Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2000 16:24:27 -0400
From: Sequoyah <pendor@mailcity.com>
Subject: A Special Place--Part Twenty-four

		     A Special Place--Part Twenty-four

The usual warning applies: This story contains sexually-explicit, erotic
events involving alternative sexualities. Do not read the contents if they
will offend you. If accessing this site causes you to break local laws
(village, town, city, county, province, state, or country, etc.), please
leave now or accept the consequences, should there be any.

     By reading or downloading this file you implicitly declare that you
accept total responsibility for your actions in regard to material intended
for mature, responsible members of society capable of making decisions
about the content of documents they wish to read. You are accessing this
site of your own free volition. You have been warned!

				Disclaimer

  This is a work of fiction, any coincidence is just that, a coincidence.

			     About This Story

    Characters just keep showing up. I hope you find the new ones as
interesting as the ones you know so well! I generally avoid cliffhangers
since they seem to say, "Please keep reading," but if you have read this
far, that hardly seems necessary. Nonetheless (especially for you SAH who
gets a kick out of that word), this part ends with one. But, I promise,
it's worth the wait.

     To my adopted sons, what can I say? You have enriched my life beyond
measure. This part--and the whole of "A Special Place" is dedicated to
you. This part is also for Jim who has opened more doors for people than he
can imagine and who, it is to be hoped, will find doors opening for
himself.

     To all who have written expressing concern for my mom, she's doing
very well and is happily at home. Thanks, your concern was welcomed.

Sequoyah

		  A Special place--Part Twenty-four--Matt

    When we reached school the next day, Larry met us at the entrance,
obviously upset. "Michael, I am really pissed and if you want me to drop
out of your campaign, I will."

    "Why? What's wrong?"

    Larry had been carrying a poster under his arm and when he unrolled it,
it was one of Michael's campaign posters. Someone had used dayglo purple
and green to spray paint "Faggot Lover" on it. "I think all of the large
posters have been spray painted. Some have the same words as this one,
others have 'The Queer Party Candidate', or 'Faggot for President' on
them. The custodian said he had taken down the worse ones which had
'Assfucker's Support Michael', 'Cocksuckers United Candidate' and
'Fudgepacker for President'. Ms. Jones told him to leave all of them up
except those with 'cocksucker', 'assfucker' or 'Fudgepacker' on them. I'm
positive someone saw me kiss Eugene and that's what's behind this."

    "Oh, I think it's just some of those who were upset by the service for
Gregory who see this as a way of getting even for being told their attitude
is shitty and sucks. I think that's what's behind it, not something you and
Eugene did. And even if someone did see you kissing Eugene and did all
this, do you think I would let that make a difference? Man, shit like this
is why I agreed to get involved in this race to start with. Hell, fucking
no, you're not dropping out. We need to have a little conference here
before school as to what we do in response."

    While Michael and Larry were talking, Paula, Eugene and Linda walked
up. "'Sup? Somebody die?" Eugene asked. Larry simply held up the poster.

    As soon has he held it up, Linda said, "That Jock asshole! If Orie
didn't do that he was involved."

    "But he isn't even running, Linda," Paula said.

    "Well, it doesn't matter, his jock friends are and he has been hanging
out with some of the jokers who were involved in the Gregory thing. He
would be running except he couldn't meet the requirements. Man, I sure hate
[knowing] I got involved with that jerk. Besides, he's mad because I am in
the Select Few and he told me Matt and Luke were faggots because he saw
them holding hands and, Eugene, you and Larry are a couple of buttfuckers
because another jock asshole saw you two kissing. So Michael is, at least
to him, a faggot-lover, and probably a cocksucker himself."

    There were seven mouths hanging wide open. "You mean to tell me Orie
told you all that and you said nothing about it?" Michael said
incredulously.

    "What was there to say? I just told him I didn't have anything to say
to him, didn't care to hear anything he had to say and he was still a jock
asshole. I didn't say anything to any of you. I thought he wouldn't lie
about Eugene or Larry--he wouldn't have thought they were worth
mentioning. He wanted to get in my good graces and thought a little gossip
about my friends would help, I guess. Same with Matt and Luke. If you're
couples--and I have neither seen any reason to think you are nor any reason
to doubt you are for that matter--what Orie said makes no never mind to
me--except I really did have my eye on you, Matt. But if I'm going to lose
out, it's not to some dumb bitch and, Luke, somebody else is just going to
have to do without the number two hunk in this group. Personally, I think
you're two good looking couples and since I know why Paula and I and my two
cousins were snapped up for the prom, I intend to really enjoy myself while
those two Lexington babes fall all over themselves trying to get Larry and
Eugene hot," Linda laughed.

    "Linda, I really need to apologize to you. I have always liked you and
enjoyed your company, but I must confess I thought you...."

