Anonymous

Nine

"Welcome home, Jake," his grandmother said, opening the door. "How was your friend's house?"

"It was good," he said. "How's he doing?"

"Taking his afternoon nap," she said. "You're still young, Jake, you don't need to be worrying about us all the time."

"I know," he said. "Will Charles and James be joining us for bingo night later?"

"Charles's hip surgery was yesterday afternoon, so they won't, but William, Barbra, and Linda will."

"Okay," Jake said.

"Are you all caught up on your homework?" she asked

"I have an algebra paper due on Monday, but I can do that tomorrow," Jake said.

"You know how I feel about you putting off your homework for Sunday night," she chided.

"I know," Jake said. "I'll go do it now."

He began to walk up the stairs to his room, seemed to consider saying something, but changed his mind. He pulled up the algebra textbook on his computer and began working, but he couldn't get more than one problem solved before glancing at a picture of...oh. A mom, a dad, a boy, and a baby at the beach. He probably regretted telling Eva about his family. Look at his face, he obviously wishes he hadn't been forced to remember. And now he flopped onto his bed all dramatic style and is banging his head into the pillow. Probably admitting he was gay wasn't helping

Eva's also banging her head on a pillow right now. The thing is, she has someone sitting next to her.

"Eva," Mary complained. "What happened. You came in, came straight up here, and are acting like you regrettably did something, but have no intention of taking it back."

Not far off.

Eva turned her head to look at her girlfriend.

"Meh," she said and slammed her face into her pillow one last time.

Mood.

"What happened?" Mary asked.

"I went over to Amie's, right?" Eva said, her face still in the pillows.

I get that.

"Yeah," Mary said, hesitantly.

"Well, her neighbor goes to our school, is in seventh grade, same as Amie, and also had friends over," Eva said.

"Okay?" Mary said.

"We ended up all playing truth, dare, kiss, or swear," Eva said.

"Oh, no."

"I ended up being shoved in a closet for seven minutes straight with Jake, the guy I told you who spray painted my school," Eva said.

"And..."

"And it turns out we're both gay."

Mary began to laugh, she doubled over, and fell off the bed sprawled on the floor laughing. When she regained her composure she said, "so you came out of the closet, in a closet."

"Shut up." Eva smiled and sat up.

"That's the best way, though," Mary said, still sitting on the floor.

"I told him your name."

"There are a lot of Mary's," she said.

"When you come to graduation, he'll know," Eva complained.

"Let him," Mary said.

"What if he says something to one of our parents?" Eva asked.

"Chances are, unless my dad has proposed by then, he won't be there," Mary admitted. "Your mom will probably take me if I go."

It's probably worth mentioning that Mary's dad and Eva's mom are dating and technically they live in separate homes, but stay at Eva and her mom's house most nights. Eva and Mary just call them Mom and Dad because it's easier since neither of them remember their other parent. Mary is home schooled. Eva's mom works at the zoo, but gets to stay home with Mary a lot of the time. Mary's dad works at the bank.

"Girls," Dad called. "Hurry and get ready so we don't miss our dinner reservations."

"Where are we going?" Eva called down.

"He wouldn't tell me," Mom said, poking her head in Eva's room. "He just said it was fancy, so dress up. Mary, you should be able to wear one of Eva's dresses."

"Do I have to wear a dress?" Eva asked, "or can I wear just a nice shirt and pants?"

"Compromise," her mom said. "Skirt."

"Deal."

After her mom left, Mary turned to her.

"You were going to wear a skirt anyway, weren't you?"

"Yeah."

"But she would have complained."

"Yep."

"So you made her suggest the skirt so she couldn't complain?"

"I think you finally understand how my brain works."