Shadow of my Father - 15. Chapter 15

(DANIEL SR’s POINT OF VIEW)

When I left the house I really felt bad. I felt it is too early for me to leave the kids right now. Martha and I just split up and I know she is out there causing trouble. My mother just moved in to help me out but my primary concern is Josh.

Josh is now moving into his teen years, that are hard for any teen, but for him being gay is going to be even harder. The world has changed over the years. At least my son might have it a little easier than someone gay in my generation had it. Still, being gay in this country, in this State isn’t going to be easy.

Then there is his mother I always will have to worry about. She has this hatred against gays as a result of her upbringing, not a fault of her own. She was taught from childhood gay people are evil; that it is a conscious choice like what to wear the next day. I really can’t blame her for her upbringing, but I can blame her for the way she treated our son. She still did it even after I warned her not to do so. Then to top it off, she tried to throw in my face that I couldn’t divorce her because of the choices I just made to run for office.

I am so worried for Josh right now. Once it gets out around school he is going to go through hell. I want to be there to protect my son. Any hurt that might come his way, I want it instead. He doesn’t deserve anything else except happiness.

All of a sudden I hear Leonard James call me. I look up as he approaches me with several other people. As they walk up to me I stand up to shake their hands. Mr. James introduces the other people he has with him.

“General Lopez it is good to see that you made it ok. Your speech and way you put things together the other night, well let me say was great! I would have never thought of doing anything like that for a Governor’s race. You are really a man of the people and you come from the people. It has been a long time since we have had that.”

“Thank you for your comments, Mr. James. That is who I am and I don’t know any other way to be. I grew up lower middle class and stayed lower middle class,” I explained.

“Again I see where you are coming from General Lopez. As you know, I head of the State Republican Party so I don’t get involved in each campaign directly. You told me what you are looking for in a campaign manager and I believe I found that person for you.

Let me introduce you to Richard Stewart. He has been involved in politics for some fifteen years almost. He hasn’t been involved in anything here in Texas as yet, but he has been involved in plenty of successful races in Wyoming.”

“It is nice to meet you Richard! Am happy to have you onboard with my campaign, I truly hope it isn’t going to be a short political career.”

“It is an honor to be on board you campaign General Lopez. First, please call me Rich. I know the family of one of the students that go to school with your children.”

“What a small world this is. May I ask who it is that you know?”

“Yes sir it isn’t much of a secret. Jacob Hernandez goes to school with your children. I believe he is a year ahead of your son, Josh. It is Jacob’s grandfather I know really well and have done a lot with over the years in Wyoming.”

“Well I need to let my son know this. I have heard Jacob’s name once or twice from Josh. I don’t think they know one another, but they have met. Let me ask you this, where do we start?”

“Well, you did a good start by throwing your hat into the ring. But now we need to get in front of the story of you and your wife. It will break, and when it does, it could throw us down before we even can get started.”

Rich and I went into my campaign office in Austin to talk about that issue and many others. I explained to him what happened in great detail from Josh being gay to how my wife reacted to the news. I worry that Josh is going to be a nasty tool that the other party is going to use over and over again.

“Look I am not going to lie to you General Lopez, they will use it. They will trash your son in the news over and over again until the cows come home. What we need to do in order to get front of both of these stories is get on the talk shows.

Talk shows reach the voting audience we want and need. They will listen to your story and understand it. If we come out with it first, the other side can’t use it. If they try, they will look very petty doing so and it will backfire on them.”

“Which talk shows are you thinking about getting me on?” I asked not having a clue about any of this type of strategy.

“I really only want one, and that is the Tonight Show. It reaches a fan base of undecided voters that always make or break a campaign. Later if needed, we will do sit downs with other talk shows or news agencies. We will make our decision at that point after we get some solid polling data.”

We sat there talking about a lot of ideas on how to run the campaign. Rich and I came to agreement on almost all of the items. The few we didn’t. We could put on the back burner temporarily. He left me feeling good telling me at the end it is always going to be my decision. He will go along with whatever I decide.

(ELZABETH’S POINT OF VIEW)

I am tired of getting the run around from Josh’s friends. I need to know if the rumors are true about him. The only way I can get to the bottom of the rumors is by going to the source; Josh’s older brothers.

I found them hanging where they always hang, on the football field. These stupid jocks hang and slap each other on the back. They are the only ones that do it to each other. If they didn’t slap each other on the back, they wouldn’t get any praise.

“Hey Carlos and Daniel, can I speak with you guys for a minute please?” I patted them on the back as I reached them.

They followed me to the other side of the field. I looked at both of them hoping they will not lie to me.

“I need to know what is up with your brother Josh. I have been hearing rumors that you guys have started that he is gay. Is that true? Is that the reason he left me and not because of that bitch Bernice?”

“Look Elizabeth we don’t know what happened between you and Josh. All we know is one day he came in and said it was over between you two not explaining why. We didn’t even ask why. He is our little brother, we didn’t care.

Whatever rumors you are hearing you shouldn’t look for confirmation of them. Just drop it or you will be burnt with it as we have. Trust me you don’t want to be in the position we are in now, or our mother.”

“Carlos, stop trying to beat around the bush about this. I know something is going on. I just can’t put my finger on it but I know I am close to it. Now just let me decide if I want to get involved with whatever is going on here. I am a grown up lady and I can handle anything you throw at me.”

Carlos and Daniel looked at each other then back at me. They smiled almost at the same time. I really didn’t like the smile that crept on their faces at the same time. It just freaked me out they did it together.

“Look Carlos is trying to save you trouble, but it looks like you want it. After what we tell you, you will be on my father’s shit list like the others.”

“Daniel I am already on your father’s shit list. It isn’t anything new to me. So just cut to the chase and tell me what I want to know. Did you guys tell others that Josh is gay? If so, is the rumor true you are spreading around school?”

