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Chapter 57
The next several weeks passed in a blur. JW settled into his new position at the fire department, Marcus made the final transitions for taking over his new job and the kids finished the rest of summer with several small vacations. The first vacation was with Pete and Barbra where they took the kids to the coast and sat on a beach for ten days. The second was followed immediately after the first and the kids this time went to JW's parent's house a few hours north. Leah absolutely loved Hank's and Donna's small farmhouse where Kira absolutely hated it. JW had to talk to Kira every night and assured her that she would be coming home soon. It was not till the second to last day that Donna had taken Kira and gone through all the small town shops that Kira finally settled down. Then on the last night Kira had called JW and begged to stay with her Grandparents. When the girls had gotten home the following day JW tried to take the girls shopping for school, which started in two weeks. As the months passed JW grew frustrated with the strain of not knowing how to deal with the every day issues of having children and buying school clothes were a nightmare. The shopping experience ended with two very pissed of little girls and JW ready to lie down on a busy street. After getting home from shopping Marcus suggested asking a woman to go with the girls. JW first tried Barbra who was going to be busy the following day so JW called Jennifer as a last resort. Jennifer agreed and returned with Leah and Kira that evening.
Leah ran into the house with arms full of bags and JW looked over to Marcus, "What the hell dude?"
Marcus smiled, "I am going to do what ever I can for them."
JW frowned and angrily said, "God damn it you know that I don't want you giving them anything and everything they want because they will be useless when they older."
Marcus laughed and shrugged, "There is nothing wrong with looking good at school."
JW stood up and slapped Marcus in the back of head lightly, "Well girls did you get all your clothes for school." Marcus reached for JW who jumped off to the side to quickly, smirked at Marcus and then ran off to towards the front door to thank Jennifer. JW walked back into the living room holding a piece of paper and handed it off to Marcus. Marcus read the paper and it was a flyer for a girls soccer team and registration was later that evening; Marcus looked up to JW, "I know Leah wants to do this still?"
JW nodded his head, "Leah handed it to Jennifer and asked her to hand it to me. So I guess we could go check it out at least?" Marcus laughed and shook his head while JW stared at him blankly.
Marcus frowned and looked at JW, "You want both of us to go to that?"
JW shrugged, "Well you don't have to! I will just go with Leah I guess."
Marcus rolled his eyes, "JW you're so self-conscious around your kids and all of a sudden you pick today to just make everyone else deal with it?"
JW looked stupidly at the floor and mumbled, "Well I didn't think of that." JW looked up to Marcus, "Thanks asshole. Now that will be eating at me the god damn time."
Marcus sighed, "I would really like to go though since you invited me."
JW nodded his head, "Might as well get that over with. God knows what they are going to do or what they will say! Do you think they would not let Leah play because of us?"
Marcus of course didn't have an answer to that and knew that in a ultra conservative town like the one they live in, Leah could be turned away because she lives in a home with two men. Marcus forced a fake smile, "I seriously doubt it. You have nothing to worry about." Marcus watched JW relax and walk off to the girl's bedroom.
JW and Marcus showed up fifteen minutes early, Leah was in the backseat of Marcus's car looking around anxiously. JW pulled into a parking spot and nervously looked over to Marcus who gave a big smile, "Relax JW you have nothing to worry about."
All three of them climbed out of Marcus's car and made their way to the community annex building. The second they walked in Leah saw someone she knew and ran to them. JW turned to talk to Marcus but Marcus was walking across the room to talk to someone JW didn't know; so JW wandered aimlessly to a corner of the room and did his best to hide. JW pulled his phone out of his pocket and pretended to be busy and started glance around the room. Marcus was talking with a small group of people, Leah had a large group of girls around her and then there were three large groups of parents talking and at least ten smaller groups talking. JW felt bad because he realized he was the only person pretending to be busy until a woman walked up to him and said, "Hello there. My name is Kathy and you are?"
JW hesitated for a second and then stuck his hand out to shake hands, "My name is JW."
Kathy talked to JW for several minutes and JW relaxed as much as possible, everything seemed to be ok until one of the other parents ran up to Kathy and interrupted JW while he was talking and said, "Did you know one of the parents here is gay? God could you imagine what that kid is going through? I wonder who it is though?" JW didn't know if he wanted to punch the woman or laugh at her but JW decided to have some fun with it anyways.
JW turned to Kathy, "Well is that going to be a problem?"
Kathy rolled her eyes and gritted her teeth, "It won't be as long as I am here! Well nice meeting you JW." Kathy walked off and JW wanted to give her a high five before she walked away but he had to contain his excitement.
The woman who interrupted JW started talking again, "I wonder who it is? I bet it's that guy over there? He looks like a homo." JW turned and looked at who the woman was pointing at and recognized the man immediately and he definitely was not gay because JW had seen the man at gym before with his family.
JW laughed, "Doubtful, I know that guy. So it must be someone else." The woman scanned the room and kept pointing out people and would not shut the hell up. JW wanted to get an idea how the room might react and this woman was making things a lot worse for him. JW put up with the woman's speculations until she said, "I just want to know who it is because I don't want to have anything to do with them. God knows what they will do to the kids when no one is looking."
