He’d be graduating in only a few months, had six months left of general credits to complete thanks to the Post-Secondary Education Option he participated in in school, then he’d be off to finish his bachelor’s in behavioral medicine and on to his master’s and doctorate. Gran had wanted that for him. He wanted it now more than ever.
Adam and Ru met him at the bottom of the stairs, and both reached out to hug him. That moment of warmth wrapped around him, and he couldn’t hold back the tears. Neither man pulled away. They just held him, letting him cry. The crowd murmured and spoke of indistinct things. Bas didn’t care. He felt like he was starting over again. Only this time he was alone.
“Tommy said he’s sorry for not making it. He’s going to call. Had an emergency in California,” Ru told him. “He wouldn’t tell me any details, but he sounded really worried.”
Bas pulled himself away and took a moment to recover. He had a handkerchief tucked away for just so embarrassing a moment. He was sure he looked like a puffy raccoon as he dabbed his eyes.
“Sorry for being a burden to you guys. I’m sure you have better things to do than hang around me on such a depressing day as this.”
“Shush. We’re here for you,” Adam told him. “Mom and Dad are taking us to the Melting Pot for food. You need to eat, and you need something fun.”
“Yeah, some fondue will be good for you.” Ru smiled at his rhyme.
“Stick with the singing, pretty boy,” Bas teased.
“Okay, okay. Twist my arm. Let me find the director and make sure he’s bringing Gran to the cemetery, and we can be on our way.” He gave Adam’s hand one last squeeze before heading off toward the main entry where he could recall the director going.
Eddy and his girlfriend Marissa stood near the restrooms arguing. Bas couldn’t make out anything they were saying since they were whispering heatedly, but when Eddy grabbed Marissa’s arm and nearly yanked her off her feet, Bas stepped in.
“Whoa! Hey, Eddy, let her go.”
“Go away, you fag. No one wants you around,” Eddy spit back. Harsh words from a kid who was barely sixteen. Bas knew Eddy only repeated what their father said.Monkey see, monkey do, he reminded himself. It did no good to get angry at the child that was taught to hate by a parent. Re-education had to start somewhere.
“We don’t treat ladies so brutishly.” Bas pried Eddy’s fingers from Marissa’s arm.
“How would you know how to treat a lady? Oh wait, that’s ’cause you’re a lady, right?”
“Har har.” Bas put himself between the two. “Marissa, Adam’s parents can drop you off at home if you’d like. Eddy is leaving without you.”
“She’s my girlfriend. She goes where I tell her to go!” Eddy shouted.
“Pretty sure she has a mind of her own and can decide where she wants to go.” Bas glanced at Marissa, who just looked scared and undecided. “Ride with us, sweetie?” Her nod was barely perceptible, but Bas would take it for what it was. “Let me take you over to Mr. and Mrs. Corbin.” Bas put out his elbow for her to hold like they were going to some fancy dance together instead of walking through a funeral parlor. She took it but wouldn’t look up.
Eddy tried to grab for her again, but Bas shoved him off. Sometimes being older and half a foot taller helped around those who thought they could bully him.
“Being queer doesn’t make me weak, baby brother. I’m not a man who talks with his fists, but attempt to touch her without her consent again, and I will show you how hard I punch.”
“You have no right!”
“On the contrary. I have every right.” He turned his back and led Marissa away. He hoped the girl would do the smart thing and find a boy who would appreciate her. Obviously that boy was not meant to be his little brother.
By the time Bas had gotten Marissa to Adam’s parents, found the funeral director, and made an exit, he was beat. He’d make it through a long lunch because he knew it was the guys’ attempt to get his mind off things. But his heart was heavy. So heavy, in fact, that he didn’t hear his phone ringing until Adam pulled it out of Bas’s suit pocket and dangled it in front of him.
“It’s Tommy. Want me to answer it?” Adam asked. They were in the car headed toward the restaurant after dropping Marissa off. Everyone had been chattering about Ru and Adam’s plans to attend prom in a month. Bas had tuned them out as he usually did when the subject came up, since he didn’t plan to go.
He took the phone. “I got it. Hello?” he said after sliding the answer bar.
“Hey, I didn’t want you to think I was ditching you.”
“I wouldn’t think any such thing. I know you’re busy. Ru said there was some sort of emergency. You’re okay, right?”
Tommy let out a deep breath. “I don’t know how to answer that. I guess I’m physically fine. But emotionally I’m all over the place.”
“What can I do to help? Can you tell me what’s wrong?”
“A friend of mine is in a rehab facility for eating disorders. A guy friend of mine...”
“I just finished reading a paper on that topic and the growing body-image problem in males, written by a certain blond awareness columnist.” Bas glanced at Adam. “Heard it was hard to find information, as there aren’t a lot of studies since everyone thinks it only affects women.” Bas knew Ru had a touch of the problem himself, which was why Adam had researched the topic at length and put together a very thoughtful piece that might just get picked up by a larger paper if Ryan Hart, Adam’s professional mentor, had any say in it.