“Yes we started spreading the rumor around school and yes Josh is gay. He told my father, my father told my mother, and then our mom told Carlos, Brandon and me. So do whatever you want with the information. Just remember this warning. If you do use it the way I think you are going to use it, you are done at this school.”

I couldn’t believe I heard a threat like that from Daniel. Who in the hell does he think he is? He and Carlos are the ones going around spreading the rumors. All I am trying to do is get it confirmed.

“I can’t believe you are threatening me Daniel. I can take anything you dish out and more. So try and take me on and you will see.”

“Elizabeth it isn’t Carlos or I you have to worry about. Once your squad of cheerleaders hears what you are doing, you are out of here. Not just off the squad, they are itching for a reason to take you down. Things like what you are doing here is their reason!”

“Fuck you and fuck them. Let then try and do something to me. I am in the right here and Josh isn’t. He lied to me and to top it all off, he dumped me for a guy. Oh no, that will not work in my books at all! Your brother is going to answer for what he has done.”

I stormed off mad as hell. I couldn’t believe my worries are coming true. He hung with that fagot Chris and now he is a fag. I warned him and his family this was going to happen but no they didn’t listen to me. Now Josh is gay and I have got to fix it.

I headed straight to the pool where I knew Josh is going to be. I am not going to wait one more minute to confront him about the lies he told me. I need to get him to tell me the truth and then expose him for what he is; a lying piece of fag shit!

As I reached the pool, I went through the main entrance. We all knew these doors are never locked. Plus the Coach or any other team members are guarding the entrance to the pool. I just walked right through to the pool.

The minute I walked in I started yelling for Josh. I saw him pulling himself out of the pool in those skimpy panties. No right man should wear swim trunks that small or tight. Josh tried to catch me before I walked completely in.

The first person I ran into is the Coach of the swim team. He tried to hold me back, but couldn’t. There is no way I am going to let him protect this ass from what he deserves. I pushed right through the Coach.

I made it maybe another five or ten feet in when Josh caught up to me. He tried to grab hold of me but I brushed him off like I did the Coach. Before Josh could react I took my opportunity while his guard is down. I slapped him across the face as hard as I could. I looked at him and started to yell; “You fucking asshole, how could you do this to me?”

Coach stepped in and grabbed my hand as I tried to hit Josh again. I already left a huge read mark on his face from the first slap. I wanted to hit him even more. I wanted to hurt him so badly, to make him feel a little of what I am feeling right now.

“Elizabeth you will come with me to the Principal’s office. You just can’t barge in here and start hitting on one of my swimmers. I don’t care the reason why.”

I pushed off the Coach’s hand that was on my arm. I got surprised when I went to hit Josh again. He didn’t even try to move or defend himself. I just started hitting Josh as hard as I could over and over again.

Thinking to myself why did he dump me, why? For that guy over there that turned him gay? My Josh isn’t gay. He is a man, not a fairy. Damn Chris for doing this to my Josh, damn them both to hell! That is where they are going anyways.

I looked up once again into Josh’s face. He is now bleeding from the nose and it looks like I actually cut his eye with the ring on my finger. I didn’t give a damn. I kept hitting him over and over again. I started to yell out for all to hear.

“Don’t you understand who you are defending here? Not only he is a liar and a cheat, but a fucking faggot to top it off! Aren’t you guys supposed to hate gays and not want to be around them? Look around, you have two in your midst!”

“Enough Elizabeth of this scene you are putting on here. This isn’t drama class. You are acting like a child and it is time you come with me to the Principal’s office.”

I shrugged off the Coach once again as he tried to pull me off Josh. By this time all the swim team was out of the pool. They made their way over to me and Josh. They want to know what is going on.

“You have two team members that are gay, Josh here and his lover over there, Chris. You can’t be men if you accept them for what they are. It is time we rid this team and school of these faggots!” I screamed.

The Coach actually pulled me away from Josh. But he didn’t get me away in time. I actually busted Josh’s lip open and cut up his cheek really bad with the rings I have on. Still wanting more blood, I got away from the Coach and went for Josh again.

This time several of the members of the swim team jumped in between Josh and me. With their help, Coach pulled me out of the pool area kicking and screaming.

“Even your own brothers can’t stand you Josh. They are the one’s telling everyone the truth about you. That is how I found out that you are gay. You better get used to this. Your kind isn’t wanted here at this school or even at your own home!”

(JOSHUA’S POINT OF VIEW)

I stood there at the entrance of the pool area not wanting to turn around. I can feel all the eyes of the guys on me, just burning holes on my back. At the same time I felt the blood dripping from my eyes, nose and lip. I couldn’t stand the feeling of everyone just starring at me, I just couldn’t.

I walked to the locker room not even looking back to the others. I quickly grabbed my clothes from my locker, threw on my pants, shirt and shoes without shocks. I walked as fast as I could out of the locker room without looking like I am trying to run away.

As soon as I got outside of the building I just started running home. I wanted to get into my house as fast as I could. I didn’t want anyone to see me the way I am right now. Plus I am about to break down and just loose it. I can’t explain it, but I am so embarrassed with the way everything went down with Elizabeth and me.

Once I got home, I went straight up stairs into the bathroom. For the first time I looked at myself in the mirror since I left the pool area. Man, did Elizabeth really leave her mark. I washed my face the best that I could. Just as I started to put some ointment on my face, I heard my grandmother at the bathroom door.

“Who is here, Daniel, Carlos, Josh, Brandon, who is here?”

“It is me grandma, I got home a little early from practice.”

I couldn’t believe how much my voice cracked as I talked. Knowing my grandmother she noticed my voice as well. She will not leave unless she feels everything is ok with me.

