The story below is a work of fiction, set in the format of reality. Any resemblances to real people, alive or in the hereafter, is entirely coincidental in nature. It is not meant to accurately reflect upon persons, in towns, cities, countries, nor governmental areas, which the story is staged. If a sexual scene involving male-to-male relationships offends you, then you should not read this story. Additionally, if you are under 18 years of age, in most state and countries, you are not allowed to read this story, by law. Check with your local laws regarding such.
% Sexual safety matters. Remember guys, this is fiction. In real life, use protection.
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HoT FuN iN THe SuMMeRTiMe: Tea aND SyMPaTHY WriTten by T. Chase McPhee
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Adam and TJ melded together as if they had been director and assistant for decades. As for Kafry and TJ's father, there was more camaraderie yet to be discovered.
Standing at the secretary's desk, TJ's father dictated from the daily ledger, "This morning at 10:30 I have a meeting with a new company we hope to acquire, Falstaff, following by `tea' with the ambassador to Chile, then at one o'clock is the board meeting..."
"Beg your pardon Mr. Shipman, but I, as well as some other personnel at Shipman-Inc., have a funeral to attend," Kafry informs him.
"Others? What others?"
Kafry rattles off the few he knows, counting them on his fingers, "TJ for starters, Adam Teleman, Sam Chatterly, Jonathan Trent, Jan Hammer..."
"Jan Hammer? Oh no he's not. Jan must attend the board meeting." Irked by not being informed of any of this, he inquires of Kafry, "And whom by the way authorized these personnel the time off?"
"TJ," Kafry simply acknowledged.
"I see," Shipman replied, stepping intently and with haste towards TJ's office. With his hand on the knob, he's already voicing opinion with a harsh tone, "Thomas?"
"We're a little busy here father. What's up?"
In addition to TJ and Adam, another young man sat amongst them. It grabbed Shipman's attention, his eyes gravitating towards the blond, blue-eyed gem sitting there in front of the desk. Momentarily it took his mind off of matters. "And for what position is this young man applying?"
TJ's tap to Adam's shoulder gave the impression his father was checking the new guy out!
"Security sir. I'm in the process of studying for a degree in criminal justice and business management and thought this position would be related. It's only for the summer, sir."
Soft voice, the way he presented himself, thoroughly versed at where he intended on focusing himself later on in life, all these superlatives set Shipman off course. "In my opinion you are over-qualified."
"But I really need the job for tuition, sir."
Shipman hadn't intended on allowing him to slip through the fingers of the company. Not only the credentials of which he stole from TJ's desk and proceeded to interview the lad right off, but the politeness added to his assumption of this man being an asset to the company. "Thomas?"
"Yes Mr. Shipman?" TJ often addressed his father in front of other personnel.
"Find something else for my secretary to do."
Adam and TJ exchanged glances. "But father," he reverted to the personal on account of he was Adam's friend and he was getting to know Kafry himself, "I can't do that."
"Can't or won't?" he turned to TJ, folder in one hand, the other perched on his torso.
Comparing his appointment to the board as walking on thin ice, he mellowed out, "I suppose I `could' place him elsewhere."
"What?" Adam said in almost a whisper.
"I want this lad," he reads off the side of the employment folder, "Deke? Karanakis? Greek?" He probably wondered. Wondered why a Greek boy was a blond, when all the Greek men he's ever known had black or a shade of brown hair.
"Yes sir. I know you're probably wondering," Deke forseeing the reason why on his employer's face, "but yes, I'm Greek. Part Greek actually. My mother was Irish and probably the reason I have this strawberry blond hair."
"I see," Shipman replies.
While he was at it, "And as for the `Deke', it's short for Demetrius."
"Well thank you for explaining all of that to me. Tell me. How would you feel taking on the position of executive secretary for the summer?" Of course Shipman had longer range plans for Deke, but on his terms was good enough for now.
"Sure. Executive secretary to whom?"
"Myself," Shipman replies.
"I can't be your secretary. TJ says you already have a secretary."
"TJ?" Shipman turns to TJ and questions.
Seeing he's goofed, Deke covers up his tracks, "I mean Mr. Shipman."
"Thomas," Shipman turns back around, "Jan Hammer has been crying to me for an assistant. Move this Karpy fellow..."
