The Discharges were accomplished.  Billy and Will were no longer in the Navy.  They were free.  Free to leave the San Diego area.  Free to get on with their lives as civilians.  Free to enjoy and nurture their loving relationship.  But the challenges facing them were daunting.  The most immediate was telling their parents that they were no longer in the Navy and perhaps — they hadn’t decided yet — to explain the reason: that they were gay, in love, and would live as committed partners.  They also recognized the longer term challenge: being gay in a society that, in the early 1970s, condemned and persecuted homosexuals mercilessly.

They had been staying in Rod’s house while the Navy bureaucracy processed all the necessary paperwork but were increasingly uncomfortable taking advantage of his hospitality.  Their insistence of paying rent was steadfastly rebuffed by their generous host.  They made plans to travel to Detroit to visit Billy’s family.  They were sure that both of them would be welcome but still hadn’t decided whether to disclose the reason for their discharge. 

“Wanna go to New York and visit yur folks after Detroit?” Billy asked.

“NO!”  Will responded emphatically.

“And why not?” Billy asked.

“For one thing, my father would ruthlessly condemn my failure to complete my obligation to the Navy.  For another, he would continue to criticize my leaving school and enlisting.  And finally, I wouldn’t go without you.  He would be totally incapable of seeing past your rural past to see your sterling character and remarkable good sense.  I guarantee that he would take an instant dislike for you as soon as he heard your accent.  I find it charming; he would immediately stereotype you as ignorant.  That’s one of the things that I can’t tolerate in him.  He’s constructed opinions of anyone who doesn’t share his distorted idea of what ‘good people’ are.  It’s become a reflex that prevents him from seeing what’s good in people.  I refuse to subject you to his scorn.”

“Firstways, Will, don’t worry none ‘bout me.  If’n he’s as mean as you say, I can ignore it for a few days.  But it leaves me wonderin’.  How ya gonna ‘splain to ‘im not bein’ in the Navy no more?”

“I’ll write him a letter.  I’ll make up some story ... like being injured.  Nothing serious but something that would disqualify me for duty.  That ought to do it.”

“That’s dishonest!” Billy exclaimed with indignation.

“Maybe.  It’s a white lie.  Not true but it avoids anger or pain.  For me AND for him.”

“But ya won’t quit writin’ letters to ‘im, will ya?  He’s yur family ... the onlyest one ya got.”

“Oh, I’ll stay in touch.  But the letters will be just like what I’ve sent before — mundane news about what I’m doing and that I’m all right.”

“Have ya told ‘im ‘bout me?  ‘Bout us?”

“Yes.  I’ve said that we worked together aboard the Brighton and are friends.”

“Ya gonna tell ‘im the truth about us?”

“Probably not.  And it’s NOT because I’m ashamed of you or of being gay.  The reason is the same as for a white lie.  It avoids causing pain to another person.”

“Oh,” Billy mumbled.

Will suddenly recognized the implications of what he said.  “My situation is different, Billy.  You’ve decided to tell your parents about us when we visit them.  But you have a very loving family.  They’re proud of you.  They’ll be surprised and maybe disappointed but they’ll always love you.  The shock of knowing they have a gay son will wear off quickly.  My father — and my mother if she actually cares — aren’t like that.  The knowledge of having a gay son is a seed that will grow into hatred.  They’ll try to ease their pain by venting that hatred on me.  And on you!  But the hatred won’t go away.  It will grow like a cancer on their soul.  So, you see, my first reason is to avoid condemnation and vicious criticism but I also want to avoid causing them more pain than they may already feel.”

Billy was quiet for a few moments before saying, “We had a talk once ‘bout livin’ t’gether and ‘bout not always agreein’ with one ‘nother.  We promised to always be honest even if’n we didn’t agree.  Well, I’m thinkin’ this is our first disagreement.  I see yur point but I don’t agree.  We also talked ‘bout what t’ do when we disagreed.  Remember?  We said that we would always stand by and support each other.  That’s what I’m gonna do, Will.  If’n ya don’t wanna tell yur parents about us I’ll go along ‘cause yur love means ever’thin’ t’ me.”

“As yours does to me!” Will replied and gave his lover a hug and passionate kiss.

<><><><><> 

It was Will and Billy’s last day in San Diego.  Rod was due home from work in about half an hour; it would be at least three hours later that David would arrive.  At Billy’s urging, Will agreed to offer themselves to Rod in appreciation for his gracious hospitality.  Unlike the previous threesome, neither of the newly discharged sailors had any misgivings or hesitation.  In fact, they both looked forward to it.

