Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2016 09:02:23 -0500 From: Medic nextdoor Subject: Matt and His Uncle 4 The following morning, I waited until I saw Matt's best friend Timmy show up and they both left together. I had seen them on many an occasion and realized they were best buds, especially in the world of bullying that took place in the current school world. I walked over about 10 minutes later, coffee in hand (enough for both of us) and knocked on the door. Debbie appeared in jeans and a T-shirt, looking as if she was not going into work today. "Hey," she said with a smile. "I had forgotten to make the coffee so you picked it just right". "You know me!" I answered. "I'm always ready for Coffee!" I walked in and she directed me to the small table in the eat-in kitchen. "No work today?" I asked. "I took some annual leave," she said. "What we have to talk about may take some time and I didn't want to have any worries about work when I did this". Now I was worried. I wondered what Matt may have told her and also wondered if the cops were around the corner in the living room. I inadvertently look towards the living room. "Matt's gone," she said. "It's just you and me". I smiled. Debbie paused and took a deep breath. Ok, here it comes. "I want you to know that I understand how much you love Matt, I really do," she started. "I know how much he loves you and loves being your Nephew". I didn't like where this was going but I had taken the plunge so I had to take the pain. "I have pondered for years who would be a great male role model for him, considering his situation," she continued. His "situation"? "When you moved in next door, I realized someone had sent you to me – to him – to help him through his growing up years," she said. "Then, when I found out you were gay, that made it all the better". Now, my head was spinning. Where was thing going? Debbie," I started. "Stop," she said. "Let me get this all out or I won't finish it". My stomach started to hurt. "I've known Mattie was gay for about two years," she said, exhaustively. "Actually, I knew he was gay when he was younger than that. I can't tell you how I knew, but a Mom knows – even if the boy doesn't think she has a clue". I started to relax but didn't know where she was going with all of this. She called him by the same pet name I had for him. I wonder if I heard that from her and started using it or if I thought of it myself? "I really didn't have a date last weekend," she said. "I lied to you and I am sorry but it was the only way I could put you two together for the weekend to make sure you were right for him," she said. "When you told me you had bought him pajamas and underwear, I realized you and he really cared for one another". I was flabbergasted. She was telling me – was she – that it was ok that a gay man and her gay son hung around all weekend? "Listen," she said, leaning over and grabbing my arm. "I don't want him to feel like a freak and I know what bullying can take place if he goes about this wrong. That's why I'm hoping – praying – that you can help him through this". I must have looked stunned. "Don't give me that look," she said shockingly. "I know what's going on". I wasn't sure if she knew the details of what was going on, but I'd give it a go, minus many of those. "Matt does appear to be gay," I said. "I knew it, I knew it," she exclaimed. "Have you all talked about it?" "Yeah", I said. "He has hinted around and asked just a smattering of questions about me and how old I was when I first realized I liked boys". He hadn't asked me yet, but I knew the question was coming. "Ok, ok," she said. "I don't want all of the details but as long as you both are talking, that makes me feel so much better". We both sat and stared at each other for several minutes, sipping coffee. "So," I said. "Where do we go from here?" "Well," she said. "I'm hoping you and he can spend as much time as possible so you and he can talk this out and my hopes are that he can feel comfortable in his own skin". Then, she added, "so to speak". We both laughed. "I think I know what you mean and, yes, I think I have helped him in that area," I told her. "He seems much more relaxed about talking to me about that stuff than to his Mom. I hope you don't take offense at that – that's not what I meant". "Of course not," she said. "Actually, he hasn't spoken a word to me about anything sexual. I just felt he probably was, or was thinking of it and I wanted to make sure that whenever he decided to talk about it, he was with someone who wouldn't use him or hurt him". "That's why I picked you," she said and smiled. "You know that I would never do anything to hurt Matt," I said. "I am very fond of him and would go to the ends of the earth for him". "That's really all I need to hear," she sighed. With that, she got up and put her coffee cup in the sink. ""And I thought this would take much longer," she said. She looked at the clock on the wall. "I can still get in a half day of work". We both hugged and she whispered in my ear, "Please be gentle with him and listen to him. I am sure he has lots of questions". "You know I will," I told her. We hugged again. "You can let yourself out," she said. "After all, you are his Uncle". We both laughed again. "Oh," She exclaimed. "I thought it would be a good idea if I had another "date" this weekend and gave you too another weekend. Is that OK?" I gulped, trying to not make it look too conspicuous. "Sure," I said. "It will give me a chance to answer some questions I didn't get a chance to earlier". "Great," she said. "So, it's a date – sort of," she smiled. I walked out of Debbie's house in a sort of shock. Evidently, I was going to help my Nephew decide who he was - and I couldn't be more excited!