JW gritted his teeth together and narrowed eyes when Leah ran up to them and said, "Dad this my friend and she says that is her mom that your talking to." The irony made JW laugh out loud and he smiled, "Well obviously you two know each other but we just met. I had no clue you were so popular." Leah ran off with her now large party of girls and JW smiled.
The woman looked back to JW, "I didn't know that was your daughter."
JW nodded his head and Kathy walked into the middle of the room and raised her hand, "Ok everyone has had a chance to meet with everyone now let's get started and grab a chair to sit in please."
JW walked across the room, met up with Marcus and the two sat down in two chairs that were in a large circle. Marcus leaned over, "Who were you talking to?"
JW laughed and spoke quietly because the woman sat next to JW, "Oh we are working on might be the gay person in here."
Marcus laughed and nodded his head, "We were working on the same theory. These pour bastards are in for a shock! So if anyone says anything do you want to say anything or just keep our mouths shut?" JW shrugged and didn't say anything for a minute.
Kathy started talking again and welcoming everyone when JW leaned over to Marcus and whispered, "I will say something if someone says anything?" As Kathy talked Marcus looked around the room and no one seemed to be paying particular attention to anyone else other than Kathy, Marcus glanced down to JW who looked like he was about to vomit.
Everything was going smoothly until Kathy asked if there were any questions and the woman sitting next to JW made the whole room cringe when she stated, "So are we going to have to deal with a homosexual in this group?" Kathy started to talk but JW coughed and stuck his hand into the air timidly and Kathy paused and then asked JW to go ahead and speak.
JW cleared his throat a few times and finally said, "I don't see what the problem is. The purpose of this is for the kids and it's not about the parents. So I could careless about who is gay and who isn't because I am here for my daughter."
Marcus was surprised that JW went that route, JW did not confirm or deny that he was gay and just pointed out the obvious fact and what it should be about is the kids. JW looked around the room and saw a bunch of heads nodding and got a huge confidence boost. But JW's bubble was popped when the woman would not be rational and she said, "That might be the case but I do not feel comfortable with my girl being around gay people!"
JW rolled his eyes and interrupted Kathy, "Being around what? A couple of homosexuals?"
The woman's head snapped and turned to JW, "Excuse me?"
Marcus started laughing and pointed at himself and JW, "Dear! We are the homo's you are scared death of."
The woman frowned, shook her head and said, "No, no! No your not. You're just saying that."
Several people tried to cover their laugh and JW had enough of this, stood up and said, "This is the last time I am even coming close to talking about this with anyone else in this room. I don't know you people and I sure as hell do not want to hear about your personal lives. I am here for my kid and only my kid. I promise you that I will not be going around speaking with a lisp, hitting on your husbands or discussing the current style of clothes. If the truth were told I am not social at all and will be standing off to the side and away from everyone else. So if this is a problem I am leaving." JW sat down and put his elbows on his knees and rested his head in his hands and stared down at the floor.
The woman sat there stupidly looking around the room and Kathy finally spoke up, "Well I for one know Leah and have seen her around the play ground playing soccer and would have no problem having her on my team. Anyone else have anything else to say on this matter? I hope not because I am really embarrassed right now and would much rather just move on and talk about how we get the teams organized."
Marcus was so proud of JW at this time and was glad that he finally taking control of his life. Marcus sat there smiling while JW never looked up again, by the time Kathy finished talking JW walked over to Kathy, said something quietly to her and nodded at the door. Marcus nodded his head and started to follow JW who was almost clear of the door when someone called out, "Stop! You tall guys stop. You can't leave yet because you need to know who is your coach and where your girls will practice at."
JW turned and slowly walked back inside and a man walked up to JW, stuck his hand to shake hands, "I will be your daughters coach. I am Kevin and I didn't get your names."
JW quietly introduced himself and Marcus and called Leah over who was bouncing around the room excitedly talking to her friends. JW stood quietly looking at the floor and Marcus could tell that he was not happy so Marcus listened intently and as more and more people gathered around. Marcus took a quick moment to bend down and whisper to JW, "Relax dude. You made a great impression and your not going to have any problems so take a few deep breathes and smile because Leah is thrilled to be here and you should be excited for her." Marcus stood up and heard JW took three deep long breaths and then elbowed Marcus who looked over and saw JW mouth the words thank you.
JW, Marcus and Leah stayed at the annex building for another hour before they left and when climbing into Marcus Infiniti. JW turned in his seat and looked to Leah, "Are you excited?" Leah nodded her head and started talking about practice.
Marcus looked at JW, "Now you get to go buy a soccer uniform and cleats!" JW smacked himself in the head with his hand and moaned while Leah cheered.
The next day JW and Marcus wanted to head into the gym before Leah's first soccer practice. After another hard work out JW finally had all of the kids loaded up in Marcus Inifinti when Marcus asked, "We ready?"