“Josh come out of there for a minute please. I need to see that you are ok.”

I unlocked the bathroom door and stepped out. My grandmother just looked at me as I walked out of the bathroom. Her face changed from one look to another within seconds. She first had a look of alarm, but now of anger and worry.

“Who did this to you Josh? I want to know right now who did this you. I will not stand for anyone hurting my grandchildren. Josh I want to know who did this to you!”

I have never seen this side of my grandmother before. She is actually very concerned and mad. I just stood there shaking not answering her. I thought she would start yelling at me. Instead she walked up and held me. She held me like my mother used to do when I was smaller. I haven’t had any one hold me like this in a very long time. Because of that I just broke down and started to cry.

“Josh, please don’t cry. You don’t give these guys the satisfaction of beating you. You have a big heart and honest soul. Please let’s go into my room and get you cleaned up right. I don’t want any infection to set in.”

I wiped my eyes as my grandmother and I walked into her room. She grabbed out a box with all sorts of first aid stuff. I sat there on her bed as she cleaned my face. Of course she couldn’t put a bandage on my lip, but she put it on the cut above my eye. Cleaned up my cheek as well, but couldn’t put a bandage on it.

“There Josh you are all fixed up. You are as strong as your father was when he was your age. Do you know you remind me the most of your father when he was growing up? He had and still has his own mind. Not wanting to follow the crowd, but rather to lead. He didn’t do it to be popular, but because he wanted to change things for the better.”

“Thank you grandma for everything! I feel a whole lot better now after talking with you.”

“Can you tell me who did this to you? Is it the other boys on your swim team that did it or other boys at school in general?”

At first I didn’t want to say a word. If you really look at it, it looks bad be beaten up by a girl. I didn’t want to look like a sissy boy in front of my grandmother. But somehow I think she would not think badly about me if I told her.

“Grandma, it wasn’t anyone on the swim team or boys at school. My x-girlfriend Elizabeth found out that I am gay and confronted me during swim practice. She started hitting over and over again. I didn’t raise a finger to her. Dad and mom always taught us not to hit a woman.”

“Josh they are right about not hitting a woman but Elizabeth is the exception in my book. The little girl has stepped over the line for the very last time. Between her and your mother, you will not get a moment’s rest.”

“Please grandma I am already embarrassed enough about the scene earlier. I just want to put it behind me and just move on. I decided on my way home to quit the swim team. They don’t want me on the team now that they know I’m gay so why should I stay and help win meets for a team that wouldn’t help me when I needed their help?”

“Josh you shouldn’t quit because of Elizabeth. If being on the team is compromising your academics or your personal life, then, by all means, leave the team. I just don’t want you being run off and then later you find you regret it.”

“Grandma I have been thinking about quitting for at least week now. With Glee practice and swim team I just don’t have time to do anything I want to do. I barely have enough time for homework as it is.”

“You are very smart kid Josh. I will leave Elizabeth alone for now, but I want to know who told her. I want the rumors to stop. It should be up to you to who you want and when you want, not for the rumors to take it over.”

I lied to my grandmother for the very first time by telling her I didn’t know who told Elizabeth. I didn’t want Daniel or Carlos to get into trouble. Plus I just want this to go away. I am tired of being the center subject conversation all the time now.

While my grandmother went down and got dinner going, I went to my room to start on my homework. Before I knew it, I heard my grandmother calling out that dinner is ready. I closed the book I was reading and went down for dinner.

When I walked into the kitchen to sit down, my brothers looked at me. Brandon had a worried look on his face, but Daniel and Carlos had a surprised look on theirs. Carlos broke the silence within seconds of seeing me.

“Please Josh tell me that Elizabeth didn’t do that to you.”

I didn’t say a word but my grandmother didn’t look very happy.

“Carlos you better not be telling me that you and Daniel are the ones that told Elizabeth about your brother. Did you, or did you not tell Elizabeth about your brother?”

“Grandma when Elizabeth came over to us she already knew. She just wanted us to confirm what she heard. We didn’t know that she was going this far. I thought she was going to just talk with Josh that’s all.”

Our grandmother just looked at Daniel and Carlos. I have never seen her look this mad before in my life. So far today I have seen to different sides of our grandmother I haven’t seen before. It really looks like she doesn’t know what to say right now.

“You both can’t be this stupid! You just can’t be this stupid! You have my blood running through your veins! What a job your mother has done to you two. I have never seen this much hate that you brothers have for another brother.

Right now I don’t even know what to do. I am so ashamed that you are my grandchildren. One thing is for sure here, you two don’t have respect for your brother, family or your father. You have been asked to stop this, and yet look at the result of your hate. You two need to know that you are as much to blame as Elizabeth is on this. As Elizabeth hit your brother and it is as if you two did it as well.”

Our grandmother got up from the table and started to walk out. Right as she reached the door to the hallway. She turned around and spoke once more before leaving.

“You know because what you guys did is going to cause your brother to quit the swim team. To top it all off which I find funny about all this your brother didn’t tell on you two. I will be speaking with your father about this. It will be up to him about what to do.”

As she left it got very quiet in the kitchen. We just sat there looking at each other. I was the next up from the table. I put my dishes in the dishwasher and headed back upstairs. There is really nothing that is going to change the hate my brothers have for me. I am no longer going to try anymore.

(COACH MONTOYA’S POINT OF VIEW)

It was a strange afternoon if I say so myself. After taking Elizabeth to the Principal’s office, I returned to find Josh was gone. The team was not practicing, but having a meeting about what just happened. Chris wasn’t even participating in the meeting. He was standing on the other side of the pool.

I walked up to the swim team to see what they were talking about. I already knew before I even got there due to Chris being separate from the others. When I approached them, they stood up and looked at me.

