Gary was a lad I met in a disco and we danced, chatted and then got together for a night of fun and frolic. We liked it so much we decided to stay together to see how things would work out. I am not fornd of hairy men but I adored Gary's lively personality and slightly less than masculine way of gesticulating when he told of an event or happening. He was very slightly camp.

He and my friend Rita, whom I've previously mentioned became good chums and Gary would often spend hours down in her house gossiping like an old woman.

As it was the festive season I was enjoying making the Christmas preparations and Gary it seemed equally enthusiastic. We had Christmas dinner with the family of my friend Jean Frisbee. I had arranged to go out to the Hippodrome, a large gay disco at Leicester Sq. with Gary where they were holding a massive New Year's Eve ball and party.

I came home from work in the afternoon on the 31st December to find that there was no sign of Gary in the house. I immediately noticed that some of his belongings had gone and on further checking out the wardroobe and drawers, all his belongings had left. He hadn't even got the courtesy or decency to leave a note explaining his departure.

I felt a great disappointment and as I wandered between the sitting room and kitchen I wondered what I could do to fill the void that had now been made in my life. I decided to go down the road to see my friend Rita Gabriel. Her husband's van was parked outside and he was cleaning the inside when I arrived.
"Good afternoon Les. How's the paraffin sales going?" I asked him as I stopped by his van.
"Not too bad Iain my love." he told me adding, "This is the weather when everybody needs a heater. Are you all ready for the New Year?"
"Well I was but I don't know where Gary is? Have you seen him anywhere?"
"Not for a few days. Pop in and see if Rita knows anything at my love." Les called everyone 'my love'.
When I went in I found Rita in the kitchen. "Hi Iain, you're looking kinda glum. What's happened?" she asked me.

I explained having come home and found that Gary had left and Rita was as surprised as I that she had not seen him at all before he disappeared. I sat down and she offered me a cup of coffee and asked if I wanted a drink but I told her I was all right.

We chatted, analysed the situation and wondered what had happened to Gary. We talked about reasons why he might have disappeared. I asked her what she was doing that night. She told me they normally stay home on New Year's Eve but if I wanted to go out and cheer myself up she'd be happy to join me. I made arrangements to meet her later at her home in the evening and she would drive up to the East End where we would take the evening as we found it. The Hippodrome would remind me of Gary.

So that was the abrupt end to my short relationship with the hairy guy.