Date: Sat, 2 Sep 2000 16:58:52 -0700 (PDT) From: Brew Maxwell <brew_drinker23@yahoo.com> Subject: My First Year with Kevin, Chapter 13 The following is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. The story contains graphic descriptions of sex between men, and anyone who is forbidden by law to read such material must exit the story now. This story is being posted to the Nifty Archive for the enjoyment of its readers. It may not be posted or distributed by any other medium without the written permission of its author. My other works in the Nifty Archive include Unusual Christmas and Nick's Adventures, both in bisexual/high school, First Mate and Twin Spin in gay/incest, The Dancer and Call-Boy Journal in gay/encounters, and From Slave to Houseboy in gay/authoritarian. E-mail comments are always welcome. My First Year With Kevin Chapter 13 We got up late the next morning and hung around the pool and patio with Frank and Denis until early afternoon. It rained like a motherfucker that afternoon, so Kevin and I went to our gym to work out. We got home around six o'clock, and Frank and Denis were dressed to go out. We had a drink with them, and then we ordered pizza for us. They went to wherever they were going, and we settled down to watch TV. By 9:30, we were both dozing in front of the TV set. We went to bed and went right to sleep. The next morning Kevin woke up before I did, and he was wide awake when the clock went off. We got up without speaking, made the bed, and went to the bathroom for a shower. Kevin was almost always playful in the morning, but that day he was really subdued. He got into the shower while I pissed in the urinal, something we always did together, and he didn't even touch me while we showered. We didn't always have sex in the morning, but we did more times than not. Everything about him that morning told me something was wrong. We went into our respective rooms to dress for school. When I was dressed, I went into his room. "So what the fuck's wrong," I demanded. I had let my mind imagine all sorts of problems that all centered on me and our relationship. "I'm scared." "Scared? Fucking scared of what?" "What's going to happen at school today." "What the fuck are you talking about," I asked. There was dead silence for a full minute, at least. Finally, he spoke. "Of what happened Friday night." Suddenly it dawned on me. The fight. Not winning the game against an arch-rival, but the fight. We hadn't heard from Ken Jernigan or his dad, and Kevin was worried about what the school might decide to do to him and Ken for fighting. The ordinary punishment was automatic expulsion, or suspension if there were mitigating circumstances. "This has been on your mind all weekend, hasn't it," I asked. He nodded. "So why the fuck didn't you say anything about it to me?" "Cause I didn't want you worrying, too. Worry is bad, man. I don't want anything bad for you." Tears came to my eyes at that moment. God, I loved that boy. On the way to school, I prayed to God that everything would be all right about the fight. It should have been. No coach was around to break it up or anything. I thought about him all morning, and I called his cell phone number during lunch. "Hello," he said when he answered it. The tone of voice was not good. "Hey, Babe. It's me." "I know." "Where are you?" "Home." When he said that, I could hear a catch in his voice that made me think he had been crying. "Why?" "I'm suspended. All week. Because of the fight." He started sobbing at that moment, and I teared up, too. "I'll be there in five minutes," I said and hung up. I went to the office to check myself out, and I hauled ass home. Kevin was in the den, still in his uniform. The look of dejection on my Baby's face made me want to cry, but I wanted to be strong for him. He stood up when I went into the room, and we hugged and kissed as though we hadn't seen one another in a month. I made Kevin sit down on the sofa, and I poured us each a stiff drink. "Matt, it was awful," he said, but he couldn't get past that for the tears that overwhelmed him. He cried hard tears for a long time, but he finally settled down. I lit a cigarette and handed it to him. He finally tasted his drink. "Can you talk about it," I asked. "Babe, if I can't talk to you, there's nobody on earth I can talk to." "So what happened?" "They called me to the office during first period and said I should bring my books. The class got deathly silent, and everybody watched me pack up and walk out. God, I hated that. "When I got to the office, the secretary told me to take a seat. Ken Jernigan and his old man were already there, and it looked like Jernigan