    "Yea, Matt, you just thought I was another dumb blond. Well, we'll go
into all that at lunch... no, I'll be busy at lunch, but we don't have time
right now. We need to decide how to respond to this jock asshole shit."

    "Yea, right. Important things first. What are we going to do about the
posters?" Michael asked.

     "Suggestion. Leave them alone and, Michael, cut into your spot this
morning and apologize for leaving them up and ask if someone low enough to
appeal to bigotry and sink so low as to damage campaign posters is who
Independence High wants as a leader and as its representative," Linda
suggested. "Meanwhile, I'll put on the dumb blond cheerleader routine and
butter up Orie and find out who is responsible. He'll definitely know and I
wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't involved."

    "Gal, I double my apology!"

    "Accepted, Matt."

    "Linda, you are a blond genius!" Michael exclaimed.

    "Political dynamite!" Larry agreed.

    "But Linda, you're putting youself in danger because you know what
Orie's new buddies can do."

    "I think I can handle that," Linda said. "At least I am going to try."

    Michael did as Linda had suggested. Ms. Jones came on after the
political spots and talked about how upset she was about the prejudice and
bigotry shown in the damaging of Michael Andrews' posters. She agreed, she
said, with leaving them up so students could see them and decide if the
people who were responsible were the kind of people the students of
Independence High school wanted to be held up as their leaders and
representatives. "But they will only stay up today. Independence has been
embarrassed enough already. Others, which had even more offensive language,
have been removed by Mr. Vincent, the custodian. I hope many of you will
apologize to Michael for what one or more of your schoolmates have
done. And, on a very practical level, Michael spent money for nice posters
and someone or someones who bought a couple cans of cheap spray paint
ruined them."

    Lunch was interesting, to say the least. It started soon after Orie got
his lunch and sat down. Linda said, in a whisper, "Look pissed off when I
start". Suddenly she said, very loudly so practically everyone in the
cafeteria heard her, "Well, if that's the way it is, I'm through with you,"
took her lunch and stormed away, headed for the table where Orie was
sitting. When she got there, she glared at a jock sitting by Orie until he
made room for her to sit down. We ate, trying not to laugh out loud as
Linda gave new meaning to "a woman's wiles" and the "dumb blond
cheerleader" routine. Meanwhile, a number of students walked by the table
and said how upset and sorry they were that Michael's posters were
defaced. Several dropped coins or a bill on the table. The first one said,
"I want to help pay for new posters and get you to sign it for me when the
campaign is over". She was followed by a long line saying, "Same for
me". Michael barely got to eat because he was busy passing out the business
card size posters, each of which he signed with a "To" message. He knew
most of the students' names, but occasionally needed help or apologized for
having to ask.

    The last person who came by was a junior, the best and most popular
basketball player, Bill Lance, who was running for student body
president. He asked if he could sit down and we all pointed to Linda's now
vacant chair. As soon as he was seated he said, "Michael, I decided to run
for president because I think I have something to offer as student
leader". We all nodded in agreement. He was absolutely right. "However, in
light of what has happened, I think I have more to offer by setting an
example. Tomorrow my video spot will be an announcement of my dropping out
of the race in support of you."

    "Bill, I appreciate the gesture," Michael said, "but that's not
necessary and it will take a good candidate out of the race."

    "Well, I would have suggested you drop out and support me," he smiled,
"but that would make it appear the assholes who spray painted your posters
had forced you out. There's no way that would not be the claim and I'll do
everything I can to see that doesn't happen."

    "Bill, you're right. Larry, would you do the video spot after school?"

     "Sure."

    As soon as we finished our school day, Luke and I drove to his studio,
picked up the original of the campaign poster, took it in to town, got a
hundred printed and drove back to school. We got there just as school was
out and soon the Select Few, except Linda, were gathered in the parking
lot. Bill Lance was with them. Orie drove past in a car full of jocks and
as they passed one of them--I couldn't tell which--yelled, "Look at the
Faggots and Fag Hags!"

    "Ok, Select Few, we have a job to do. Bill, looks as if you're one of
us. Welcome to the Select Few."

    Bill bowed and said, "I am honored, Oh Select Ones". We all laughed.

    As soon as we walked inside, Linda joined us. "I stayed out of sight
until Orie and his crew left so they wouldn't know they are about to be
sandbagged. I know the whole rotten mess. But what's up right now? Hi,
Bill. What are you doing here?"

    "While you were doing your dumb blond cheerleader bit, Bill came by the
table at lunch and decided to join the campaign," Michael said and told
Linda what had happened.

    "Welcome, Sir William," Linda said. Maybe the Select Few will still be
here next year. Good feeling."

    "Ok, guys, Matt and I went to town last period and got a rush job on a
hundred new posters. We are on our way to see Ms. Jones to let her know
we're taking down the defaced ones and putting these up so they will be
here first thing Monday morning." When we reached Ms. Jones' office, her
door was open and we told her what we were doing.

