Story-Portal

At the beginning of the school year, reality had arrived again. The summer had been an idyll because Annie and Jonathan had been in Goldendale with their friends North and Jason. The four had built a bubble of self-sufficiency around them that helped them, the long illness and death of Jason's father and Jason's coming-out as gay. Looking back, the end of The Summer was a pause before the upcoming war.
Annie and Jon had returned to Portland, and Jason and North stayed in their homes in Goldendale. Jason and North felt the deep friendship that arises when conflicts are resolved and love is freely given. Now they tried to help each other through challenges they were clearly underestimated.
Without Jon in reach, Jason's life was marked by fear. North was north – seemingly incapable of fear, but grumpy about Annie’s absence. North's parents, two gay men who had raised him twelve of his fifteen years, and Jason's now single mother, a member of the Yakama Nation, maintained the friendship between these unusual boys, North Straight and Jason, gay.
The school year started hard, and the boys felt increasingly beleaguered. It didn't take long before North felt that this year would not be about adapting as he had imagined, but about surviving.
Jason was considered heterosexual by all his friends and was a linebacker at the high school football team. His and Jonathan's disclosure of their relationship had many bitterly Jason's teammates. He knew they were looking at him now like he was a traitor, but a traitor to him?
North had planned to run cross country and track but found no warm welcome from that of the school's current generation of runners. He would still run because he loved running. He would walk on the field and gravel roads that ran over his family's and neighbouring families' farms, and he was running on the high school's career. He showed them the back of a Timberwolf.
#
Jason had signed up for first football training in mid-August. The team played without cushions in a 3-4 defense. Jason, small for the position, was the Outside Linebacker on the strong side, and when the ball was napped, he moved to push the tight end, which is part of the offensive. Suddenly Jeremy, who was playing as a right-wing tackle, came across the Line of Scrimmage and threw Jason to the ground and ripped Jason's head back. Steve, the fullback, ran in to help him up. The coach, visibly angry, shouted Jeremy to pull his head out of his ass.
Jason wiped the cobwebs from his head and stood there trembling. He stared at Jeremy, who looked at him sneering. When the training progressed throughout the month, the only reason Jason wasn't badly beaten was that the coach had made it clear that he would not tolerate crap from anyone in the team. Although the message was directed at everyone, it was clearly to Jeremy and the other boys addressed, who now slandered Jason.
Towards the end of the month, when the first game approached, the coach spoke to the squad after a training session. After the usual team-building admonitions and instructions, he said: "You have to hear me clearly. Apparently, you can't do it, like a team. You can't distinguish between your teammates and your opponents. So be it. I’m We’re not going to risk the health of any player, no matter how valuable he is to us.”
He looked at Jason, who knew he was not allowed to interrupt him. “Here is what is happening.”
The coach then looked at Steve, the front row defender. “I’m going to put each of you on the bench who won’t cover the backs of their teammates. This means that key players on both sides of the ball sit on the bench and watch the rest of you lose every game. I remind you that Columbia's attack uses their tight ends very often, and if we can't cover them, then we may just as well not show up now. You better fix the situation, or I'll do it. Now get out of here.”
Jason had stopped showering in the locker room and had left after he dropped off his equipment. Jason had completely underestimated the difficulty of his situation. He would have taken something with Jon here. Now he was scared. On the way out, however, he heard Steve his voice to Jeremy, angry at him.
#
That same afternoon, North finished the track just before five o'clock when the The Coach called him in. “Pre, here!”
North shrugged by the nickname. The other runners didn't speak to him and obviously didn't consider him a full-fledged team member either. He looked different than the rest of the team, and he ran differently than them. His hair was tied back to a ponytail, and he was wearing the kind of running clothes he had worn in Portland.
The coach was a sober woman who, as far as North could tell, understood her business. He thought working with a coach was pretty cool. He ran off the track and across to the bench she was sitting on and taking notes.
“So, North, I talked to Smith in Portland about how I can train you.”
“I could have told you how to do it.”
“I didn’t want an answer from you, young man.”
North sat on the bench and looked at the woman from the side. “Get some good advice, coach?”