hadn't even been to class. They called the two of them in first. I couldn't hear anything, of course, and I was so nervous I got a raging hard-on. Does that ever happen to you?" I shook my head "no." "Anyway, they were in there for at least half an hour. After about ten minutes of waiting, the secretary asked me if I'd like some water, and I said I would. She got me a bottle of spring water from a little room off the office. Then she asked me if I wanted to call my father. The first thing that went through my mind-and I swear to God this is true-was 'No, I want to call my Matt.' Of course, I didn't say that. I just said no, thanks. I didn't want our family involved in whatever shit Jernigan's old man was spewing out in there. "Finally, they came out, and Jernigan's dad was glad-handing the Head like they were life-long friends. Jernigan looked at me like he had won the fucking fight, so I figured I was toast. "Well, I was called in next, and the Head wanted to know my side of the story." "What did you say," I asked. I was really nervous, but I noticed Kevin had calmed down considerably. "I told the truth. I told him Ken had seen the padlock on the penis piercing I wear and had called me a fag. Then I told him I had asked Ken if he wanted me, and he slammed me into the wall of the shower room and I had fallen down. I wasn't taking that, so I beat the shit out of him." "What did the Head say?" "He said that Ken accused me of being gay, and I didn't deny it. I said, 'Yes, sir, I am.'" "Just that," I asked. "Just that. He was embarrassed, I think, but fuck him. 'Well that does have some bearing on this case, don't you think,' he asked me. 'No, sir, I don't think it does. I've never let my sexuality be known at school, and I've never even come on to another gay student or gay faculty member. And there are some, you know?'" "How'd he respond to that?" "He just sort of cleared his throat, and he didn't look at me." "So then what?" " 'Well, regardless of the reason,' he said, 'fighting just isn't permitted in this school.' " 'Yeah, but he started it,' I said. 'He pushed me into the wall and knocked me down. What was I supposed to do? Just let him get away with that?' " 'Well, his story is you attacked him because of his poor performance in the game. He thinks you blame him for the defensive line allowing you to be sacked.' " 'Sir, that's bullshit, and you know it.' " 'I know you're upset, Smythe, but that kind of language is way out of line.' " 'Yes, sir,' I said. 'I apologize.' " 'Son, I can't let you get away with this. Our trustees are very clear on this point. I have no choice but to expel you.'" I gasped. "What? They fucking expelled you? Did they expel Jernigan?" "Well, that's what he said, but I'm not expelled. Only suspended." "So what did you say? What did you do?" I was dying of anxiety. "I said, 'Sir, may I call my father?' "He said 'yes' and asked if I wanted privacy. "I said 'No, I'd like you to hear my side of the conversation.' "I dialed the number and got put right through. I said, 'Dad, I've been expelled from school because of the fight Friday night. I think we should go ahead with the lawsuits against the Jernigan kid for sexual harassment, the discrimination suit against the school, and the suit against the school for failing to provide proper supervision. "Frank came unglued, but I didn't respond to him. I said, 'Yes, sir, I know I'm fourth generation at this school. Yes, sir, I know Smythe stadium was donated by our family. Oh, it wasn't really donated? It's just on loan? Well, I say we cancel the loan and burn the motherfucker down. Smythe Hall, too? Shit, Dad, that's the main classroom building. You mean we could actually have that demolished, too?' "The Headmaster was looking at me like a crazy man. None of that shit was true about those buildings, except that the family had donated them, but Dick Head didn't know that. This is only his second year there. " 'Dad,' I said, 'I think you might want to call Uncle Larry about this. He's still chairman of the Board of Trustees, isn't he? Well, and he's as gay as you and I are. He won't be quite as homophobic as the esteemed Headmaster is. " 'Let me speak to your father,' the Head said." " 'He doesn't want to talk to you,' I said, with all the contempt I could muster." "Goddamn, you are so fucking smart," I said. "How the hell did you think of all that shit?" "I thought about it all weekend, when I wasn't otherwise distracted," Kevin said, finally smiling. "What was Frank saying during all of that," I asked. "Well, he had Denis on another phone, and they were alternately laughing and telling me stuff to say, kind of. One thing Frank said