If this is illegal where you live, you are under age or you are offended by gay love then I suggest you leave now. Since you are still here, enjoy. Drop me a line, I would like to hear from you. joecollins7420@yahoo.com
Chapter 8
The SUV and utility trailer were loaded. We were now ready to go. Ellen asked to ride shotgun because she didn't want to risk getting carsick from riding in the backseat.
After a very enjoyable trip, we arrived at our destination, our home for the next 3 days. It was love at the first sight for Martha and Ellen. Tony and I had already fallen in love with the place.
Martha and Ellen took off for the beach. Upon their return, they headed outback. Tony and I heard Martha scream and went running out to see what had happened to her. She had found the two pack horses and the donkey along with a pen full of chickens and the other animals.
"Martha, you about scared us to death. I was sure that you found that big ole snake that hides near the chicken pen." Laughed Tony
"He had just better keep on hiding. I will grab him by the tail and snap his head off. Then I will feed him to you for breakfast." Martha said in a fit of laughter.
Soon they were in the garden and then the orchard. "Tony, I think I will just move out here. I love this place. Ellen do you want to come with me. I need some company and someone to chauffeur me around. Tony will just have to get us a car so we could have transportation."
"I don't think so! There is transportation already here. There is a pack horse for each of you." Tony almost keeled over from laughing so hard. "Martha, I think we had better go to the house, I just saw two cars drive into the drive-way. I am expecting Mary, who is in charge of selling this place. I have already paid for it and now all that is left to be done it signing the paper work."
Jeff and Mary knocked on the front door. After introductions, Mary suggested using the kitchen table again.
"Ellen and Martha, How would you like to have a whirl-wind tour of the neighborhood while they are completing the deal for the house." Asked Jeff. Ellen and Jeff would just look at each other and smile and their eyes would twinkle.
"I would love to go a sight seeing tour!" replied Martha. "Let's go."
"Mary, do you know if the blue Ford in the garage runs?" Asked Dave.
"Sure does and it is in good shape too. The license is still good on it. It goes with the place and I have the keys right here." Replied Mary.
"Good, Tony I will make a deal with you later. I just talked with Mom and my friend Jerry and they are just getting into the airport. They decided to come a couple of days early. I can take the Ford and go meet them. I will see all of you when you return."
"The car is yours, Dave. Be careful going into town. There are lots of deer on the prowl this time of day. Catch up with you later."
"Thanks, Tony."
"Here are the keys and bill of Sale in case you get stopped. The insurance is still good for a few days then you will have to transfer everything to your name. You had better stop by the General Store and put some gas in it. Just tell them that Mary sent you in. Have Fun!" Said Mary.
In a few minutes, Dave was on his way into town to pick up his mom and his friend. He had time to himself and he had a millions thoughts running through his mind. A couple of times, he almost turned around but somehow he manage to keep going. There was no turning back now. He knew it would take all the courage he could muster and then some to continue. He had no idea what lay ahead of him.
In due time, he found himself pulling into the airport. He just sat in the car for several minutes just shaking. He finally convinced himself that he just had to go inside. He went to a telephone and paged his mother. Within minutes, his mother, friend, and another woman appeared.
He ran to his mother and friend and just stood there hugging them. All three were just sobbing. "Mom, I have to sit down. My legs are turning to rubber."
"I am with you, I, also, need to sit. Jerry why don't you introduce your wife. I know Dave is just dying with curiosity." Mom said.
"Jerry, I am so happy for you. There has not been a day that has gone by that you haven't been in my thoughts and prayers since that horrible night when Dad came busting into the room. You look great man! I would have never recognized you, if I had met you on the street. You developed into one good looking dude and changed your hair color." Dave said with a smile.
"I hope that you don't have a lot of luggage. I only have a small car. If everything doesn't fit then we can just make another trip."
Soon we were pulling into Tony's house. "Mom, this Tony's place. He is up at a lake house and won't be back until Monday. We have full use of the house. I bet you didn't get any food on the plane. No, matter, I will fix something when we get inside. We have a lot of catching up to do." Dave said trying very hard not break down and start crying. He did however, get a few tears in his eyes.
Dave showed everyone to their rooms and told them they could freshen up while he fixed something to eat. After they were finished eating, they all went into the living room to drink their coffee.