"Kafry," Adam dares to correct.
"Yes, well, move him to Hammer's office." And the name reminded him, "By the way Thomas, I understand you authorized a half dozen people the afternoon off to attend a funeral? Who is this special person whom dictated having so many off when I'm paying them good money?"
"You did, sir," Adam speaks out.
"Me?" he confronts Adam.
"It's what Thomas says," Adam replies, reverting to the formal namesake.
"Thomas? Explain?"
"Well yes father. You as much as told me to take care of funeral arrangements, whereas company employees were concerned. In the short time Jake has been here, he's made some friendships."
It seemed right, but Shipman had one question, regarding a mail boy and company exec. "I hardly see where Jan Hammer fits into all this?"
"Oh, well he didn't know Jake. Jan happens to know one of the employees of Falstaff, that was Jake's father's..."
Cut off, the elder Shipman says, "Falstaff?"
"Something wrong?"
The three sitting all showed wonder on their face.
"What position did Jake's father associate himself with at Falstaff?"
TJ wondered what the interest suddenly was, but answered the question, "I think he was on the board."
Adam is fast to jump in, "As Thomas says, Mr. Calder was on the board of Falstaff, but he also owned thirty-five percent of the shares, but not only this, he was instrumental in bringing the company out of debt and kept it in the green for two years."
All this being said, Shipman changes direction, "Deke?"
"Yes, Mr. Shipman, sir?"
"As your first assignment you will get in touch with the board members of Shipman-Inc. and make it a mandatory request for them to attend the funeral of John Calder. I would also like to have every department head there. What division did this Jake fellow work in Thomas?"
"Mail room."
"I want the mail room closed for the remainder of the day. Arrange limousines to ferry them to the funeral."
"Wow!" Adam reacts, "Jake sure is going to remember this!"
Shipman hoped so!
After he left, TJ says, "All this sounds great except one thing."
"What's that?" Adam asks.
"How do I break the news to Kafry?"
Shipman took Deke with him and two minutes later the knob on TJ's door turned. It was Kafry.
"I heard the news of me being sacked."
Getting up, Adam showed his sympathy, hurrying over to him, putting his arms around him and saying, "I'm so sorry."
Much to Adam's and TJ's surprise, Kafry replies, "I'm not. I'm sorry to say this, TJ, but your father. He's a real asshole to work for."
"What?" Adam says backing off.
"Yeah," Kafry replies, breaking with a full smile, like the sun coming out after a thunderstorm. Again to TJ, "Sorry TJ, but I'm really glad I'm being fired."
"Fired?" TJ questions, sitting up from the relaxed position in his swivel chair. "You're not being fired."
"No?" Kafry says. "But your father... he brought this other guy in and told him he was his new executive secretary. I thought...."
"You thought wrong," Adam broke in and figuring it first act of duty as assistant to the human resources manager, informed, "You're still an executive secretary, but for Jan Hammer!"
Kafry questions, "Is this going to be good or bad?"
TJ asks, "Have you ever met Jan Hammer? Do you know who he is?"
"No."
Rising up out of his chair, TJ says, "C'mon. I think we have time before leaving for the funeral to go meet him." About to leave the office, he stops dead in his tracks. "Oh shit!"
"What?" Adam asks.
"I've got to make arrangements for the mail room staff."
"How about your assistant here?" Kafry asks. "I think he might be able to able handle taking me to see Mr. Hammer."
TJ wasn't sure if Adam has ever met Jan Hammer, but resorted to doing it this way because it got him off the hook in order to deal with the other arrangements. "Right. Good idea. Adam, take Kafry to Hammer's office. Same time, if he hasn't heard by then, inform him of the funeral arrangements."
So, Adam and Kafry are once again teamed up, walking down the hallway. Halfway to the elevator, they run into Jonathan Trent.
"All ready for this afternoon?" Jonathan addresses the pair.
Adam felt like an informant, telling of Shipman's doings in preparation for the company's mass entourage.
Jonathan jokes, "Why don't they just shut down the whole place down!"
"Seems like they should, huh?" Adam replies. Then he gets an idea. "Hey, Jonathan, you know who Jan Hammer is, right?"
"I know `everybody'!" Joanthan replies in his feminine rendering, complete with the limp wrists.
