By spring I was definitely going nuts. My grades had tanked – I was falling asleep in class. I’d grown half an inch taller, but lost three pounds – I had no appetite. I stood at the payphone outside Miller’s Market.
“Collect call for Daniel from Cory Laine. Will you accept the charges?”
“Yep"
“Please go ahead with your call.”
“Hi, Daniel?”
“Hey, kid. Collect, huh? Are you in trouble?”
“I didn’t want Dad to see it on the phone bill.”
“I’ve been expectin’ yer call for a long time now. Catch me up.”
“It got serious...”
“You two didn’t do anything...?”
“Not like that. I went and looked up the laws. Why didn’t you warn me?”
“Thought ya knew that part.”
“I figured it was weird,” I looked around. “But Daniel, I don’t want to go to prison.”
“So you know what the real trouble is, huh?”
“Yes!” I squirmed and kicked the dirt with the toe of my shoe. “I mean, no, that’s only part of it.”
“Whatcha mean?”
“I feel...” I looked around to make sure nobody was listening. “More than a brother is supposed to feel.”
“Gotcher hormones goin’?”
“Oh, man, you have no idea.”
“Uh-huh, yeah, I figured that might be the problem.”
“I told her I was gay.”
“You told her what? Oh, kid...”
“No, it worked. Now she thinks she’s keeping my secret.”
“How’s she takin’ things?”
“She doesn’t know about the laws, but you were right – she wouldn’t care. I think she hates me for breaking her heart. I can’t blame her.”
“That’s prob’ly a good thing. Kinda gits you off the hook. Yer a lot safer – yer both a lot safer – if she hates you right now.”
“Yeah, I get that. My head does at least, but Daniel, I’m going crazy. I haven’t been able to eat or sleep for months. I can’t think about anything but her. I feel like my guts are going to explode.”
“Aw, kid…”
I looked at my arm.
“Daniel, I’m burning myself. I can’t stop.”
Daniel sighed into the receiver. “It’s hard, kid, I know. Butcha gotta hold on, ‘cuz now you know what’s at stake. Fer you, her, an’ yer dad.”
“I understand – I’ve gotta protect them!” I was almost weeping. “What am I gonna do?”
“Well, you two’re due to fly out in a couple weeks...”
“Uh-huh...”
“Yeah, mebbee I only got room fer one of yeh t’ come visit.”
“I don’t get it.”
“I can’t really bring just you – that’d burn her hide. But I could take her outa yer hair for a couple months – while yah gitcher poop in a group.”
“Oh...”
“Yeah, s’matter of fact, the air’s bad here – we’ve had a lotta brush fires – prob’ly too unhealthy fer your twitchy lungs.”
“But...”
“But nuthin’ kid. It’ll be good fer ya to spend some time with yer dad, jus’ you guys.”
“I guess. Do you think Dad’ll go for it?”
“Well, I’m real concerned about yer health, and he might understand you wantin’ a break from her comp’ny, given yer age?”
“Maybe.” I looked around again, but the lot was still deserted.
“In the meantime, avoid ‘er as much as y’can. Spend time at yer friend’s place, hide if you hafta.”
“Okay. I can do that.”
“That’s some right thinkin’, kid. You’ll be okay. Butcha gotta stick by yer story now no matter what. Are we straight?”
“Yeah, we’re straight.”
“You mess it up when she comes home and the shit’ll hit the fan fer sure.”
“I know. Daniel? Thanks. Can I call you again if I need to?”