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Saturday July 17th 3:45 PM - Across from the King
House.
"Steve, Stephen McCory, will you come over here and give an old
lady a hand." Shelley and TK's grandmother calls across the street.
Steve is standing there waiting for Mark to pick him up. He had to stop
at his landlord and give two week notice that he'd be moving. Mark had
some kind of problem down in Cheyenne Gap. "Steve, I'm behind the
bushes and I've been on my knees too long." "I'm coming Mrs. King."
As he's about to cross, the street, Max and Nozone come driving by.
They come to a stop and Max says, "Listen faggot, we hear your boyfriend
is out of town. You better be careful where you go to, you wouldn't want
Zack to come back ..." Rapping her hand trowel against the door, Mrs.
King says, "Just what do you refugees from a horse whipping thinking
your doing." Nozone turns, and quietly states, "We're just kidding Mrs.
King, we don't mean nothing by it."
She looks at him and responds, "Bullshit. Anthony Marcus and
Samuel Tucker, if I hear that either of you have even bothered Steve,
I'll talk to the sheriff, and I can tell you I can be a mean old witch.
If nothing else, there's an old buggy whip in the house I know how to
use. Get out of here before I decide to call your parents. GO and not a
word out of you." Max and Nozone drive off.
"Thank you, Mrs. King, that was really nice of you." Steve walks
over to her, and spontaneously give her a quick hug. She says, "What is
this world coming to? What do those two brainless idiots have against
you?"
Steve looks at her, not quite sure what she's talking about. He
knew the whole town was aware he was gay, Mrs. King didn't seem senile.
"They're not happy about who I go to bed with, I guess." "Oh that, I
thought it might be something else when they started talking about
Shelley's Zack. What business is it of theirs who you take to your bed?"
Mrs. King continues, "But I meant every word I said. If they bother
you again, just let me know." Steve has known Mrs. King all his life,
but he realizes that he never really knew her. "Thank you Mrs. KIng. I
really appreciate it." "Oh pish-posh. So what are you up to today
Steve?"
Steve walks her to the verandah, giving her his arm as she climbs
the few stairs. "Well, Mrs. King, I just let my landlord know I was
moving. Had to give notice in time." Mrs. King asks, "You're not moving
out because of guys like those two rejects are you. " "No, not at all.
It's just ... that ... " He can't think of anyway else to say, "... I'm
moving in ... with my boyfriend." Mrs. King smiles and says "That's
good. Everybody ought to have someone in their life. "Do I know him? If
you don't want to say that's alright too."
Just then Mark pulls his his car across and honks a couple times.
Mrs. King smiles, looks at Steve and says, "Don't worry, I won't tell
anyone, your secret is safe with me." Steve yells, from the verandah,
"Mark over here, I'll be right there." Turning to Mrs. King, "Thanks
again." "Wait one second, before you go, I would like to know what all
that was about Zack." She yells to Mark. "Just a minute Mark, he'll be
right there." Mark yells back, "No hurry Mrs. King" "You want to come
up
here for a lemonade while your waiting?" "No thank you ma'am."
She turns back to Steve, "Are you going to answer my question or
not?" "It's just that one night, ... Zack, well he... these two guys ...
Well Zack took them both on to protect me." "Our Zack?" "Yes,
ma'am."
She said, "Thank you, Stephen, thank you very much. If sometime
you and your friend " she motions with her head toward the parked car.
"would like to stop for some iced tea or a lemonade, you will always be
welcome here. .. Now, git your friend is waiting." Steve starts to go
but turns a around and gives Mrs. King a quick peck on the cheek. "You
are the nicest 'old witch' that it's been my pleasure to meet. Bye."
She sat there in the shade of the trees, getting out of the hot
summer sun. She was thinking that maybe she should turn the third floor
into an apartment. There was enough room. She decided that its was time
for a family conference. When Shelley and TK came back...
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