“Tell me what is so important that you guys are not practicing. No matter if I am here or not, you guys keep practicing. So tell me what is so damn important that you guys feel you need to be having a meeting on my time.”

“Coach we feel it is best for the team that Josh isn’t part of it anymore. We can’t be around I guy that lied to us. With the fact that he lied to us about him being gay there is no way we can be in the same locker room with him.”

“Do you guys understand what you are asking of me to do? If you remove Josh from the team, we more than likely will loose our meets and not get anywhere this year. Not one of you can take his spot and perform the way he does.”

“We discussed that and willing to take a loss then have a team member on our team like Josh. If you don’t remove Josh from the team, we will walk. That includes Chris as well. He can’t be back in the locker room when we change.”

I looked at the guys and walked away. Letting them know that practice is over for the day. I walked over to Chris and asked him to wait out here for his safety. I went into the locker room where the rest of the swim team was.

“Well boys you think you have me by the balls. I am here to tell you that you don’t. I am throwing every one of you off the team. You won’t have a chance to walk off. I will also black ball you to all the teams on this campus and in this City. You guys will never swim again. Now, just in case you haven’t thought about it, that means you will not go to college.

I promise you, even if your family has the money to move to another city and does, your school record will follow you and I will make sure what you did here is on it. No other school wants trouble makers in their program. You just sealed your future with one stupid stunt.”

I looked around at the guys standing before me. They all have stunned looks on their faces. They actually thought they could tell me how to run my team. I will never let a student or a group of students dictate to me who to have on the team and who not to have on the team.

“Clear out your lockers as you leave the building gentlemen. Our swim season is over this year. At least for you guys it is!”

On my way out of the locker room, I let the guards know that I was leaving for the day. They needed to keep an eye out and I told them why. I found Chris where I left him as I walked through the pool area.

As Chris and I walked to the car in silence I couldn’t believe how weird this afternoon was. From Elizabeth coming and acting the way she did, to the way the swim team tried to tell me how to run my team. One thing is for sure, I have no team for the rest of the year. Even if Josh returns, the season is over.

(HEATHER’S POINT OF VIEW)

I just couldn’t believe the shit I was hearing during breakfast. The stunt that Elizabeth pulled on Josh is unbelievable. I looked around to cafeteria to see if I could spot Elizabeth. It is time for this shit to end. I didn’t find her anywhere. I looked over to see if Josh came to school, but I didn’t seem him either.

I walked out of the cafeteria with the other cheerleaders behind me. None of Elizabeth’s friends are even in the cafeteria. What a chicken shit little bitch she is. She has been warned and still went against the will of the cheerleaders in the squad. No more of this.

As I made my way around the building getting close to the field I spotted Elizabeth and the other freshman cheerleaders. They are sitting on the stair case leading into the side of the building. Without any warning, I walked right up to Elizabeth.

Grabbing her by her shoulders and tossing her down two stairs. The other freshman cheerleaders were about to jump in when they saw the rest of the senior cheerleaders. They stepped away and just let me do what is needed to be done.

“You are one nasty little bitch! I told and told you to let it be, but you just couldn’t. You found out that your ex is gay and you go right over and act like a little snob. That is it! We are done with you. I warned you and you thought you could get away with it.”

Not even allowing Elizabeth to get up, I got on top of her and started slapping her as hard as I could. I slapped her on her face and upper body. She couldn’t even get her arms up to protect her face, because I started to hit really fast.

“Josh wouldn’t hit back because he is an honorable man. He will never hit a woman, but I can. I will beat you to last year and then some, because you are not a woman. You are one wild brat of a bitch that needs to be shown her place!”

“Get off of me you bitch. I will kick your ass if you don’t get off of me right now!”

I got off of Elizabeth which surprised her. I looked at her with hate and anger in my eyes. If she couldn’t understand by now, her days here at this school are numbered.

“You said get off you and you won’t kick my ass. I want you to try and kick my ass you snob. I will even give you a free hit. If you don’t take it, I will finish what I started.”

Elizabeth just stood there shaking but not moving. It looks like she is trying to size me up. She is trying to see if I am actually going to go through what I threatened to do. If she doesn’t make a move any time soon, I will.

Just then she actually came at me. I dodged her as she tried to hit me. She came with me with all her weight which caused her to land on the ground. I stood allowing her to get up and get her footing. I did this in order for me to kick her ass fair and square.

This time we walked around in a circle sizing each other up. Waiting to see who is going to make the first move. I finally got tired of just standing and walking in a circle. Before Elizabeth could react, I grabbed onto her shoulders once again.

We started pulling at each other hair and clawing at each others arms and face. I never thought the old saying it is a cat fight between two women, but that is exactly what is going on here with me and Elizabeth.

I pulled Elizabeth to the ground and we kept trading spots with who is on top of whom. I finally got back on top and pinned Elizabeth. I knew at that moment I had her. It only took a couple more hits and she started crying out to let her go. I was not about to do that, I need to put her in her spot once and for all.

But the Principal and school guards had something else in mind for Elizabeth and me. I felt one of the guards pulling me off of Elizabeth. Still I have a different thought of the idea. I kept hitting her as well pulling at her hair as they pulled me off of her. She just laid there yelling that it was I that started the whole thing.

“Elizabeth I warned you yesterday when you were brought into my office. One more issue with you and you are out of here and I don’t care who starts it. I told you if you get involved you will be out of here.”

The Principal looked back at me then the guards pulling Elizabeth up from the ground. Elizabeth still yelling it wasn’t her that started this fight. She turned to the other cheerleaders and yelled to the Principal for him to ask them.

The Principal told the guards to take us to his office, but keep us separated from one another. He then looked at the others around and ordered them to the office as well. He isn’t taking any chances about the fact of who might have started this whole thing.

