it."

   "You're lucky you came here, Galaxy doesn't have booths, either way,
both places aren't much to speak of.  I'm only here because I work down the
street and it provides for an interesting lunch break.  Let me give you a
card for a nice place, it's exclusive so you'll have to show them the card
at the door." Brandon handed Eric a laminated card with a bar code printed
on the back.

   Eric read the name on the card, "PheromoniXXX...  sounds like a record
label."

   "Trust me, go to this place and you'll go platinum.  If you need company
give me a call," Brandon said, handing Eric a regular business card with
his name and phone number.  "I usually hang out there on the weekends, it
draws the best crowd.  Anyway, I got to get back to work," He said patting
Eric on the shoulder, "hope to see you there." Eric nodded, said good-bye
and walked on towards his car.

   He had pulled out onto the main road heading back to the interstate when
he got a phone call.  Digging through his pocket he pulled it out to see it
was his wife calling.  He took in a deep breathe, came up with a reason for
still being on the road and answered.

   She had arrived at her destination and was picked up by her best friend
and on her way to the retreat.  She told Eric that during the retreat,
there was no use of any technology, so this would be her last call for a
week.

   Eric made an effort to sound disappointed and told her he'd miss her
terribly.  She reciprocated and they had a tender moment on the phone. 
Eric was trying very hard to control his enthusiasm about a interruption
free week without the wife.  He managed to make her feel loved and missed
and they said their good-byes.

   He hung up the phone and yelled out a cry of excitement even though the
traffic had began the rush hour backup and he was slowing to a crawl.