Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2000 14:54:29 -0500 From: fsw99 Subject: Chapters 63 and 64 of One Big Happy Family Legal Notice: The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts. The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality. Don't read this story if: **You're not 18 or over, **If it is illegal to read this type of material where you live, **Or if you don't want to read about gay/bi people in love or having sex. The author retains copyright to this story. Placing this story on a website or reproducing this story for distribution without the author's permission is a violation of that copyright. Legal action will be taken against violators. E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions or other 'constructive' comments or advice may be sent to me at fsw99@mindspring.com. Chapter Sixty Four Ever hear of this old saying? `Time flies when you are having fun`. Well, time flies even if you aren't having fun. We had played the four dates, including Atlanta, and were now in the air for New York City. All of us! Plus, five others were meeting us there. By the time we flew back, Mathieu would be there to take over the bus driving and let Jason be a full time tutor. The five others all took cabs from the airport to the hotel. We took a limo. It was actually cheaper than taking multiple cabs. We checked in and were waiting for the others to arrive. Two had arrived before we did, and were already checked in. We had briefed everyone on the telephone, and now started to go over what we wanted them to say. The three others finally arrived together, and we all got together in my room. Everyone agreed with Isaiah's plan, and we were set. We ate an early dinner, then got in our limo that they had sent for us, and were on the way to the show. The boys instruments had been shipped with us, and the Letterman people had picked them up at the airport. They were already set up when we arrived. The boys quickly tuned them and made sure everything was working properly. Tim and Tom checked the controls for the sound board. They would not let us set up any lights. We all went over one more time what we had planned. Then, it was time for the show to start. We were to be the first guests after David finished his comedy routine that opens the show. It wasn't long after David had finished and we all sat down and awaited the commercial break to be over. Everyone, including me, was nervous. David had agreed with Mike's demands, but he was a comedian, and gays had long been easy targets for them. We were all anxious to know what kind of questions he was going to ask. And then we were on. "Welcome back, everyone. This is a new rock band called `Too Young To Be Scared`, along with their adult leader, author Stan Miller. Give them a big round of applause," David said. The audience did, and there were lots of shouts and screams from the younger members of the audience. We were really surprised, as we hadn't been anywhere near New York City with the tour. Maybe the radio stations were playing `Coming to Get You`. He asked a few general questions about how we got started, and a few to the boys themselves, and then dropped the bombshell. "Did you know that you new single `Coming to Get You` debued at number seven on the singles charts with a bullet? Lots of people think it is going to be number one next week." If we all looked shocked, it was because we were. Jimmy and Brian went almost white. "I take it you didn't know?" David kidded. Everyone knew from the looks on our faces we didn't. "No, we hadn't heard," I mumbled. "Well, we are really happy that you have agreed to play it for us later on. Stan, can you tell us how you got involved with a rock and roll band? It seems like a long way from writing action novels," David asked. I answered his question as quickly as I could, leaving out LOTS of information. I did tell about adopting Ed and Paul, and becoming Jimmy's legal guardian. "So, Stan, you are gay, also?" David asked with a twinkle in his eyes. He had agreed not to go into any personal questions, and now I was trapped. I took a big breath, and decided not to lie on national TV. And, if I didn't answer, it would look like I was anyway. "Yeah, David, I guess I am." All of the rest of the group could tell I wasn't happy about having to answer that question. "Um, how do I ask this. Do you all get in one big room where all of you have sex together?" David asked. "What?" I exploded, ready to punch him out, even if it was on live TV. That was a blatant violation of our agreement. "Dad, calm down. I'll take that question," Paul said. "Paul, watch what you say," I said loudly, knowing that Paul could say ANYTHING right now. "I've got it covered. Mr. Letterman, I'll answer your question in a minute, if I can ask you a couple of questions. You are married, correct?" Paul asked. "Yes I am." "And your producer that we met. He is also married, correct?" "Yes." "And the two of you get along pretty well, don't you?" "Yes, we are friends off the set. We and our wives often go out to dinner together." "Great. I am glad you all get along so good together. How often do the four of you get together to have sex in one room?" "What?" David yelled. "We have never done anything like that in our lives," he answered, shocked that Paul had asked that question. "Well, neither have we. I admit it was a stupid question on my part. I apologize for even asking it. That was rude of me, and I am