Date: Wed, 07 Mar 2001 11:26:48 -0700
From: tarantau tarantau <tarantau@hotmail.com>
Subject: Ryan's Odyssey Chapter 3

I would like to thank the people who have e-mailed me letting me know what
they think of my efforts.  I enjoy reading all the other stories out there,
and appreciate all your support.  Keep them e-mails coming.

RYAN'S ODYSSEY

CHAPTER THREE

When we got into my truck, it was an ingrained habit the first thing I did
was turn up the music.  I had forgotten I still had the Nsync Cd in the
player, and quickly made up an excuse to justify why I was listening to
boyband music.

"Damn," I said, "I gave Robin a ride the other day and she insisted that we
listen to this crap.  I can change it real quick."

"Why?" Kyle asked.  "That's a good Cd, hell I listen to it all the time."

For the ten minute ride to the Video Store, we rarely said anything just
listening to the sounds of Nysnc coming through the speakers.  I would kinda
glance at Kyle and see him mouthing along with the words.  He seemed to know
almost every song by heart.  Maybe the misconception that only Gays, and
only little teenage girls could enjoy that type of music was a fabrication.

"I love this song," Kyle said, "besides, Chics dig them, so I figure if they
like it, then it can't be that bad."

"Yeah," I replied, "You don't even have to be that good looking, but if you
can sing, Chics will be all over your ass."

"You can't sing, and your uglier then my dog's ass," Kyle replied, "so why
are the chics all over you?"

"It must be my magic tongue," I replied, sticking my tounge out at him.

We both laughed before pulling into the Video Store.

"Hey Ryan, Hey Kyle," Todd greeted us as we walked in the door.

We both waved to him, and walked towards the New Release section all along
the back wall of the store.  Secretly I was looking for a movie of course
that had a cute boy in it, in the prentense of a good action film, or a good
comedy.  We were looking through the Video's trying to decide on which two
to get, I liked this one, but Kyle had already seen it and said it was quite
disapointing.  Or he liked this one, but I had already seen it, and since
there wasn't a cute boy in it, I didn't want to see it again.   This went on
for a few minutes, when Todd walked up behind us.

"Do you boy's need any help," he asked.

"Suggest us a good movie," Kyle said.

"Well if you want a good movie," he said, "You ain't gonna find it in the
new release section"

He led us to the drama section and produced a copy of a movie called "The
Power of One" handed it to me, and said, "Now this is a good movie, I think
you all will enjoy."

We paid for the movie and left, thanking him for his help.

When we got back to the truck,  Kyle turned towards me, and matter of factly
replied, "You do know that Todd is gay."

"No fucking way," I said, "He's a cool guy, he can't be gay,"

He reached into my glove compartment, where I kept my pack of cigarettes.
He handed me one, and took one for himself.  "I saw him checking out your
ass," he said.

I had known Todd since I was in the fifth grade, I had seen him and my mom
come to the house, both drunker then shit, trying to act like they weren't
as drunk as they really were.  I had never thought about it, but he was the
same age as my mom, and both of them were single, so why hadn't he tried to
put a move on her.  I knew the typical response was, we don't wanna ruin our
friendship.

We drove the rest of the way in silence, me thinking about the possibility
of Todd being gay.

* * * * * * * *

I turned towards Ryan and said, "You do know that Todd is gay."

I could tell in his eyes, that he somewhat believed me, but was kinda unsure
of has to how I knew that bit of information.  If he asked me how I was so
sure, I would just tell him, it was one of those things I had a suspicion
about.

I could never tell him the truth.

I could never tell him that I have had sex with Todd on more then one
occasion.  You see I'm gay, I have known the fact for as far back as I could
remember.  Anybody who looked at me, would have never known that fact.  I
looked at the hot looking girls, flirted with a few.  I even went on a
couple of dates.  I had sex a lot more times with a girl then I ever did
with a guy, but the magic just wan't there like it was with a guy.  When
ever I had sex with a girl, I usually kept my eyes closed, and there was
only one person on my mind.  The one person I was hopelessly in love with.
The one person who walked through all my dreams.  And no it wasn't Todd.

The face I saw in my dreams, was that of Ryan.

I loved Ryan Paul Suttermill.

"Ryan?" I asked, "how do you feel about Todd now, knowing that he's gay."

He took a puff of his cigarette, and thought for a moment, before replying,
"I'm not real sure.  He doesn't seem any different from when I didn't know
he was gay yesterday, so I guess I really don't have a big problem with it.
But if he tries any shit on me, I'll have to whip his ass.  They can live
their lifes, and we can be friends, but I ain't into fudge packing or
sucking cocks."

I knew Ryan couldn't tell, but his words hurt me more then he would ever
know.  I wanted to ask him if he was homophobic, but wasn't sure how to do
it without arising some suspicion in him.  We both knew openly gay people in
town, and most people in town thought nothing of it.  Of course there were
the occasional assholes who thought everybody was beneath them.

"Hey, Kyle," Ryan said, "I was joking about what I said about Todd.  Hell,
he's like the closest thing to a father I have.  And I know he looks at me
kind of like a son."

I relaxed a little, but I still wanted to know if Ryan was homophobic.

"Do you hate gays?" I asked

* * * * * * *

"Do you hate gays?" he asked.

The statement kinda took me by surprise.  If I answered no, would he suspect
I was gay, and if I said yes, would he think I was a biget, who hated Todd,
when I just said I didn't have a problem with him.  "I'm not really sure," I
said, "I don't think they're that way by choice, as some people seem to
believe.  Why would a person subject themselves to torture by choice?  It
just doesn't seem to make sense to me."

"I have an uncle who's gay," Kyle said, "My mom took every picture we have
of him at the house and burned them, and we are even forbidden to speak his
name in front of her.  But I'll tell you a secret, and you've gotta promise
never to tell anybody.  I go see him as often as I can, he's a really fun
guy, and his boyfriend is real nice.  There about as normal as can be, with
the exception that their in love with each other."

"What would your mother do if she found out?" I asked

"I'm not sure," he said, "but she's probably accuse him of molesting me,
have him thrown in jail, and take me to those idiots down at the church she
attends to drive the homosexual demons from my body.  To my mother
homosexuality is contagious, just like a cold, and can be cured just like a
cold if you want to be."

I couldn't help but laugh.

Kyle laughed right along with me.
"Kyle," I said, "can I ask you a question, hypothetically speaking of
course."

"You're my best friend," he said, "you can ask me anything, except the size
of my dick, I wouldn't want you getting envious."

"I'm serious," I said.

I though for a minute before I said, "If you found out a friend of your's
was gay, how would you feel about it?"


My first sort of cliffhanger you could say.

Let me know what you think

tarantau@hotmail.com