“You remember Monty Python?”

“I sat in the studio audience.”

“Um…you aren’t old enough to have been in the studio audience for Monty Python.”

“Uh-huh. Am too.”

“You would have been…like…not born yet.”

“I heard it while in the womb?”

Rod eyed Wyl with a raised eyebrow REALLY expression.

“Damn…but I had you going for a minute.”

“If you can charm audiences as you charm your husband, you’ll be a hit with this audience. Academicians are a boring bunch.”

“I met at least one who is not boring.”

“Ah, yes, but I have you fooled.” Rod grinned.

“I let you think you fooled me,” Wyl smirked.

“If we weren’t dressed in suits and preparing for a presentation, I would tickle you senseless.”

The rear doors banged open, and attendees began filing in. Wyl and Rod stepped down from the podium and found their seats. Tables filled, and people chatted. By noon, each attendee raised his or her voice above the others. Rod and Wyl's table in front included Dr. Liam Riordan, President of GMIT and host of this conference, and Commissioner Seamus Kane. Mrs. Riordan and Mrs. Kane rounded out the six. After introductions around the table, the six chatted until noon. Dr. Riordan rose, walked up the stairs to the stage, and approached the podium.

“Welcome, everyone,” his strong voice boomed over the speakers in the hall. The crowd hushed as all heads turned toward him. “I am Dr. Liam Riordan, President of GMIT. On behalf of the institute, I welcome you to this luncheon. Our keynote begins in thirty minutes. Meanwhile, please enjoy your lunch. Thank you.”

Dr. Riordan returned to his seat, and the crowd resumed chatting as the staff delivered plates of hot food to the tables. Silverware clanking against ceramic filled the air as diners began enjoying the delicious hot roast beef and gravy lunch.

“So what brings you to Ireland, Wyl?” Mrs. Riordan asked as she finished her salad.

“Rod and I married last February but decided to wait until fall for our honeymoon. At the time, Rod still held his administrative position at the college in Blackfield, so he couldn’t break away. After a busy summer, but we took advantage of our presentations in Ireland to enjoy a honeymoon.”

“Oh…I didn’t realize two men could marry in the States,” Mrs. Kane said.

“Gay marriage is legal in all fifty states and is now recognized by the federal government,” Wyl said.

“Ireland is considering a referendum to our constitution this year,” Dr. Riordan said. “The institute is looking at options for accommodating gay couples should the referendum pass.”

“The Catholic Church is opposed,” Commissioner Kane added, “but An Garda Siochána recognizes the rights of gay police officers. It takes guts to come out as a gay couple.”

“Wyl, how do you wish I introduce you and Rod?” President Riordan asked.

“Rod is my husband, Dr. Riordan. But if you are uncomfortable with the term, the word partner is fine,” Wyl glanced to Rod, who smiled and nodded.

“If you are okay with husband, so am I,” Dr. Riordan smiled. “Rod, how would you like to be addressed?”

“I have a Ph.D. in musicology, so how about Dr. Rod Bonner Sterling?” Rod winked at Wyl. “My Ph.D. is in the name of Bonner, but my married name is Sterling.”

“Perfect!” Dr. Riordan exhibited an enviable confidence.

“General Steinburg spoke in glowing terms of you both,” Commissioner Kane said. “He assured me he provided his best men for our situation here in Ireland.”

Heat rose in Wyl’s cheeks. “Thank you, Commissioner. Rod and I are honored by the opportunity to meet you, sir. General Steinburg also mentioned your eagerness for our assistance, and complimented your organization.”

“We try to run a tight ship here in Ireland,” he said. “But sometimes we require expertise we don’t have on the Emerald Isle. I’m glad we can count on our comrades in the States to lend a hand.”

“We are happy to do so, sir,” Rod said.

“Have you two met Dr. MacGowan?” Dr. Riordan asked. “He’s the top man at GMIT in terms of computer technology. He graduates twenty or so skilled students each year. By succeeding in his program, they are guaranteed top jobs with some of the best firms in the world.”

“Rod and I happened to bump into Dr. MacGowan and his partner Declan Knowlan when we visited the Galway Tr…uh…Racecourse on Saturday,” Wyl said.

“Quite by accident, we sat with them at lunch and enjoyed a delightful conversation. Knowlan is quite the expert on betting the horses,” Rod said.

“Ah yes, Declan Knowlan,” Commissioner Kane said. “Interesting fellow. Quite a dicey history, but I think he adapted well to his role at the university.”

“Commissioner." Wyl locked eyes with Commissioner Kane. "Rest assured we have knowledge of the situation and will do our best to alleviate the concern.”

“I appreciate your diligence, Mr. Sterling. You have my support.”

“So you two own a ranch in Texas?” Mrs. Riordan asked.

“Yes. My great-grandfather established the ranch in the 1800s,” Wyl said.

“Oh, tell us about the ranch,” Mrs. Kane said.

“We have 6,400 acres in West Texas, about 150 miles east of the New Mexico border.”

“6,400 acres is quite a ranch, is it not?” Commissioner Kane asked. “6,400 acres is about ten square miles.”

“A hair shy of ten square miles, Commissioner,” Wyl said.

“Texas is huge, too, right Wyl?” Dr. Riordan asked.

“The State of Texas covers over 268,500 square miles or around 172 million acres, Commissioner,” Wyl said. “So if Ireland is in the neighborhood of 32,500 square miles, Texas is eight times the size of Ireland.”

“We worked on comparisons,” Rod said. “The northeastern point of Northern Ireland southwest to the southwest town of Dingle is 350 miles, give or take. In Texas, the northern Panhandle town of Dalhart is almost 900 miles from Brownsville and the southern tip of Texas. We have a rhyme to poke fun at our state: The sun has riz, the sun has set, and we ain’t out of Texas yet.

Dr. Riordan laughed. “Well, that puts things in perspective.”

“If you ever come to the States, Dr. & Mrs. Riordan or Commissioner and Mrs. Kane, please accept our invitation to stay a few days on our ranch. We’ll put you on horseback and show you a real, functioning Texas cattle ranch.”

“We’ll plan to take you up on the offer,” Commissioner Kane smiled.

Relative silence blanketed their table as they finished the meal. At twelve-thirty, Dr. Riordan asked, “Wyl, are you ready?”