Greetings from Hillsborough, where we are under a stay-at-home order for the next 30 days. I am anxious to go to the beach but all of the shore is closed to visitors. I chuckled thinking that what we want most of that which we cannot have.
I send you my best.
Remember to contribute to nifty. I am reading more than ever these days. I think maybe the same is true for you.
I love hearing from readers. Please let me know what you think of the story.
Mac
Fortune Telling
December 30, 1988
"I see my men are ready to head out to work today, and I won't see you again until suppertime. Are there any special requests for food?"
"Whatever you fix is good to me, Papa."
Thomas was looking at Joe and Sean, aka mini-Joe. Joe decided it wasn't good for Sean to sit around the rectory or the church every day while he was home on winter break from school. Sean was now his assistant. His clients were absolutely charmed when Joe introduced his son as his helper. One of the repeat customers said she didn't know that Joe had children. He and Sean looked at each other and started grinning. They were on day four of working together. Joe was teaching Sean what the different tools were and how they were used. On day two, Joe repaired a section of plaster in a house. The elderly man said he would have to find someone to paint that section because he knew Joe didn't do that work, so Sean offered to come back and paint it for him. The man was overjoyed. They were back at the ancient home the next day; Sean climbed the ladder and quickly dispatched the job. The man wanted to pay Sean for the work, but Sean said it was a Christmas gift. He and Joe went on the next job; Joe was so proud of Sean for understanding that the man was probably living hand to mouth. The breach in the plaster was because of a leak that Joe had quietly repaired without charging the man. Sean accurately assessed the situation and followed the lead of his dad in helping people.
At lunchtime, Joe and Sean sat in the truck and opened their lunchboxes. Thomas had packed them a thermos of soup, two sandwiches for Sean, one for Joe, and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. After they finished, they moved onto the next job. It involved work in a basement. Luckily, they had worn safety glasses, face masks, and gloves because their clothes were covered in dirt and mud. Sean had a look of satisfaction on his face because he knew what tools to hand Joe and felt he had earned his keep that day.
They arrived home to see an ambulance in the street. Sean groaned and slumped into Joe.
"It's okay, son. I think your mom is home. Thomas said it might happen today." Sean jumped out of the truck, ran up to the ambulance, as the medical transporters were pulling out the stretcher with his mother. Mary Agnes saw Sean and started laughing.
"What have you been doing? You are filthy."
At that moment, Joe walked up, and Mary Agnes saw he was in the same condition.
"My two men look like they have been working today."
Sean grinned from ear to ear.
The stretcher was carefully carried up the granite steps into the foyer and then up the house steps to the second floor. Thomas had taken Thelma's advice and had Mary Agnes in a side bedroom that overlooked the church close so she could see the gardens and birds.
"Come on, son; we need a shower. We don't want to track dirt and mud through the house."
"Too late, Joe, there is already a trail from the front door. The two of you get cleaned up, and I will finish dinner. I think I will set up a card table in Mary Agnes's room and we can all have dinner together."
Joe and Sean headed to the shower in the master bathroom. Sean was still amazed at Joe's brawny body; he felt like a wimp beside him. Joe took note that Sean had pubic hair, a bush in each armpit and that his testicles had dropped; he was on target developmentally. Joe washed Sean's hair, then sat on the floor of the shower while Sean washed his. They toweled themselves and put on pajamas, which they decided to wear for dinner. When Thomas came upstairs with food and saw his men in pajamas, he decided to change clothes and put on his pajamas also.
Sean enjoyed telling his mother about helping the older man by painting the wall in his foyer. He thought the basement was spooky, especially when Joe was telling him ghost stories. They were all laughing until Mary Agnes had a coughing fit. Thomas was very efficient in putting an oxygen mask on Mary Agnes and helping her breathe. He recorded everything in her medical chart. Joe didn't know that Thomas had been taking a short course in hospice care for the past four days. While Thomas was helping Mary Agnes, Sean climbed in Joe's lap and put his arms around his dad's neck. He looked scared. Joe soothed Sean and explained what Thomas was doing. He wanted to take away the mystery of home hospice. At 9 pm, they heard the doorbell ring and then someone walking up the stairs. It was Thelma who had come to give Mary Agnes a shot before she went to sleep. Thomas had given Thelma a key to the house and told her to come and go as she needed.