"Do you have a minute? Can you take us to introduce Kafry to him?"
Jonathan, even though he's been over Kafry's bod before, reexamines the hot facade and replies, "Hmm... now Jan would find you to be quite a dish!" He laughed as he said, "Come on!" leading the pair straightaway to another grouping of offices.
Kafry asks, "This Jan Hammer? He gay?"
"Beats me," Adam replies.
"Come along boys," Jonathan shouts over his shoulder. And like a school marm, "Don't dawdle!"
They had to pay attention, the way the hallway serpentined. First they were going straight, then Jonathan veered off to the right. They had to back up three or four steps to make a sharp right turn, which they missed.
Adam says, "I think this is the executive wing."
"It is," Kafry says. "I recognize it from Sam giving me the grand tour."
"Poor Sam," Adam says.
"Yeah. I'm not one to let things go to my head, but Sam made a good choice in hiring me."
Adam didn't know what Kafry meant by it, but did note, "I know. You were real good in bed last night!"
Kafry smiled saying, "It's not what I meant!"
"I know, but if you were never hired, I wouldn't have gotten to know you!"
Probably Kafry didn't hear what Adam said as he stare ahead of them. Behind a glass wall, separated by a single all-glass door, he saw Jonathan talking to guy. "Do you think that's him?"
Adam shared in Kafry's joy, "If it is, I'm tranferring myself to Hammer's office!"
The two witness Jonathan giving them the hand to come in.
"Here goes," Kafry says.
The whole time they are walking towards the glass door, the guy talking with Jonathan had his eyes set on the two. Or maybe it was one, too tough to tell if Adam or Kafry was being singled out.
But things were sorted out as Jonathan introduces, "Kafry Walsh, meet Jan Hammer. Your new boss!"
Adam was whacked out of his gourd, Hammer taking Kafry's hand in both of his, gently saying in a masculine voice, sounding like a movie actor, maybe the tone of George Clooney, "I am honored to meet you Mr. Walsh. Welcome to the executive offices of Shipman-Inc."
"I'm really glad to be here Mr. Hammer..."
"Please. Jan," Hammer replied, pronouncing it like `John'.
"Sure. Jan," Kafry replied.
To Adam, Kafry seemed to be acting strange. Too, he didn't break his pose, his eyes keyed on Hammer as if in a trance. Jonathan had made a quick getaway, so Adam walked up to Hammer and introduces himself, "Hi. I'm Adam Teleman, Kafry's friend." And to break the ice, "Are you going to the funeral for Jake Calder's father?"
"Oh yes. I did get a call from the old man," Hammer referred to the elder Shipman. And before he answered for himself, he directs at Kafry, "Are you attending?"
It became unaminous, Kafry saying yes, followed by Adam saying he was going too. "Great then. The four of us can ride together."
"Four?" Adam questioned.
"Yes. You," he meant Adam, "Kafry, myself and Travis Slater." It was on their minds, who this fourth wheel was, so Jan elaborates, "Travis is Edmund Cosgrove's ES.."
"ES?" Kafry asks.
"Executive Secretary," Jan tells them. "Edmund is riding with the other execs and Travis would be finding his own way."
Adam asks, "How come you're not riding with the other execs, Jan?" Figuring Hammer told Kafry to call him by his first name, it was good enough for him!
"I was, until you two walked into my office. But I have to freshen up, so Kafry, if you would not mind, would you please give Travis a call. His name is in the rolodex." And as he grabbed his jacket, Jan tells him, "Look under Travis Evan Slater. He goes by his full name. I'll be with you in a moment."
But a moment turned into forty minutes and by the time Jan returned, Travis had met up with Adam and Kafry.
"Geez guys. I feel like an old man around you three!"
And the conversation went, Adam at eighteen, Kafry twenty years old, Travis twenty-two, whereas Jan Hammer was an `elderly' thirty-two! Feeling comforable around Jan, at least Travis was, Adam felt inclined to do some kidding around, about Jan being the oldster of the quartet.
%
At home, where he spent three days off from work, most of Jake's time was spent with helping his mom with the funeral arrangements. It seemed he zipped up in age from eighteen to his early twenties, speaking with people about food orders, table and chair arrangements for the backyard, plus played `daddy' to his two other siblings, his nine year old sister, Cindy and twelve year old, Kip. Most of the time Cindy tagged along with her mother, but Kip wanted to hang with Jake.