“He told me to leave you alone. He said you were an unconventional runner with great physical gifts, but more importantly, with a good mind and a good heart.”
“He and I have agreed on how to work with me.
“That’s how he indicated. I may be able to teach you little about running, but I have a lot to teach you how to become a runner in Goldendale.”
North was silent for a moment because he knew she was right. “Yes, ma’am.”
She smiled at him. He had seen this look a thousand times. Women always wanted mother him to make sure he was safe. His fathers had helped him to suppress that desire whenever possible. Girls now reacted very differently to him, and before Annie he had rarely tried, discourage their wishes.
“Why didn’t you just leave the rest of the team behind you? You’re keeping you far enough to make them think they’re going to catch you someday.”
North thought for a moment. “It would be rude to expose them. Dad tells me that her behavior – her avoidance of me – is the result of a lack of parenting by her parents. Dad Squared says they're scared."
"Pre, I don't know if that's the case, but it would be helpful to get the team together. You have a suggestion?"
“How about a profit?”
“That could work.”
#
On the second Monday morning after school began, North was found in the library while learning period. He felt partially at home there. All school libraries, even modern ones, smell the same, at least those that have even more books than screens. North sat at a reading table and read spellbound at a library book, though he did it from the Central Multnomah County Library in downtown Portland. He became more and more annoyed about his father, uprooting him and banishing him to the wild east of Klickitat County, more than a hundred miles from the only home he knew. He didn't like to be as angry as he did; besides, he missed Annie more than he could have ever imagined. Only Jason's company made life here tolerable.
When he the last pages of Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids read , a shadow fell over the sides. One of Jason's team-mates, Jeremy, leaned over the table across from him. Jeremy had made himself the top tormentor of Jason and North and set out on the mission, bullying them whenever possible. Jeremy's problem was that he was hopelessly inferior with north.
What are your two girlfriends doing? Do you meet Jason and Jonny-Boy? Blondie?” North didn't heed the other boy.
“What are you reading, Blondie?” Jeremy whispered with his best library whisper.
North tipped the book up so Jeremy could see the title.
“Trust a fucking fag that she reads a book about killing children.”
North leaned over to Jeremy and whispered, "The title refers to sheep, you idiot."
Jeremy's face turned red, but before he could say anything, North raised his voice to a volume Everyone in the library could hear it well. “My God, Jeremy, I’m straight, man. If you want to know about sex with men, you have to ask someone else. Can anyone help Jeremy? from?"
All eyes in the library, including that of the library assistant, were on Jeremy. Jeremy, who was used to his opponents giving in to his attacks, was worried at the moment and hurriedly left the library. North knew he would pay for it later, but he was willing to pay the price.
#
Jim and Tom were in their study when the front door struck. They heard North in the kitchen for food to browse.
“Let’s fight the lion,” Tom said.
Jim raised his eyebrows and shrugged his armpits. In the kitchen, Tom North reminded that dinner is only an hour away. North looked at him with such a scathing look as he could manage.
“Did something happen in school?”
“Exactly the same ass. I don't like to always be in the line of fire. They’ll kill Jason or me before they’re done.”
Jim pulled North to the dining table. He and Tom sat on either side of North, and Jim took North's hand into his.
“North, you have to be completely honest with me. Do you feel physically insecure?”
“I don’t know what these crazy people are going to do. You're after Jason all the time. He’s a wreck, and I’m not going to let him go down alone.”
Jim pressed North's hand. “If you feel threatened, I’ll close the store right away, and we’ll move back to Portland.”
Tom took the boy's other hand. “You’ll know that, North. Jason can come with us."
No, he can't. His mother needs him. He would never leave her alone. I have I never have that is out of place. Can you imagine how Jason is feeling? The moment the question passed him by, North regretted the question. His two fathers knew exactly how Jason felt.
“How did you both do that?” North asked, while a tear rolled down his cheek.
Tom put his palm side by the boy's neck and wiped the tear with his thumb. “We couldn’t do it alone. We found friends, sometimes in the most unlikely places. We helped them and they helped us. But Jim and I were together. You and Annie are not most of the time, and neither are Jon and Jason.”
North sniffled. “Yes, two is something very different than four.”