    "I was going to let Mr. Vincent take down the defaced ones. He offered
to work over because he felt, somehow or other, he was to blame."

    "Well, he's not," Michael said, "and we have the time and manpower...."

    "And womanpower," Mary Kathryn promptly added.

    "Yea, and womanpower to get the job done quickly."

    "Michael, I can see you have your hands full at school and at home. It
must be nice to have the little woman helping out," Ms. Jones
laughed. Michael blushed and Mary Kathryn laughed at him and kissed him on
the cheek.

    "You better agree, Michael," she said, taking his head in her hands and
nodding it up and down.

     "Ms. Jones, Bill has made a decision about the campaign that you need
to know about," Michael said.

    When Bill finished telling Ms. Jones what he had decided to do, she
said, "Bill, I know you would have been a good student body president. No
doubt in my mind about that, but I also think you will be remembered more
for the leadership and the position you are taking than you would as former
student body president. I admire your courage and the true leadership
evident in your decision."

    "Thanks. It is just the right thing to do," Bill said.

    "Oh, Ms. Jones, I need to call my mom and tell her where I am," Paula
said.

    Ms. Jones pointed to her phone and asked, "Anyone else need to call
home?" Only Bill did. "When you kids get finished with the posters, come
back by--you too Bill. We need to talk." Her tone was serious and I
suspected what was up.

    With all of us working, it took less than thirty minutes to take down
the defaced posters and put up the new ones. While the rest of us were
doing the posters, Larry and Bill did the video spot for tomorrow when Bill
would announce his decision. When we finished, we went back to Ms. Jones's
office. She closed the door and asked, "Are all of you in this together? I
mean, are you really--what? solid--with each other? What I'm trying to
say...."

    "All except Bill," Matt said, "and he definitely needs to know what he
is getting into. Bill, when you learn the facts, there's not a person in
this room who wouldn't support you changing your mind. So you don't get
blindsided, Luke and I, Larry and Eugene are couples. We are gay. Luke and
I are not...."

    "Right now Luke and Matt are virgins, Bill, as if that makes any
difference. And in a real sense, that is true of Larry and Eugene. But they
are gay and will definitely not be virgins forever!" Cut-to-the-Chase
Michael said. Ms. Jones, Larry and Eugene, Luke and I all blushed big time.

    "Glad those aren't requirements for participating in this campaign,"
Bill laughed. "I'd strike out on both counts, but what has that got to do
with anything?"

    "Ms. Jones, of course we all know about Matt and Luke and Eugene and
Larry. Linda was the last to find out--well maybe not, she just didn't say
anything," Michael said.

    "Ok, I'm going to be straightforward and blunt. We have a real problem
here. I have been on the phone with Millie and told her what happened to
the posters. Needless to say she was, I believe her exact words were
'royally pissed', does that sound right?"

    "Sounds pretty calm and cool to me. I guess it hadn't had time to sink
in or she'd have been here ripping things apart," Eugene laughed.

    "To tell you the truth, I expected her to do exactly that but, Eugene,
your mother is a smart lady. She said if she came out here it would look as
if she thought I couldn't handle the situation. She's right, of course, so
it's in my hands. Anything you might know about the situation that I might
not know?"

     Linda said, "It depends on how much you know. I think I know it
all. There are actually two things going on at the same time. Orie Greenley
is still really pis... ticked off that I gave him a kick in the family
jewels when he tried to force me to have sex with him and he was really put
out when I told him our date for the prom was off. So he is out to get
Matt, who is my date."

    Ms. Jones looked surprised for a moment and Paula said, "Yes, and I am
dating Luke. See the two guys each met someone they fell madly in love with
at a special kind of swim meet, but they can't date them for the prom
because there's an age problem and a race problem." Ms. Jones looked as if
she was caught up in a crazy dream and kept shaking her head.

    Bill said, "The attempt at drowning yourself--it all makes sense now,
Luke".

    Paula laughed, "Luke's younger than Matt--by twenty minutes--and Matt
is of mixed race".

    "Well, I was wondering if I had lost it there for a moment," Ms. Jones
laughed.

    "And just so you'll know the score, my two cousins from Lexington are
coming over as Eugene and Larry's dates. I just can't wait to see them try
out their man-killing ways on those two guys! It is going to be a real
treat!" Linda laughed. "Anyway, the other part of this mess is that Orie
and two of his jock buddies have been befriended by three of the jerks who
abused Gregory. All are still really angry because of the protest against
Mr. Gray since he was slipping them all sorts of help--money, tests before
they were given, changing grades--so they could play ball. And they hate
Michael because he 'made us real Independence people' look bad. They were
all out drinking last night and when they were pretty drunk, Jake Hilliard,
the ring leader of the motley crew, suggested they 'get even with them
fags,' Orie told me. They called someone, Orie wasn't sure who it was, and
made arrangements to get in the school through the gym. They stopped at
K-Mart, bought the spray paint and you know the rest."