JW nodded his head and they drove to the soccer field. The second the car was parked Leah flew out the door and was running across the soccer field to the other kids standing around their coach. JW pointed towards the playground and Kira found a few other kids while JW, Marcus and Luke made their way past the other parents sitting in the bleachers. As practice started JW sat on the ground and tossed a Nerf ball to Luke.
Marcus looked over to JW, "God they are terrible."
JW laughed, "We were all terrible when we were that young."
Marcus laughed, "Your mom said that you could catch a ball before you could walk."
JW grinned, "And I still struggle with walking the straight line now."
Marcus watched JW toss the ball to Luke who stretched his arms out to catch the ball, missed horribly and the Nerf ball hit Luke in the face and he fell over backwards. Luke staggered to his feet, laughed and wobbled over to the ball and picked it up. JW turned back to Marcus and was about to speak when Luke threw the white ball and it flew right into JW's face.
Marcus laughed hard, "Teach you to shoot your mouth off, Luke might not be a catcher but he is a pitcher in the making."
JW had a sour look on his face, he was not sure if Marcus was making a gay joke or if he was trying to be encouraging. JW turned back to Luke and tossed the ball underhanded to Luke who bobbled the ball in his hands before finally clutching his tiny fingers and saying, "Ball! Ball! Ball!"
JW turned Luke so he could still play with him and watch Leah run around on the soccer field. JW and Marcus started laughing hard as they watched girls run around and chase the soccer ball. Marcus sat down next to JW and pointed, "It's like herding cats! There is some hope out there though. Leah has a killer a instinct if she if can figure out how to get her feet to work with her brain."
JW nodded his head, "That will give us a reason to spend more time with the kids. Would you have a problem working with Leah and practicing with her?"
Marcus shook his head, "Not at all, in fact we can both do it. I will have Luke and Kira one day and you can work with Leah on the field, then we will just switch the next time." JW nodded his head and had to climb to his feet to chase the ball Luke just threw.
Marcus looked at his phone, "How long is this going to take each day?"
JW shrugged, "I think they said an hour and half."
Marcus sighed and looked over his shoulder, "What do you think of the other parents?"
JW shrugged, "I don't give a shit about them. I am here for Leah."
Marcus nodded and saw all of the other parents sitting in the bleachers, talking and occasional someone would point towards JW and Marcus and the whole group would turn to look in their direction. Marcus desperately wanted to head over there and talk to them, to help smooth things over but Marcus knew that JW just wants to be left alone and does not want to rock the boat at all. Marcus knew JW was wrong in this situation but Marcus had to remind himself why they were here and it had nothing to do with the two gay men but one little girl that just wanted to be a kid. Marcus leaned back on his elbows and looked up into the sky, "To bad it's so hot, I can guarantee Leah is going to sleep well tonight."
JW nodded his head and looked over to the large group of parents sitting in the bleachers and shuddered. JW thought to himself about what the other parents must be saying and JW was suddenly very self-conscious and felt sick to his stomach. Marcus looked at JW and saw him staring at the other parents and asked, "Feel like going over there and saying hi?" Marcus watched JW jump at the question and JW's reaction was proof enough he was miserably uncomfortable.
JW climbed to his feet, "Lets go sit in the shade over there." Marcus looked where JW pointed and then looked around the soccer field, "There is shade right over there just past the bleachers." JW didn't respond and started to slump his shoulders and hang his head.
Marcus climbed to his feet, picked up Luke, looked at JW, "Over there is just fine. You should get Kira though because you won't be able to see her from over there."
Marcus was already sitting in the grass and tossing the ball to Luke when JW and Kira walked up. JW sat down next to Marcus and quietly whispered, "Thank you."
Marcus smiled and put his hand on JW's leg, "No problem man. This spot is fine." Marcus watched JW who obviously didn't know what to do and sat there twitching nervously, Marcus asked, "Are you ok?"
JW nodded his head and mumbled something that Marcus could not understand, Marcus leaned over to ask JW what was going on but JW quickly leaned in for a kiss and pulled his head back. Marcus smiled and looked at JW who was now flushed red with embarrassment, "Aw, you wanted to say thank you."
JW smiled, nodded his head and went back to looking at the kids on the soccer field. Marcus asked Kira to play with Luke while JW and Marcus sat quietly together and watched Leah's practice. Thirty minutes passed as JW watched the pack of girls wonder off to the bleachers and meet their parents. Marcus realized what was going and immediately turned to JW to see what his reaction would be. Marcus watched JW as the realization that Leah did not know where they were at and she walked around trying to find her father with the other parents.
JW stood up and called out to Leah, Leah locked on to him and ran across the soccer field to JW, huffing for air she asked, "What are you guys doing over here? All the parents are over there."
Marcus watched JW's head drop to his chest, his heart shatter and JW lied, "We wanted to sit in the shade." Leah turned and looked back to the bleachers, "There are a bunch of trees right there. Why didn't you sit over there?"
Marcus climbed to his feet and interjected, "We didn't see that. So what did you think of your first practice?" Leah switched gears immediately and talked the entire time on the walk back to the car, the drive home and as she ran into the house. JW on the other hand sat there silent, not making eye contact and obviously thinking about something.