(ELIZABETH’S POINT OF VIEW)

I watched as each of my fellow cheerleaders walked into the conference room and back out. By the time the Principal met with all the cheerleaders and others that were standing around, my parents walked into the office. They really don’t look too happy about being here for the second day in a row.

The secretary walked them into the conference room. I sat down as they walked over to me. They took the seats on each side of the table. Before they did anything, they just looked at me. Just the look in their eyes I knew I was in deep trouble. Neither of them needed to speak a word to me in order for me to understand that.

“We just came from Martha Lopez’s house. She had nothing but good thing to say about you. It really surprised us that she had nothing but bad things to say about her own son. Still it doesn’t excuse you from getting into fights here at school. What is going on with these fights you had yesterday and again today?”

“Dad I promise you I didn’t start this fight today. I told you the truth about yesterday. I admitted I started the fight with Josh but today I didn’t start this one. The girl came up to me and just went off.”

Before my dad could say anything, the Principal walked in with several guards and his secretary. By him having the guards doesn’t bode well for me at all. All it is telling me is the others joined forces and backed up Heather.

“Elizabeth, I really don’t know where to begin here. You really don’t understand the trouble you are causing us here at the school. Because of your outburst yesterday in front of the swim team, they refused to have Josh on their team. The Coach expelled them from the team and shut down this years swim team.

Josh is now walking around this school with a target on his back from anybody that hates gays. I don’t care who started the rumors about Josh, you made the scene. Now this fight this morning is another problem.”

“Mr. Michaels I don’t know what the other students told you about the fight this morning, but Elizabeth here didn’t start it. As far as Josh is concerned, he did her wrong. He lied to her and made her think there was a future between the two.”

“Sir I hate to disagree with you on that, but you are wrong. Josh broke up with her because he felt bad not being honest with her about his interests. He didn’t drag your daughter along. She just wouldn’t let go of Josh after he let her go.

I have several reports of the problems she created Josh and his friends. I took over from a principal that got fired for not watching out for his students’ safety and welfare here. I came in with a zero tolerance for this kind of behavior.”

“Mr. Michaels my daughter can’t be suspended or expelled. If you choose to do so, I will contact the El Paso Independent School District Board and have you removed. I have the connections in order to do so.”

“Sir I am sorry to disagree with you once again. Whatever connections you have are moot. I just got off the phone with Board. They got a call from General Lopez. Whatever the conversation they had with the General, it was heated. They want me to make an example out of your daughter. Your threats will no longer work with me.”

I looked at my father seeing defeat in his face. He is obviously no longer the big man when it comes to the School Board. Josh’s dad is gaining so much power so quickly, people are afraid of getting on the wrong side with him.

“Now as far as your fellow cheerleaders they all backed Heather’s story. But the other students that were there watching the fight made a total different statement. I believe the other students that were there over your fellow cheerleaders.

Because this is your second fight in two days, I have to suspend you according to the policies. Even if you didn’t start it, you were involved. I warned you last night to steer clear of everyone for a few days. You might have tried, but evidently didn’t succeed.

Here is the deeper problem I see. You didn’t start the fight, but Heather did get off of you before it got bad. You could have walked away at that point and found a guard. You not only didn’t do that, you made the next move.

You are suspended for four days. You are not allowed to be on any after school team and that includes cheer leading. You are not to go near Josh or his friends when you return as I told you yesterday. I am now adding Heather and her friends. I am sorry if that includes your friends as well. I can’t afford any more of these problems. If you get into anymore fights here at school, either during school hours or on school property you will be expelled. I hope I am making myself clear Elizabeth?”

I shook my head as Principal Michaels gave me my suspension paper work to sign. After I signed it my father and mother signed it as well. At that point the Principal let me and parents leave. All the way home neither my mom nor dad would speak a word to me. They made a few remarks to each other, but not to me.

One thing is for sure, my plan is not succeeding. Josh has been outted, but here I am being sent home. He is off the swim team. I could only hope others at school will make his life miserable as hell.

(JOSHUA’S POINT OF VIEW)

I had to skip breakfast with the guys because my father called. My grandma told him what had happened yesterday. He isn’t a happy camper to say the least. He spoke with me to make sure I was ok and then to Daniel and Carlos.

When they got off the phone with our father, they were in tears. My dad has a way of punishing us, bringing us to tears, even if he is far away. He doesn’t believe in hitting us. He feels it isn’t the right way to discipline. But when he does yell, he makes us see we are wrong and feel what we did.

Daniel and Carlos came out to me and said they are sorry for being part of what Elizabeth did. By the looks in their faces I believe their words. I don’t care what they got in punishment, all I wanted was this.

For the first time since I started high school, we walked to school together. They actually talked to me about football and the other things they like to do. They actually treated me as an equal, as a brother.

Once we reached the school, we went our separate ways. You wouldn’t believe the first I ran into as I walked down the hall. Bernice. Yeah you heard me right, Bernice. She wasn’t happy with me for not finding her after what happened yesterday. After she looked me over she gave me a hug.

“Josh you won’t believe what I have to tell you. Elizabeth stepped into it bad this time when she went after you. You know the cheerleader Heather?”

I shook my head up and down. I saw her several times, and I think she actually talked to us once. Simply put, I am not for sure, because all cheerleaders look the same to me. But I do know of her and that she is part of the cheerleaders.

“Well Josh she found out about what Elizabeth did to you. She had already warned Elizabeth to let it go and if she didn’t, she would be off the squad. Well not only did Heather let her know that she is off the squad, she made it very clear with her fists. They actually got into a fight this morning. The whole school was there watching it.”

“You got to be kidding me Bernice. She deserves that. If I was a woman, I would have knocked her across the pool area yesterday. She is very lucky that I have respect towards women. Some guys don’t have respect towards women when they come up hitting them for whatever reason.”

