STEAM DADDY

by

Ferell Arliss Garret

Each time the door to the steam room would open a cloud of the hot vapor would come rushing out into the rest area that was occupied by two benches, and at this time, by a man in his early fifties. Marshall thought, "Good Lord! How many times have I just sat here like this and . . . nothing?" It was a rhetorical question. He knew the answer, but the question needed asking again. He was exasperated at just sitting as he had for the past forty-five minutes. He was tired and he felt old tonight. Older than he liked to believe. "I'm no kid," he thought. "Hah! Get me, will you. Wouldn't admit that to some people. You're only as old as you feel." The old saying kept him young, but tonight with no action, he was feeling the creak of his bones.

Workouts and care had kept him fit, but the grey hair on his chest belied the time of youth long past. He wasn't vain enough to dye his body hair as one queen he had met over the years had done. No, Marshall was vain, but not stupid. He was deep in thought about the last few years, and did not notice the two men who came down the stairs, one after the other by a few steps. until they were in the rest area too.

One was a massive, muscular blond Adonis; the other trodding along behind was a heavy set dark haired man in his early twenties. Marshall's attention perked up when he noticed them and then subsided as they both went into the steam room. Alone again, Marshall thought "Might as well leave. Life can be such a waste-sometimes. Who wants an old Daddy like me. God knows! I do try, but the years are against me. Depressing thought."

He stood up, adjusted the towel around his slim middle and poked a finger at the little softness that he noticed was beginning to develop. "Will have to watch

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