Date: Sat, 09 Aug 2003 12:35:55 -0400
From: Miguel Sanchez <miguel_sanchez55@hotmail.com>
Subject: Homeroom Bunch Ch. 10

This is a story about gay youth. If this type of material offends you, stop
now and continue no further. Also, if you are not of legal age to read this,
stop also.

This story is protected by copy write and may not be downloaded or copied
for other than your private enjoyment.

You can write the author at miguel_sanchez55@hotmail.com I respond to all
letters, except flames.

I would like to thank my very good friend T B for his editing and input with
this story. Please check out his many works here in the Archive.

I hope you enjoy this story.

Miguel Sanchez


The Homeroom Bunch

Chapter 10

Mark gave his brother a hug and went over to the door. Shawn handed him a
piece of paper with his phone number on it. Mark opened the door and was
just about to step out when he came face to face with his parents. Mark
stopped dead in his tracks and with wide eyes promptly fainted.

	Roger jumped out of bed and ran over to his little brother. Roger picked
him up and laid him on his bed. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly came in and Mrs. Kelly
started yelling and hollering. Mrs. Maxwell rounded up her gang and stepped
outside while Roger and Mr. Kelly sorted things out inside.

	Inside Mrs. Kelly was screaming at the top of her lungs. "Take you gay fag
hands off him. You want him to be like you? Huh?"

	One of Roger's regular nurses heard the commotion and came into the room.
She saw Mark unconscious on the bed and a maniac woman screaming at the top
of her lungs. The nurse said, "Lady if you don't lower your voice this
instant I will have security escort you from the hospital." The nurse picked
up the phone and called for a stretcher.

	Mrs. Kelly was so livid when the nurse told her who would be escorted out
of the hospital she stormed out of the room. Roger was looking concerned, as
his brother was not waking up.

	The door opened and Roger's doctor came in when he heard the noise. He
said, "Hi, I'm Dr. Kramer. I'm Roger's doctor. Can you tell me what happened
here?

	While Roger was telling the doctor what happened Mark started to stir and
regain conscientiousness. Roger turned to his brother and said, "Mark are
you alright?"

	Mark looked up and he saw his father standing there and he got scared
again. His father took his son's hand and said, "Hey champ just lay there.
Everything is going to be fine."

	"Dad," Mark said. "I'm sorry. I just had to see him. I'm not going to get
AIDS. I can't get it from just seeing and talking with him."

	Dr. Kramer looked at Mark. He checked him out thoroughly and said, "He has
a small lump on his head when he fainted. I checked his neurological signs
and they all seem fine. I'd like to watch him here for another hour or so
then he'll be free to go home. Oh, I'd like to talk with your family. I have
an idea that everyone might like. Well, I do know two people will like it.
Can you come down to my office in about an hour?"

	Mr. Kelly thanked the doctor for helping Mark. He informed him everyone
would be there. Dr. Kramer left the room and then there was a knock on the
door. Roger went over to see who it was. Mrs. Maxwell and the kids were
standing there.

	Mrs. Maxwell looked over at Mark. With a smile on her face she asks him,
"How is your head son. I'm sorry this happened."

	Mark looked at everyone and said, "It's not your fault. I guess that maybe
coming here wasn't such a good idea after all. I really went and messed
things up this time. I heard what Mom said to Roger. I don't agree with it
though. Roger is my brother. I love him just as he is. Roger didn't choose
to be gay, no one does. It's the way we're born." Mark reached for his Dad's
hand and said, "Dad, I have something to tell you. I know you're not going
to like it and I'm sorry. I'm gay Dad just like Roger. Mom is going to kill
me so that's why I told you first."

	Mr. Kelly looked at both his boys and said, "First Mark, I'm not angry. I
saw you stand up for your friends last week and I am very proud of you for
doing that. I don't understand why you and Roger are the way you are and as
of this moment I don't care. You are my sons and I love you both very much.
I would like to thank you kids for being Mark's friends. He hasn't had many
and I know we haven't made it easy for him either. Mark, I want to apologize
to you and your brother. I know I don't have the right to ask, but can you
find it in your heart to forgive an old fool?"

	Roger walked over to his Dad and cried on his shoulder. After he composed
himself Roger said, "I'm sorry for starting with drugs Dad. I live everyday
with a reminder of what I did to myself and why it wasn't smart to start
messing around with them in the beginning."

