The holiday season is both good and bad for people in my line of work. It generally means lots of business from out-of-town vacationers or those hiding from their families. But it also means lots more emotional work because people are interested in being with you to fill some other gap in their life, instead of just the usual naked play time. And if you’re even slightly emotionally invested in the clients you take on, it can be rough for everyone, even if you’re just trying to keep them distracted and happy.

The first Christmas I was working away from the agency I had a client book me for an overnight at his hotel in Midtown. He said he was going to be working for the holiday and just thought it would be nice to spend some time with someone. I try as hard as I can to find out as much about someone and what they’re interested in before I give out a firm yes, and he was more than forthcoming with details. He was gay, single, didn’t have much close family and needed to travel often for work. We seemed similarly compatible, sexually, and so I agreed. Plus, it would be nice to make some extra cash this time of year too, so I was more inclined to take on new people than I normally would be.

He suggested dinner at a Thai place he had passed near his hotel, and I met him on West 46th street around 6PM on a Friday evening. He was pleasant enough and we got along well without my having to do a great deal of conversational calisthenics. I always have a better time when I don’t feel obligated to do the lion’s share of the talking work. The only hiccup I had encountered so far was a rather prominent tan line on the fourth finger of his left hand.

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