The next morning when Joe went to awaken Sean to go to work, he was not in his bed, rather Joe found him wrapped in a quilt on the floor beside Mary Agnes's bed. Joe rubbed his shoulder and told it was time to eat breakfast and go to work. He spoke to Thomas who said he would get a cot that day so Sean could sleep in the room with his mother. Sean was unsettled at work that morning and Joe let him live in that place of uncertainty. As they were eating lunch in the truck, Joe asked Sean about the fun times he and his mother had. By the time they had finished the chocolate cake that Thomas had packed for them, Sean was in a better mood. That afternoon, he spent more time needing hugs from Joe as he came to the realization that his mother would probably die at home with him, his daddy and papa.
On the night of January 5th, Thomas arranged for the cast and crew of the Christmas Pageant to come to the rectory for a Twelfth Night Party. Thomas and Joe planned lots of hijinks and fun for the gang. Out of deference, Thomas invited the Bishop, who showed up as a Court Jester, and his wife dressed as the Merry Fool. Joe dressed in a kilt and was the Scottish hero, Robert the Bruce, while Sean dressed as a leprechaun. He was perfect for the role with his small stature, lean body, clear Irish skin, black hair, and bright blue eyes. Ellen made him a costume and mask of green silk. Thomas dressed as the legendary Robber Bridegroom, who roamed the bayous and low country of the American South. He looked appropriately dashing and enjoyed sweeping up unsuspecting girls at the party and telling them who he was. They were giddy because Thomas was so handsome.
The King Cake was cut, and Bugboy won the hidden coin in his slice. He was declared the King of Hijinks for the evening. It was perfect as he was dressed as a huge spider and could point at multiple people at the same time. He put on the crown and was riotously funny and full of mischief. The band that played for the Christmas pageant insisted on playing for the party, and the kids heard Jim, the church organist, playing jazz and contemporary standards. They didn't know he had it in himself to be so cool. Different partiers sang with the band. Bugboy led some of the dancing, even pulling Kurt, the boy who had played Joseph in the pageant, onto the dance floor. The two of them danced cheek to cheek. They finished with a kiss and walked hand in hand to the dining room to get something to drink. Kurt was a member of the congregation and a freshman in college, and everyone thought it cool that he and Bugboy were dating.
Mary Agnes insisted that she wanted to participate in Old Christmas and came dressed as a fortune teller. She had rallied and looked fantastic in gypsy clothes. Joe made her a fortune-telling booth that he placed in the library. All of the kids were enthralled that she was going to tell their fortunes. Mary Agnes had a crystal ball that she used with the kids. She made it fun for them and they all received good fortunes of love and wealth. When the Bishop went in for this fortune to be told, Mary Agnes pulled out her Tarot cards. When he left the booth, he was pale and asked Thomas if he believed in fortune-telling. Thomas said he did. The Bishop walked away, looking completely bowled over. Mary Agnes had foretold what would happen to him; it was all good, but the Bishop was not prepared to hear that from a gypsy fortune teller.
Bugboy thought it would be great fun and went into the booth to have his fortune told. Mary Agnes looked at his aura and knew she had a difficult question to ask: did he want a fun fortune, or did he want to hear the truth? He said he wanted the truth. He was joking around thinking this was silly stuff; that no one could tell the future. She shuffled the Tarot cards and laid them on the table. When he came out, he was shaken and started crying. He excused himself from the party and left alone. Mary Agnes had told him what he knew to be true but didn't want to face. Bugboy now knew the future course of what would be a very short life.
Sean went in to ask his mother if she needed anything, and she insisted on telling his fortune. She shuffled the Tarot cards, laid them out on the table, and then smiled. She had always told Sean the truth and did again that night. They both laughed and cried. He was surprised when Mary Agnes told him that he would have a brother would who love him unconditionally and that a young girl would save his life. He hugged her afterward, and she asked that Joe be sent in.
