Small Town Boy

Chapter 28

"You shouldn't joke about that, Landon dear, it's very serious. Can you imagine what would happen to your father's career if someone heard and believed you? Oh, how terrible. You know, he might be in Washington in two years." Mom shook her head in disbelief, her words cutting through the room. "You've got to be careful about what you say." 

"I can't believe you would even say such a thing." Dad agreed. "I never thought there'd be a day when a son of mine would even dream of uttering those words."

I couldn't look either of them in the eyes. It was almost worse than if they had launched themselves over the table at me in outrage. My eyes remained glued to the leftover ham and potatoes, which sat untouched in the centre of the table. I couldn't even bring myself to look at Parker or Sofia. 

"Come on, you're both being ridiculous." Parker challenged. Notably, he hadn't confirmed what I'd just told them, but he hadn't denied it either. I guess he was leaving me an escape route. The thing was, I hadn't come to the table with the expectation that my announcement would go well. I was done. I was sick of the hiding. Even if it was met with disapproval, I just wanted to stop sneaking around with Wyatt in my own home. 

"Ridiculous?" Mom scoffed. "I'll tell you what is ridiculous! It is ridiculous that you can't see the issue with what your brother did! I know you know all about the world your father is in. Although maybe I should have expected such stupidity coming from you." 

"Well, I can see you haven't changed either." Parker fired back. 

"Don't talk to your mother like that." Dad scolded him. "You're even stupider than your younger brother."

"Well, at least he knows that I wouldn't turf him out the door if what he says is actually true!" Parker argued, his face growing red. 

"It isn't true." Dad insisted. "He's just being stupid, which is your fault, actually." 

"Well, if you wanted to have some influence over him, maybe you should try being at home and actually being a father to him. To be fair, you probably wouldn't throw him out, but only because that would hurt your chances of being elected." Parker exclaimed. 

"Why would it hurt them?" Dad asked rhetorically. "I'm sure the good people of western Colorado would understand that letting a child like that live as if nothing is wrong isn't something that an honest man can do." 

"This is your own son you're talking about!" Parker shouted, throwing his arms up and leaning forward across the table. "Your own son!" 

"Dad, Park, you should probably calm down," Sofia suggested, interrupting the shouting match. 

"Oh great, do you not see the issue too?" Dad exclaimed, rolling his eyes and throwing his arms up. 

"Not really, I don't see why this is something that you should ruin dinner over." Sofia shrugged. 

"I don't consider saving my family ruining dinner. Your brother thinks joking about being a homosexual is funny. He thinks it's something he can do without consequence, something that wouldn't bring shame upon this family." Dad ranted. 

"Sofia dear, your father is right." Mom agreed. "This is a very serious topic. Boys who like other boys are seriously wrong."

"Why? Tell us why that's such an issue to you because Sof and I don't see it." Parker demanded 

"It isn't just an issue for us, Parker, it's an issue for our whole family. No, it's an issue for the whole town. How would you feel if everyone thought there was a homosexual living in the same house as you? Your friends would stop coming over, your brother would be a social outcast. He'd just be the gay kid. I would lose my election, and rightfully so. How could people vote for a representative that supports that kind of lifestyle?" Dad answered, raising his voice with each sentence. Mom nodded vigorously in agreement.