“Well that isn’t even half of it Josh. She and Heather were taken into Principal Michael’s office with several other cheerleaders and bystanders. Heather got after school detention for a couple of days, but Elizabeth; well just let me tell you, she got suspended for four days. He father tried to scare the Principal”

It seems to me Bernice knows everything. I wonder if she has a recorder in the Principal’s office catching all the dirty secrets that go on in there! For me I am just glad to be having a break from Elizabeth for at least the rest of the week.

Without Elizabeth at school, it seemed a little calmer. As usual, I hung with the guys as we always do, talk. Now after school I go straight home. Since there isn’t anymore swim practice, that freed up my afternoons up.

Chris stopped hanging around us at school. Due to no more swim team, I didn’t see him at practice either. It is as if he fell off the face of the earth. I never had classes with him, or near him so I wouldn’t see him during the school day.

It hurt a lot at first that Chris stopped talking with me. He even stopped hanging around me. I don’t know the reason why he stopped coming around, I could only guess. No matter what happen between us, he will always be my first love. If he decided to end it, I can’t do a thing about it. Even when I saw the Coach in the halls at school, all we did is nod to each other.

When Elizabeth did return back to school the following week, she was shunned. No one would go around her. She is longer popular or hanging around the popular kids. I started feeling sorry for her, but Bernice reminded me she did it to herself.

During our six weeks exams, Frank stopped coming around as well. We never asked Patrick why, but I think I know. The look on Patrick’s face is the same look that has been on my face since Chris left. It is a look of a heart break. I only wish I could help him through the pain he is going through right now. I went through it already myself.

Things are changing faster than I could ever imagine. My dad is in double digits lead in the campaign. It looks like there is no way the current governor is going to catch up. The voters want to have a change and the change is my father.

My mom tried to hit the talk shows after my father went onto the Tonight Show. Due to my father talking about his pending divorce, the other party couldn’t use it against my father with the voters. They tried but looked so bad doing so they backed off real quick.

The one thing my mother couldn’t explain away is how she treated me when she found out that I am gay. She admitted on treating me the way she did, but tried to explain by saying her favorite words which buried her even deeper.

“Gays don’t deserve to live. Where ever they are, they are lesser than a dog.”

The couple of times the other party tried to use the pending divorce against my father, they dropped in polls. Even when they tried to use the subject of me being gay, they dropped in the polls. Once they saw it wasn’t getting them anywhere except backwards, they abandoned the subjects.

By late October the divorce between my mom and dad got finalized. Now my dad is a free man. I don’t think he likes the idea of being divorced! When the divorce came final, he was hurting a lot. He tried not to let us see it, but I know I did.

By then I got over the hurt that Chris did to me. Still I haven’t seen him at school. For that I think it made it easy for me to get over the hurt faster. I did find out that Coach Montoya moved Chris out of El Paso High in fear for his life.

I can kind of understand that, but still, Chris is living with the Coach. Why not come down and visit with me or call me up? The couple of times I tried to call him after the scene at the pool Coach answered and told me that Chris didn’t want to talk to me. I finally gave up hope of ever getting Chris back.

Our group of friends got smaller by Halloween, but we are a close knit group. None of us would ever turn on the other. We will always be there for each other no matter what. Bernice and Eric showed me that time and time again when I was hurting.

Halloween came and gone. The next thing we had to look forward to is the election. Although it was a short campaign for my father, it was rough. He had a lot of catching up to do because of his coming in at the last moment.

Remember, the Republican Party had their candidate, but he was forced to drop out of the race. They basically gave up on the Governor’s house of Texas when that happened. They thought that even after they picked my father.

Many Republican pundits hit the talk shows often telling anyone that wanted to listen that they don’t think they will win the Governor’s house in Texas because of the short time my father had to make a name for himself in the race in a short period of time. Over and over again they stated it is just experience that my father is gaining for the next time he runs for an office.

Once they saw he was getting ahead in polls, they wanted to come back to his camp. When that happened my father sent them packing. He felt if they didn’t back him when he was behind, he doesn’t want them around now when he is ahead. They proved they cannot be trusted or loyal when things get dicey.

Now my father is in the last week of the campaign and it is getting dirty. The Democrats are using every dirty trick in the book right now. Mr. Stewart was waiting for them to do so, and went after them when they started.

My father stayed on the positive in the campaign. Everyone knows exactly what he is going to do if the voters elect him. He was gaining strength being plain spoken. The voters turned out to hear my father speak in the tens of thousands where ever he went.

Mr. Stewart went out with other Republican Senators or state officials and flooded the media with all the broken promises of the first four years of the incumbent governor. Almost everything he promised the voters of Texas he would do if given a chance, he either went the other way or just never tried to work on it.

My father stayed away from the third rails of politics; you know abortion, death penalty, and gay rights. Once in a while the press would ask him where he stood and he would answer the question very simply.

“Right now we the people of Texas have other major issues to deal with. The high taxes and unemployment rate we are fighting right now must take first priority. After we fix the major issues of Texas I will come back to the people of Texas and let them know what I will take up to work on as far as those issues are concerned. I won’t do a thing unless the voters understand where I stand.

No matter what is said or I will do, there is always going to be voters of this state and any state that will not agree with me. That is why I need to get the voters to trust me first so when I say it is the right thing to do, they will trust me.”

That seemed to keep the press happy. It is said if you get into a debate about any third rail issues, you will loose due to voters being nearly evenly split on the issues. You will piss off one side or the other. It is best to get into office and show you can lead. Show that you are there for the voters, not the special interest groups. You might be able to work on those issues and have the backing of the majority. In short, it is a strategy for success.

