This is a story about trust. It's also a story about discipline. Those two things are integral to the leather society. But that's not the content of this story. As with all the stories on the BiJae page, this story is about our shared experience.

I had been living in San Diego for a couple of years. My routine was set. I worked hard during the day. And on most nights I played hard, either volleyball in the park or Country Western Dancing in the clubs. This particular night it was the latter. I danced and danced until the wee hours of the morning. I went home for the night just before closing. It was a particularly warm fall evening. Still worked up from the night of dancing I decided to take BiJae for a late night walk. I was a little hungry too so I figured I would combine errands.

BiJae and I set out on our journey. I took him down the lesser streets of our neighborhood. He stopped along the way to check his "Pee-Mail". I remember the first time I heard that term. I laughed out loud.. but how true.. He stops at every bush and sniffs around to see who's been there, who's doing who.. etc.. Because I didn't like having to rush him along, I removed the leash from his harness and draped it over my shoulders. This allowed him to stop to his hearts content so long as I didn't get too far ahead. We headed east along Pennsylvania Avenue. Then we headed south along Sixth Street toward Balboa Park. BiJae was tired of reading messages and he picked up the pace a little.

This was our normal long walk routine. We would walk through Balboa Park, past the Botanical Gardens and the Natural History Museum. We would pass the old fountain on the far east side near the theater. Then we would head north along Park Blvd. This would take us past the San Diego Zoo. Occasionally we'd walk along the trail from Balboa Park to the Zoo Entrance to pass closer to the noises of the animals. However, when it's late at night, safety calls for a more public appearance.

We made our way north to University Avenue. University was the main drag through Hillcrest and Normal Heights (the gay district). It was nearing 2:30 in the morning. Automobile traffic was brisk. The sidewalks had very few people on it on this far side of the strip. I kept BiJae off the leash, blatantly disregarding the city ordinance. BiJae was at a perfect heel. We'd walked through here in the busiest of times and he never faltered off his heel position. I knew I could trust him. My voice was a stronger leash than the fabric meant to tether us together.

We walked casually past the closed shops. Occasionally I would stop in front of a store window to peek in and see what they had to offer. BiJae remained by my side, patiently waiting for me to finish My Pee Mail. We continued on down the avenue toward the Taco Stand I had in mind. They were open late and had the best taco's and burritos. After dancing and our three mile walk I had built up an appetite. They say you shouldn't eat before going to bed, but frankly I didn't care what they said.

When we arrived at the taco stand, I stopped next to a potted plant at the edge of the sidewalk. I instructed BiJae to sit and stay there. He obeyed, sitting quietly, watching me go to the window and place my order. They took my order and placed the tag behind another customers. It was going to be a few minutes. I turned around to see that BiJae hadn't removed his eyes from me. I walked over to the planter and sat next to BiJae. I patted his head and told him what a good boy he was. I pet him as they completed my order.

Once I had my food we continued heading West on University Avenue, completing the loop towards home. We came to the one block section of University that crossed over Highway 163. As we stepped on to the bridge from the west, two men dressed in leather pants, vests, harnesses, etc, stepped on the same side from the East. We would pass within inches of each other in a few moments. Knowing what little I know about the leather community, I know it's about trust and discipline. Those are two things that BiJae and I shared 100%. So, I thought I would show off a little for my brothers in leather.

About one third of the way across the bridge I gave my non verbal signal for BiJae to STOP, SIT, STAY. It was three quick movements, a snap of my fingers, a point of my index finger toward the ground, and an open palm facing him. As he had done a thousand times before, he followed the command flawlessly. I kept walking, not turning around, not giving any indication to those not privy to our silent communication. I kept my eyes forward looking at where I was going. I spied the men in leather and their reaction to what had happened. I said, "Good Evening." as the two passed by. They glanced in my direction, offering a smile, before quickly returning their attention to BiJae, now fifteen steps behind me.

I continued on my path toward home. BiJae stayed on the exact spot I'd told him to, watching me walk further and further away. After a few more paces I gave BiJae the RELEASE and HEEL commands, non-verbally. The two men only heard the slap of my hand to my thigh as the release command. I didn't have to look. I knew they were fixated on BiJae snapping to attention, trotting toward me and continuing on in a perfect heel. I heard one of the two men slap the other on the arm, "Why can't you listen like that?" I heard him say. I smiled happy to have my boy receive indirect accolades. As we stepped off the bridge I reached down and gave BiJae a good rub down the neck.

Because of the trust we had together and the discipline it took to build it we were able to walk through the city without a leash most of the time. That night was just one of the many times where I was able to demonstrate that the ties that bind BiJae and I together are not of worldly fabric, but of a connection between two hearts.