Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2003 23:59:22 -0800 (PST) From: Randy Subject: Joey and Joshua, prelude, chapt 3. Joey and Joshua: The Prelude. Chapter 3: Coming Out. By Randy P. ---------- Disclaimer: These stories are a work of fiction and contain descriptions of homosexual sex. Any resemblance to real people or events is coincidental. If this type of material offends you, or if you are forbidden by law to read it, please exit the story now. Email comments may be emailed to: usam1a2mbt@yahoo.com. Flames will be deleted without comment. The usual copyright laws apply. Note on the Prelude: This prelude is written to provide for the setup of the main story involving Joey and Joshua and contains time gaps that may or may not be expanded in the future. Dedication: This series is dedicated to my first true love, Scott. I'll never forget the fun and love we shared, Scott. I miss you terribly. I've decided to call one of the characters Scott in this story as a tribute to what we had, love. ---------- Scott and I traded a stunned glance at my dad's words. I looked at my dad's face, and for some reason, he had an expression of gentleness, which totally confused me. "Well," he continued softly, "How long?" I just stood there in shock while Scott took the initiative and stepped in front of me as if he were protecting me and bravely answered, "Two weeks, sir. I love Joshua and he loves me." Those words spurred me into action. I wrapped my arms around Scott from behind and hugged him to me. "Dad," I said, "if you are going to be mad at someone, be mad at me." Scott broke free of my embrace and whirled around. He spat, "Josh, I started this, it's my fault, not yours, so shut up and let me handle this." I stood there completely tongue-tied. HE was trying to take the blame for the whole thing! True, he had started it, but it had been my choice to continue the relationship! We glared at each other, the tension between us so thick you could have cut it with the proverbial knife. As I was about to answer Scott, a deep chuckle from my dad broke the tension and made us stare at him. The chuckle quickly changed into a deep belly laugh. A few moments later, he shook his head and stated, "Well, guess you two lovers just had your first spat." Our jaws both dropped as he went on to say, "Look, if you two boys are serious about this, neither Helen nor I will interfere, Josh. We've discussed the possibility of Josh getting involved with someone since he came out three years ago. We aren't thrilled with the idea of you having sex, but we can't stop you. We can only try to make sure you don't hurt yourself or others. We just never thought it would be with Scott. I know the Bumars accept Josh for what and who he is, but I am not quite sure how they will react to Scott being involved with someone at his age. Scott, do you have any idea?" Scott pondered the question for a second. That's one thing I love about him: he always thinks before he speaks - most of the time, anyway. "My dad explained to me last year about hetero, gay and lesbian sex and how to protect myself against sex diseases. He also told me I could go to him with any questions I had, for advice or condoms if I needed to. He really wasn't comfortable with the idea of me having sex either, but he knew I'd try it sooner or later and wanted to make sure I had the right information - from him and not my friends, because they're sometimes wrong. I asked him how a person knew if they liked girls or boys, and he just said, 'You will know when the time comes, son.' I asked him if he knew anybody who was gay, and he told me about Joshua." My dad nodded as Scott continued, "I asked if I was gay, would you still love me, because some boys at school were saying if you were gay, your parents would hurt you and kick you out the their house. Dad made sure I knew that if I was gay, they would still love me with all of their heart." "Well," my dad said after taking a deep breath, "I don't see a problem then. If you young men want to tell them, that is your choice. I won't say a word to them about this. Since you two have made it clear that you are," and he queasily said the word, "lovers, I want to lay down some ground rules here. First, if you have sex, do it privately and quietly, not in front of others or in public. Second, we don't want to hear or know about your sexual activities. Third," he sighed, "you two can hold hands and show affection around Helen and I, just don't flaunt it in front of us. Josh, I'll put the lock on your bedroom door this afternoon and I'll inform your mom. We will not enter your room without knocking and receiving permission while you are in the room." Dad retrieved the watermelon from the fridge and began heading outside. He stopped and said in a very subdued voice, "I think it might be a good idea for you two to tell everyone in the backyard about your... being engaged in... sexual activities with each other before too long. It's your call as to when." He left with the cold watermelon and we stood there looking at each other and thinking. Scott rubbed his fine red-brown hair and asked, "So now what?" I shook my head and muttered, "I don't think we have a choice, Scott. We might as well come out and tell them and get it over with, don't you think?" With a grimace he said, "I think so too. How do you want to do it?" I took a deep breath but I didn't know what to say. Scott gave me an impish grin, "Let's go out holding hands, and maybe a nice little kiss. That'll shock 'em." I laughed and said, "No kiss. Holding hands is going to be enough shock to them as it is." He nodded his agreement to my modification of his plan. We went outside holding hands. Janice, Scott's mom, was the first to see us. She was in the process of getting some macaroni salad, and abruptly sat down, hard, poking Scott's dad in the arm. Brad looked at Janice, followed her look and the look on his face was priceless. He looked like someone just landed in front of him in a spaceship from another galaxy. My mom noticed their expressions, and turned to look at us and gave us a resigned smile after noticing us holding hands. My dad kept a neutral expression on his face, but I could see his jaw muscles tighten up. Scott impulsively said, "Everyone, Josh and I are lovers!" and changed everything for all of us.