His parents weren't too cool about Jake being openly gay, but Kip was the total opposite. He didn't mind it, opening a closet door and seeing a fully attached poster, from top of the door to more than midway, a poster of Bryan David Thomas holding dumbbells in each hand, little else attached to his bod.
"Jake, do you think someday I could look like him?"
"Who?" Jake asks as he lays on his bed, shirtless, dressed down to his briefs, tossing a frisbee up in the air and catching it.
"Bryan Thomas?"
"Bryan `David' Thomas!" Jake corrects him and "You could."
"Do I have to be gay?"
"You don't have to be gay to be anything Kip. Besides, I don't think Bryan David Thomas is gay." Jake didn't know either way.
Kip was curious and though he has had brother-to-brother chats with Jake before, at this moment in time he was trying to keep his cool by diverting his attention from his father to his brother. "Jake, do you kiss men?"
"Why the sudden interest, Kip?"
"I don't know. There's nothing to do."
True, Jake had to admit, his father and Kip did more together than himself, but there was a difference. Eighteen and independent is much different than twelve and with dependence. But then it dawned on him. With his father out of the picture, who was going to assume the `title', be to Kip what their dad was. He fessed up it probably would fall on his shoulders. However, it didn't phase Jake as being burdensome. Kip was a cool kid, did lots of stuff he and his father never did. Maybe, in reverse order, he could learn how to do some of the stuff which interested Kip! Camping right now was out of the question, but, "How about we go down the basement and check out the train setup?"
"Nah," Kip shot down. "I don't know how to start it up. Dad did all of that."
"Oh," Jake said and right now he didn't feel like fussing with it. "How about we start getting ready? It'll be time to go soon."
"Okay."
"Tell you what Kip, I'll get dressed first and then we'll go see about getting you into your suit?"
"Can I use your weights while you're getting dressed?"
"Three pounds. No more," Jake allowed. He felt bad leaving Kip alone. But too, maybe he liked the company, so Jake skipped his shower. Instead he picked up the electric razor and shaved in the mirror of his bedroom.
The weights at his sides, Kip asks, "When will I be able to use that Jake?"
"When you begin to get little whiskers!"
Looking at Jake in only his briefs, Kip asks, "Will I get whiskers down here like you?"
"Whiskers?" Jake questions his brother, looking down upon himself.
"These," Kip replies, his finger running down Jake's treasure trail and then quickly withdrawing.
"I don't know. Nobody does. It's not like a choice. Some guys get a trail and some guys don't."
"Trail?" Kip inquires further.
Jake explains on his brother's terms. "Sure. Like when you go camping. There has to be trails in the woods right?"
"Yup," Kip responds.
"Well they call this a trail," Jake points out the strip from his navel to his elastic waistline, pulling it down a half inch to show it went someplace.
"Wow!" Kip says, grabbing hold of Jake's briefs and exposing more. "Where did that all come from?"
Giggling, Jake renders, "Now this is one part every guy gets. They're called pubes."
"Is there more?" Kip became over inquisitive.
"Lots," Jake replies.
"Can I see?"
Debating, Jake gave in. What harm could it be? So he put his thumbs in the sides and pulled them down, with the precaution, "But you can't touch!"
"Wow! You've got a big one Jake!"
Jakes smiled before allowing the elastic tighten up around his waist.
"Mine is so small. Will I ever get as big as you Jake?"
"Another `we have to wait and see', Kip."
Accepting it, Kip acted disappointed.
Going nowhere fast, Jake says, "How about we go take care of you getting dressed first?"
As they traisped off to Kip's room, Jake learned their dad was in the process of Kip learning how to tie a necktie and he accepted the responsibility of doing it for his brother.
Little did Jake know the thrill Kip was getting out of his older brother leaning against his back as he tied the tie in the mirror for him. But then again, maybe Kip hadn't realized it himself, passing it off as his older brother showing him how to do something.
%
"I see the three of you are getting along?"
The elite limo had a backseat for three and two stationary seats facing it. Adam, Kafry and Travis sat in the backseat, Jan's butt taking up residence in the one man chair.