	Things got back to normal and everyone was enjoying themselves when Mrs.
Kelly walked into the room. She went over to Mark and reached for his hand
and said, "Let's go Mark. We have to go now."

	Mr. Kelly said, "You are not taking him any where. We have an appointment
with Dr. Kramer in ten minutes and we will be there. I don't want to hear
another unkind word out of your mouth towards either of our children. If you
can't learn to speak nicely to them, some changes may need to be made at
home. Now, do I make myself clear?"

	A look of total shock and surprise came across Mrs. Kelly's face when she
heard what her husband said. She looked at her husband and said, "Well I
believe I do have something to say about this if you don't mind?"

	Mr. Kelly looked back to his wife and said, "As a matter of fact I do mind
and the only thing I expect you to say is yes dear your right. Now let's go
to Dr. Kramer's office he is waiting for us."

	Mr. and Mrs. Kelly left the room to meet with their son's doctor. Mrs.
Kelly went to speak. She said, "I hope you aren't condoning what Mark did
today? He lied to us and he deceived us."

	Mr. Kelly looked at his wife and said, "Oh and what we've done for the past
five years hasn't been us deceiving him? We both filled his head with lies.
He was miserable in school. He was getting into fights because he was being
eaten up inside with guilt and lies. It took a teacher to get through to
Mark that Roger was not being punished by God or any one for being gay. He's
got AIDS from his IV drug use not from being gay."

	The Kelly's got to Dr. Kramer's office and knocked. A nurse opened the door
and led them into the doctor's office. The doctor was going over Roger's
chart along with his latest lab reports. When they had been seated Dr.
Kramer spoke. "I've been going over your son's latest blood tests and I am
pleased with the way he's responding to this new medication. His counts are
all up and he hasn't had any set backs in six months. There is something I
would like you to consider. I think that as long as he continues to do well
on these medications, I see no reason he needs to be in the hospital."

	Mr. Kelly looked at the doctor and said, "He can come home? Is he strong
enough?"

	Dr. Kramer chuckled when he heard that question. "Well, if what I saw today
in any indication of his strength, he's plenty strong enough. I will want to
see him monthly for a while and if he continues to do well we can then
spread them out even longer. If there should be any problems, get him back
and we will address them but I think he is going to do very well. I know he
has quite a support group and that is important."

	Mrs. Kelly asked, "Is there anything special we need to know about or need
to do for him? What kind of food can he eat?"

	Dr. Kramer said, "He is on a regular diet here. He can have all his
favorite foods. Since he has started to respond to the mew medications he
has gained 16 pounds. This was what I was hoping for. I am really pleased. I
am hoping that he will put on another 15 pounds. That should have him at
about 165 pounds. This is a good weight for him. Do either of you have any
questions?"

	The Kelly's looked at each other and Mr. Kelly asked, "When can he come
home doctor?

	Dr. Kelly said, "I'm dictating his discharge orders now. I will put an
order into the pharmacy so he can get his medications. All you need to do is
come here once a month and we will refill them for you at no charge. Do not
hesitate to call me if something seems a miss or if he's not feeling well.
Why don't you go and give him and his friends the good news.

	When the Kelly's got back to Roger's room everyone was quietly talking.
Roger was telling Mark more about Andy Cowan. The door opened and Mark's
eyes got wide. Andy came in and he was in khaki shorts and a button down
shirt and the top three buttons he left open.

Mark got up and gave Andy a hug and whispered, "Did you call your mom yet?"

Andy smiled and nodded his head and said, "Roger do you remember me telling
you about Randy, my brother who is in college? He is picking me up today and
I told him to meet me here."

Ray was sitting on Lances' lap when he said, "Man Mark, you better keep a
tight grip on him. He's a hunk."

Everyone broke up and Andy turned a few shades of red then the Kelly's came
back into the room. All of a sudden the room got silent. Roger and Mark
looked at each other then their parents. The boys couldn't seem to read
their parent's faces. Finally Roger spoke saying, "Dad, is anything wrong?"

Mr. Kelly went and sat on the edge of the bed so he could be near both his
sons. He looked at Roger and said, "Son everything is perfect right now.
Your mother and I just left Dr. Kramer's office with some wonderful news.
You are doing so well on the new medications that you can come home and
live."