Dave started the ball rolling and told everything that he had done since he was kicked out of the house. He left nothing out, including how he met Tony. He had never gone on a date since that horrible night. He had several one night stands that he had picked up in a bar. He did say that Tony was becoming more that just a friend. For the time being, we are just friends and have not gotten romantically involved but we're getting real close.
"Mom, I don't want to put you on a spot, but how are things going with you and Dad?"
"I didn't know how I was going to bring it up, but now that you have opened the door, I think I can talk freely. We are here today, because of your Dad. Things never got any better after you left. If fact, they got even worse."
"Your dad started drinking and joined several race, gay and anti-American hate groups. Jerry, I know that you want to say something but please let me finish and then you can tell your story. I am afraid that if I stop now, I may not be able to start again."
"Your dad never touched me physically but he would attack me almost every day mentally. I thought that I would end up as a basket case in the mental hospital. Thanks to Jerry here, I was able to keep my sanity. Last month, things finally came to a head. Your dad had the whole town riled up. He had become a self appointed minister of some little odd ball church and you can guess what his sermons were about. At least, I refused to go to his church and for some reason he never tried to force me. Thank God!"
"He organized a protest march against a young African-American man who was the owner of a small repair shop. They were picketing outside his store and he came out and asked them to leave. The protestors started yelling and shouting racial slurs at the young man. Then someone called him a black fagot. He shoved a man and the crowd turned on him. Two men held him while your dad beat him with a 2x4 almost killing him. Some one yelled cops and they all ran away. Fortunately the young man survived. No one was talking and no one would identify any of the protestors. Everyone was afraid of retaliation by the group participating in the protest march."
"Your turn now Jerry. Just remember to save the ending for me."
"Your dad made life a living hell for me all these years. I was never allowed to live my own life. I lost job after job and even got kicked out college because of your dad. I even lost a small business, I started in a nearby town. Many a time I wanted to take a gun and snuff out his life. Fortunately, I never did."
"I moved away and met Lucy. We were married last year. I made the mistake of taking her home to meet my parents. Your dad happened to see us one day and started in again. We had to sneak out of town during the night".
"He kept after my parents and one day they let it slip as to my whereabouts. He paid us a visit just after the incident your mother described. The two men who had held the poor man were with him. I was afraid that they would do something to me or Lucy. They were bragging about what they had done and would do the same thing to me. Lucy, bless her heart, went into the bathroom and called the cops, who came with sirens blasting. Our three visitors ran out the back way and were able to elude the policemen."
"Lucy and I decided to put a stop to all the craziness your dad was doing. We told the police everything including the names and addresses of all involved in the beating incident. They wanted to know if I would testify in court. I said I would but Lucy was to remain out of the picture."
"Mrs. Jackson er DeWeese, your turn." Jerry said.
"Now people were really starting to talk. More and More came forward with names and information of all the hate crimes that taken place for the last 7 years and signing statements. The police arrested 14 people who got 1 to 5 years in prison. Your dad and the two men with him got the largest sentence 20 years. I guess you know that Jerry, Lucy and I really celebrated."
"We are in the FBI witness protection program just in case some of your dad's old cronies try to get back at us. We have new identities and all that good stuff. We will stay here for two weeks and then we don't know where they will move us. They have wiped all my phone records clean, the computer hard drive, issued new identities, even changed our appearances. There should be no way for anyone to find us. You won't be able to call us but we will call you through the FBI. You will be able to visit but again the FBI will take care of all the arrangement. At this point we don't even know where we will be."
"Mom, are you sure that this is what you really want. What about your friends and family. Can you leave all that behind?" Asked Dave.
"Dave, Tomorrow is another day. We can only guess about what it will bring. Yes, we are ready to make a new life for ourselves. Anything will be better than the ones we are leaving behind. We are going to take life one day at a time and live each day to the fullest." Mom said with tears in her eyes.
"Mom, Jerry and Lucy, you will always be in my heart. I love all three of you and nothing and I mean nothing can ever change that. I am glad for you and my prayers will be with you where ever you may be. I just wish that life hadn't dealt us such a raw, terrible blow. That is all over and behind us now. I say let's forget the past and live for today. Yes, tomorrow is another day."
"Dave, what was said in this room must never leave this room. That means you can't tell anyone. Promise?" Mom asked.
"I promise, Mom. I love the three of you way to much to ever put you in harms way again." Dave couldn't hold it together any longer and burst into tears. The other three joined him. The three of them just stood there hugging each other and crying.