Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 16:29:58 -0400 From: Stan Unknown Subject: Chapter 23 of Beating The Odds Chapter Twenty Three All the boys in the group were really wary about Monday. They even had their first group meeting at Dave's house on Sunday afternoon. Everyone brought copies of their schedules and they planned how as many of them as possible could stick together before school, between classes, during lunch, and after school. Even with the new club they were starting, Dave couldn't be expected to drive a bunch of students to and from school. Lots of people would notice and the kids had enough to worry about without adding that to it too. They had a second car with Josh's Trans Am, but it barely held four. Tim had carried six to school on Saturday, but they didn't need to be seen sitting in each other's laps in his Jimmy. That would just be adding fuel to the fire. Jim and Brian had told Jim's parents everything that had happened on Friday and during detention on Saturday. Jim's Dad said he could bring home a squad car for a week or so and Jim could drive his Mom's car to school, so they were covered. They had it easier than the others because no one else was out to their parents except Bruce. But that would soon change. ***************** "I can't. I won't. You just don't understand. My Dad will kill me," Jimmy yelled during the Sunday meeting at Dave's house. "That's your decision. But you know rumors are going to spread all over school very quickly tomorrow and I just think it would be better for your parents to hear it from you, not someone else. I won't push anyone to do anything they aren't ready for," Dave answered. "I don't know how I can do that either," Ryan said. "I'll he help you, Ryan. Th They took it really we well when I told them," Bruce answered. Ryan looked at him and said, "Thanks Bruce." "No problem. Yo you know I lo love you. I think the fo four of us should all be toge together when we tell Mo Mom and Dad and also Neal and Rob pa parents." "Hey babe. Your stuttering is getting lots better all of a sudden. You have any idea why?" Neal asked. Bruce just smiled at him. "Yeah, I know. I ha have no idea why, but I'm really gla glad. Maybe I just feel all of you guys love and support. Maybe I am re really kind of glad that I do don't have to worry that anyone is go going to find out I'm gay any more. Everyone is go going to know i it anyway, so I'm n not worried about it any more." "You know, I feel the same way. I'm going to tell my Mom and Dad tonight," Tim said resolutely. "If I come with you, will you help me tell my Uncle George?" Kevin asked. "Yeah, I would like that," Tim answered, smiling at him. Everyone looked at Jimmy and Josh. "Don't look at me. I'll tell my Mom tonight. She won't care. I don't need help with that. Anyone want to help me tell all my customers I've just gone out of business?" Josh said. Everyone laughed, but no one offered to help him with that task. ****************** "Thanks for picking us up, Josh," Ryan said. "No problem, guys. Do you and Rob think you'll both fit in my back seat?" "Sure, that won't be a problem. My Dad had a Mustang until a few months ago. Bruce and I were used to struggling to get in the back seat of it," Ryan answered. He waited until Rob got in and then crawled in behind him. Jimmy closed the door and Josh took off fast. Who's picking up Bruce and Neal?" Jimmy asked. "Jim and Brian. They seem to have made friends really fast," Ryan answered. "Yeah, I guess all of us have," Josh answered. "By the way, why did your Dad get rid of the Mustang?" "There was just one thing wrong with it after another. My Dad says Ford has really bad quality control standards. And it was a Mustang GT, but the power really sucked, too, even though it was supposed to be a powerful engine. I really like your car a lot better," Ryan answered. "Yeah, I've always hated Fords too," Josh answered. Everyone agreed, but Ryan's mind was about to change. Some people just don't have good taste in cars. ******************* Everyone had agreed to meet in the parking lot that was further from the school than any of the others before school started on Monday. It would make getting back to their cars harder when school was finished for the day if there was any trouble, but they all wanted to talk before going in together. As Josh pulled in, the others were already there. All four got out and joined the six others. "Did anyone come out to their parents last night?" Brian asked, when everyone was together. "I did. Bruce helped me a lot. My parents took it lots better than I thought they would," Ryan answered. "Yeah. I do too," Rob said. "The four of us went from one house to the next until all three of us had told all of our parents. First Ryan's, then mine, then Neal's. And guess who did most of the talking?" Rob asked. "Who?" Jim asked. "Bruce. And he hardly stuttered at all. He was great. He explained how hard it is to be gay in today's society to all three set of parents and told about the group we are forming. I think we have a new boy here," Ryan bragged on his big brother. "New man, baby brother," Bruce said laughing. "Ok. After the way you stood up to Neal's Dad, I'll agree. New man!" Ryan agreed. "Neal's Dad wasn't happy?" Josh asked. "No. He started to get really mad, but Bruce just calmly told him that it wasn't anything Neal could control. That he was born the way he is and there is nothing he can do can do to change it. All he could do was deny it to himself and everyone else and basically live his whole life as a lie. I think that was one of the longest speeches I have ever heard Bruce make. And honestly, he was so calm by then and wanting to help Neal so badly, I don't know if he stuttered even once during the whole speech," Ryan answered. "I don't either. Even my Dad asked what happened to Bruce's stutter after he had calmed down and Mom was in the kitchen getting everyone something to drink. Dad and I stayed in the Den and talked for a long time," Neal said. "Yeah, your Mom asked us to stay and let the two of you talk," Bruce answered, not stuttering at all. "How did that go," Tim asked. "He first told me that he was very disappointed. I didn't like that and asked if he hadn't heard a word Bruce had said. I told him again that it wasn't something that I could control. It was just how God had made me. He stared at me a long time, but then walked over and hugged me and said that he loved me any way I was. That he just wanted me to be happy and if being gay made me happier than pretending to be straight, he agreed that I shouldn't live a lie," Neal answered. "That's great," Josh said