sorry. Of course, your question struck us the same way," Paul said. Everyone just looked at each other and grinned, both surprised and happy about the way Paul had responded. The audience roared with laughter in the background. "Anyway, David, do you mind me calling you David? Anyway, David, we have brought some guests along with us. BD, would you mind coming out, please?" Paul said. "You invited your own guests?" David said, clearly taken back by his joke being turned around on him by a 14 year old. "Yes. You paid for them to be flown up here. Didn't you read our contract? We won't take up much time with them. Just a few minutes. We'll get back to you in a minute," Paul said. "Isaiah, why don't you talk to BD." "My pleasure," Isaiah said, as BD sat down beside him. "BD, why don't you explain what you did for us and the rest of the gay students at our high school." "I really didn't do much at all. I talked to all the football players and told them that I didn't care what any of you did together. As far as I am concerned, everyone's sexual life is their own business, and no one else's. I had known several of you for a long time before you told me you were gay, and you were my friends. I had no reason to change my mind just because you were gay. I asked the football team members to look out for any gay harassment in school. They all agreed, and we have had very few problems," BD answered. "Thanks BD, for what you said and what you did. Mike and Linda, would you come out please?" Isaiah asked. A blonde headed boy and girl came out, holding hands, and sat down in the chairs as the boys got up to make room. "Mike, thank you to you and Linda for coming out and agreeing to answer my questions. You are the quarterback on yours and BD's high school team, are you not?" "Yes, I am. I have started the last two years," Mike answered. "How did your team do this year?" Isaiah asked. "We won the state championship," Mike answered proudly. How long have you two been going together?" Isaiah asked. "Almost three years," Mike answered. "And have you ever had sex together?" The audience gasped that Isaiah would even ask such a question. "No we haven't, and we aren't ashamed to say so. We promised to save ourselves for marriage in our church, and we have made sure and done so. We plan to get married right after we graduate this spring, and then be room mates where ever I accept a football scholarship from." "Don't you get kidding by your teammates?" "A little bit at first, but I explained that my sex life was none of anyone's business but my own, and I made the decision not to have sex until I was married. They really didn't ever bring up the subject again," Mike admitted. "Huh! You feel your sex life is nobody's business but your own. Don't judge you for what you do in your own personal time. So do we! Jim and Ronnie, would you also come out now?" Isaiah asked. The two Dallas boys we had met on the first night of the tour came out and sat down. "Jim, why don't you explain what you and Ronnie have started," Isaiah asked. "Well, Ronnie and I have been best friends since the first grade. I came out and told him I was gay after reading the newspaper article about you and seeing you in concert. He is totally straight, by the way," Jim said, as the audience chuckled. "The next day, I came out to all my friends at school. I had already told my parents. We started a club for gays at school called the Gay Free Zone. It means that gays are free to come out and they will be protected from ridicule and abuse at our school. Everyone immediately was for it, and it has a big success, even though it is only two weeks old. Lots of people have now also come out and said they are gay, too, but had been scared to tell anyone." "Thanks, Jim. We are also behind the Gay Free Zone concept and plan to push other schools to start the same club all over the country as we make appearances. We hope the name you gave the club can become national, and all schools eventually adopt the same program, whether it is called this or not. Thanks, David, for letting us share these messages with the country on your show. We know you back these ideas, also," Isaiah said. "Oh, I do. I often let people take over my show for charitable causes," David answered sullenly. "Well, I know we have taken up enough of your time. Would you like us to play for you now?" Isaiah asked. "That would be a wonderful idea," David answered, clearly pissed. The boys headed for the stage as the crowd applauded and the rest of us headed off the stage. Paul stopped and looked back at David. "Oh, Dave, one more thing. I don't think we will exactly be asked back next week, right?" "No, I don't think so," David answered angrily. "That's what I thought. Tim, Tom, plan B for the sound. Like the cooking show guy says, `Let's kick it up a notch`," Paul said, and ran for his drums. We had agreed to a certain sound limit, which was way too low for the boy's tastes. Tim and Tom kicked it up to almost the volume we played with ZZ Top. Not quite, but we were determined to show what a real rock band sounded like. Isaiah counted down and the band came alive. Concerts have heavy security to keep people from coming out of their seats and rushing the stage. The Letterman show didn't. Once a few kids ran for the stage, most of the rest followed them. The band were soon surrounded by kids their own age, getting off on their music. Remember the `Hey Jude` scene I described on the Ed Sullivan Show