Joe came into the booth, thinking it was a fun, carnival kind of thing to do. Mary Agnes shuffled the cards and laid them out. She sat back and gave a deep relaxed sigh. She smiled because she knew that her son would be taken care of for the rest of his life. Joe was somewhat shaken to have his future foretold; there was no guessing what was going to happen to him. He believed everything she said. Mary Agnes then asked to see Thomas. She went through her preparation and then smiled at the display of cards.
"You are destined to be with your Joseph for life. You will be happy and successful. You will have many children to raise. They will come to you and Joe in times of need. You are to care for them, and they will then care for you. You will have a long, meaningful life. You will always be surrounded by love because you will offer it first. Your goodness will be felt by many."
After reading the cards for Thomas, Mary Agnes said she was tired and needed to rest, so Joe and Sean helped her upstairs to her bed. Joe realized that Mary Agnes' efforts that night had taken a lot out of her. She smiled and said she was at peace. When Sean awoke the next morning, he went to give his mother a kiss and realized that her body was cold. He then walked into Joe and Thomas' bedroom, shook Joe's shoulder and told his daddy that his mother was dead. Joe and Thomas bolted from their bed and went into Mary Agnes's bedroom. She had a look of peace on her face. Thomas called the police department to report the death. When he opened the front door, Officer Kevin McCarthy was standing there. He was the same officer who had taken him and Joe to the emergency room on Christmas morning. Thomas led him upstairs, where they found Joe and Sean kneeling at the foot of the bed, saying prayers. Thomas and the police officer joined them in saying a prayer. Officer McCarthy asked which funeral home they wanted to use. Luckily, a social worker had helped Mary Agnes fill out all of that paperwork before she came home from the hospital, so everything went smoothly.
Joe said he and Sean would get out of the way so that people could do their jobs. They went to the kitchen, where Joe made fried egg sandwiches. Sean looked at the sandwich and said he wasn't hungry. Then Sean ran out of the backdoor of the house. Joe decided the boy needed his own time and sat in the kitchen until Thomas came in. Thomas ate the sandwich and kept looking out of the window, trying to see Sean. He wasn't visible. Finally, Joe put on his coat and boots and went outside. He searched the grounds without finding his son. Joe was very worried about where Sean had gone. Joe assumed he had climbed over the wall and had disappeared. Thomas said they needed to search the church building and the church administrative offices. They found Sean sitting in the front pew of the church. He knew where Thomas hid a key for the building and had found a place of comfort. Joe and Thomas sat on either side of him, holding his hands, without saying a word. Finally, Joe felt Sean slump against him and realized his son was asleep. Joe picked him up and carried him to the rectory where he put him in his and Thomas' bed. Both men leaned over and kissed his forehead. The house was quiet through the afternoon as Sean slept. Late in the day, Sean came into the kitchen, still wearing his pajamas. He went up to Joe and hugged him around the waist and laid his head against his daddy's chest. Sean then hugged Thomas. He started grinning and asked them what a starving kid had to do to get fed. He was on the road to healing and wellness.
At the evening Epiphany service, Thomas made special mention of Mary Agnes's passing earlier in the day. Sean and Joe were sitting with Thelma and Jimmy. After the service, many people came up to the two and offered their condolences. A funeral service was held two days later, led by the Bishop. He requested the honor of presiding, saying that Thomas needed to be with Joe and Sean.
Their life became routine as Sean went to school each morning, Joe headed out to worksites, and Thomas continued his life as priest and shepherd to the congregation at St. Anselm. There was a bit of talk about Thomas and Sean living in the rectory, but Thelma and Joe squelched any dissent. After paying another month's rent on an apartment he didn't use, Joe sat down with Thomas to discuss them being a couple and living together. They agreed that they were partners and wanted to live together and raise their son. Jimmy worked his legal magic, and Joe was now Sean's legal father.
Thomas met with the Bishop. He prepared himself, knowing that if he had to choose between Joe and the church, he would choose Joe, and Sean, and their life together as a family. Thomas felt complete. The Bishop did say one thing was an absolute necessity: he wanted to have a covenant service for Thomas, Joe, and Sean as a family. It would be held at St. Anselm on a weeknight or a Saturday. The Bishop wanted the congregation to know this family had his blessing.