Roger and Mark were both stunned when they heard that. They looked at each
other and at their father. The boys went to their Dad and said, "Thank you."
Then Roger said, "Dad, I have hoped and prayed for this day for a long
time." Roger composed himself and looking at his mother said, "Mother, I
don't know what your problem has been ever since you learned I was gay. If
you think that is going to change because I'm coming home you are sadly
mistaken. You do realize that I am an adult and there fore do not have to
live under your roof. Mother, I'm gay. Get used to it. Mark is too. Dad has
accepted us for who we are now it's your turn. If you don't, you will lose
the three people you love the most."

Mrs. Kelly had to compose herself. She didn't expect her son to be so blunt
and matter of fact towards her. Everything he had said to her was true. She
was brought up to believe that homosexuality was wrong. When she learned
Roger was gay, she did everything to shield her youngest son from that fact.
There was something about Roger now that gave him the confidence to say what
was on his mind. For some reason, she believed him when he said she would
lose them and her husband. She took a deep breath and said, "Roger I don't
want to lose any one. I do love you and this is going to take some time, but
I do believe that this is something we can work out. I want you home with
us. You are our son and believe this or not, we have missed you. I'm sorry I
called you those nasty names. I promise never to do that again. I would just
like to have my oldest son back again."

Roger realized that was the hardest thing his mother ever did in her life.
He took a few moments to think carefully about what he was going to say in
reply to his mother's startling revelation. He said, "All right Mom I will
give this a chance to work. I love my brother and I want to try to make up
for all the time that was taken from us. I realize that there may be some
tense moments and that is understandable. There is one thing I am going to
be up front with from the very beginning. I have the chance to have a
boyfriend. What will become of this relationship, I have no idea but I will
not tolerate any interfering from you. Do I make myself clear on this point?
Oh, and by the way. Mark has the chance for some happiness too so the same
goes for him. We will respect your house so there will be some things we
will not do there but as far as hugging and giving quick kisses, get used to
it. Is this fair enough?"

Mr. Kelly thought about it for a moment, as did his wife. Mrs. Kelly said,
"Well son, I do remember how your father and I acted when we were dating. I
suppose that would be acceptable to us."

Mr. Kelly then said, "I don't think I need to have the safe sex talk, do I?"

"DAD!" Roger said as he turned several shades of red.

Everyone in the room busted out laughing when Roger said that. Ray looked up
and said, "Hey mate, welcome to the club. I got that question tossed out to
me by my Dad last week. Oh guys, I forgot to tell you, I told my Dad and he
is real cool with it. He told me he's known about Lance and I for a long
time but he's been waiting for me to come and talk to him. Now I bloody well
wish I had. I'll never figure grown-ups out. Just when you think you have
them figured out, they go and show you just how much they really do care."

There was a knock on the door. Roger said, "I'm going to need a bigger room
if I keep getting visitors."

Andy was the closest one to the door so he opened it and in walked his 19
year-old brother Randy. Mark looked at him and gasped saying, "God bro, he's
gorgeous. Better keep him on a short leash."

Roger playfully punched his brother in the shoulder and said, "Hands of
Mark, you're already spoken for. Isn't that right Andy?"

Andy came around and took Mark's hand then leaned down and kissed him gently
on the lips and said, "Yeah Roger, he's definitely spoken for."

Dr. Kramer came into the room and was surprised at the number of people in
with Roger. He said, "Why don't the Kelly's and I got to the conference room
so I can go over the discharge plans? Roger you can get your clothes and
personal items packed, if you have room to walk in here?"

Mrs. Maxwell thought it best to take charge. She said, "Roger, why don't you
have Randy help you get your things ready for you to go home and the rest of
us will wait in the lounge."

Shawn said, "Awe Mom, we can help Roger. Can't we?"

Mrs. Maxwell looked at her son and said, "He barely has room to breath much
less room to move and pack. Now scoot young man."

All the kids got the message and pairs of kids began filing out the door.
Maggie and Bill, Shawn and Colin, Ray and Lance and Mark and Andy walked
hand in hand down to the patient lounge. Shawn looked at Mark and said, "I
don't think anyone would have expected this to happen in a million years, do
you?"