smiling. "Did you tell your Mom?" Kevin asked. "Yeah. All she said was she had already thought I was. It didn't seem to matter to her one way or the other. She was busy getting the kitchen cleaned up before getting ready to go to work and said that we would talk about it later. But she never mentioned it yesterday. I doubt we'll ever talk about it again," Josh answered. "That kind of sucks," Kevin said, as he stared at Josh. Josh got kind of a hurt look on his face, so Kevin said "Sorry. I shouldn't have said that." "No, that's all right," Josh said. "Jimmy wouldn't even tell his parents about us." "Don't any of you people understand? My Dad is totally homophobic. He will totally flip if he finds out. He might beat me as a worse case or just ground me for the rest of my life in the best case," Jimmy yelled. "I said I would help you," Josh answered. "Do you think you can stand up to my Dad?" Jimmy yelled, clearly stressed out. "Yeah. I really do. I love you. I know you aren't ready for it. Let's forget it for now. Kevin, what happened with you and Tim?" Josh asked. "Tim's Mom and Dad took it really well. They just said that they wanted him to be happy. And they told me to call them Mom and Dad too," Kevin answered. "That's great," Jim said. "So they accepted you right away?" "It was nothing like I ever could have imagined. Tim's parents are older. That's Ok to say, right Tim?" Kevin asked. "Yeah, that's fair. They had me really late in life. My Dad is 57 and Mom is 56." "They made us sit down and talk about ourselves and how we met. Tim kept making me talk and before I knew it, I told them my whole story. Tim's Mom even cried," Kevin said. "The bottom line is Kevin has kind of been adopted. My Mom and Dad now want him over as much as possible. They said we could spend the night together as much as we wanted, as long as we still kept our school work up and didn't make too much noise," Jimmy said, as he giggled. "Yeah. We all but got a sex talk from two people over 50! Ewwww!" Kevin said, laughing. Everyone broke up in laughter. It was funny to everyone. They all knew that you never had sex again once you reached 50. Or so they thought. How did it go with your Uncle?" Brian asked. "He was really great about it. He just said he loved me, no matter what. It really was a non-issue. He spent more time getting to know Jimmy than anything else," Kevin answered. "Everyone has been really lucky so far," Jim said. "You remember Dave's story. We could have faced lots worse than what has happened so far." "Yeah, everyone's Dad could have been like my old man," Brian said. "I'm glad not everyone has an ass hole for a father." "Sorry, Bri, but I have to agree," Tim said. "No, that's Ok. I'm about over it now. You don't have a choice. You may have been dealt a shitty hand of cards, but you just have to get over losing the hand and do the best you can in the future," Brian answered. "Did you hear that? That sounded like philosophy coming out of my boyfriend's mouth. See how much I am rubbing off on him in a few days" Wait until I get through! He's like modeling clay and I'm the sculpture," Jim laughed, as he dodged out of Brian's reach. "Is that right?" Brian asked, as he faked anger. "Just let me catch you and we'll see who's modeling clay." Jim just giggled and ran around the group of boys, making sure to stay away from Brian. Both were grinning. "Ok, it isn't long before school starts. Are we ready with our plan?" Kevin asked. "I think so," Jim said. "I made this out on my computer last night. The top diagram shows all the halls in the school. The bottom shows where everyone is supposed to be when we change periods, at lunch, and when we go back to out cars. I hope I did a good enough job." He handed out the sheets, and everyone was amazed at the detail. "This is awesome," Ryan said. "Thanks," Jim said, blushing a little bit. "Jim has already signed up for our web site and has it already looking great," Brian bragged. "No I don't. I've barely started. All I have is the front screen done," Jim answered. "Well, if it is going to be as good as this diagram, it should be really great," Bruce answered. "I'm sorry. I just can't get used to you not stuttering anymore," Josh said. "Is that bad of me to say that?" "No, all of us are really glad," Neal said smiling. "Me too, man," Josh said, as he walked over and shook hands with Bruce. "I feel I'm ready to take on the world," Bruce answered. "Well, we might have to do that. I think it's time we all went inside," Kevin said, as he looked at his watch. "Brian is the biggest. He should lead. I'll be on one side and Josh on the other. The rest of you just stay behind us." "Anything you say, Kevin, but I'm going to be right behind you if any trouble starts," Bruce said. "Me too," Ryan answered. "Look guys, I'm not going to be much good to anybody if a fight starts," Tim said. "Don't worry about that. I'll fight for both of us," Kevin answered, as he went over and kissed Tim quickly on the lips. "Thanks," Tim said, as he licked his lips and smiled at Kevin. "One more?" Kevin smiled back. "Any time," he answered, as he kissed him again. "That was cute," Bruce said. He looked around and saw other students that had also parked their cars nearby staring at all of them. They had been so involved in their talk that they hadn't really noticed everyone else driving up. But now, there were maybe 15 people who were openly staring at them. And all of them had seen Kevin kiss Tim. "Well, we knew that everyone was going to find out. We have a plan. So, I guess we don't have any choice. We have to go in. Is everyone ready?" Kevin asked. "I am," Brian answered." "Me too," Bruce said. "Me too," Tim said. Everyone quickly agreed but Josh. "I `m not going to go in with all you faggots and have my ass kicked," Josh kidded. Jimmy walked over and grabbed Josh by the belt. "Oh yes you are," he said sternly. Josh just smirked at him. "Did you think I was going to run away from a fight? Come on! I'd never leave you behind. I'm ready. Let's go see what happens." They started to all walk off together. No one saw Billy, who had started the problems on Friday, run towards the school ahead of them. To Be Continued E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions or other 'constructive' comments or advice may be sent to: stan992001@hotmail.com. All e-mails will be answered. You can also visit the young gay guys support group I created after my "Matt and Mike" story at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/gbct or our web site at www.gayteensunite.org. There is a forum section there where you can enter comments about this story for everyone to see.