The Vestry proved a bit more difficult with the treasurer asking about paying health insurance on two additional people and the additional costs of utilities at the rectory with additional people living there. Thomas was prepared and said that Sean was covered under Joe's health plan and that in exchange for rent, Joe was prepared to maintain the rectory, which would ease the financial burden on the church. Everyone was in agreement; the treasurer thought he had won the argument, whereas Thomas didn't see there was an argument at all. Thomas could have forced the issue and possibly divided the Vestry, but he went in with a plan that took the legs out of the argument. He and Joe had worked on that strategy ahead of time, anticipating some such action.
Joe thought they would just have a quiet covenant ceremony for the three of them. Thelma decided overwise. By the time she finished, there was a full-blown ceremony and reception planned. Thelma justified it by saying that this was the only wedding that she and Jimmy would have for their children. Joe acquiesced and gave her permission to do whatever she wanted as long as he, Thomas, and Sean were seen as a family by the church. Joe even agreed to the Bishop's request (demand) that Sean be baptized, and that he and Sean become confirmed in the Episcopal church. All of the members of the church, the cast and crew from the pageant, and Joe's friends from the coffee shop were invited to the ceremonies. The church was full to overflowing as the word had leaked out through the neighborhood. The members tried not to count the number of gay men who were present. Joe had made a general announcement at the coffee shop and invited everyone to the ceremony. The gay community heard there was a gay priest at St. Anselm, and the Bishop was marrying him and his boyfriend. They all wanted to see for themselves if the Episcopal Church was that progressive. The first part of the service was when the Bishop baptized Sean and Joe. Joe asked to be baptized again with his son, as this felt like a new beginning in his life. Thomas assisted the Bishop. Thelma and Jimmy were their godparents. Sean was upset that the Bishop might pour water all through his hair after he had spent an hour trying to get it just perfect for the covenant ceremony. Sean talked to the Bishop before the service to help him understand how important it was for a teenager to look perfect. The Bishop chuckled and promised Sean that he would not mess up his hair. Sean grinned and hugged the Bishop.
Then, the Bishop confirmed Joe and Sean into the Episcopal Church. Elaine and Bill wanted to be the sponsors for their confirmation. Thelma and Jimmy said that was okay, but they did not give up pride of place and stood with the pair as the Bishop confirmed them by laying on of hands. Joe and Sean felt several sets of hands-on them as the Bishop asked anyone in the congregation who wanted to participate to come forward. The chancel filled with people who wanted to support them, and there was a mass of people who were touching each other's shoulders as an extension of the first sets of hands. Thomas had never seen such a large reaction before and was proud that his partner and son were so well respected in the church. This service was simple, and the congregation was loudly affirmative in their responses to them being accepted as members of the Episcopal Church.
The third service that was the main focus of the day happened immediately afterward. The three stood in front of the altar wearing tuxedos; Joe insisted on wearing a kilt with his tuxedo jacket. Sean wanted to copy his dad, so Joe had one made for him. Physically they looked nothing alike except for the big smiles on their faces. Even Thomas wore a broad smile, thinking how handsome his two men looked. Their exchanges during the ceremony affirmed their love as a family. The Bishop asked the congregation if they were willing to support them as a family. There was a resounding yes. All of a sudden, three men in the congregation stood to sing a loud amen, and was followed by the street version of the "Hallelujah Chorus." Kids everywhere were moving out of pews, singing in the aisles, at the altar, and in the balcony. At the end of the song, Jim sat at the organ and grinned; he had accomplished the coup without Thomas knowing. The Bishop smiled afterward and said he was so thankful to hear them sing because he heard it was the best pageant in the diocese. The Bishop offered blessings, lifted up Thomas, Joe, and Sean in prayer, and then the Bishop marked all three with chrism oil and declared them joined together for life. There were loud huzzahs as they walked down the aisle with their hands joined. Sean walked between his dad and papa with a massive grin on his face.
