Page 106 of Sass in the Grass

After giving Jovian a little push, his boy finally moved and he made it up the few steps to the stage, taking hugs from both drag queens.

Final got the mic while Clit was talking to Jovian and hugging him more. “We wanted to thank Armand Bueller, the owner of Chaps, Travis and Lonnie Walton, the former owners, all the staff, the other entertainers and you all, who are making it possible to keep our camp going.

“This camp, it means so much to the people that escape there each summer. To have a community surrounding them, maybe for the first time in their lives, is very special. If we’d have lost it, they’d have a few places they could go.

“So, thank you all, but our special thanks go to the one that got this night started, with his heart, with his connections, and hard work. He came to the camp because Clit and I, and Clit’s brother Gary, forced it on him. Well, he showed us that a dog can learn a few new tricks. Jovian, come over here and take some fucking thanks!”

Cherokee watched from the floor as Jovian took the mic from Final, who kissed his cheek, then wiped the lipstick off before leaving Jovian to the cheering crowd.

Something Cherokee never thought he’d see was Jovian at a loss for words, but as tears ran down his face, he looked out at the crowd, stunned silent.

Cherokee knew his baby needed him, so he climbed the stairs and stood next to his boy, whispering, “Just talk about the camp,baby. Just talk about what a good thing it is. Everything else doesn’t matter.”

Jovian turned to him and whispered, “Stay by me.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Afterhetookacouple of deep breaths, Jovian spoke, shocked a little at hearing his own voice so loud.

“I didn’t…I mean, I like the camp. I didn’t think I would. I’m definitely an inside girl, you know?”

There was laughter, including Cherokee.

“But the queens here, and Gary, the bartender, well, they made me go, and nowhere I have been has meant more to me.

“The people there, that are nowhere,” he said as he looked out and saw Kathy, Mike and Alan waving like crazy, “Have become my truest and best friends. In fact, I shouldn’t be alone in this, because I wasn’t alone in planning it. Alan, Mike, Kathy, please, come up, and all the campers, please, come down to the front! Show these people what they’re helping to keep alive!”

The crowd stirred, and he looked out to see the campers, all being hugged and hands shaken by the other patrons. They crowded into the front, but Kathy was the first on stage, then Mike and Alan followed her.

“These three helped me more than anyone has, and they put up with me, which a few people around Chaps will tell you, wasn’t easy. They stuck with me, and they showed me that the camp wasn’t a punishment I was given. It was a gift. So, I wanted to give that gift to others, which is why I thought this might work, and by the looks, it did!”

While Alan, Mike and Kathy took turns saying hello in the mic, Cherokee pulled him into his arms. “I’m so fucking proud of you, baby boy. I can’t believe you did all this, just by your phone.”

“Well, one trip.”

“Okay, one trip.”

“And…” Jovian didn’t know how to say it, but he had to push himself. “I want to stay at the camp, after. I want to work there and maybe make it more than just six weeks.”

Cherokee stepped back, and it happened that True heard him. She let Bernie take the mic as she ushered them off the stage and into the back, where there were rooms for aftercare. In one of them, she pulled them, all of them, including Mike, Alan, and Kathy, while Bernie took over the stage.

“Okay, what the hell did I just hear?”

“True, the camp is great, but I heard many people say that they wished they could come at different times. Why only six weeks? We could still do the big camp at the beginning of the summer, sure, but what about a smaller camp? Close a couple of the dorm cabins, just have it for the nicer weather, and then eventually, we could do winter camps, if Cherokee would like to teach winter survival.”

“Honey, we couldn’t afford it for longer, but if this pays off the mortgage, well, we’d love to do that, of course! It would pay foritself that way. But, Jovian, we don’t pay our staff much. It’s not like you’d earn a lot.”

Jovian looked at Cherokee and said, “That might not matter because, well, I might not need to pay rent.”

Cherokee smiled, almost shyly. “No, you sure wouldn’t.”

“I’d come several times a year,” Mike promised. “I’d even volunteer my time for boating lessons or whatever. I’m getting pretty good at it.”

“This is…I wasn’t expecting this, but of course, I wasn’t expecting to beheretonight. I was sure I’d be packing up the camp.” True hugged him. “Damn, boy, you sure can surprise an old queen.”

“You surprised me with me. The me under all the stupid stuff.”

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