"C'mon," Kafry says, taking hold of Jan's hand, putting some force to it and casting Jan out of his seat. "We can fit one more!"
Truth of the matter, they couldn't, but it was Kafry being the good sport, pushing up out of the cushy seat and sitting in the chair Jan preoccupied.
"No," Jan said, trying to wing it, getting up while the limo moved. "You come sit with your friends."
"No," Kafry refused. "If you don't want to sit there, why don't you sit in the other chair?"
So it came to be, Travis and Adam sharing the back seat, Jan and Kafry manning the chairs, which they found out if you moved a little lever, they swung to either side.
"Now `we' can have our conversation!" Kafry exclaimed, he and Jan facing each other.
"What do you want to talk about?" Jan asks.
Shrugging his shoulders, it wasn't a question Kafry was prepared for. "What do you want to talk about?"
Right out, Jan asks, "Do you think I'm too old for a guy of your age?"
"Is this a general question?"
Jan didn't mean it to be, but didn't want to turn Kafry off, so agreed, "Yes."
"How old are you?" Kafry asks, his curiosity killing him to know for the past two hours.
He didn't mean it to come out this way, but Jan said it, "Would thirty-four be too old for you?"
"I thought it was a general question, Jan?"
"Me too," he said, feeling a bit embarrassed, but toyed with Kafry's foot, his knocking up against it as he stare at the floor.
Gazing down too, Kafry gave Jan's foot a kick and soon a riot ensued, the two playfully kicking each other's foot with the toe of their own.
"Boys... boys!" Adams voice startled them into stopping. "Before someone gets hurt?"
"Sorry," Jan said.
"My fault. I couldn't leave it alone," Kafry owned up.
Adam returned to his business of quietly making out with Travis.
"Leave what alone?" Jan asks Kafry.
"You feeling sorry for yourself because you think you're too old for me when you're not?"
Kafry's smile was infectious and soon he pushed Jan's doubts to the limits and they more or less started all over.
As they pulled into the cemetary, they ran up against stand-still traffic.
"Too old to walk up the hill?" Kafry asks Jan.
"C'mon guys," Jan led the way out of the limo. "We're hoofing it!"
At the gravesite, the family, well Kip, his sister Cindy and Jake sat in the front row, their mother talking with the funeral director about something. When Jake saw Adam, he bolted for the grouping of four. Travis stood there watching Adam, his head sagged over Jake's shoulder as the two hugged deeply.
"Thanks so much for coming."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Adam replied. "You know that."
"'He' with you?" Jake observed the dude over Adam's shoulder.
"Sort of. We both work in the same division at Shipman. You know I got a promotion?" But not to slight the figure standing near him, plus to quench Jake's thirst of knowledge, "This is Travis Slater."
Not meant to bust Adam's chops, chocking it up to he forgot, Travis reintroduces himself, "Travis-Evan Slater."
"This is Jake Calder," Adam says.
Jake says, "Jake John Calder!"
Seeing maybe Jake and Adam might want to spend some quality time together, Travis says, "I'm going to catch up to Jan and Kafry and find us some seats."
"Nice looking guy," Jake immediately comments.
"I saw him first!"
"Hey, I wasn't saying anything," Jake replied. "But hey, what happened to you and Kafry. I thought..."
"We had a nice night together, but it would not have worked out," Adam replied.
"Oh. Okay. So this Jan-guy. Is he Kafry's new boyfriend?"
"And boss," Adam says.
Skipping over the details, Jake informed him, "You're sitting up front with me Adam," and then low-keyed, "unless you want to sit with Travis?"
Adam had to make a quick decision here. Whether Travis understood or not was immaterial. Jake and he had been friends for like forever. A decision was out of the question. He was sitting with Jake, with no regrets.
"Hi Kip. Hi Cindy. Hi Mrs. Calder," Adam greeted each one, shaking Kip's and Cindy's hands and giving Mrs. Calder a handshake in lieu of a hug. It's not the affection he had for Jake's parents. In some ways, his parents blamed him for Jake's being gay. Jake even mentioned it one time, the fact of being Adam's friend imparted some kind of gay cootie bug', implanted within Jake's bod and if this wasn't enough lunacy, Jake's rents figured Adam had been brainwashing Jake all these years they have been school friends. So, `ice cold' wasn't an attitude which Adam found as a surprise, emanating from Jake's mom even at a time like this.