    "But whatever gave them the idea? I can see why they might deface the
posters, but why with the words they did?"

    "I'm afraid Eugene and I are mostly responsible for that," Larry said.

    "You've got to include Matt and me," Luke added.

     "Several days ago--a week or so, so much has happened since I can't
really remember, Eugene was really down because his dad had landed on him
with both feet and he had to sit through another 'faggots will roast in
hell' session at church, so I spent as much time as I could with him. To
tell the truth, I was afraid he'd do away with himself he was so
depressed. I walked him to music class and when we got there, I looked
around and was sure no one was around, so I kissed him. Well, Paula did see
us and asked Michael to speak to us, which he did, but Paula believed she
was the only one who observed the kiss. Well, apparently she wasn't."

    "Marshall Tucker, one of Orie's hangers-on saw them and used that to
get into the Jake Hilliard club with Orie. Then there was Matt and Luke,"
Linda said.

    "The day Matt and I came to see you, we were walking down the hall
holding hands, not thinking anything about it. When we realized we were, we
both looked around and saw no-one. That didn't mean no-one saw us. Michael
had taken the wrong book from his locker and was in the hall getting the
right one and saw us. Like Paula, he thought he was the only one, but
apparently Orie saw us."

    "Needless to say, I had hoped that this would not happen, but was
afraid it would. I am at a bit of a loss as to where we go from here. I
just don't know. What I do know is that someone who has a key to the school
let those students into the building. There are very few people who have
those keys. I can eliminate three at once, myself, Mr. Allan and
Mr. Vincent. Mr. vincent might have been a suspect had I not seen his
reaction to the defaced posters. He may be uneducated and not too bright,
but he works hard and has a heart of gold. When he saw those posters he
kept saying over and over again, 'Look what they done did to my boy
Michael's stuff.' I don't know what you have done for him, but he worships
all of you. So he's out. Well, that's my problem, not yours. What do you
want done about the whole mess?"

    "I think the best thing to do is leave the situation in the hands of
the authorities. I have no proof of what I told you, but Orie was ready to
tell me anything I wanted to know after a few rubs of my knee against his
thigh. He had seen me leave the table angry at the Select Few, so he was
anxious to let me know he was taking care of them. I even got him to tell
me what they did with the paint cans and Mr. Vincent retrieved them for
me. They are carefully wrapped in tissue in my locker. A little quiet
investigation is bound to turn up more evidence. The paint cans surely will
have finger prints and at least the three involved in the Gregory mess have
been fingerprinted. As to the name-calling, I say ignore it as well until
you have witnesses and drop the Millie rule on them," Linda said.

    "Linda, where have you had your brain hidden all this year?" Matt
asked.

    "I told you we would discuss that when we had time, right now we're
dealing with the jocko crap."

    "Linda, I think your suggestions are great, but I wonder about the four
guys who are going to be, if not officially, effectively outted. Of course
the rest of you will suffer as well for being associated with them. You can
see that from what has already happened to Michael. Bill, you really need
to think about that because you will be a special target as a basketball
player."

    "Ms. Jones, Luke and Matt have been my brothers since I was born. Now
Larry and Eugene have become my adopted brothers--especially
Eugene... doesn't mean I like you less, Larry, but Eugene and I have a kind
of special bond. I am willing to fight for the rights of anyone to love
anyone they please and I am more than willing to take whatever kind of
shi... manure... those jock-jerks or anyone else wants to try to dish
out. I told Larry this morning that's why I agreed to get into this
political mess anyway."

    "Don't worry about me, I'm a pretty tough woman," Paula said. "I have
suffered worse than the childish pranks of some jerks."

    "Don't think I need to even ask you, Miss Mary Kathryn," Ms. Jones
said.

    "Nope."

    "And Linda, you have already proven your mettle."

    "Bill?"

    "Well, I admit this wasn't what I had in mind when I stopped by the
Select Few's table at lunch, but I did have in mind setting an example and
especially for those who want to represent this school on one of the
teams. I'm still in. And Ms. Jones, I have no proof so I won't state it
here, but if you want to know who opened the gym, I can give you a 99.9
percent accurate guess."

    "Thanks, Bill. I suspect we would agree on who, but I don't want you
involved in that. Right now I have a call in to the police. Linda, if
you'll get me the paint cans, I'll turn them over to the police. Meanwhile,
Matt, Luke, Larry, Eugene, what about you four? You're bound to catch a lot
of flack."

    "It was bound to happen sooner or later. I wish it hadn't, but it
has. Luke and I agreed that whatever came our way we'd handle together and
we will, one way or another."

    "Larry and I haven't talked about it in more than general terms. We
were more concerned about my family finding out and, since I no longer have
that family, we'll handle it. In fact, I feel kinda relieved that we no
longer have to hide who we are." Larry nodded in agreement.