After a few minutes of silence, Jim asked, “How do you know they’re all mad?”
“Well, let me list the reasons. First, no one is talking to us. Secondly, his team-mates use Jason as a punching bag. Three: I can imagine what these assholes of you two think when they look at me."
Jim sighed, “You two against the rest of the world.”
“So pretty.”
“No teachers to help?”
“My cross-country coach is fine, but teachers can’t do much. Jason and I may be the only children in this school who listen to them.”
Jim continued, “That boy you bumped into today? How many others are in your faces like him?
“Not many. But they're all sitting there watching. Jason and I are like bait in a bloodbath. Sports.”
Tom said, “If you treat them all as enemies, how will you become potential friends?”
“So you want us to just turn around?”
Tom continued, “No. We didn't raise a characterless idiot. I'm saying you're describing a situation where a small hardcore faction is trying to harm you. The others are you pretend they have no interest in this fight. Give them an interest in this fight.”
“How? Convene a Citizens’ Assembly?”
“No, North. Start shooting them. I bet if a few of them do to something Jeremy and his little gang of thugs, then most of them will follow. Our experience shows that most people are decent when you give them a chance.”
Jim patted the boy on the shoulder. “You have to help Jason understand how to do it. And be of good cheer. You and Jason are in Portland this weekend.
#
One reason Jim and Tom moved to Goldendale was to be able to spend more time together. Portland and the Oregon Health Sciences University hospital were a black hole in Jim's time, and they weren't happy if they didn't have enough time together. The move had been worth it for her in that regard. They could go horseback at Jason's house, cook together in the farmhouse kitchen, and with Jim home long before the usual two in the morning at the OHSU, they could have sex regularly. Few people guess by looking at the fact that Jim and Tom were still wildly on each other and creative in bed while they spent their everyday lives, as well as in the many other places they played.
Tonight, after dinner, North had cleaned up the kitchen and had gone to his room to go with Annie. Tom and Jim had used the time to remember that they were both a love couple and parents.
Everyone thought that Jim, an oncologist, supported the family financially, but Tom's work as a writer he made the bulk of his money. His writing allowed Jim to reduce his working hours by moving his practice to the slower small-town hospital The Dalles.
Later in the evening, they lay next to each other, holding hands in bed after a great romping, Tom He turned around and looked at the man who had enlightened his world for so long. “Spit out.”
“I’ll give it two months. If North and Jason can’t change the situation, we’ll have to go back to Portland.”
“I hate to see you again in this dead end, Jim, but North’s well-being has always been close to our hearts. first. I don't like what this process does to Jason or North. Let’s see if he and Jason can do what I suggested.”
Jim replied, “We shouldn’t let it go on for much longer.”
“We won’t, but now I’d like an encore, please.”
#
In his room, North was skyscraping with Annie. He left almost uninterrupted his anger over Jeremy's exhibition at the library. When he stopped, he waited only a moment before he drove off Schimpftirade about how the football team treated Jason and how concerned he was about Jason's safety.
“Annie, I’m afraid they’ll hurt him seriously.”
“Northy, did you talk to your fathers?”
North then gave Annie an overview of Tom's proposal. “What do you think, Annie?”
“Tom is not a fool. Don’t you like the idea?”
“Why do we have to make such an effort to make people behave decently?”
“For the same reason you work. You have always helped people to form a community. No reason why the fine citizens of Klickitat County should not benefit. Northy, you can’t give up without a fight, and you’re smart enough to fight without getting hurt.”
“I appreciate that. I’m just tired, I’m worried about Jason and I’m horny.”
“I can change that on Friday night. Jon has to take care of Jason, though."
#
Jonathan sat in his room at his laptop and wished he could hug to Jason through the data line and give him some comfort. Jon had never seen Jason so down. He had the pictures of Jason's bruises while Skype. Now his love seemed tired and down, and Jon couldn't do much to help. He had told Jason he would come to Goldendale and kick a few football players in the butt. They both knew it was kamikaze.
“Yes, listen to me. You have to stop the football. You know Tom and Jim are back to Portland. Cowboy, you're no use to me."
