Page 48 of Something Like Summer
“Not protective,” Timcontradicted. “I just like going out instead of staying home. I’mtoo old for sleepovers you know.”
If only they knew, Benthought merrily.
“Do you know his otherfriends? His girlfriend?” Mrs. Wyman asked.
Ben quickly wiped his mouthwith his napkin in order to cover the frown. Girlfriend? Her namehad better be a codename for him, like Benita, Benjamina, orsomething along those lines.
“Of course he knowsKrista,” Tim said, staring a hole into Ben’s head.
Krista Norman. Of course.“She’s really pretty,” Ben forced himself to say. “Popular, too.”He wasn’t happy with this deception, but he wasn’t about to let itruin the evening.
“And what about you?” Mrs.Wyman inquired with a smile. “A fair-haired boy like you must alsohave a pretty girl.”
“Well, actually,” Benbegan before his leg was kicked from under the table. He didn’tspare a glance for Tim as he kicked him back. If he wanted to stayin the closet then that was his problem, but Ben wasn’t going backin for anyone. “I have a boyfriend.”
Mrs. Wyman smiled and shookher head as if she had misheard, while Mr. Wyman cleared his throatnervously.
“He’s really great,” Bencontinued, filling in the silence. “Goes to the same school as us,too.” He knew what to do next. He had to make it a nonissue. If hetried to explain who he was, or even defend his sexuality, theywould instantly perceive it as weakness. He wanted to be as casualas if he had just declared his own eye color or favorite song. Timefor the next topic.
“If I could find arestaurant around here that served authentic Mexican food likethis,” Ben said, gesturing to his nearly empty plate, “I would eatthere everyday. Everyone else would, too. Such a place would make afortune! Maybe you should open one.”
Mrs. Wyman accepted hiscompliment, but it was clear that she was still confused. Bendistracted her by asking about her own career. Within minutes, thecloud formed by the revelation of his orientation had blown out thewindow like so much smoke. By the end of the meal, Ben was sure hehad both of Tim’s parents eating out of his hand.
When they left for themovies as planned, there was a marked change in Tim’s behavior. Hewas more optimistic than ever before, having seen that the gayissue hadn’t caused his parents’ heads to explode. He even heldBen’s hand in the theater, something he was usually too nervous todo.
This was, Ben felt, thebeginning of something grand. Once home, he enjoyed fantasies ofboth families being present and accepting at the wedding. He wantednothing more than to share these hopeful visions with Tim, but theyhad decided to spend the night apart. It wouldn’t do to be caughtsleeping together and destroy the delicate bridge that had beenbuilt.
Early the next morning,before Ben had even poured his ritual bowl of cereal, Tim was athis front door. Ben greeted him with a victorious smile, but thegesture wasn’t mirrored in Tim’s face.
“They don’t want me to seeyou anymore,” he stated bluntly.
“What?” Ben made himrepeat the sentence, not believing what he had heard. “Whathappened? I thought they liked me?”
“They did, Benjamin, butJesus Christ, they’re Catholic!” Tim’s voice was rising,threatening to attract attention, so Ben stepped outside and closedthe door. “They aren’t going to ignore their religion just becauseyou can bullshit about sports or geography!”
“Maybe they just need sometime to--”
“To what? Call the Popeand ask him to change the rules for you?” Tim scowled at theconcrete walkway. “I told you this would happen. I told you theywould get in the way. How could I have been so stupid?”
“Nothing is in our way!”Ben said, trying to calm Tim but beginning to feel panickedhimself. “So they aren’t going to invite me to dinner again. Bigdeal! We just go about things like we did before.”
“Do we?” Tim demandedangrily. “We just keep screwing around until the day they find ustogether? Jesus!”
“I think we can definitelyleave him out of this,” Ben joked.
“This isn’t funny! Myparents are going to be looking at me differently now. Questioningwhy their son is hanging around with someone like you!” If Timnoticed Ben’s startled reaction, it didn’t stop him. “Gee, honey,”he said, mimicking Mr. Wyman’s voice, “how come our son brought agay guy to dinner and not his girlfriend? Hm. I fuckingwonder!”
“Stop it,” Ben said,desperately suppressing his own anger.
“That’s exactly what weshould do!” Tim spat before storming away.
Ben wanted to chase afterhim, but not to comfort him. He wanted to knock him to the groundand beat some sense into him. Instead he screamed, “Don’t ever comeback!” and stormed back into the house and up to his room, wherehis anger turned to tears.
Late that night, when themoon was high and the lawnmowers and luxury cars had all fallensilent, Ben crept through the streets and into Tim’s room.Wordlessly, he took off his clothes and slipped into the sheets.They made love, violently at first, expressing their frustrationwith each other and the world before they slowed and their touchesbecame gentle and apologetic.
* * * * *
Normally, with only fourweeks left in the school year, Ben would be counting the days, buthe and his friends were too preoccupied. For Ben it was preparingfor the talent show. Allison had dragged Ben to Ronnie’s garage oneday, where Ebony and Ivory played their song. The music wasperfect, but Leon’s stoner voice didn’t do it justice. Ben andAllison were soon sharing the mic. They had found theirduet.