    "That's spoken out of your love for your soulmate, I'm sure, and out of
a lot of teenage romanticism. I only hope you're able to remember it when
the going gets tough, and it will," Ms. Jones said and gave each of us a
warm, motherly hug. "Bill, you just become a part of a group that knows no
end of caring for each other. And you have earned that spot," Ms. Jones
said as she hugged Bill, who towered over her.

    After that, we all piled into the Jeep and Bill's car and went to
Mickey D's for drinks. As we settled in, I said to Linda, "Ok, crisis over
for the moment. Where have you had your brain hidden, Linda?"

    Linda blushed and said, "It's kinda embarrassing, but at the beginning
of school, I saw Matt sitting with all of you and, of course Sheldon then,
and I noticed no-one seemed to have their claws into Matt so I decided I
wanted that bod for my own. While I was scheming on how to get into the
Select Few, Mary Kathryn and I were walking to the cafeteria together and
she invited me to join the bunch for lunch. That was, I thought, my lucky
day. When I saw how Mary Kathryn and Paula were, I decided I needed to take
a different approach. I figured Matt hadn't shown any interest in Mary
Kathryn--Michael wasn't in the picture then--so I did what I do so well; I
became the dumb blond cheerleader of the bunch. By the time I realized you
were fun loving, but pretty serious kids, I didn't see any easy way to drop
the role. When Orie came along, it was the perfect role to get him. When I
gave him the kick in the balls and rejoined the group, there was never any
reason to be different until today. I really did want your bod, Matt and
I'm still jealous of you, Luke. If you were a woman, I'd fight you tooth
and nail for that adorable hunk who's obviously in love with you."

    "And all the talk, talk, talk was an act?" I laughed.

    "Well, some things are just naturally me!" Linda declared.

    "If I win this election, you're definitely in my cabinet," Michael
said, "and I'll try to pick a few hunks. You can take your pick!"

    "Hey, I'm available!" Bill said.

    "Looks like you just lost a prom date, Matt," Paula said.

    "I wish," Bill said, "but my mom has arranged a date with my cousin
from Lexington".

    We laughed and Linda said, "Bill, after the prom. We definitely have
one thing in common--scheming mammas." We talked and had a great time,
forgetting what had happened. Just before we were ready to leave, Luke
asked, "Just for the record, Linda, what's your GPA?"

    "You know, that was something I had to work hard to keep Mary Kathryn
from finding out or she would have blown my cover. I didn't have such a
good year last year since I was trying to be a part of THE in-crowd and
making grades wasn't tops on their list so it is still pulling my GPA
down. I have a 3.6."

    We took Eugene to Millie's--to his home--first since it was
closest. "I'll walk home after Eugene and I have some time to talk," Larry
said as we pulled into Millie's drive.

    Millie was waiting for us. Nothing would do but that we go inside. When
we introduced Bill, Millie, in her usual tactful manner, asked, "I've seen
you play ball, young man. Is that all you can do or do you have a brain as
well?"

    "He has a 3.7 and takes honors courses with me and Mary Kathryn,"
Michael said, "but I'm not sure he has a brain". Michael then told Millie
what Bill had decided and that he didn't change his mind after he was told
about the two couples.

    "Young man, you got balls. Glad to have you aboard," Millie said and
shook hands with Bill again. "Ok, tell me all we know about this crap at
Independence."

    We told her all that Linda had found out--and how--and Millie said,
"Matt, you're probably lucky you escaped. Beauty and brains is a
combination no man can handle. Right Michael?"

    "Hey, I'm trapped. You need to be warning Bill who is about to get
caught in Linda's web."

    "And you'll love every minute of it won't you? Well, anyway Bill, you
have an idea who opened the gym? It was one of the coaches," Millie
said. "They are the only ones who have keys to the gym doors other than
Mr. Vincent, Ms. Jones and Mr Allan. Heads will roll over this--either
through the school system or the police or both. Kids, and I include you,
maybe especially you, Bill, be careful. Three of those involved have
already shown what they are capable of doing and you know how those who
suck up to someone will go along with something they would never have the
guts to do otherwise. Be careful."

    Bill took Linda and Paula home. "I pass both houses on my way home," he
said.

    When we reached the Larsens', Mary Kathryn got out. "I planned to get
some work done today, but I suspect I had better tell Mom and Dad what has
happened," Luke said. After a kiss, he said, "Sarang Hanun Pomul, it wasn't
supposed to be this way."

    "But we'll handle it as it comes, Yonghon Tongmu," I replied, kissed
him again and said, "Later, Luke".

    I took Michael home and he said, "Later, Bro," as he got out.

