The Five Stages of Gayness

Chapter Nine - Dinner Party

ADRIEL

Chapter Nine

I set down a plate on the end of a long table set up in the field behind the church, wiping the sweat off my brow. I admired the fruit of a whole day of labour.

There were five long, rectangular tables sitting on the flowing grass. Each one was covered with a cream table cloth, all these coverings gently fluttering in the breeze. Each seat had a plain white plate and shiny sliver utensils in front of it, accompanied by an empty wine glass, sparkling in the soft light of dusk. Every few feet, there was a small candle in a glass lying on the table, providing just the right amount of light and contributing to the atmosphere. The whole thing seemed quite beautiful to me.

I'd been working on this setup since school ended. There were things I'd rather have been doing on a friday night. But my dad was the organizer and I couldn't get out of this.

Every year on the first Friday of October, the church hosted a dinner party, charging a small admission fee. All the proceeds went to charity. My father had been organizing the event for over ten years, and every time, I would be stuck helping. Anyone who was anyone came to the party. It was formal dresswear only, and dates were encouraged.

Tonight, I was going with Hannah. Despite leaving her on the side of the road three weeks prior, she still decided to continue with our relationship. That girl was insane.

I looked back to see my father walk out of the door on the side of the church, accompanied by Father Greeley. They seemed to be chatting animatedly, probably about how much they loved God or how homosexuals would burn in hell for their sins or sonething. They were still several yards away, so I couldn't make out any words.

I decided to leave before they saw me. I was in no mood to have another fight with my own father, especially not in front of a minister. I tried to walk away in a way that would attract the least attention possible. I was just clearing the church when my father noticed my escape attempt.

"Ah, Adriel Cain! Come join us!" He called the false sweetness in his voice as thick as honey.

"Why, hello father! I didn't see you there!" I replied, playing along with the game.

I walked over to join them. Once I arrived, my father looked at me, his smile as cold as ice.

"Why, Adriel Cain, I was just telling the good Father here about how you became captain of the football team this year."

Father Greeley looked at me with interest.

"Is that right?"

I nodded. My father looked at me pointedly.

"You pray before every game, don't you Adriel Cain? I'm sure God has assisted some of your team's victories, which are quite numerous."

The minister turned back to my father.

"He seems like such a promising boy. He could accomplish much in life. I'm sure he'll marry a nice girl and raise his children in the faith. You must be very proud of him."

I almost laughed. My father, proud of me? Please.

"You have no idea." The man replied.

This was getting tedious. I hated small talk.

"Anyways, if you'll excuse me, I need to go get dressed and pick up Hannah." I said politely.

My father nodded.

"Yes, I think that'd be best." He answered, eager to get me out of there.

After the customary goodbyes that etiquette demanded were exchanged, I stalked off rapidly, reaching my truck parked on the street outside the church. I sighed as I hauled myself in. I didn't want to come back, to be nice to my father, to make polite conversation with my girlfriend. I just hoped that she wouldn't expect anything after. I really wasn't in the mood to have sex with Hannah. I never was, really.