Date: Fri,  7 May 2004 23:16:46 -0400 (EDT)
From: Danny <twinkchaser@excite.com>
Subject: Love Magick Part 7

This is a work of fiction. It is straight out of my imagination, except for
most of the pagan practices mentioned. This is written for adults and if
you are not supposed to read this where you live, then please don't.

IGNORANCE DISCLAIMER: I don't know a thing about football.  I mention
football in this chapter, and I just don't want people emailing me telling
me that I said something wrong.  I have two football experts, but one is
dead and the other is out of town.  If there is something wrong, just laugh
at me and keep reading.


Part 7

The better part of the month passed and it was coming up on Thanksgiving.
Mom was happy to hear I was bringing Ryan.  She promised that Dad would
behave, but I wasn't counting on it.  I was going for Mom and that is the
only reason.  I was happy that Ryan was coming along for support.  The only
thing that worried me was that we were going to be together for so much
time.  I was still battling my crush on him, even though I was pretty sure
he wasn't gay.  I couldn't fight the warm feelings I had for him.
Hopefully I could hide them.

We packed our clothes on Wednesday night and got to bed early.  The drive
was around four and a half hours to Orlando, but I was planning on moving a
bit faster.  We were going to leave at eight in the morning.  I tossed and
turned thinking about seeing my parents the next day.  I finally fell
asleep when I thought of Ryan being with me.

We were awake, showered, dressed and eating breakfast by seven-thirty.  We
packed the Cruiser and were on our way.  I had made sure to pack a cooler
with drinks and snacks.  An army travels on its stomach and apparently so
do witches.  We discussed the craft as we traveled.  I quizzed him on the
pantheons and on casting circles.  We went over the basics on cleansing and
charging.  I drove for an hour and then found a restroom.  We both
stretched and relieved ourselves.  Ryan offered to drive and I happily
accepted.

We quietly traveled down interstate ninety-five.  I watched the scenery
pass until I felt Ryan look at me.  I turned my head and caught his eyes.
He smiled and looked back to the road.  He drove for a bit more before he
finally asked the question I had been dreading.

"How did you know you were gay?"  I nearly flinched at the words but I was
prepared.  I had answered this question several times and had a standard
response.

"I figured it out in college.  I knew there was something different about
me, but I figured it was just the magick.  I always knew I was special in
that way, but I never thought I was also gay.  I had lots of friends, and I
even dated a little in high school.  I didn't realize I was actually gay
until I started studying graphic design at the Savannah College of Art and
Design."  Ryan sat quietly listening.  He seemed interested, so I
continued.

"I was dating this really interesting girl.  She was a witch, and I was
just starting to study.  It was still a few years before I met Marina.
Cecilia was beautiful and quite powerful.  She mastered glamour spells very
quickly and used them to her full advantage.  We dated for about a month,
and she took my virginity."  Ryan suppressed a giggle and tried to hide his
smile.

"I started realizing that I was not happy with her.  I loved her very much,
but not in a romantic way.  I got to where I had a hard time kissing her."
I looked down at the floor board as the memories started flooding back.  "I
finally figured it all out and I broke it off."  Ryan frowned politely and
gave me a thoughtful look.

"So how did she take it?  I mean, did you tell her you were gay," he asked.

"Oh, I told her.  I actually thought it would make it easier on her.  I
don't know why I thought that because I was very wrong.  She flew into a
horrible rage.  She attacked me physically and then she tried to curse me."
Ryan looked up with a startled face.

"She could do that," he asked looking a bit upset.

"Oh, Cecilia could do anything she wanted to, or at least she could try.  I
fended it off rather well, with a little help."  I looked off into the
distance remembering that horrible time in my life.  "I never saw her
again."  We sat in silence for a while, until Ryan suggested a little
music.  We turned on the radio and found a top forty station.

He drove for over two hours, as I acted as navigator.  We stopped again and
I got back in the drivers seat.  We didn't stop again until we got to my
Mom's condo.


Mom greeted us warmly.  I didn't see Dad and figured he was off watching
football.  I gave her the cake I had baked for the meal.  I introduced her
to Ryan.  She gave me a strange look that I couldn't quite read, but
thought was familiar.  We moved into the living room and sat down.

