WHERE IS ILIAD?

The beginning:

My name is Iliad, no relation to the Greek.

The story I'm about to tell you is true, only the names have been changed to protect me (of course).  You may think I'm crazy, or you may even think I'm a weirdo, but I'm neither.  I’m just a person who fell in love.  Love has a way of changing a person’s perspective of life.  This is where that old adage Be careful of what you wish for, you just might get it, comes into play.  This is the way I was told it happened.

After you read this, you’ll understand the reason I phrase it that way.

Since I'll be jumping between the present and the past, at times some tales may seem out of sequence; again, once you read this saga you’ll understand why.  I never realized just how complicated life really was -not until this happened.  Looking back, if I’m really honest with myself, most of what happened, I directly, or indirectly, let happened, all for the sake of love.  But hindsight is something I’m no t privileged with.  Trust me and read on.

The latter days of the twentieth century were anything but normal.  You could say that Genetic Engineering had gone haywire.  The two advances most prominent caught my fancy, but I’ll get to them later.  The whole technological world made great strides onward.  The Courts and the Churches were scrambling trying to keep up with the changing world, but to no avail.  Now the change that came in second; really turned out to be our favorite, you’ll find out why, later in the story.

I've got a friend, I'll just call him (Rey), that's not his name, but if you know Rey’s real name, you may be able to figure out who I am.  No offense, but I rather you not know that.  His wife I'll call (Noel), the same formula applies here.

Now, Noel can put Aphrodite’s to shame.  If you look up the word beautiful in the dictionary you’d find a photograph of Noel; that’s no bullshit.  Rey is no Adonis, but he can hold his own with the best of them.  Me, well-- let's just say that when the looks were passed out, I got on the wrong line and got my share, plus.  For my sake please try not to dwell too long on who I am, or might be.  Think of this as just another story of life’s rocky road.  Believe you me, mine is just one of many.

The first story is basic stuff, so that you can get to know me, and get the feel of my tale.

Rey invited me over to his house to watch The Big Game, along with his wife Noel.  We have the same type of responsibility at the plant where we work.  We are both avid football fans, and as luck would have it, our teams are playing each other this weekend, for the League Championship.

Before I go on though, I feel I should forewarn you, I’m different from other guys.  I know you’ve heard that expression before, but since I’m not a name-dropper I’ll just leave it at that for now, soon enough you’ll understand.

There are a lot of advantages to living with your mother, one of them being you save money, but my mama worries about me, and that’s something I hate to put her through.

Rey suggested that I show up around three in the afternoon.  At two thirty, as I kissed my mother and was heading for the door she said, “come home early, dear, you know how I worry about you being out there late at night.”

“Sure, mom, I’ll try, but it all depends on the game,” I said this trying to placate her, “besides, you know I can take care of myself.”

“I know you can, Hon, but please be careful and enjoy the game,” she said closing the door.

“Bye, mom,” I said, before it closed.

I had to stop for gas, so I bought some chips and other stuff while in the store.   Like I said before Rey is a hell of a football fan, almost bigger fan than I am.