Hitting the Fan, part one
Monday July 19th @ 4:45 PM - The Sommers' Farm
"Boys come here, I have to tell you something." Will's
mom said as
Will, Zack and Bart finished unpacking Will's things from the van. "Will,
your dad knows where you went this weekend. It seems that your Aunt Eleanor
called this morning to ask for Ted's address, she said she'd forgotten to
send him a card for his birthday, your dad hadn't told her anything about
Ted, and she was just trying to be nice. It was then that he said he
didn't know it, and hung up on her. He checked the calendar, and for the
first time, realized that Friday was Ted's birthday, that Ted was in Kansas
City, that you were in Kansas City."
With worry in her voice, "He called Ted's place, after
getting the
number from Information. Gary must of answered, because when he asked if you
were there he was told that you and Bart had just left. Your dad was
furious. I tried to talk to him, but he was beside himself. And he went
storming out of here." Looking at Zack and Bart, she continued, "Sorry boys,
but he must have gone to see your parents. Because I got a call from your
mother wanting to know just what he was ranting and raving about. I told
her that you did nothing wrong, that I knew in advance your plan to take
Will to see his brother, and finally I told her about Ted."
"Zack and Bart, I want you to go home. If need be, you can
tell them it
was all my idea." Zack, Bart and Will all exchanged glances, but then Zack
and Bart got into the van for their last stop. Bart tried to give Will a
smile of encouragement as they pulled away from the house. Will's mom called
him to her, "Son, we are going to have to talk to your father, when he gets
back. ... While we're waiting why don't you go unpack your things, and bring
me everything that needs to be washed."
@ 5:05 PM - The Matthew Farm
The last leg of the trip was spent in silence for the most part.
All
Bart said was, "I hope Will's dad doesn't do anything stupid." To which,
Zack responded, "I think we're in deep shit."
They pulled up to the house, when their dad and mom came out the
back
door. Their dad yelled to them, "Zack! Bart! Would you two come here, there
is something we have to talk about?" Apprehensively, Zack and Bart followed
their parents into the kitchen. Their mom and dad we're sitting at the
kitchen table. When Bart and Zack entered, their mom told them to sit down.
Their dad started, "Will's father was here
earlier, complaining that
you were not to be trusted, and that you lured his son into a den of
depravity. We could not figure what he was talking about to start with, he
kept quoting the scriptures, and raving. ... Well your mother called Mrs.
Sommers, who explained the whole thing. ... Now we don't approve of the
whole thing, it was a thoughtful gesture for you to make for Will and his
mother. But you lied to us." Zack starts to protest that they really did go
to the festival. But his father cuts him off, "I know that technically you
didn't lie, but you didn't tell us the truth either, you misled us. So for
the next seven days, you will both be home by sunset and stay in. This
weekend you are to stay home, no going into town, no Will coming over. Is
that understood?" Bart and Zack nod their heads, and start to get out of
their chairs, when their dad continues, "Wait we're not done yet."
"Now Zack, there are certain rumors going around town
that you are
somehow involved with Steven McCory. Your mom and I, want to know if they're
true." Zack turns back and forth between his parents, and quietly asks,
"What rumors?" His mom says, "They say that you are a homosexual, and that
Steven is your boyfriend. ... Well?" Zack is fidgeting, looking at the
basket of fruit in the center of the table. Zack finally says, "Mom, Dad ...
I'm not gay." His dad - "Then where did all this start from?" Bart sits up
in his
chair, and interrupts, "It started when Zack stopped two cretins from
beating up on Steve." "Bart shut up!" His mother says, "Zack keep
quiet. Let
him talk."
Bart looks at his mom and dad, then speaking slowly, "Zack
was
defending Steve from Max and Nozone. They were going to beat the crap out of
him." Bart's dad points out, "That doesn't necessarily mean that Zack isn't
... gay." Burt interrupts again, "He was doing it on my account. .... He did
it because he didn't want anyone to do something like that to me." His mom,
"Bart, honey, what's this all about?" "Mom, Dad, he doesn't want somebody
to
get beat up just because they're gay,... and because... he's worried that I
could be next." His parents exchange startled glances, his mom starts,
"Bart, does this me..."
"Yeah, ... I'm the gay one."
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