Anonymous

T o p s y - T u r v y

I love Jennifer Shore. 

Jennifer Shore is a guy. 

I love a guy. 

I'm gay? 

What is happening? 

"Um, I-um," I tried to think, but I couldn't my mind went blank. "Insert words here. I don't really know what to say." I'm split between wanting to be her friend and having an early life crisis because I can tell she needs some sort of support from me right now, but I'm kind of freaking out. "I-um- I think I need to have some time to process, okay," I say slowly, looking at my hands still holding on to hers. I gently release them.

"I understand," she whispers to the ground.

"I will-um-call you," I add, no longer knowing what my mouth is saying. My brain is on overdrive. I stumble my way to my car, but Uncle Davison stops me.

"Where do you think-" he begins but catches a glimpse of my face. "What happened?"

"Nothing." My girlfriend is a man, and I'm trying to decipher if that means I'm gay, and if so, what the hell that means.

"Maybe you should sit down," he suggests, putting a steadying hand on my shoulder. "Are you on drugs?"

"God no!" I yell.

"Okay, I was just checking. Do you want to talk about it?" He tries.

"Uncle Principal, your always there for me right?" He nods. "Then, please let me go home. I need to go home," I plead.

"Promise me you're okay," he states firmly.

"Physically," I nod, and he lets me go, but before I pull out of the parking lot I catch a glimpse of him talking on the phone. Mom knows what he knows. When I arrive at my house. I try to walk straight upstairs, but Mom stops me. "Mom, please, just let me rest and I'll tell you everything you want to know, okay? I just need a minute." She surprisingly lets me go and I make a b-line for my room, collapsing on my bed, and shutting down. 

"Where were you?" Hunter yells, waking me up. "I had to walk all the way here in the heat!" He adds, showing me his sweaty back. 

"Sorry. I just had to get out of there for a minute and recharge, ya' know?" I say slowly still waking up from my deep sleep.

He inspects me for a moment, before saying, "Move over," and joining me on the bed. "What happened?"

"Do you know about Jennifer?" I ask carefully.

"Yeah, I know," he says, appearing ashamed. "She told you, uh?"

"After the meeting. My mind is going a hundred miles a minute since she said anything, and I just don't know where to start."

"Maybe I can help. You've helped me. Give me any thought crossing your mind right now," he says, supportive.

I feel embarrassed, "Does this mean, I'm gay?" He laughs and practically falls off the bed. "Asshat," I mutter when he gets back on the bed. 

"Sorry. I know that's not what you need, and that's a reasonable question. You are the least gay man I've ever met. Jennifer is transgender. She is a girl for all intensive purposes, and you are attracted to the girl. You are not gay. Now, if you were attracted to let's say me. Then, you would be gay. Are you?"

"Well, you are a nice looking man, but not exactly my type," I chuckled despite myself.

"I know. Any other thoughts rolling around in that head of yours, I can help with?"

"I think the rest I have to discuss with Jennifer. Thanks though. I really need someone to reason with me."

"Hey, what are brothers for," he smiled. "Now, I do believe, Mama G, has some dinner for us. Come on," he added, pushing me up from the bed. "What the hell does your skin and bones eat? You weigh a thousand pounds." He complained.

"I don't think your muscles are really working. You might want to take those in and get them checked," I reply poking his arms.

"Boys, Dinner!" Mom calls, and we pound down the stairs. Hunter grabs some plates out of the cupboard and forks, while I grab glasses and fill them with lemonade. Mom's already sitting at the table with a bowl of homemade macaroni and cheese. My favorite dish ever created.

Hunter and I quickly set the table and join her. "Thanks, Mom," I say, knowing she made it for me.

She nodded with a smile. "Yeah, thanks, Mama G," Hunter replies scooping a large portion onto his plate. She laughs, loving his nickname for her. She had said he could call her Gina or Mrs. Thomas, whichever he was comfortable with, but over time it turned into Mama G.

"Anything interesting happen at school, today?" She asked trying to make small talk, but her eyes landed on me, waiting for me to finally tell her everything. She knows about Hunter and loves him like a son. Would she be so accepting of my girlfriend and our relationship? I need to at least give her a chance. 

"I heard back from my first school. I got into Berkley!" Hunter exclaimed.

Mom broke out into applauds, "That's wonderful, Hunter! I'm so proud of you!" 

I smacked his back, "nicely done, jock," I laughed.

"Yeah, yeah," he chuckled.

"We need to celebrate! On Demand?" She asked him. Hunter nodded frantically. 

"Untitled Pack just came out!" He exclaimed.

So, after we ate, Hunter sat on the reclining chair, Mom laid across the couch, and I grabbed a pillow and took up the floor. My head leaning against the couch. Mom started the movie. I felt her hand in my hair, petting me like she uses to when I couldn't sleep, "No matter, what you want to tell me, baby. I love you. My love will always be there. It will never flatter," she whispered, so Hunter couldn't hear.

I turned to her and nodded.

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