was to ask to have the coach brought up to the office so he could hear what was going on." "Did the Head allow that?" "Oh, yeah. And Frank and Denis said they were on their way." "Jesus, man, this is like a fucking movie." I lit a cigarette, and Kevin lit one, too. I freshened our drinks. "Keep on." "I hung up the phone at that point. I told him my dad was coming to see him and that he wanted the coach there, too. "He called the gym or the coaches' office or someplace, and told him to get his ass to the office on the double. When Coach came in, he had this look of surprise and puzzlement on his face. He figured I was there for some disciplinary reason, but, because I'd been like this model student for almost seven years, he couldn't believe it. " 'Leave the room, please, Smythe,' the Head said. " 'Are you going to be talking about me? Because, if so, I'm not going anywhere unless you call the police and have me arrested.'" "Damn, dude. Balls of steel," I said. He smiled. " 'All right, then. Stay, if you must.' Then he turned his attention to Coach. 'This boy has just been expelled from Colton Academy. Effective immediately. He's made some rash threats, but my decision is final.' " 'What the fuck are you talking about,' Coach said. 'He's the best player I've had in fifteen fucking years, and we're going for the state championship. Are you out of your fucking mind? What the fuck did he do to deserve this? Hell, I've known he smokes since he was in the eighth grade, if that's what this bullshit is all about.' " 'It's not about smoking, Coach. It's about assault. He beat up another boy in the shower room Friday night. Ken Jernigan. His father is a lawyer, and he was in here with Ken this morning to complain.' " 'Shit, if you knew the kids in this school, you'd know that the best part of Ken Jernigan ran down his mother's leg while she was hobbling to the bathroom the night he was conceived. I can't believe you don't know that. But, then again, you wouldn't.' There was real contempt in Coach's voice, and the Head noticed it. " 'What's that supposed to mean, Mister?' " 'It means you don't know the fucking kids in this fucking school.' I wondered how long it would take the Head to make Coach watch his language, but he never said anything to him about it. Coach was pissed, and the Head knew he would never have a prayer if Coach got physical. "Right about then Frank and Denis showed up. They were shown in, and, once again, I was asked to leave. " 'My son is an adult,' Frank said. 'He stays if he wants to. By the way, may I use your phone?' " 'Certainly,' the Head said. Frank dialed a number and asked to speak to Mr. Fell. 'Larry, it's Frank. Listen, I'm at school because of Kevin. ... I know. He's been exemplary. ... Well, it's this homophobic Headmaster the Board hired. Can you come over and help Denis and me reason with this...guy.' Frank said 'guy' like he was saying 'shit-eating, motherfucking, cocksucker.' It was an awesome moment. 'Great. You know where the office is, of course. You were in it often enough as a kid. ... Yeah, Smythe Hall. ... I know it's ironic, but this poor 'guy' doesn't know that. See you in ten. Bye.' " 'Chairman Fell will be here in ten minutes, Mr. Headmaster. He's known Kevin since Kevin was born, of course, and he's very interested in him. I suggest you order some coffee.' "When he said that, Frank pulled out a cigarette and lit up. Denis did the same. They offered me one, but I declined. Then I gave it a second thought, and I took one from Denis. That guy was intimidated as hell; the Head, I mean. Coach took one, too, by the way. "He got the secretary to get some coffee, and he sat at his desk surrounded by smokers. Then Uncle Larry came in." "Uncle Larry," I asked. "Yeah, Larry Fell, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Colton Academy. They really run the place. He's not really my uncle, but I've always called him that. He and Frank were best friends in high school, and Larry is also gay." "No way," I said. "Yes, way. Anyway, he came in and shook hands with Frank and Denis, and he hugged me and kissed me on the forehead. He nodded at the Headmaster. " 'What's all this about,' Uncle Larry wanted to know. I gave him the quick picture. " 'What do you think, Coach,' Uncle Larry asked. " 'I think it's a crock of shit, Larry,' Coach said. 'Hell, I coached you and Frank, and I've never coached three more responsible or better men then you guys and Kevin. This boy can make us state champions for the first time in my career.' " 'Well, it's settled, as far as I'm concerned,' Larry said. 