The Gay Icon Classics of the World Read Online Free PDF

dawn and as he ate he watched the innkeeper walk to the front den to tend to the dirty tables before the morning lodgers awoke. He noticed that the innkeeper was an incessant worker. Graham quickly devoured the luscious meal. He presented himself before the innkeeper, bowed five times and then proceeded to help theinnkeepers with the morning chores. “keep m' company in the pantry for ye stay and tend to the inn's chores for ye meals” said the innkeeper without looking at Graham, but rather fixing his eyes on what he was doing. As he said this, his face turn red—not of embarrassment but with hope. Graham, a proud lass, replied that this arraignment would only be temporary for his destiny awaited him.
    The arrangement worked well and the days passed quietly. Graham would listen to the women gossip of of “Mistress this” and “Lady That.” It was from these tales that he gleaned material for his evening pantry performance. Graham only liked to perform roles of the female gender. It seemed that Graham found it within himself the voices of several different women. As Graham became increasingly aware of the character depth, accents, and posture of women, each new skit seemed funnier than the previous one. With each finale of his audience of one, the bellow-like laughter of the innkeeper only gave Graham more purpose in his pursuit of the theater. The two enjoyed one another's company day and night. Graham teased the innkeeper, pretending to be his wife. Each night when graham had finished his last skit, he would bow five times whilst the innkeeper applauded for more. The innkeeper knew that Graham's five bows meant that he was finished for the night and that sleep awaited them. Their private sessions were only interrupted when either the keeper or Graham served the evening meals to the inn's patrons.
    One morning, Graham awoke to find a wash bowl and fresh clothes laid beside him. Graham inquired about them to the innkeeper. “No fair maiden o'mine in old paper rags,”replied the innkeeper. With that, he let out one of his famous laughs, gaving Graham such a good, warm feeling inside that he only had to laugh himself. Graham quickly did his body with a much needed washing and off he went to the front lodge in his new clothes to tend to the morning chores. Their arrangement went on all through winter. One fine spring evening, Graham was doing another of his evening maiden pantry performances when he was overheard by a rather short stodgy old man. The man presented himself to Graham and said that he was Collins, the Trouper who worked in the Old Rose Theater of Stratford. Collins said that they needed talent like his. This offer caused Graham to beam with excitement. Collins invited Graham to come and meet their great playwright W.S. and audition. So quickly did Graham follow the old man that he didn't even say goodbye to the innkeeper. At the Theater, Graham's audition before W.S. was stunning. However, when presented with a script, Graham could not read, much less understand the stage language. W.S., not wanting to lose this natural raw talent, decided to hire Graham as a gofer apprentice to his touring theater troupe under the direction of stodgy old Collins. Graham quickly rose through the ranks and entertained audiences throughout England. Professional acting took a bit of adjustment: for Graham was not used to the make-up and dresses that went with his female roles. Graham soon mastered balancing the heaving wigs while in high heeled shoes with grace and poise. Soon, admirers, fellow thespians, and nobles from all round sought to attend Graham's performances. Great applause engulfed each of his finales. Graham always closed with five court bows. All the flair and fame of the theater appealed to Graham but something was missing. After his performance, after the applause, Graham would feel empty.
    The theater group grew and moved its home base to London. It was almost two decades before he