The reception was fun for everyone. The congregation enjoyed themselves as they ate a buffet dinner of Pennsylvania Dutch Country food. Joe had teased Sean about the food that would be served. He told him at the end of the table would be a colossal hog head and that since they were going first in line, they had to take some of everything. He told Sean that he would take one eyeball if he would take the other. Sean was practically nauseous at the thought. Then Joe told him about Scrapple and Liver Pudding. Sean was told that instead of sweets, they would be served Onion Pie or Flannel Cakes. Joe explained they soaked flannel in milk until it soured then rolled it in flour and oats before putting it in the oven to cook. Joe said it was a requirement that they eat flannel. The other dessert would be Tangle Britches, where the women would take a pair of their britches and cut them up and soak them in vinegar and then use them in a pie. Sean realized he would be hungry after the reception because none of that sounded edible to him, and he certainly wasn't going to eat some woman's britches. When Thelma asked him if he was looking forward to the party, Sean told her he was not. When she asked why Sean told her about how they made the different dishes, and he said he didn't want to eat a hog's eye or women's britches. Thelma looked at Joe and said he was going to get a switching. Joe and Thomas burst out laughing.
Sean was overwhelmed at the dessert table. Finally, Joe told him that he could have nothing else to eat, or he would be sick. When it came time for the first dance, the three men went into the center of the dance floor. Thomas had put on a kilt for the reception, so all three were ready for a Scottish Reel. They had practiced for hours to make sure their steps were together. The crowd started clapping along as they danced around the floor. At a predetermined point in the reel, all three grabbed women in the crowd and pulled them to the dance floor. Nobody knew that the women had also been practicing and were amazed by how quickly they fit in. By the time the song was over, the dance floor was filled with people doing a pseudo-reel. They didn't care because everyone was going to be Scottish that night. Some members of the congregation swallowed hard and allowed that many of the male couples were the best dancers in the room.
The next morning in church, a hung-over Joe sat with a sleepy Sean as they listened to Thomas give a very short homily. He thanked the congregation for such a lovely ceremony and reception, and then he said leftover desserts were in the parish hall for coffee hour. Thomas thought there was going to be a mad stampede at that moment. Sean sat up and smiled when he heard there were more desserts. He loved the Shoo Fly Pie and planned to get a slice before it was all taken. He had a plan to leave the church as soon as he had received communion so that he would be first into the parish hall.
Love abounded in the rectory. Both Joe and Thomas said they were amazed at how right it felt. Sean was a loving son and craved attention from both of them. His grades improved at school, and he was generally in a joyful mood. Now and again, he would have sad thoughts remembering his mother, but he was not depressed. Thomas had interred her ashes in the columbarium in the wall of the church close. Sean went out once a week and told her about his life. She was always close to him. In early March, both Joe and Sean had birthdays. Thomas decided that a dinner out would be great since they rarely ate in restaurants. Thomas asked his men to decide where they wanted to go for dinner. Their answer surprised him, but he agreed. On the first Friday in March, Joe picked Sean up from school at lunchtime. He drove to the rectory, where Thomas had the car packed. Joe got behind the wheel and said it felt like he was driving an old lady car. Sean snickered. The car did look funereal; Joe said they should get a more family-friendly car that was a better color. Thomas said it was a waste of money as the only places he drove were to the hospital, the grocery store, and funerals. They all laughed as it was decided that a SUV might be more fun. Thomas knew he was outvoted but kept his thoughts to himself.
They headed south on Route 13 until they were in Maryland and then east to Rehoboth Beach. Joe had been there a few times in the summer and thought it was great. It was a first for Thomas and Sean, so Joe identified a gay B&B for them to stay in for the night. It was an easy drive, as opposed to summer weekend traffic. They got to the beach, and all three wanted to walk on the sand, so Joe pulled the car into a deserted parking lot, and they got out. A wicked smart wind from the northeast was blowing the sand their way, but they didn't care. They held onto each other as they walked north on the beach with their hoodies pulled down to keep sand from blowing in their eyes. After walking about a mile, they turned and headed back to the car. It was an easier walk with the wind blowing at their backs. The waves were fierce and pounding the shore as they walked along. When they got back to the car, all three were grinning. It had been fun even though they were the only people on the beach. Joe found the B&B, and they grabbed their luggage and went in. Mike and Carl greeted them and seemed surprised that the third person was a boy. It was off-season, and there was no nude sunbathing by the pool, so they thought it would be okay. They typically didn't get gay families with underage kids.