'No expulsion.' " 'I must insist on suspension, though. And that Kevin not play in the next game,' the Head said. " 'The quarter finals,' Coach asked with a great big question mark on his face. " 'Yes, Coach. The quarter finals. There will be no fighting at this school, as long as I'm Headmaster.' " 'Sir, get your resume in order,' Uncle Larry said. 'You'll need it once the year is over.' " 'All right,' the Head said, 'I'll capitulate. But he must remove all jewelry associated with piercings in order to play. That is not a wholesome example for the other boys.' " 'Is that acceptable to you, Kevin,' Uncle Larry asked. " 'No, sir, it isn't. Last year, six of us got our left nipples pierced because we had read in history class that the Roman soldiers did that as a sign of bravery. We got it done the week before the Newton game, and we beat them, as I'm sure you recall. Nothing was ever said about that. I got my other nipple pierced last summer, and my boyfriend and I got our penises pierced over Thanksgiving. We did that for one another, and I'm not going to agree to take it out unless he agrees that I should do it. And I'm pretty sure he won't.' " 'Frankly, Mr. Stevenson, I don't see the relevance of removing pieces of jewelry that I'm sure other boys in this school wear,' Uncle Larry said. " 'It's the moral issue. The principle of the thing. He's announcing to the world that he's gay by wearing them, and that's what caused the fight in the first place.' "Right then Frank spoke up. 'Excuse me, Father Savanarola, but piercings are just as common in the heterosexual community as they are in the gay community. If my son wants to wear a ring in his dick, that's his business, not yours or mine. So this really is about the fact that Kevin is gay and isn't afraid to acknowledge it.' " 'I've rescinded the expulsion,' the Head said, 'but I won't allow him to wear that jewelry to school. And that's final.' " 'Kevin, it looks like it's in your court,' Frank said. 'What'll it be?' "Coach chimed in at that point. 'Stevenson, you're a fucking asshole. Everybody knows you've been married four times and that you don't have a child to your name. We all think you're gay. Give the kid and the school a break.' " 'My ruling is one week's suspension for fighting and no sports until he removes all body jewelry. That's it, gentlemen. Good day.'" " 'What about the other boy,' Uncle Larry asked. 'He started it. Shouldn't he be suspended, too?'" The Head didn't say anything. Uncle Larry and Coach looked at one another. " 'That motherfucker will never walk on my field again,' Coach said. 'And if he isn't suspended, I quit right now and go to the media.'" " 'And, of course, I'll be with you, Coach, to explain the Board's position. As chairman, I'm empowered to act in the name of the Board in case of an emergency, and I'll simply tell them that this Headmaster has been involved in unethical practices and had to be fired on the spot as soon as I became aware of them. The rest of the Board will back me up. Hell, everybody knows I'm gay, and they elected me Chairman ten years ago despite that.'" " 'So what's it going to be, Mister Stevenson?' Frank asked. "The guy really looked whipped, probably because he was. He agreed to suspend Jernigan." " 'Call him up here right now while we're still here,' Uncle Larry said." " 'I'm sorry, that's a confidential interview,' the Head said." " 'Nothing is confidential as far as the Board Chairman is concerned. Get his ass up here. I want to witness this.'" "We all went into the outer office, and the Head told the secretary to call Jernigan from class. Uncle Larry went in with Jernigan, who looked like he has just eaten his own balls off." "Damn," I said. "So what's the conclusion?" "Well, I'm suspended for the whole week. But I get to practice with the team every day, and I can play Friday night. I don't have to take my nipple rings and PA out. Jernigan is suspended for a week, too, but he won't get to play or even dress out. He's off the team. The Headmaster will lose his job, and that homophobic motherfucker should." "Are you going to do it?" "Fuck, yeah. I'm going to go to practice every day this week, except today, and I'll shower every day with the team. I'm showing my stuff off, Babe." Kevin played brilliantly in the quarter finals, the semi-finals, and the state championship game, and Colton won. We had a great party for the team, their parents, the teachers at Colton, and everyone but the Jernigans and the Headmaster. Uncle Larry, as Board Chairman, presented the state championship trophy to Coach, instead of to the Head, and everybody cheered. Kevin spent the week of his suspension at his computer learning Spanish; he already spoke French very well, and Spanish came