    When I got inside, Mom and Dad were waiting for me. We talked for a
while about what had happened. When Dad asked what we planned to do I said,
"I know what I'd really like to do and that is get in front of the whole
student body and say, "I'm madly, insanely in love with Luke Larsen and he
is in love with me. If you don't like that, that's your problem because I
don't give a rat's ass what you like or don't like. But I know that's not
going to happen. But I am very tired of pretending I am not who I am and
that Luke is someone who is nothing more to me than a good friend."

    "And just how do you think Luke would react to your doing that?" Mom
asked.

     "I honestly don't know. I think he might actually be less afraid of
doing it than I am."

    "And what about Larry and Eugene? They have additional problems of
their own and if you and Luke out yourselves, what will they do or think
they are expected to do?" Dad asked.

    "I don't know. We haven't talked about it. What I'd really like to do
is have a family meeting. Tonight. With Larry and his mom and Eugene and
Millie included."

    "That comes as no surprise to me," Mom said. "I have already called the
clan--and Larry's mom and Millie--and suggested that if that's what you
four guys wanted, we would like to have them come here after dinner and all
sit down and work out what we are all going to do. Millie and Larry's mom
were going to suggest their boys get together and decide if they'd like to
do that. I suggest you and Luke do the same. When you have decided, let us
know and whatever you decide, we'll support."

    I knew what I wanted Luke to say, but I couldn't make the decision for
him and I didn't want to influence him one way or the other. I loved him
too much to even seem as if I was pressuring him. I drove to the Larsens
and walked to the door slowly because I might not want to hear what Luke
had to say.

    Gabrielle called as I walked in, "Luke's in his room. I'm sorry about
this mess," she said as I started up the stairs.

    When I walked in, Luke was lying on his bed, staring at the
ceiling. "Luke, Mom and Dad were waiting for me and we had a talk about how
you and I--Larry and Eugene as well--are going to handle the school
situation."

    "You know what I'd like to do? I'd like to have a video in which I
said, "I'm Luke Larsen. I'm gay. I'm in love--absolutely teetotally in love
with Matthew Sarang Hanun Pomul Greywolf."

    I grabbed Luke and gave him the most passionate kiss I could possibly
manage. "Luke Hans Yonghon Tongmu Larsen, I love you beyond all bounds!
That's almost exactly what I told Mom and Dad I wanted to do. I'm tired of
pretending I'm someone I'm not and I'm tired of worrying that someone will
discover the most important thing on this earth to me--that you love me and
I love you."

    "So what are we actually going to do?"

    "The whole family--and Larry and Eugene, Millie and Ms. Watley have
been put on alert. Millie and Ms. Watley are going to have Eugene and Larry
talk about the situation and, if they want to, to join in a family meeting
tonight. That is if you want one."

    "Of course I want one. Dad hasn't come home yet. It's a big step for
Dad to have to sit down and face the fact that his son is not only gay, but
is known to be gay. I just don't know what to expect."

    "I guess I'll go back home then so you can talk with Gabrielle and Jens
when he gets home. See you later, Yonghon Tongmu."

    Luke kissed me softly, looked into my eyes and said, "We'll live
through this too, Matt, Babe."

    "You better believe it, Light of my Life."

    When I got back home, Mom was on the phone. When she finished her
conversation, she said, "Millie told me Eugene had gone to Larry's and they
were going to talk and then talk to Larry's mom. She is pretty sure Eugene
was ready to broadcast his relationship with Larry, but he wasn't sure how
Larry would feel about it. Seems to me those two guys have problems enough
without this."

    "I guess we all do," I responded, "but it had to happen sooner or
later. I'm just worried about how Jens will take all this."

    "You're not the only one," Dad said.

    Supper was a pretty silent affair as I am sure all three of us were
engaged in our own thoughts. I know I was. I remembered what Ms. Jones had
said about teenage romanticism and I guess I was realizing that she was
very right. I had dreamed--literally--of announcing to the world that I was
in love with Luke and in my dreams, everyone listening cheered. But this
was no dream and I had seem [seen] how some people viewed our love--faggot,
cocksucker, buttfucker, fudgepacker. Don't tell me sticks and stones might
break my bones, but words would never hurt me. Words cut deep and hurt a
lot more than a broken bone or two. And while I would never use the terms
buttfucker or cocksucker, I guess they were just crude ways of talking
about making love as Michael was crude when he talked about fucking--and I
was, damn it, innocent!

    As soon as supper was over, I went to my room and lay on my bed,
staring at the ceiling. I felt as though my whole world could come crashing
down on me any minute. I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I almost
missed feeling Luke's approaching presence. He climbed through the window
just as I realized he was nearby.