That night the three found their way to a local restaurant that prepared fresh seafood. Thomas did not let Joe and Sean know he had preselected the restaurant. The restaurant was packed with locals who were out on a Friday night and at their reserved table were party hats, balloons and whistles for Joe and Sean. The atmosphere was laid back, and the food was delicious. Joe ordered a bottle of wine for them to drink. When the waitress wasn't looking, Joe let Sean take a sip of his wine. Thomas tried not to be old-maidish and say he wasn't old enough to be drinking; he kept his mouth shut. Joe and Sean grinned at each other; they had bonded in ways that neither would have predicted. They could both act like kids at times. Sean snuck another sip of the wine and then grinned at Joe when he was found out.
"I like that wine. What kind is it?"
"It is an Albarino, which is great with seafood. Very citrusy."
"Papa, can you buy us some the next time you go to the grocery store?"
"No, your papa cannot." Thomas knew he was being played.
Sean pouted in a cute way that had both Joe and Thomas laughing.
"It is your birthday, and your daddy is letting you get away with things that I normally wouldn't allow. You are now fifteen, but the legal age for drinking is 21. So, you have a long time before you can drink."
"Well, I drink wine on Sunday morning. How is that different?"
"That is the blessed wine used for communion. You only get a sip."
"Wine is wine is wine, to me."
"Fine, I will start pouring a chalice of Welch's grape juice for you."
Sean pouted and then smiled. He had both men wrapped around his little finger.
"I love you, papa."
"I love you, son. I also love your daddy. Happy birthday to the two of you." Thomas signaled, and a birthday cake arrived from the kitchen. Thomas had ordered it ahead of time and had it delivered to the restaurant. It was a 14", three- layer chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Sean's eyes grew big as he looked at the cake.
"This is my favorite, papa. Thank you for ordering a single size serving for me. What are the two of you going to eat?"
They all laughed at his antics as Thomas sliced the cake. Thomas said they would take the rest of the cake back to the B&B. Thomas drove them back as Joe had consumed much of the bottle of wine. Sean was in a bedroom next to Thomas and Joe. After kissing them good night, Sean went to his room, and Joe led Thomas to theirs.
Both men were ready for a night of loving making. Joe was aggressive and took Thomas in one thrust. Thomas let out a loud sigh. They both tried to be quiet but couldn't help themselves as they wrestled with each other in various positions most of the night. Thomas gave as good as he got. Neither got much sleep.
There was a knock on the door which woke the men. Joe told whoever it was to come in. It was Sean who came in, sniffed the air, smiled at the men, and told them that breakfast was ready. He sniffed the air again and asked if that was the smell of sex. Both men groaned, and Thomas tried to hide under the covers. Joe told Sean to give them fifteen minutes, and they would be in the dining room. Sean had a smirk on his face as they sat down.
"How did my papa sleep?"
Thomas saw the grin.
"I slept well; thank you for asking."
It was not the answer Sean was hoping to receive.
"Dad, how did you sleep?"
"I slept well; thank you for asking." Joe parroted Thomas' answer.
"Well, all I know is I didn't sleep very well. There was all of this noise coming from the next room. It sounded like a herd of buffaloes on the range. They were roaring and snorting and shouting. I thought someone had gotten hurt a few times.
"Buffalos don't shout, Sean."
"Well, I heard them. Especially when they were screaming, 'I love you. I love you.'"
"Can we change the subject, please?"
"Well, I need to learn about this because when I get a girlfriend, and we are doing that kind of stuff, I need to know what to say."
Both men were trying not to laugh at Sean, who was obviously having a good time.
"Well, there is a lot to learn, but it is kinda private."
"There wasn't anything private about y'all last night. I bet they heard you down on the street. It was fun listening to you smooch." At that point, Sean put his lips together and started making smooching sounds.
Joe was bright red as he looked at Thomas, who was smirking.
"It is evident that I never took a 'dad class' because I don't know how to have this conversation with my son."
"Dad, I am fifteen now, you need to tell me about all of this stuff. I am practically grown."
Joe and Thomas looked at Sean, and sure enough, over the past month, he had put on weight, had grown an inch in height, and had a light mustache on his top lip.