naturally to him. Not a bad "suspension of education," I thought. The following is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. The story contains graphic descriptions of sex between men, and anyone who is forbidden by law to read such material must exit the story now. This story is being posted to the Nifty Archive for the enjoyment of its readers. It may not be posted or distributed by any other medium without the written permission of its author. My other works in the Nifty Archive include Unusual Christmas and Nick's Adventures, both in bisexual/high school, First Mate and Twin Spin in gay/incest, The Dancer and Call-Boy Journal in gay/encounters, and From Slave to Houseboy in gay/authoritarian. E-mail comments are always welcome. My First Year With Kevin Chapter 13 We got up late the next morning and hung around the pool and patio with Frank and Denis until early afternoon. It rained like a motherfucker that afternoon, so Kevin and I went to our gym to work out. We got home around six o'clock, and Frank and Denis were dressed to go out. We had a drink with them, and then we ordered pizza for us. They went to wherever they were going, and we settled down to watch TV. By 9:30, we were both dozing in front of the TV set. We went to bed and went right to sleep. The next morning Kevin woke up before I did, and he was wide awake when the clock went off. We got up without speaking, made the bed, and went to the bathroom for a shower. Kevin was almost always playful in the morning, but that day he was really subdued. He got into the shower while I pissed in the urinal, something we always did together, and he didn't even touch me while we showered. We didn't always have sex in the morning, but we did more times than not. Everything about him that morning told me something was wrong. We went into our respective rooms to dress for school. When I was dressed, I went into his room. "So what the fuck's wrong," I demanded. I had let my mind imagine all sorts of problems that all centered on me and our relationship. "I'm scared." "Scared? Fucking scared of what?" "What's going to happen at school today." "What the fuck are you talking about," I asked. There was dead silence for a full minute, at least. Finally, he spoke. "Of what happened Friday night." Suddenly it dawned on me. The fight. Not winning the game against an arch-rival, but the fight. We hadn't heard from Ken Jernigan or his dad, and Kevin was worried about what the school might decide to do to him and Ken for fighting. The ordinary punishment was automatic expulsion, or suspension if there were mitigating circumstances. "This has been on your mind all weekend, hasn't it," I asked. He nodded. "So why the fuck didn't you say anything about it to me?" "Cause I didn't want you worrying, too. Worry is bad, man. I don't want anything bad for you." Tears came to my eyes at that moment. God, I loved that boy. On the way to school, I prayed to God that everything would be all right about the fight. It should have been. No coach was around to break it up or anything. I thought about him all morning, and I called his cell phone number during lunch. "Hello," he said when he answered it. The tone of voice was not good. "Hey, Babe. It's me." "I know." "Where are you?" "Home." When he said that, I could hear a catch in his voice that made me think he had been crying. "Why?" "I'm suspended. All week. Because of the fight." He started sobbing at that moment, and I teared up, too. "I'll be there in five minutes," I said and hung up. I went to the office to check myself out, and I hauled ass home. Kevin was in the den, still in his uniform. The look of dejection on my Baby's face made me want to cry, but I wanted to be strong for him. He stood up when I went into the room, and we hugged and kissed as though we hadn't seen one another in a month. I made Kevin sit down on the sofa, and I poured us each a stiff drink. "Matt, it was awful," he said, but he couldn't get past that for the tears that overwhelmed him. He cried hard tears for a long time, but he finally settled down. I lit a cigarette and handed it to him. He finally tasted his drink. "Can you talk about it," I asked. "Babe, if I can't talk to you, there's nobody on earth I can talk to." "So what happened?" "They called me to the office during first period and said I should bring my books. The class got deathly silent, and everybody watched me pack up and walk out. God, I hated that. "When I got to the office, the secretary told me to take a seat. Ken Jernigan and his old man were already there, and it looked like Jernigan hadn't even been to class. They called the two of them in first. I