Mark looked over at Andy then back to Shawn and said, "No I didn't but I'm
sure glad it did. I get my brother back and a boyfriend all in the same day.
It looks like he's finally going to have a shot at happiness. I am just so
happy at the way the whole thing turned out."

Dr. Kramer explained to the Kelly's what Roger needed to do with his
medications and his meals. His medications needed to be taken four times a
day with his meals.

Mrs. Kelly said, "I can set it up so he can heat up a snack or something in
the microwave."

Dr. Kramer said, "That should be fine or he can have anything else he likes.
It doesn't have to be a hot meal."

Mr. Kelly said, "I would like to have a welcome home celebration for him
tonight, would that be alright?"

Dr. Kramer said, "I don't see why not. He pretty much knows what his
limitations are so when he gets tired, he will go and rest. I will have his
medications sent up to the floor. He should be ready to go in about fifteen
or twenty minutes."

The Kelly's shook the doctor's hand and Mrs. Kelly said, "Thank you doctor
for everything." They went to talk with their sons about the plans for this
evening but when they got to the lounge, everyone was in there instead of
the room.

Mark and Andy were sitting next to each other when he saw his parents come
into the lounge. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly saw one son but wondered where the other
was. They turned around and saw Roger and Randy heading towards the lounge
holding hands and talking like they were long lost friends. When they came
in Mr. Kelly said, "Today is a very special day for us. We get our oldest
son back and learn a lot in the process. I can see they have friends who
care about them for who they are and that is what it's all about. Tonight we
are having a welcome home celebration for Roger. We are also celebrating the
fact that he has found a partner who is willing to enter into a relationship
with him knowing he has AIDS. I would like all of you to be there and then
Mark, you and Andy may go back to Shawn's and enjoy your camp out. Roger,
you may have Randy spend the night with you if he wants to."

Dr. Kramer came into the lounge and handed Roger a paper bag and said, "Good
luck Roger. I wish you nothing but the best. Remember, we're here if you
need anything and I'll see you back for a check up in one month"

The Kelly and Maxwell clan's headed out of the hospital. The kids were all
holding hands and chattering up a storm about what the party was going to be
like. Mark and Andy and Roger and Randy decided to ride with his parents so
everyone else could fit with Mrs. Maxwell. On the way home, the kids started
calling their parents and telling them about what had happened and what was
going on.

When the Kelly's pulled into their driveway there was a sign across the
front of the house that said WELCOME HOME ROGER. Since the kids had called
their parents by the time everyone was home, the party was ready and waiting
on the guest of honor. Roger and Randy, Mark and Andy, Mr. and Mrs. Kelly
went around into the back yard where they heard music playing. When they saw
all their new friends everyone cheered and came over to greet the guest of
honor.

Mr. and Mrs. Kelly met the parents of all the other children. After Mr.
Kelly met everyone he asked for quiet and said, "I can't begin to express my
sincere thanks for all our new friends. Your children are to be commended on
their maturity and sense of loyalty. Each one of them stands beside their
friend and it reflects on the way their parents have raised them. I am proud
that they consider my two sons their friends. We would like to tell you that
we feel the same for each of you here. If there is anything we can do for
you, please don't hesitate to ask. Thank you all for this wonderful
celebration tonight."

The adults and children alike laughed, danced, hugged and joked until around
11 PM. The six campers told their respective parents they were going to the
tent and were calling it a night. Before they left they made sure to give
Roger and Randy a hug and kiss good night and said they would all see them
later.

The boys went into the tent and closed the flap. Each went to their
respective boyfriend and helped them get undressed. Then they talked about
how nice it is to have Roger home. They all agreed that he and Randy would
make great big brothers. After a few minutes, they all started yawning. They
crawled into their beds and cuddled tightly with their boyfriends. They all
said their good nights and Shawn said, "This has been a spring break none of
us will soon forget."

The End

While this story is a work of fiction, there are life stories out there that
are indeed very real. If you are a gay or bi teen and are facing some of
life's crueler times, there is help for you. There is a support group
designed for the sole intent to help with the problems facing today's gay
youth and teens. If you are having problems, check out this group.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thegayyouthgroup

There are both teens and adults there who will talk with you either one on
one or in a group, depending on your wishes. They are here to help.