Chapter 22

Karl opened his eyes to find Tonio curled up in his arms, his head resting on his shoulder.

“Tonio, you’re here!” Karl said in a startled voice.

“Well, a course he’s here. Where’d ya s’pect ‘im ta be?” Myrna said sarcastically. Looking at Tonio, she added, “Ya shore had a good ole time at that leanin’ tower, but we sure weren’t gonna leave ya there.” She focused on Karl. “That boy would have climbed that thing a hunerd times if they’d let him.”

Tonio sat up. The two men turned and looked at each other in bewilderment.

Myrna got up and walked down the bus’s aisle.

“Do you remember climbing the tower?”

“Not since I was a boy…not today.”

* * * *

Karl closed the door of his room behind them. He turned and looked at Tonio, who stood a few feet away. Then, as if on signal, they crossed the space between them, clinging to each other and covering each other with kisses.