couldn't hear anything, of course, and I was so nervous I got a raging hard-on. Does that ever happen to you?" I shook my head "no." "Anyway, they were in there for at least half an hour. After about ten minutes of waiting, the secretary asked me if I'd like some water, and I said I would. She got me a bottle of spring water from a little room off the office. Then she asked me if I wanted to call my father. The first thing that went through my mind-and I swear to God this is true-was 'No, I want to call my Matt.' Of course, I didn't say that. I just said no, thanks. I didn't want our family involved in whatever shit Jernigan's old man was spewing out in there. "Finally, they came out, and Jernigan's dad was glad-handing the Head like they were life-long friends. Jernigan looked at me like he had won the fucking fight, so I figured I was toast. "Well, I was called in next, and the Head wanted to know my side of the story." "What did you say," I asked. I was really nervous, but I noticed Kevin had calmed down considerably. "I told the truth. I told him Ken had seen the padlock on the penis piercing I wear and had called me a fag. Then I told him I had asked Ken if he wanted me, and he slammed me into the wall of the shower room and I had fallen down. I wasn't taking that, so I beat the shit out of him." "What did the Head say?" "He said that Ken accused me of being gay, and I didn't deny it. I said, 'Yes, sir, I am.'" "Just that," I asked. "Just that. He was embarrassed, I think, but fuck him. 'Well that does have some bearing on this case, don't you think,' he asked me. 'No, sir, I don't think it does. I've never let my sexuality be known at school, and I've never even come on to another gay student or gay faculty member. And there are some, you know?'" "How'd he respond to that?" "He just sort of cleared his throat, and he didn't look at me." "So then what?" " 'Well, regardless of the reason,' he said, 'fighting just isn't permitted in this school.' " 'Yeah, but he started it,' I said. 'He pushed me into the wall and knocked me down. What was I supposed to do? Just let him get away with that?' " 'Well, his story is you attacked him because of his poor performance in the game. He thinks you blame him for the defensive line allowing you to be sacked.' " 'Sir, that's bullshit, and you know it.' " 'I know you're upset, Smythe, but that kind of language is way out of line.' " 'Yes, sir,' I said. 'I apologize.' " 'Son, I can't let you get away with this. Our trustees are very clear on this point. I have no choice but to expel you.'" I gasped. "What? They fucking expelled you? Did they expel Jernigan?" "Well, that's what he said, but I'm not expelled. Only suspended." "So what did you say? What did you do?" I was dying of anxiety. "I said, 'Sir, may I call my father?' "He said 'yes' and asked if I wanted privacy. "I said 'No, I'd like you to hear my side of the conversation.' "I dialed the number and got put right through. I said, 'Dad, I've been expelled from school because of the fight Friday night. I think we should go ahead with the lawsuits against the Jernigan kid for sexual harassment, the discrimination suit against the school, and the suit against the school for failing to provide proper supervision. "Frank came unglued, but I didn't respond to him. I said, 'Yes, sir, I know I'm fourth generation at this school. Yes, sir, I know Smythe stadium was donated by our family. Oh, it wasn't really donated? It's just on loan? Well, I say we cancel the loan and burn the motherfucker down. Smythe Hall, too? Shit, Dad, that's the main classroom building. You mean we could actually have that demolished, too?' "The Headmaster was looking at me like a crazy man. None of that shit was true about those buildings, except that the family had donated them, but Dick Head didn't know that. This is only his second year there. " 'Dad,' I said, 'I think you might want to call Uncle Larry about this. He's still chairman of the Board of Trustees, isn't he? Well, and he's as gay as you and I are. He won't be quite as homophobic as the esteemed Headmaster is. " 'Let me speak to your father,' the Head said." " 'He doesn't want to talk to you,' I said, with all the contempt I could muster." "Goddamn, you are so fucking smart," I said. "How the hell did you think of all that shit?" "I thought about it all weekend, when I wasn't otherwise distracted," Kevin said, finally smiling. "What was Frank saying during all of that," I asked. "Well, he had Denis on another phone, and they were alternately laughing and telling me stuff to say, kind of. One thing Frank said was to ask to have the coach brought up to the office so he could