"She's just upset," Jake said quietly to Adam, about his mom's response of, What are you' doing here?'
"Yeah right," Adam replied, but then figuring it didn't matter, replied to his school mate, "It's doesn't matter. Just forget it. I have."
Sliding his hand over Adam's thigh, it didn't go unnoticed by Kip, who was watching the two like a hawk. Neither did he miss the remark from his brother, to Adam, "Thanks for coming. I'm glad so you're here Adam." Kip even picked up on the little squeeze Jake gave Adam's thigh. Too intent of paying attention to his brother's interactions with Adam, he lost track of trying to hide his stalking, Jake sternly saying, "Mind your own business, Kip!"
Then, trying to hide it, Kip says, "I am, but I wanted to know something."
And he had to think quick of `something', because Jake came right back at him with, "What?"
"Um-m-m, how long does it take somebody buried in a casket to dry up?"
Jake replies, "When you think of an intelligent question to ask me, I'll answer you!"
Adam smiled. Probably upset by the events of this past week and trying to get through this, he figured Jake was oblivious to the fact his younger brother was checking out every move they were making, every word said. Anyhow, he agrees with Jake, telling, "Yeah. Dumb question Kip!"
"Oh," is all Kip said, bowing his head like he was praying, but really sulking.
Then, slapping his thigh up against Kip's, thinking he was too hard on the lad, Adam asks, "How long do `you' think it takes?"
Adam's smile made Kip smile.
%
Quite a few rows back, Kafry, Jan and Travis found four vacancies. The inner seat was empty, another person on Travis' right side. Suddenly Jan looked up to see a guy wanting to get through to the seat. Heads up, made Adam look, followed by Travis. Each in turn stood allowing him to move his ass pass them, leaning as best he could forwards, without hitting anyone seated in front of them.
"Owch!" Travis made a whispered complaint when the guy stepped on his foot.
"Sorry," the guy said. "Good thing you have another one, huh?"
The whole time the dude peeled off a light-weather trench coat, sat and folded it, Travis watched. "So," he addresses Travis upon finally settling in, "did I miss anything?"
"They haven't started yet," Travis replies. One thing which had thwarted his plans, once he always possessed whenever a guy ever sat next to him, the trench coat... it was blocking his vision!
Was he ever surprised when fate's hand played a part in the guy asking, "Hey, would you mind holding this?" picking up the coat with two hands. "I better turn off my cell."
Before Travis could answer, the dude's coat was on his lap. If it were anybody else, other than a tall, dark and handsome dude, he might have found this absurd. Instead, he welcomed the change in the obstruction of view. Especially when the dude had to dig down into the right pocket of his pants, which made the guy squirm, lifting his right ass cheek off the chair, his crotch focused in Travis' direction.
In no time the dude was saying, "Thanks."
About two minutes after nodding, `You're welcome', Travis starts up conversation, "You work around here?"
The dude leaned slightly over towards Travis, obviously wanting to respond with confidentiality, his mouth moving towards Travis ear, Travis leaning in as he tells, "Why don't we cut the bullshit and head over to my place after this is over?"
Travis was shocked out of his gourd. This dude was smart! True though, he was saving them a lot of unnecessary words. "Would be cool." Straight-faced, Travis saw his lips turn up in a wry smile. It was enough for him to think they had cinched the deal.
%
Several times Kip observed his brother giving Adam a pinch on the thigh with his whole hand. He wasn't into staring, because he had a funeral service to pay attention to, but glanced occasionally at Adam's left thigh. Everytime, Jake's hand was there. Then he forgot about it since the mood of the funeral turned to people saying good things about his dad and then it reminded him of things he and his dad did together.
On the contrary, Jake tried to remember something, `anything', he and his dad did together in recent years. More so, Jake was stuck doing the lawn mowing, washing the cars and other menial tasks, garbage duty, than anything constructive. But in the same respect, he was spending a lot of time with Adam and doing things a teenager would do in general outside the home. When someone, a co-worker of his dad began rambling off a bunch of superlatives, Jake mumbles to Adam, "Where do they come up with these things?"
