𝕆n a cold, gray day at the beginning of winter, Bameron isn't feeling very well. This time of year always bums him out. He wants to be outside, going on adventures, taking his sister's kids to the park, swimming laps outside, going on long twilight walks with a date, playing beach volleyball, having a burger on a warm restaurant patio -- all the good things.
𝕋he Christmas break is a bright spot, even though Bameron is restless and doesn't believe in all that. He likes the idea of a big man who travels at light speed and makes it around the whole planet in one night. Kids all deserve to have nice holidays, but also, doesn't Santa sound like someone you want on your beach volleyball team?? He must have great reflexes.
𝔹ameron decides to take a walk. The cold never bothered him anyway.
𝔼ventually, the snowy sidewalk turns into a snowy dirt road. The houses grow further and further apart until they turn into farms. In Bameron's area, they raise hardy animals like cows and donkeys, and they grow root vegetables and winter wheat, so not much has changed in the fields other than the blanket of snow. This year has been hard, he thinks. He's been really busy at his job as a construction foreman, and he helps with the local union. And their country has elected a really bad leader. His queer coworkers who have kids are very stressed and afraid for their families. His sister worries about him, too. But he knows he can defend himself and others against many types of things.
𝔹ut it hasn't been all bad. Bameron's job is busy because people are building new houses, making their houses better with renovations, building additions for new babies or retiring grandparents. His team helped a local dumpling chef translate their successful food truck into a little storefront in town. Bameron wouldn't mind a new friend who makes great homemade dumplings, that's for sure. The whoof of steam from the basket also sounds nice on such a cold day.
𝔹ameron's niblings are 5 and 8 now. He thinks they'll be ready to start learning about some simple building projects in the new year. He knows from experience that even the grown people on his worksites will try things out of curiosity and sometimes get injured. Most of the time, people of any age just want a chance to swing a hammer and build a shape. The niblings might like to make a cute little table and some stools for their playroom, maybe a picture frame too.
ℍe doesn't really want kids of his own, but he wouldn't mind a nice partner for the long haul. That's not such a big deal though. He's having a lot of fun with his friends and coworkers, and he goes on plenty of dates. Well, "dates," maybe, he smiles to himself. Nothing wrong with a bit of fun. And it would be nice to find a place where he really belongs. His crew is supportive, but they don't exactly know a lot of single queer men or where the big guys Bameron likes hang out.
𝔹ameron stops and looks around, realizing he's not sure where he's ended up. It's dark out now. He can sleep anywhere, though he'd prefer not to. There's a light in the distance. As he draws closer, he sees it's a building with a sign that's hard to see in the dark. There are horses and bikes parked in a neatly shoveled area. Finally, he can read the sign: The Bear's Den.
𝔸 couple of men are standing outside. One has a cute fisherman's cap and today's newspaper. The other, whose large body is more Bameron's type, catches his eye and smiles. Inside, Bameron sees a bunch of guys with drinks and baskets of snacks. A prominent plaque reads, "Free Beer Tomorrow." The big man reaches out a hand and says, "Hey, I'm Ernest. Have I ever seen you here before?" Bameron answers no, probably not -- but can he buy Ernest a drink? Ernest opens the door and invites Bameron to step inside.
⁂ 𝕋he 𝔼nd ⁂