hear what was going on." "Did the Head allow that?" "Oh, yeah. And Frank and Denis said they were on their way." "Jesus, man, this is like a fucking movie." I lit a cigarette, and Kevin lit one, too. I freshened our drinks. "Keep on." "I hung up the phone at that point. I told him my dad was coming to see him and that he wanted the coach there, too. "He called the gym or the coaches' office or someplace, and told him to get his ass to the office on the double. When Coach came in, he had this look of surprise and puzzlement on his face. He figured I was there for some disciplinary reason, but, because I'd been like this model student for almost seven years, he couldn't believe it. " 'Leave the room, please, Smythe,' the Head said. " 'Are you going to be talking about me? Because, if so, I'm not going anywhere unless you call the police and have me arrested.'" "Damn, dude. Balls of steel," I said. He smiled. " 'All right, then. Stay, if you must.' Then he turned his attention to Coach. 'This boy has just been expelled from Colton Academy. Effective immediately. He's made some rash threats, but my decision is final.' " 'What the fuck are you talking about,' Coach said. 'He's the best player I've had in fifteen fucking years, and we're going for the state championship. Are you out of your fucking mind? What the fuck did he do to deserve this? Hell, I've known he smokes since he was in the eighth grade, if that's what this bullshit is all about.' " 'It's not about smoking, Coach. It's about assault. He beat up another boy in the shower room Friday night. Ken Jernigan. His father is a lawyer, and he was in here with Ken this morning to complain.' " 'Shit, if you knew the kids in this school, you'd know that the best part of Ken Jernigan ran down his mother's leg while she was hobbling to the bathroom the night he was conceived. I can't believe you don't know that. But, then again, you wouldn't.' There was real contempt in Coach's voice, and the Head noticed it. " 'What's that supposed to mean, Mister?' " 'It means you don't know the fucking kids in this fucking school.' I wondered how long it would take the Head to make Coach watch his language, but he never said anything to him about it. Coach was pissed, and the Head knew he would never have a prayer if Coach got physical. "Right about then Frank and Denis showed up. They were shown in, and, once again, I was asked to leave. " 'My son is an adult,' Frank said. 'He stays if he wants to. By the way, may I use your phone?' " 'Certainly,' the Head said. Frank dialed a number and asked to speak to Mr. Fell. 'Larry, it's Frank. Listen, I'm at school because of Kevin. ... I know. He's been exemplary. ... Well, it's this homophobic Headmaster the Board hired. Can you come over and help Denis and me reason with this...guy.' Frank said 'guy' like he was saying 'shit-eating, motherfucking, cocksucker.' It was an awesome moment. 'Great. You know where the office is, of course. You were in it often enough as a kid. ... Yeah, Smythe Hall. ... I know it's ironic, but this poor 'guy' doesn't know that. See you in ten. Bye.' " 'Chairman Fell will be here in ten minutes, Mr. Headmaster. He's known Kevin since Kevin was born, of course, and he's very interested in him. I suggest you order some coffee.' "When he said that, Frank pulled out a cigarette and lit up. Denis did the same. They offered me one, but I declined. Then I gave it a second thought, and I took one from Denis. That guy was intimidated as hell; the Head, I mean. Coach took one, too, by the way. "He got the secretary to get some coffee, and he sat at his desk surrounded by smokers. Then Uncle Larry came in." "Uncle Larry," I asked. "Yeah, Larry Fell, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Colton Academy. They really run the place. He's not really my uncle, but I've always called him that. He and Frank were best friends in high school, and Larry is also gay." "No way," I said. "Yes, way. Anyway, he came in and shook hands with Frank and Denis, and he hugged me and kissed me on the forehead. He nodded at the Headmaster. " 'What's all this about,' Uncle Larry wanted to know. I gave him the quick picture. " 'What do you think, Coach,' Uncle Larry asked. " 'I think it's a crock of shit, Larry,' Coach said. 'Hell, I coached you and Frank, and I've never coached three more responsible or better men then you guys and Kevin. This boy can make us state champions for the first time in my career.' " 'Well, it's settled, as far as I'm concerned,' Larry said. 