No matter what the Democratic Party tried to do, they couldn’t get ahead in the polls. They couldn’t even cut into my fathers double digit lead. By Friday before the Tuesday election, it pretty much looked like a sealed deal. My father is going to be the next Governor of Texas.

When I arrived to school that Friday, I couldn’t help but see a life in the halls. You know like a skip in everyone’s step as they walk. I can’t put my finger on it, but it is unusual for so many to be all at once in a good mood.

As I walked towards the cafeteria, I ran into Joey. It seems that he has been looking for me or Chris. I completely forgot I had gone to him for some help dealing the issue of Chris’s father.

“I have been looking for you or Chris. I haven’t seen Chris for awhile, so I figure you can pass on a message for me.”

“I will do my best to get whatever message you might have for Chris. Just let me know and I will get it to Coach Montoya.”

Joey just stood there looking at me. It looked like he is debating if he should tell me whatever the news he has. At this point I really don’t care if he does or not. If Joey feels uncomfortable telling me, I will point him towards Coach Montoya’s office.

“Please don’t get me wrong here Josh, but you and Chris are friends still?”

“Chris is no longer attending El Paso High. Coach Montoya moved him out to another school. Don’t ask me why that had happened. If you don’t feel comfortable telling me whatever the news you have, please go down to the school pool and inform Coach Montoya about whatever you have. That is what I plan do if you tell me.”

“Well I don’t know Coach Montoya. So I will tell you and you go and tell Coach Montoya. I have spoken with Jacob’s grandfather. In return he got in touch with people he knows in the court system.

The long and short of it is this; when Chris’s dad goes in front of the judge and asked for his son back. There is going to be someone there fighting on his behalf. Chris’s behalf will be represented in that court.”

“Well that sounds good Joey. Thank you very much for all of what you have done on behalf of Chris. Please let Jacob’s family know that Chris is very appreciative. I will make sure Coach Montoya gets the information.”

After I shook Joey’s hand I headed over to speak quickly with Coach Montoya. I found him in his office. After I knocked and he invited me in. I told him what Joey told me as close to word by word as possible. As soon as I finished telling the Coach, I got up and left. I really have no need to be there any longer than I have to. It still hurts.

The rest of the day went by fast. Before I knew it, I walked into Glee Club. More and more I have been finding hate for everything I once liked. That includes Glee Club. I could only hope it is just a phase and I will work through it. We are still winning and looking forward to sectionals.

After school I went straight home. My father wanted us to meet him in Brownsville, Texas. For the last four days of the campaign we are to be with my father as he goes across the state of Texas one last time. Each day he will be speaking in at least four cities. The last scheduled stop on Monday evening will be back here in El Paso. This is going to be fun.

When we arrived in Brownsville Texas, I couldn’t believe the heat. I thought we were hot, but they have it worse with the high humidity and the high temperatures. It has to be the beach that is causing this humid hot. From the plane to the car I sweat out at least a couple gallons of water.

We met up with our father at the hotel. As we arrived, I spotted him coming out of the lobby. My brother’s and I went up and greeted our father for the whole world to see. Flash after flash is all I saw through the corner of my eye as the news agencies snapped away pictures of us.

We rode over to South Padre Island for my father’s speech. We crossed this long bridge in order to get there. Once we got across the bridge, the traffic was stopped. I figure it is to let my father through. But I found that it was also because people trying to get to the beach to hear my father speak.

I couldn’t believe all the people there to see my father. As far as the eye can see, the beach was filled with people. I am not lying when I say this. They are all supporters for my father. There is not one protester anywhere I can see protesting against my father or what he stands for.

Several local bands opened the entertainment. Then well known bands came out to perform for the audience. It is as if my father is running for an even higher office. I have never seen the likes of this in my life!

Before my father got introduced by the mayor, she spoke about how much good will come to this City if my father gets put into the Governor’s Office. As my father walked onto the stage, the audience just went crazy. They got so loud the entire city of Brownsville and the border town heard them. They are treating my father like a rock star!

He talked to the audience for about thirty five minutes before handing the microphone over to Reba McEntire. As she started to sing, we joined our father on stage. I felt so weird being there in front of so many people and cameras.

Once Reba sang her final song, we left not staying in Brownsville. We went straight from South Padre Island to the airport. All the way to the airport, the streets were lined up with people wishing my father good luck on Tuesday.

As the plane took off our dad pulled all of us in. We quietly looked at each other as we took a seat in the office on the plane. I couldn’t believe this plane actually has an office but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that it does. This campaign has energized not only Texas, but the nation as well.

“Ok guys I want to lay out what the next several days are going to be like. Most of the time you are going to be with me as I speak to the voters that show up to hear me speak! Some of the time you guys might be asked to speak to the press. If that happens, you will always be in pairs.”

He went on to tell us not to answer political questions. We are not to answer any question about where we think he stands any certain issues. If the press keeps throwing out those kinds of questions, we will be escorted away.

He went on explaining to us not to speak about the divorce. We can speak about our mother, but be nice about it. Don’t speak any bad about her. No matter what, she is still our mother. Eventually the bridge will need to be built again between us and our mother.

He introduced us to his staff, mainly Rich Stewart. Mr. Stewart stepped in when no one else wanted to be part of my father’s campaign. They didn’t want to be involved in an election campaign that the candidate loses by a large margin.

After seeing the polls with my father ahead, they tried to step in again. My father turned them away. He only wants people around him that believed in him from the beginning. Mr. Stewart seems to know the business of politics.

When we landed in Houston, we headed straight to the hotel. As soon as Brandon and I got into our room, we went straight to bed. The next morning we went with our father to his speech.

Just like Brownsville there was supporters as far as the eye can see. The only difference here there is no band playing. They came down to hear my father speak only. Soon after he finished speaking, we got back on the plane to the next city.