    Luke came and lay beside me, saying nothing. As soon as I turned to
look at him, he faced me and said, "Matt, Dad is really upset. He really
wasn't ready for me to be out to everyone and I expected he would give me
hell about that, but he didn't. He just said, 'I suppose it had to happen
sooner or later. I wish it had been later. Somehow or other I expected it
to happen after you were out of high school and didn't have to put up with
a lot of shit every day. I'm sorry, Son, I'm really sorry that your last
few weeks in high school are going to be hell.' He hugged me and I saw big
tears in his eyes. He looked me squarely in the eyes and asked, 'Is it
really worth it, Luke? Is it really worth the hell you know you're going to
go through?' Matt, I was shocked at his question. I had almost killed
myself--hell, I would have except I screwed up and failed--and he wanted to
know if loving you was worth enduring what some jock assholes would say--or
do. I looked at him like he was nuts. 'Dad, if it was worth dying for, it's
sure as hell worth living for,' I said. He hugged me again and said, 'Then,
by God, love him and to hell with those who don't know love when they see
it'. I almost fainted."

    We hugged each other tightly. "God, Luke, I was so worried, so very
worried at what Jens' reaction might be. I knew Mom, Dad and Gabrielle
would take it in stride, but Jens...."

    "Yea, I know. Me too. But I never expected it to be what it
was. Never."

    "As if I didn't know, what are you going to do?"

    "The same as you, Matt, I'm going on with my life and I am going to
love you. I expect to go about my business at school the same as I have
except if I want to hold hands with you I will and if I want to kiss you, I
will--so long as I don't get caught by a teacher--just as I would if you
were the homecoming queen."

    "You better not be caught kissing any homecoming queen or you'll get
the same treatment Michael would get if your charming sister caught him
kissing the homecoming queen!"

    We both had a good laugh at the mental picture that conjured up. I
kissed Luke and said, "Well, I guess we may as well go down and see what
transpires at yet another family meeting about two sons of the family being
in love with each other."

    "Actually, from what I heard Mom say on the phone, I think this will
involve four sons in love. Millie and Eugene, Larry and Ms. Watley are
coming. Dad said he told Margaret and David they could skip with their big
day coming up, but both said they would be here."

    As Luke and I walked down the stairs I said, "Luke, who do you think
will be in charge of this meeting since Millie will be here?"

    "I'm betting on Greywolf."

    "Even money?"

    "Even money. What's the bet?"

    "Winner gets to pick where he sleeps tonight!"

    "Make it Saturday night and it's a bet! Think I'll be pretty busy
tonight."

    When we got downstairs everyone was there. The two couples were sitting
on the floor, one sitting between the other's legs. Luke and I joined them
with me sitting between his legs. "Before we get into what needs to happen,
everyone needs to know just what has and what has not happened," Greywolf
said.

    Luke leaned over and whispered in my ear, "In your bed tomorrow night,
Loser". Man, I like losing bets like that!

    Among us, we told the whole story of what had gone on, including our
meeting with Ms. Jones and Bill's decision. "He knows about you four?"
Greywolf asked.

    "He does," Mary Kathryn said.

    "I suppose Yong Jin and Greywolf know things we don't," Millie said,
"and there are a few aspects of the situation I can address. Others I
cannot".

    Yong Jin said, "I really know more now than I did before. I guess all I
can add is that students seem pretty equally divided between those who were
outraged and those who seemed to think it was a funny prank. I heard very
little talk I would consider homophobic, but I wouldn't expect to, not only
because I am a teacher, but also because I am Matt's mom."

    "Well, the paint cans are in the hands of the police and I know the
sheriff is hot to get the ones who were involved with Gregory. He saw
Gregory after he was raped and was more than a little upset when they got
off so light. On the one hand, it's unfortunate that all five have had a
birthday since their trial in juvenile court, so their records are sealed
and can't be used against them. On the other hand, it's good because this
time they are facing hard time," Millie said.

    "According to Linda, three of the five who raped Gregory were involved
in this--Jake Hilliard, Danny Elrod and Buddy Johnson. Along with them were
Orie Greenley and two of his hangers-on, Marshall Tucker and Mickey
Hansen. The six messed up the posters after someone left the gym door
unlocked," Mary Kathryn said. "She said Orie didn't know who, but Jake
called someone to get the door unlocked."

    "Well, all the teachers know who has keys--Ms. Jones, Mr. Allan,
Mr. Vincent and the coaches. You can forget about Ms. Jones, Mr. Vincent
and Mr. Allan. It had to be one of the coaches," Greywolf said. "But which
one?"

    "That's the big question," Millie said. "We can't just accuse them
all. I suspect one--maybe all--resented Mr. Allan's stand at the protest
and may well be jealous of his new position. Plenty of motive for wanting
to start something, especially if it would make Ms. Jones and Mr. Allan
look bad. That's why I have kept a low profile. I don't want to even
suggest they can't handle this because I know they can and will," Millie
said, then laughed, "Spoken like a real president of the school board. But
I think we need to play this down as much as possible because I think,
given enough rope, the whole bunch will hang themselves."

    "My thoughts exactly," Jens said. "If it can be handled as a non-issue,
I am willing to bet the six can't resist something else."