'No expulsion.' " 'I must insist on suspension, though. And that Kevin not play in the next game,' the Head said. " 'The quarter finals,' Coach asked with a great big question mark on his face. " 'Yes, Coach. The quarter finals. There will be no fighting at this school, as long as I'm Headmaster.' " 'Sir, get your resume in order,' Uncle Larry said. 'You'll need it once the year is over.' " 'All right,' the Head said, 'I'll capitulate. But he must remove all jewelry associated with piercings in order to play. That is not a wholesome example for the other boys.' " 'Is that acceptable to you, Kevin,' Uncle Larry asked. " 'No, sir, it isn't. Last year, six of us got our left nipples pierced because we had read in history class that the Roman soldiers did that as a sign of bravery. We got it done the week before the Newton game, and we beat them, as I'm sure you recall. Nothing was ever said about that. I got my other nipple pierced last summer, and my boyfriend and I got our penises pierced over Thanksgiving. We did that for one another, and I'm not going to agree to take it out unless he agrees that I should do it. And I'm pretty sure he won't.' " 'Frankly, Mr. Stevenson, I don't see the relevance of removing pieces of jewelry that I'm sure other boys in this school wear,' Uncle Larry said. " 'It's the moral issue. The principle of the thing. He's announcing to the world that he's gay by wearing them, and that's what caused the fight in the first place.' "Right then Frank spoke up. 'Excuse me, Father Savanarola, but piercings are just as common in the heterosexual community as they are in the gay community. If my son wants to wear a ring in his dick, that's his business, not yours or mine. So this really is about the fact that Kevin is gay and isn't afraid to acknowledge it.' " 'I've rescinded the expulsion,' the Head said, 'but I won't allow him to wear that jewelry to school. And that's final.' " 'Kevin, it looks like it's in your court,' Frank said. 'What'll it be?' "Coach chimed in at that point. 'Stevenson, you're a fucking asshole. Everybody knows you've been married four times and that you don't have a child to your name. We all think you're gay. Give the kid and the school a break.' " 'My ruling is one week's suspension for fighting and no sports until he removes all body jewelry. That's it, gentlemen. Good day.'" " 'What about the other boy,' Uncle Larry asked. 'He started it. Shouldn't he be suspended, too?'" The Head didn't say anything. Uncle Larry and Coach looked at one another. " 'That motherfucker will never walk on my field again,' Coach said. 'And if he isn't suspended, I quit right now and go to the media.'" " 'And, of course, I'll be with you, Coach, to explain the Board's position. As chairman, I'm empowered to act in the name of the Board in case of an emergency, and I'll simply tell them that this Headmaster has been involved in unethical practices and had to be fired on the spot as soon as I became aware of them. The rest of the Board will back me up. Hell, everybody knows I'm gay, and they elected me Chairman ten years ago despite that.'" " 'So what's it going to be, Mister Stevenson?' Frank asked. "The guy really looked whipped, probably because he was. He agreed to suspend Jernigan." " 'Call him up here right now while we're still here,' Uncle Larry said." " 'I'm sorry, that's a confidential interview,' the Head said." " 'Nothing is confidential as far as the Board Chairman is concerned. Get his ass up here. I want to witness this.'" "We all went into the outer office, and the Head told the secretary to call Jernigan from class. Uncle Larry went in with Jernigan, who looked like he has just eaten his own balls off." "Damn," I said. "So what's the conclusion?" "Well, I'm suspended for the whole week. But I get to practice with the team every day, and I can play Friday night. I don't have to take my nipple rings and PA out. Jernigan is suspended for a week, too, but he won't get to play or even dress out. He's off the team. The Headmaster will lose his job, and that homophobic motherfucker should." "Are you going to do it?" "Fuck, yeah. I'm going to go to practice every day this week, except today, and I'll shower every day with the team. I'm showing my stuff off, Babe." Kevin played brilliantly in the quarter finals, the semi-finals, and the state championship game, and Colton won. We had a great party for the team, their parents, the teachers at Colton, and everyone but the Jernigans and the Headmaster. Uncle Larry, as Board Chairman, presented the state championship trophy to Coach, instead of to the Head, and everybody cheered. Kevin spent the week of his suspension at his computer learning Spanish; he already spoke French very well, and Spanish came naturally to him. Not a bad "suspension of education," I thought.