“I’m far from dead, city boy – just a little bit battered. Mom needs me, and I'm not going to abandon her. Leaving will be bad enough if we go to the UW. Jason is U Dub.
“There is no if. We’re going to Seattle next year, point.”
“Enough of my sad little story, Jon. How are things going with you?”
“Oh, the usual. I defend my chastity against the many guys who hammer on my door. I had to give Annie a Taser.”
“We are a real flower for the bees, right?”
“Jase! I'm annoyed by your suggestion that I'm a flower. You could never wilt Me.”
“You’re a very strong flower, Jon, maybe stronger than me.”
“How strong, I’ll show you this Friday.”
#
Thursday afternoons were usually spent with low-intensity long-distance runs. North liked to walk on the road between his family's farmland and Jason's. No one ran with North on these long runs because he could walk almost forever and did so often. Only another runner could almost keep up with North. Today he asked Brent to come. Brent was about the size of North and had the slim physique, which is typical of long-distance runners. He also had more talent than anyone from North's other teammates, and North wanted to implement the strategy of Jim and Tom.
Brent was torn when North asked him to run along. Most of the team viewed North as suspicious at best. Two fathers? Brent couldn't imagine how that worked, but some of the boys had seen North's girlfriend, so he probably wasn't gay. Brent also knew the prevailing feeling that Jason was because of his association with North and the rest of his Portland contingent. He also knew that North was adopted, and this fact, more than anything else, helped him make the decision.
“I won’t run with you if you kill me. I know I can’t go up with you if you don’t let me.”
“Brent, I’m tired of walking alone. I'm not an asshole, no matter what some people said. Besides, you have talent; you're the best this school has. We can help everyone else.”
“You are the best we have. You are a kind of alien with superpowers.”
“I am apparently one Art alien, at least considering how people treat me. Me."
“It’s up to Jason. You know a man all your life, and then he changes. People are angry.”
North knew how deeply Jason's friends felt betrayed. They thought Jason had been transformed. “My fathers are gay, and they are the best people I know.” Do not start with homophobic tirades. People don't choose who they're attracted to and you can't change their nature. Do you want to run away or not?”
"Let's go."
They ran north through the streets of the city until they ended. Then they turned east and We carefully crossed the US 97 and drove north on their side strip until we could turn east again. In front of them, a fortified gravel road rose. From behind, Brent, like North, looked into a rhythm – like a force of nature: no self-doubt and no confusion. He would have given his left crazy to run like that.
The incline got steeper, but North's pace remained unchanged until he noticed that Brent He was getting a little slower until Brent had caught up with the backlog. After five miles you climbed and fell over the far basalt cushions of the farmland, stopped and rested, sitting by the side of the road.
“Why does she call you Pre?”
“To annoy me. She means a runner who would have put me to the ground if we had lived at the same time. There is a certain physical similarity, and it is not the first to notice. Google Prefontaine.”
“Oh yes. The type of Nike.”
“Not really. Bowerman was one of his coaches.”
“How old were you when you were adopted?”
North tried to find out where the question came from. “Three.”
“I’m better than you.”
"What?"
“I was six.”
“Shit, Brent! That's incredible. I don't know many children of that age who made it out.'
Brent saw North's sincere joy. “I thought I would never find a permanent home. Then, miracle. A couple wanted an older child. My parents were so good to me. I was a burden for the first three years. It took me so long to believe that they were going to keep me.”
“You know how I feel for my fathers.”
“I do. You’re so damn special, they have to do something right.”
North tried to guess how much sarcasm was in that comment. “Just like your parents, you do what you think is best for me.”
“How do you deal with having a girlfriend?”
“You mean, what do you think about not being gay?”
"Yes."
“What is your parents’ say that you are left-handed?”
“I’m not sure if sex with other guys is the same as the hand I prefer.”
“Many left-handed people can use their right hand, but throw something at them without warning and they catch with the left.”
Brent frowned and thought.
“Jason hasn’t changed. Who would choose to be treated the way people treat him? He's tried so hard to be heterosexual, but he's not. Now he knows that in order to live a happy life, he is who he has always been.
North reached for Brent and pulled him up. “Do you want to come by and meet the fathers?” On the way back?"