    "Jens, I think you are forgetting something. I'm all for catching the
rats, but I'm not sure I want these four, or really all five, young men to
be the bait. We're dealing with at least three nut cases who have already
abused and raped a young man. And I wouldn't be surprised if Orie and his
hoods wouldn't go along with whatever the other three decide to do,
especially since they apparently have the support of a teacher," Gabrielle
said.

    "Point well taken," David said. "I was just going to say we need to
remember that spray painting posters might have been a prank had it not
been for the words and who did it. Those three are capable of just about
anything."

    "Matt and I were talking about being relieved that we didn't have to
hide any more. Man, I guess Ms. Jones was right about teenage
romanticism. I know that I was thinking we'd just walk in and say, 'We're
in love!' and everybody would think it was great. Shit!"

    "Just about the same thing Eugene and I were thinking. Damn, even his
dad beat him to a pulp and we thought school would be all rosy. We're four
dumb-shits, aren't we?"

    "No, you're just teenagers in love. That's all. You live in a dream
world a lot of the time--it's normal--but right now, it's also dangerous,"
Margaret said.

    That brought six teenagers back to earth in record time as evidenced by
the sudden quiet in the room and the fact that all three sitting behind
their beloved had put their arms around them and pulled them close. "I
never thought about there being any danger beyond words," Mary Kathryn
said. There were five nods of agreement.

    "I want you six to realize just how much danger there might be--and you
really need to talk with Linda because I believe she thinks she knows what
Orie may decide to do if she keeps leading him on, but it's worse than
that. Sheriff Putnam is so worried about what the six are capable of doing,
and might do, that he is putting four people in the school undercover. He
borrowed them from the hate crimes force in Lexington. Two are "new
students" who look the part. It just happens one plays on one of the police
league's basketball teams. The other is obvious football material and will
surely be approached soon by one of the football coaches. The others are
older and are new custodians. They will do their best to keep an eye on you
six," Millie told us.

    "What is Mr. Vincent going to think about that?" I asked. "Won't he
think his job is being questioned? I sure don't want that to happen to
him." Again five heads nodded agreement.

    "He knows all about it by this time. Ms. Jones called him in and told
him how much she appreciated what he was doing in regard to this crapola,"
Millie said. "He will help keep the two placed where they are most
valuable. Now you six listen to me and listen very carefully. You are to
appear as normal as possible, but avoid any place where you might be
trapped. Guys, you're just going to have to hold it until two or more of
you can go. Michael, that's going to be most difficult for you because you
are in classes without any of the others--sorry, I forgot the new member of
the gang, Bill. Anyway, hold it until you see a custodian around and he--or
she if necessary--will make sure the toilets are safe. Eugene, watch going
to music. The band room is almost by itself down that long hall. How well
do you trust Mr. Smith?"

    "All the way. To tell the truth, I suspect he is gay, but I know being
gay makes no never mind to him."

    "I'll see what we can work out with him about keeping a lookout. Kids,
we're doing everything we can to accomplish two things: first and foremost,
keeping you safe; and second, catching those jokers who are responsible. I
guess that's all I can say right now."

    "Guys, how have you decided to handle the situation?" Greywolf asked.

    "I know what we would like to do, but it wouldn't be wise even in
ordinary circumstances--we would all like to be as open as Mary Kathryn and
Michael. But even before Millie pointed out just what we were up against, I
think we pretty much decided we would just carry on as if nothing had been
said. We'll still be careful about showing our true relationship and if
people ask, well, I think we'll just ignore that too," Luke answered for
the four of us and we all nodded.

    In the end, I felt good about the support we had, and especially from
Jens. When the family meeting broke up, everyone went home expect the Gang
of Four. I turned out the porch light as the four of us went outside to say
our goodnights. Before our final kiss, Luke whispered in my ear, "I'll be
collecting my bet tomorrow night, so be ready. Now I guess I better get
moving since I've got to get to Lexington as early as I can so I can get
back for the rehearsal." Our last kiss was long and passionate, but tender
and filled with love. Why did people resent that? Why did people hate us
for loving? I just didn't understand how anyone could see anything wrong or
evil with the unquestioned love I had for Luke and he for me.

    When I got up the next morning and looked, the Jeep was no longer at
the Larsens'. I dressed and went down for breakfast. After breakfast, Mom
took me in to town and we picked up Eugene and Paula. The three of us
worked at St. Mary's until lunch. Once again we got more accomplished than
I dreamed we would. When Mom came to pick us up, I asked that she take
Paula and Eugene home and come back by for me. I wanted to just walk around
a while by myself. She came back and picked me up and when we got back
home, lunch was ready. Just after we sat down for lunch, the doorbell
rang. "I'll get it," I said as I got up and went to the door. When I opened
the door I couldn't believe my eyes. I just stood there with my mouth open
until I was finally able to ask, "Michael, what on earth has happened to
you?"