It's Just So Sad

The Love Story Part

Yeah, it starts with a "Love Story" and it’s kind of a long love story so, if you are pressed for time, skip down to the really sad part.


Once upon a time, in September of 1995, I went to work for Tower Records in Annapolis where I was living at the time. It was just a part-time job, but it came with some great perks like free promo CD’s, discounts on stuff, and, if you knew the right people, you could get on THE LIST for concerts. It was a cool job. The guy in charge of most of this free stuff, however, was a real asshole. We were supposed to be allowed to take 3 CD’s a week on a specified day. I remember asking him many times if I could look at the promo CD’s on my day, and he would frequently and usually very gruffly say "No!" (One of the few times I did manage to get some promo CD’s, I selected one by a band called Porcupine Tree just because the name was so cool. They are now one of my favorite bands!) Luckily, I didn’t have to interact with this asshole manager too much at first. However, when I started working there more during the next year in 1996, I had to be around him a little more often. I guess he wasn’t too bad though.

Once all the slutty girl clerks that worked there realized that I must be gay because I was oblivious to their advances, then the word got out. That was okay though, because Tower Records has always been very gay friendly. So, in the spring of 1996, some of my co-workers started telling me that they thought the asshole manager was gay too. Only, he didn’t know it yet, and that was why he was such an asshole. Furthermore, they all thought that I should ask him out. I thought to myself, hmmmmmm, you know I never really thought of him in that way. He’s always been such an asshole and a little too clean-shaven for my tastes, but cute enough. So, what the hell, I was not seeing anyone at the time. Each day at work, I would make it a point to try to talk to him a little more. At first, we were both very shy about the whole thing, but I kept asking him if he wanted to hang out together some time, and he finally caved in and agreed after about a month of me asking.

That lead to more dates. In fact, that following summer, we were together all the time. So, of course after that, I got all of the best promo CD’s, and I was on THE LIST for all of the best shows, and he would take me into his office, shut the door, take out my cock and blow me while we both on the clock. Finally, our relationship became more important than the job. We realized that if we wanted to stay together, we couldn’t be together all of the time at work and at home. So, I left Tower. Yeah, it was kind of an ugly exit (that‘s another story for another time) but it was for the best for everyone involved. Our relationship continued however and a year after our first date, we bought a house together because we just couldn’t stand being apart anymore. The asshole manager continued working at Tower, only he wasn’t as much of an asshole anymore. I had cured him of (most of) his assholism and everyone cheered, "HURRAY!"

He continued working there through the rest of the 90’s and early 2000’s. So, we still got lots of free stuff. And, when he did finally move on, we still had some friends there that helped us out with things like discounts and concert tickets. I even scored a front row center seat for RUSH in 2002 and only paid face value for it. Eventually, most of our friends moved on as well.

The Really Sad Part

Tower Records in Annapolis is closing it’s doors for good on March 12th. Actually, it looks like the beginning of the end for the whole company. They have been struggling financially for many years now. In Annapolis, their landlords are doubling the rent, and Tower just can’t afford it. So, rather than trying to find another location and set up shop elsewhere, which would be very expensive, they are pulling out of the city alltogether. Tower is not only a mishmash, cultural place for the town, it is also a place where you can pick up the DC and Baltimore gay newspapers. You can buy porn there descretly without having to get all creeped out by going to a porn shop. You can get some CD’s, an action figure, a Cum Daddies III DVD, a Rush poster, a copy of Bear Magazine, a book on growing pot, a dead head sticker and some candy. Best of all, the chick with green hair, nose ring, tattoos and a huge spike sticking out of her lip will ring it all up for you with no questions asked. She’s just too high to care.

I think about that kid out there who is lonely and scared about his sexuality and how a place like Tower really could be his salvation. A place where he could sneak that copy of Inches in with his CD’s and his Punk Planet magazine and hope that the green haired chick didn’t ask for ID. (She probably wouldn’t. I told you she’s just too high to even notice.) He could go home and wank to some naked hung guys. He could even pick up a copy of the Washington Blade on his way out. Now, what is he gonna do?

For me, or us I should say, the place has more significant value. It is where we met, the place that brought us together. And now, it will be gone forever. We went in last Saturday and snuck in a few kisses in the store. We are gonna go back again too, because EVERYTHING IS ON SALE! Do you think that they will let us borrow an office for one last blow job. Or, maybe we should start going at it with each other right there in the middle of the Pop/Rock/Soul section somewhere between "L" for Cyndi Lauper and "R" for Rush.

Goodbye Tower Annapolis, we will surely miss you...