Their condo was quite big.  That was one thing Mom insisted on.  She had
lived in a big house all her life and didn't want to move into a cracker
box.  We looked for a while until we found a three bedroom condo with a
large living room and formal dining room.  The kitchen rivaled the one I
put into my house.  They made the largest bedroom into a den for Dad to
watch TV and work on his model boats.  Mom made the other spare bedroom
into a computer room.  She was rather a savvy online trader.  They made the
last bedroom into their own bedroom.  It was small, but all they wanted in
there was a bed and some bedside tables with lamps.

Mom said that there was a pullout sofa in the den, and another in the
living room.  She said it would be great if we stayed the night there.  I
had planned on us getting a room, but she insisted and Ryan was not
bothered.  I stowed our gear in the computer room and found Dad in the den.

"Hi Dad," I said, trying to start out cheerfully.  He looked up and grunted
a hello.  I stood at the door with my hands in my pockets.  Ryan walked up
behind me and touched my back.  I turned and smiled.  I grabbed him and
pulled him into the room.  "Dad this is my friend Ryan Summerbreeze."  Dad
looked up and grunted again.

"Nice to meet you Mr., um," Ryan looked at me, and I realized the problem.
He knew that my name was changed to my working name, the same as his had
been.

"Smithwick," I whispered.

"Yes, nice to meet you Mr. Smithwick."  Ryan stepped forward and held out
his hand.  Dad looked a bit annoyed, looked at the TV and sighed heavily.
He pulled himself from the chair and reluctantly shook Ryan's hand.

"So is he your boyfriend or something," Dad asked with a sour note.

"No, he is my student," I answered.

"Art school, or something," Dad asked.

"Um, no, he is an, um, religion student, I suppose," I wasn't sure how to
answer.

"Oh," his face fell, and he returned to his chair with a flop.  "Whatever,"
he said as he turned up the TV.

"Why you old...," I started, but Ryan stopped me.

"So, who's playing, sir," Ryan asked as he took a few tentative steps
towards Dad.  Dad looked up and appraised the man before him.

"Cowboys and the Redskins," he answered.

"Really?  I am a Cowboys fan.  What's the score?"

"23 to 27," Dad looked from Ryan to me and back.  "Have a seat, they are
just getting back from a timeout."  Ryan eagerly took a seat on the sofa
and stared at the TV.  The two of them sat in silence and I backed out of
the room.  I went to find Mom cooking in the kitchen.

"So, where did you find him, he is cute," Mom asked over a bowl of
potatoes.

"Don't start.  He is a student, and that is all.  You remember how I went
to live with Marina for a year."

"Yeah, but he is such a nice boy.  Kinda young though."  Mom smiled
wistfully as she continued her work.  I looked around for a something to
talk about.  My mind was blank except for Ryan, so I hoped there was
something lying around to distract us.  There was a piece of paper lying on
the counter, and I picked it up.  It was a flyer for a nearby bar.

"You and Dad go out much?"  Mom just looked up and smiled.

"You think this old couple heads out to the clubs on a Saturday night?"
She looked to see if anyone was around.  "Actually, me and a few
girlfriends go to the male reviews once in a while.  We try to go to a club
when we can.  Something to get us out of the building.  Your dad has his
things.  He builds his models and stuff.  He was never a party animal.  I
am, and I can finally go out and have a good time again.  This was about
the best thing we could do.  You know, moving down here.  There was little
in Savannah for a person my age to do, other than card parties and garden
clubs.  I like to go out and boogie."  I laughed at that.  She smiled and
blushed a little.  "It is really set up for older gals like myself down
here.  They call it heaven's waiting room."  She laughed this time and I
sighed.

"That is a sad thought, Mom."

"Honey, I am not dying any time soon.  Your grandmother lived to be eighty,
and your grandfather was eighty-two.  I am fit as a fiddle."

"I know, but I am allowed to worry about you."  She laughed and reached
over and pinched my cheek.

"Hey, when you come visit, I will take you to the drag review at a club
I've visited.  You would be surprised how many old ladies I've seen
squeezed in between the twinks and bears, trying to get a queen's
autograph."

"That sounds like fun," she said, and turned to the sink to wash the
potatoes.



(To be continued)

The next chapter will be submitted soon.

I welcome comments, twinkchaser@excite.com