Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2002 22:05:19 GMT
From: patcross@kskc.net
Subject: Pat and John-18

    While Pat and John were planning their commitment ceremony, their lives
together seemed to get better and better. With Coach Sloane's help, they had
become two of the most powerful swimmers on the team, earning them several
awards and making their therapy pay off. In fact, it wasn't a rare occurrence
to see Dr. Mike at their swim meets, cheering his lungs out for his two former
patients.

    The tide of hate against the boys started to change for the better, because
now that they were more or less healed, they went out into the community and
gave of themselves. They delivered food for Meals on Wheels, they volunteered
at the Hospital and homeless shelter, and they performed many other selfless
tasks that no one expected them to. And, the funny thing was they enjoyed doing
the extra work, making new friends, and seeing someone smile.

    Remember Renee, the loudmouth? Well, she belonged to a hate-filled church
that believed in turning its' back on the truly needy, and that group of people
suddenly found themselves not wanted in town. It wasn't long before the
minister and his flock got the unspoken message to leave, so one dark night,
they snuck out quietly, to infect another town with their venom and hate.

    Now, nothing stood in the way for the two young lovers to seal their bond.
A date was selected, and final preparations were made. So, on one lovely Spring
morning, two very young boys sought out their parents.

    "We're so scared," they sobbed, "what if we don't get this right?" Their
parents held them tightly, calming them. Mrs. Stephens just looked at her two
boys with tears rolling down her cheeks, "You'll do fine, Honey, just fine. And
don't worry, Pat. You've got two sets of parents watching over you, now. We're
all so proud of you. It's time to go, now."

    They went into the backyard, where both boys received a shock. Many of
their school friends were there, with their parents, and better yet, everybody
was smiling. After that momentary shock, the ceremony began.

    The minister looked at Pat, winked, and said, "Who gives this young man
away?" Dr. Mike cleared his throat, saying, "In the name of his late parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Christianson, I do." Almost immediately, Pat began began
to cry again, his heart breaking.

    John and his parents stepped up. "And who is giving this young man away
today?", the minister asked again. John's parent's answered as one, "We are."

    The minister paused, then began to speak. "I have performed several of
these commitment ceremonies, and I can tell you that a homosexual union is no
less difficult than a regular marriage. It is more so! It is made so by
society, and by churches who condemn homosexuality. But what is being
celebrated here today is not homosexuality; it is the commitment that two young
people have, and are willing to make, for each other. That being said, hand me
the rings, please. Pat, are you willing to stand by John in good times and in
bad, in good health or bad health, for richer or poorer, 'til the day one of
you should die?"

    Pat gulped, and looked at John with a smile. "I do."

    The minister began again. "John, are you willing to stand by Pat in good
times and bad, in good health or bad health, for richer or poorer, 'til the day
one of you should die?"

    John just looked at Pat with a dreamy smile, saying, "I do."

    With a happy grin, the minister said, "It gives me great pleasure to
announce the committment of John and Stephens. You may exchange rings and kiss
your beloved!"

     Pat and John turned towards each other, and after slipping their ring on
each other's finger, they lightly kissed, so as not to cause a scene. Then,
like everyone else, they happily attacked the refreshments. They were
pleasantly surprised at the type of gifts they received. Mostly, they found the
gifts were of the financial variety (stocks, bonds, CDs, cash), so being wise
and listening to their parents, they invested those. The fun gifts from their
friends, well, were fun, what with them being teens and all.

    After all the excitement of the day, the boys were very tired, but they had
one more surprise coming. Unknown to them, their parents had bought a king-
sized mattress set to replace both their beds. Finding this new bed in their
room, both boys were in a mild state of shock, and they asked why.

    "You two are a couple now, and need to start living like one. Just
remember, you still have responsibilities here at home that need looking after,
too. I can still take away privileges, you know."

    "We know, we know," the boys said, laughing, as they went upstairs to bed.
Just before they faded off to sleep, they kissed deeply and passionately. "I
love you, Honeybear," said John as he looked into Pat's bright blue eyes. "I
love you, Angel," said Pat, as he snuggled snuggled against John and fell
asleep.