As we landed in Dallas, I could tell it is going to be a crazy day. This time we are not even going to go into the city. My father is going to speak on the air strip. But before we headed over to where the microphones are, we went into the hanger.

Brandon and I got pulled one direction and Daniel and Carlos the other. Someone from my dad’s campaign staff escorted us to a couple of seats. As soon as we took our seats, the questions started to fly.

The questions were basically what we thought about our father. You know, what our feelings about him running for the Governorship of Texas. If anything has changed with us at school and at home once our dad decided to run and on and on.

At first I don’t think they knew which of the sons they got. They kept calling us the wrong names. Brandon and I kept correcting them, but they kept calling us Daniel and Carlos. Finally one reporter figured it out and asked a question I should have been ready for. Just when you think you are in the clear, you are not.

“Joshua if I am not mistaken, you are the son of General Lopez that is gay, correct? How can you sit on this stage with a smile on your face, after separating your mother and father? You know the choice you made on the way you want to live your life. There is no way a person like you is born like that.”

It got very quiet around me and Brandon. It got so quiet everyone looked over to us. I knew eventually the question of me being gay was going to be asked. I just didn’t think it was going to be asked in this manner.

Just as I was about to answer the question, I heard the guards yell stop and start running after someone in the hanger. I didn’t know who ran in until she made it through the crowd of reporters. Once I saw it is my mom, I was stunned. Out of breath my mom couldn’t resist this moment.

“That is correct Joshua, why don’t you tell all these reporters here why you decided to be gay. That decision you made, it split me and your father up.”

I couldn’t believe my mother first of all got in. Second of all, she is actually blaming me for her divorce with my father. I didn’t do what she did. I didn’t treat my own flesh and blood worse than scum. She made every decision that caused the break up between her and my father. Now she wants to blame me for it.

The guards finally got through the crowd of reporters and reached my mother. Even the reporters that were talking with Carlos and Daniel made their way to Brandon and me. What surprised me the most is Daniel and Carlos. They joined Brandon and me on the stage. Our mother turned to the reporters, still out of breath and spoke.

“Ask my son why he is the way he is. It isn’t the up bringing I can tell you that. So Joshua tell us here this………”

TO BE CONTINUED………………

{Ok guys I know I threw in a lot in this chapter. I sped up the time as well in this chapter. We are on chapter 15, and not even halfway through Josh’s freshman year in high school. I need to get the story to move along at more of a steady pace. Now we are almost halfway through Josh’s freshman year.

Since there was a lot covered and a lot happened let me sum it up. Josh and Chris are no longer together. When we left them in the last chapter, something was going on with Chris. Now we see what it was. I really hated to see this happen to these two. Maybe one day Chris will come back into Josh’s life. But for now, Josh is by himself.

Elizabeth finally got what she has been asking for. Still don’t count her out. She might be down, but she isn’t out. She has to want revenge more now than ever. She has nothing and in her mind she has to be blaming Josh and his friends.

Talking about Josh’s friends, they have gotten smaller. Not only Josh has lost Chris, but Patrick has broken up with Frank. Now the two gay couples are no longer. Maybe Patrick and Josh might get together. But maybe they won’t. There is already baggage between the two. Patrick knows that Josh’s heart right now belongs to Chris.

Man where to start with Josh’s dad. I threw in a lot with the campaign. I hope I cleared it up in the story, but if I didn’t, let me try again. Remember Josh’s dad isn’t the one that won the primaries. That dude was so dirty that he had to leave his current position as senator. So Josh’s dad got asked to take over the run for the office. With only a couple of months left in the campaign season, he needed to get his message out. General Lopez was counted out from the beginning, but it looks like now he is going to win.

Or will he win? Martha is back you guys. If she has anything to do with it, the General will not win. I really hope the press ignores her and the guy that asked the off the wall question. Ask the question, but not that way. But with Martha there in front of live cameras, how is the General going to handle her?”

There are so many open plots and some that came to a close. The plots that some readers might not want to see end has happened. Chris is now gone and that means Coach Montoya is as well. Josh is no longer going to be on the swim team, but how about the Glee Club? So much more going on, you need to tune in and see what is going to happen next I Josh’s life.

I could stay here all day long, with all the open plots already in this story, but I won’t. I warn you though! Don’t skip a chapter, or you will be lost. There is a so much to answer in the chapters to come. Keep reading the future chapters, and enjoy! Please email me and let me know how I am doing at jacobmillertex@aol.com, Thanks!}
EDITOR’S CORNER:

Wow, we did get quite a bit of time covered in this chapter! What a breath of fresh air; a politician that is plain spoken with no hidden agenda and no ties to special interest groups. If I many permitted to politicize a bit, I think that what Jacob has written should be a template for ALL political races. We need plain spoken officials with no hidden agendas and association with special interest groups. An elected official needs to have the voters’ best interests and future as their “special interest” focus.

Ok, off the soap box. Yes, Elizabeth isn’t the type to fade quietly into the west Texas sunset. Anyone with so much hate in their heart will self destruct in time, but Elizabeth’s destruction is not complete.
I get the feeling that Chris is gone at this point, but, if there was true love between the guys, there will be at the very least a contact in the future.

I hope that Josh will continue with Glee. He needs a “thing” of his own to define him.

Martha is going to be like Elizabeth, I suspect. She is self destructive and will do herself in. Her rants are going to be seen for exactly what they are; they reveal a bigoted hateful woman who has been scorned.

As I write you today, it is May 29, 2010. I know you won’t see this until much later, but I think of you all and wish you a wonderful Memorial Day holiday. Please, keep in mind what the Holiday represents. Honor those that have paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we enjoy. If it were not for those freedoms that have been so valiantly fought for, you could not read a story such as this.

Let us hear from you! Your thoughts and ideas DO make a difference.

Until next time,
“Daddy” Rick