with The Beatles? This also became a magical moment for lots of kids all around the country. Since Letterman is recorded and shown later, all the newspapers wrote articles about the coming performance, and VCR's all over the country recorded it, whether the kids could watch it live or not. Fans seemed to double every day. The band was now a major hit. When Phill and Robbie finally finished the long dual guitar solo that they had added to the end, the audience exploded with applause. All the kids rushed up to congratulate the band. Isaiah broke free long enough to say into the microphone, "Thanks for your support, New York City. Our buddies ZZ Top and us will be back in a few weeks for three shows at Madison Square Garden. Make sure and come and see us. Bye, till then." Isaiah and the rest of the band then ran for their lives back stage. Several of the fans even followed them back, until security caught them and made them return to their seats. It was pandemonium for a little while, but the way we all felt about it, that was our buddy Dave's problem. After all, he had started it. Plus, there was always Jay Leno. We liked him better, anyway. ***************************** Everything should have been going great. We were generating huge amounts of pro-gay publicity everywhere we were going. The CD was a bigger hit than anyone could have ever expected. We finally got used to the travel. Jason was a great tutor. I had bought headphones, and was getting used to writing on a bus. My next story was really coming together. We all liked Mathieu, our new driver. He was a great guitarist, and would even jam with the band at times, during rehearsals. Everything was wonderful, right? WRONG!!!! Phill and Robbie got into a huge argument over something very minor. Who should have packed up their clothes leaving New York City. They had only packed one bag. It escalated into a shouting contest on the plane, in front of lots of others. Isaiah had tried to intercede, but he took Robbie's side and Phill exploded against both of them. Phill and Ed ended up sitting next to each other for the rest of the flight, as did Robbie and Isaiah. No one knew about it, but Isaiah and Ed had also had some problems lately. They had put on a different face before everyone else, but neither were very happy right now with each other. There was lots of whispering back and forth between Phill and Ed and Isaiah and Robbie. Lots of gestures back and forth, too. All was not happy for this family at the moment!!! **************************** Don't concert promoters have a map? Wouldn't it make more sense to go from one location to another, geographically? Well, let me tell you, concert tours don't work like that! I know, I know, buildings are booked a long time in advance. You just can't book a concert anywhere you want, at the date you want. But, we seemed to go to one city, then go back almost where we were before to a new city, and then cross back over the same place to go to a new city. The travel was hard on everyone. Everyone! Even Tim and Tom were irritable, and they normally had very sunny personalities. We were two months into the tour, and everyone was miserable. It was even worse for Phill and Robbie. They were at war! They wouldn't even sit near each other on the bus. They had been spending 24 hours a day with each other, 7 days a week, for months. That was too much time. When they practiced, their guitar playing complimented each other. It was like they could not get a break from each other any time of the day. The strain was showing. Isaiah had started sitting with Robbie on the bus. For awhile, Ed and Phill sat by themselves, but had lately started sitting next to each other. This situation wasn't exactly healthy for the two relationships, but, at least they were fighting on the bus. Isaiah was pretty outspoken, but nothing like Phill and Robbie. Ed was very shy, and didn't say much. When Isaiah and Ed started yelling at each other, I knew the five of us needed to talk. OK, six. I included Jason. I guess Jason and I would be a team from now on. I got them all in Jason's and my room and tried to sort everything out. "Guys, what's the problem? You guys are acting like you hate each other. Is it the tour? Is it being together too much? Let's talk this out, OK?" "It's everything. The tour. Being together all the time. How hard it is to study on the bus. How tired we are of traveling. I don't know," Robbie said. "Robbie and I just don't feel the same about each other. We have grown apart. I don't want to split the band up, but I just don't see how we can go on as a couple," Phill said. "Guys, come on, I know you love each other. Everyone that is together has a hard time at one point or the other. That is just the way life is. I know you both love each other. Don't throw away that love just because you are tired. We can quit the tour if you want to. Anything is better than losing your love for each other," I said. "We have to keep touring. We aren't just doing this for ourselves. We are helping gay kids all over the country with the publicity we are generating. We can't let them down. The Gay Free Zone club is catching on nationwide. We can't stop that from happening," Isaiah added. "I agree," Robbie said. "Me, too," Ed added, looking at Phill. "I do, too, I guess." Phill paused, then said, "There is just one complication. I don't love Robbie any more. I love someone else." Comments can be sent to me at fsw99@mindspring.com.