Just as I noticed Mr. Haggerty walking toward us, I heard Jenny's
distinctive voice shrilly calling my name from near the door to the
restaurant. She and her date hustled over to us, arriving just seconds
before Mr. Haggerty.
"I'm so glad you could make it!" Jenny gushed, giving both Andy and I
hugs and kisses. Then, stepping back, she also hugged and kissed Craig
and Jeremy as well.
"HORSE??? VAN GOGH???" I heard Steve yell, incredulously, as he and his
girlfriend Cindy walked up to us. "I can't believe you guys came! This
is so COOL! We've gotta get a table together!"
"Excuse me for a moment," Mr. Haggerty interjected. Then indicating
Craig & Jeremy and Me & Andy, he asked "May I see you four please?"
"Hey Boner! Hold our place in the picture line," I said.
"Sure thing Horse!" Steve said, and he and Cindy got in line.
We stepped aside with Mr. Haggerty then.
"Hi Mr. Haggerty, how are you?" I said.
"I'm fine. Or at least I thought I was! What's the meaning of this?" he
asked.
"Of what?" I asked.
"You know full well what I'm talking about!" Mr. Haggerty said, fixing me
with a stare. "What is the meaning of bringing another boy to the ball
with you as your date?"
"Well sir, I know of no school rule that prohibits same-sex couples from
attending the senior ball. All I'm doing is attending my Senior ball. I
brought a guy with me. He might be my date, or, for all anyone knows, he
could just be a friend. I'll be honest with YOU though. In our case
he's my date. I believe you've met my partner Andy before. Andy, you
remember Mr. Haggerty." I said.
"Nice to see you again Mr. Haggerty," Andy said, smiling at him.
"Yes, Hello Andy," Mr. Haggerty said.
"And this is my partner, Jeremy. Jeremy, this is our principal, Mr.
Haggerty," Craig said.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Haggerty," Jeremy said.
"I suppose. Nice to meet you too son," Mr. Haggerty said.
Mr. Haggerty turned to me then and said sharply, "if there are any
problems because of this, I'm going to have to ask you to leave!"
"Correction," I said, looking the principal in the eye. "If there are
any problems, you're going to have to ask the person or people who are
causing the problems to leave. I promise you, we will not be the ones
causing the problems."
Mr. Haggerty glared at me for a moment. Then his look softened into
almost a pleading look. Finally, looking defeated and nervous, he walked
