Are You Staying Or Leaving?

Ira was in Detroit for a creative meeting with Ford. He took Michael with him as he usually did on work related travel. But on this trip, when the couple was enjoying a drink at the Adam's Apple on West Warren Avenue, they were spotted by a close friend of Phyllis'. "Hello Ira, who's your friend?" "Michael, this is Phyllis' friend Paula Gray. Paula, this is Michael Davis."

After she left, Michael asked "Are you OK?" "Paula isn't happy unless she is stirring-up shit. I'm sure she can't wait to call Phyllis." "But this is a Gay bar, what was she doing here?" "I'm not sure." He became pre-occupied with how she found him. This was a "man's" bar. Does Phyllis suspect? Did she pre-arrange this with Paula? Michael held his hand and just listened.

When they got back to the Hilton, Ira stopped at the front desk to see if there were any messages, and sure enough, Paula had called. The note read "Phyllis said you were in town. I'll catch up with you later." Ira just sighed and led the way to their room. "Maybe this is for the best, I can't keep living a lie, it's not fair to any of us, but especially Phyllis. I"m going to tell her when we get home."

The next morning the phone rang at 5:00 a.m., it was Phyllis. she was drunk and enraged. "How could you do this to me you fagot?" were among the many vulgar comments she shouted into the phone.

Ira hoped that the house was in one piece by the time he got home, and upon arrival, everything seemed okay. He had just opened the door and notices several suitcases sitting off to the side. Phyllis was on the stairs, sloshing her drink. "Are you staying or leaving?" she asked. "We need to talk... ," but before he could complete another word, she screamed, "get the fuck out of my house queer!" followed by her tossing her drink and cutting Ira on the forehead. "I said GET OUT!"

Ira felt the blood rolling down the right side of his face, looked at his bloody hand and walked to the kitchen to grab a paper towel. Phyllis ran to the knife drawer, pulled out the largest knife and shook it at him. "Don't think I won't do it. And what court would convict me after what you did to me." Ira quietly turned around, opened the front door, grabbed his suitcases and left and never went back. When Ira arrived at Michael's apartment, he was welcomed in with, "it's OK, your home now."

Phyllis' calls were relentless. They became more angry and surreal with each passing day. She even told Ira that she had slept with his father, a real man. Ira just wanted out. He gave her everything, there were no contest to any of the charges of infidelity.

Finally after six months the ordeal was finally over. Jacob had no use for either of them anymore. He was ashamed and disappointed. Even his wife couldn't soften his heart where their son was concerned. She would meet with her boys secretly, but all of this drama began taking it's tole on her. Ira thought it would be best if they just moved to California. "I'll call you every week when he's not home," Ira assured his Mom, "it's better this way." None of them really believed that to be true.