Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Jimmy & Richie - 1. Chapter 1
“Mom, I'm home, here's the mail.”
“Brandon called and said he'd be home for Christmas. He said he's bringing the love of his life with him. I wonder what she is like."
"It'll be good to see Brand again. I really miss him, he was always there for me.” I remember when I was in eighth grade, and he was a senior, one of the sophomores was giving me some grief, Brand set him straight, today he's my friend. Brand had a way about himself that seemed to pacify any intense situation. “Yep, it'll be good to see him again.”
The weekend before Christmas, I went to the mall to finish my Christmas shopping. I now needed to buy a gift for Brand. “Mike, you buying me a present?”
“Hey Jimmy, what are you doing here. I heard you already bought my present.”
Laughing, “Brandon is coming home with his significant other. I'm just looking to see what I can buy that would be nice for both of them.”
“Didn't Brand like classical music? Maybe you could get him a cd.”
“Good idea, if he doesn't like it, I'll keep it. I'm really looking forward to having him home for the holidays.”
“Let's go to the movies tonight."
Mike was my closest friend. We have been friends since first grade. He lived in the same neighborhood. We belonged to the same church and school clubs. Both of us played football which resulted in us receiving football scholarships. The only problem was that we’d be parting after graduation. I was going to Ohio State, he was going to FSU. I bought two cd's and headed home.
“Did Brand say when he was coming home?”
“No, but I expect him soon after school lets out for the holidays.”
Brand received his degree in education and found a job in Iowa. He was attending Iowa State, working toward a master's degree in education.
Christmas Eve, mom was very excited. Brand had called and said they were on the way and should arrive about six pm. Mom was planning a special dinner, the smells of a beef roast were strong in the house. My mom was an excellent cook, I recalled many fantastic meals that came from her kitchen.
It was five thirty when I heard a car stopping in our drive way.
"Mom, Brand is here." We all ran to the door to welcome Brand home along with his partner. I watched Brand get out of the car, followed by another guy. For the moment, I was confused, was Brand gay? We waited on the porch for Brand. Mom hugged him, kissed him a kiss on his cheek, Dad shook his hand. Dad looked like he didn't understand what was going on. I just got a hug and a lift-off my feet.
"Mom, Dad, I want you to meet Charles Eastering, my partner.” All of a sudden, everything got quiet. My dad's face turned red when he realized what Brand said.
"Get out of here. You're not welcomed in my home. No fag is going to stay here. Get back in your car and don't ever come here again."
Mom started to cry, I was in shock, but only for a minute. Brand picked up his luggage, took Charles by the arm, and led him to his car. I ran after Brand, grabbed him, and gave him a hug. "It's ok Jimmy. I was hoping that he'd change his mind. He was always angry when he saw two guys holding hands. I had to take this chance, now I know I'm no longer welcomed here. Take this envelop, open it in your room, and don't tell anyone about it."
“Jimmy, get your ass back here. Leave those fags alone." Charles got in the driver side and started the car. Brand just shook his head and left.
When I walked up to the porch, Mom was crying. “Jimmy, you're not to talk to that fag, and if I catch you, I'll kick your ass out as well."
I hugged Mom, "It'll be ok. I'll be away soon, I'm not afraid of dad." Dad was Jaime Ricardo. He was, or thought he was, a macho man who detested gays. He never realized that he has now lost both sons. I couldn't stay here once I left for college. I really felt sorry for Mom. She couldn't leave.
Later that evening, I opened Brand's envelope. There’s a hundred dollar bill, a business card and a short note telling me to address all of my correspondence to Charles. The business card belonged to Charles. He was a lawyer in business with his father from what I could tell. The card indicated Charles Eastering, partner of Eastering and Eastering.
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- 1
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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