met Eric.

I stood in front of the Barbary Ape exhibit when Eric approached me. "See how these apes pout?" he asked in a friendly tone of voice.

"Yes," I agreed, "what are they angry about?" I wondered if I looked like them due to my own pouting as of late.

"That's a warning to keep your distance. Look at their teeth chatter. They do this to calm down after confrontations. They are also known to eat their young."

"Cannibals?"

"Yes, cannibals. I've done some research on cannibals. While I did missionary work in Central and South America ."

"How interesting," I commented, brushing up against him as if by accident. "Sorry. I didn't mean to bump you. My ankle is weak. Skiing incident. Actually I was walking back to the cabin in heels after just spending hours on a difficult run and I twisted my ankle on the icy driveway." He smiled magnificently. I had noticed this handsome young man sitting on a bench writing in a notebook. Now I could smell the Crave by Calvin Klein on him. That scent really turns me on. I noticed the nice bulge in his jeans. Yes, crave, indeed. If he was into cannibals I mused to myself about the possibility that he might like to eat me.

"My name is Eric," he offered.

"Mine is Annie. I saw you writing. Are you taking notes of the ape's behavior?"

"No. I'm a novelist. I do my best work in environments like this. Don't know exactly why but sitting at a desk in my apartment doesn't get my juices flowing."

We sat on the bench where he had been and talked for an hour about this and that. He told me proudly about the three novels he had published and his current work-in-progress. Science fiction stuff which doesn't normally appeal to me but I hung on his every word.

I put my hand gently on his thigh. "Eric?"

"Yes, Annie?"

"I'm going to make a very…uh…you might think…uh… unusual request of you, Eric. I have never engaged in casual sexual intercourse. But for reasons I'd prefer not to discuss I am…uh…in need of…uh…sex. There, I said it. In fact, I'm desperate." Eric looked rather shocked. "I want it right now. There is a somewhat secluded spot in the area just behind us. I'd like to go behind those trees and bushes and have sex with you, Eric."

"Annie," he replied softly, "you are a very beautiful woman. Many men could only fantasize about a request like you just made to me. But I am afraid I can not do what you ask."

"Why not, Eric?" I blurted in surprise. "I have condoms in my purse if that's why you're concerned about."

"No, it's not that, Annie. I have many female friends but no female lovers."

"Huh?"

"I'm gay."

I could feel the flush in my face and the nauseous feeling in my stomach, seeing vividly the recent discovery about my lover, Mark. "I should have known," I murmured in a barely audible voice. "What does a girl have to do to get laid in this city? Damn, are all the good looking guys gay?" I screamed. Several people standing nearby heard my outburst and stared.

"Now, Annie, don't be upset. Why don't you try L.A. ? I'm sure you can find a real man there, like Jack Nicholson," he joked. " San Francisco does have that reputation of being a haven for