Adam replies, "Jake... your father isn't here anymore. You're not going to have to deal with him. Can't you just bury it?" He heard a sniffle. Then more as Jake put his hand to his face, seemingly to hide his emotional distress. "It's okay Jake. Let it go."
By now at least Kip was alert to the two speaking.
"He never gave me a chance," Jake said.
Right now, Adam didn't give a shit who `saw'. It was his friend of a lifetime feeling crappy, so he reaches around and places his arm behind Jake's upper back, pulling Jake into him for a side-to-side hug, Jake's head under Adam's chin, resting on his chest.
"If he could have just understood."
"I know," Adam replied, his hand rubbing upwards from Jake's shoulder, to his neck. Same time, he notices Cindy, the big tattle-tale, pulling on her mother's arm.
Mrs. Calder switches attention from the speaker to the two huddling, her jaw dropping open. Leaning across Cindy, she pulls at Jake's arm, scolding, "Really Jackson. And at your father's funeral never the less. Can't you at least give him the decency of some respect?"
"Respect?" Jake said to her. Then in a turn-around, from questioning to anger he raises his voice and stands, talking down to her, "Respect? Do you fuckin' even know the meaning of the word? When is the last time my father or even `you' gave me an ounce of respect?"
In mid-sentence the eulogizer cut off his speech. All eyes were on the confrontation in the front row.
"Jackson, you're making a scene," his mother said to him. "Please," she acted cordially in front of everyone.
"Damn right I'm making a scene and you know what? I don't give a shit! What's the matter mother dear? Afraid your friends will all see your dear son sitting with some faggot who infected your son with the `gay virus'?"
"Jackson dear, can't we talk about this..." his mother turned a bright pink and looked around, casting off her embarrasement in smiles.
"Later?" Jake replied. "We've had the past four years since... since four years ago when I told you I'm gay to talk about it, but all you and my dear departed father ever did was ridicule me and..." and he turns to Adam, grabbing him by the shoulder of his jacket, "Adam!" Then, as he pulls Adam up by the arm, he firmly says, "Get it through your head mother, it was your God who decided to make me gay and..." adding opinion, "I'm fuckin' glad He did!" It made Jake's mother get up out of her chair, but it also wiped the smile off her face, standing there and watching her oldest son kissing another man!
They left in a hurry, Jake leading the way. However, outside the tented viewers, Adam stopped Jake's galop, "Wait."
Assuming, Jake responds, "No, I'm not going back to apologize."
"I'm not judging you Jake. In fact, maybe throwing in some praise."
"You think I was right?"
"Um, well... I think this wasn't exactly the place, but what is done is done. However I think you should by all means follow through with the rest of the plans for now and after the funeral."
"Why? By now my mother hates me. She won't want anything to do with me. She doesn't want me around. Nothing changes. Now that my father is out of the picture, she'll want her faggot-son gone," Jake lamented.
"Sure Jake. Exactly what she will expect you to do."
"What? What are you talking about Adam?"
"Now that you outed yourself, she won't want you around to tarnish her good name. Forget it... the people at her church will be ready to come over and have you exorcised," Adam explained.
"More like tar and feather!"
"Whatever," Adam skipped over it, "the main thing is that you," he poked Jake in the chest with a finger, "stay and stand up for your rights, show her it doesn't matter if you are gay or not. You're still you."
"I suppose you're right," Jake agreed. He was upset and wasn't thinking about a lot of things. Least of all he didn't expect what was about to hit him in face.
"Jackson?"
"Mother?"
The music gave Jake enough reason to why his mother was standing in front of him and not in the front seat of the tent.
"Give me your house keys."
"My house keys?"
"Now," she demanded.
He took out his ring of keys and unthreaded two of them, handing them to her.
"And the car?"
"It's `my' car," he protested.
"The key?"
"No way. I fixed up that old junk myself. I made it run."
As mysteriously as she arrived, she turned her back and left.
"What do you think she's going to do?" Adam asks.
"I don't know, but I think we better go."
"But what did I just tell you Jake?"
"I know, but there's a spare key under the planter on the porch. I think this is a good time to move out!"
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Copyright 2009 T. Chase McPhee
This story may not be sold, nor made part of any collection, without prior consent from the author.
The more you stretch, the more you can fit in... 'spread' happiness! TCMcP.....