Minutes after Rod came through the front door, Will said, “You have no idea how much we appreciate opening your home to us and helping us avoid being separated from each other for the rest of our time in the Navy.  We’ve debated how to express our gratitude.  Nothing, however, seems adequate.  Except, maybe, one thing.  We remember how much you enjoyed the threesome and before David comes home....”

“Stop right there!” Rod interrupted.  “In the first place, I’ve enjoyed your company and I was more than happy to help you get out of the Navy.  In the second place, there’s another, much more important reason I can’t accept what I think you’re offering.  I’ve mentioned to you before that I’ve wanted a lasting, loving relationship for a long time and David is the man I wanted as a life partner.  Well ... he committed to it last night.”

“That’s wonderful!” Will exclaimed.  “Congratulations!”

Rod continued, “The long and the short of it is: I won’t cheat on him.  Nor will I ask that he join us because of his very strong belief in monogamy and fidelity.  Don’t get me wrong.  I would thoroughly enjoy it — that night we spent together was magnificent — but David means too much to me.  I won’t do anything to violate his trust and jeopardize our relationship.”

“I know how ya feel,” Billy said.  “If’n yur love for David is half o’ what mine is for Will it’s gotta be protected.”

“I’m glad you understand, guys.  And don’t worry a bit about doing me any favors for having you here.  I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your company.  Moreover, I think seeing you two love birds helped David make up his mind about being my partner.  That, in itself, is worth more than I can say.”

Will asked, “Can we take you two out to dinner to celebrate your ... can we call it an engagement?”

“I’d like that,” Rod grinned.  “Let’s see what David thinks about it.  Okay?”

<><><><><> 

The plane landed in Detroit on time and Billy’s father was there to greet them in the baggage claim area.  He hugged his son for a long time while Will envied their relationship.  Then Mr. Simpson shook Will’s hand and said, “Mighty glad t’ see ya, young fella.  I was pleased when Billy Ray wrote t’ say y’all would be comin’ with ‘im.”

Will sat in the back seat on the drive from the airport while Billy and his father talked almost nonstop about what it was like at sea, the adventure on the nameless island, and — from Mr. Simpson — about what had been going on in the family.  The casual chatter came to an abrupt end when Billy’s father said, “Ya said in yur letter that the Navy didn’t need ya no more.  I can’t figure that out.  Seems like with what’s goin’ on in Vietnam, they’d be glad t’ have yur help.”

Billy artfully dodged the implied question.  “Lotsa things I can’t figure out, daddy.  The Navy’s a whole lot dif’rent than back home.  How’s little punkin doin’?  She like bein’ in first grade?”

“She’s a li’l charmer, ain’t she?  Ya always favored ‘er.  Spoiled ‘er, too.  ‘Sept for yur mamma, she’s missed ya more’n any o’ the rest.”

After a prolonged and boisterous greeting at the door, Will and the Simpson clan sat down for supper.  Both Will and Billy were grateful that the subject of the early discharge did not enter the conversation.  But both knew that when the children were shuttled off to bed (it was a school night), the dreaded disclosure would be made to Billy’s parents.

The younger children were allowed to stay up an hour after their normal bedtime while Billy’s anxiety grew.  What he didn’t know, however, is that his parents’ curiosity was also reaching a peak because they knew there was more to the story of leaving the Navy.  (Don’t loving parents always know when their offspring are upset or withholding information?  And don’t they normally protect young siblings from information that might cause distress?)  When the youngsters were tucked in and settled down for the night, Mr. Simpson said, “Billy, I done asked ya when we was coming from the airport how’s come ya left the Navy so soon like.  Ya didn’t gimme much of an answer.  Now I wanna know the whole story.”

Billy, with Will’s advice, had given a lot of thought to how best to break the news to his parents in a way that would soften the blow.  He began, “Ya knows that Will and me are good friends.  It’s plain t’ see that he’s a fine man so it’s no surprise that I respect ‘im and like ‘im.  It’s also plain that y’all see his good qualities and like ‘im too.  Maybe it’s a big surprise, though, that he likes me.  Ya may wonder why a big city Yankee would take a fancy to a Miss’ippi boy.  I wonder ‘bout that, too.  But fact o’ the matter is, he does like me.  Since we met in Basic Trainin’ we became very good friends.  Now here’s the part y’all may not like but I been prayin’ that y’all would understand.  It’s more than likin’ each other.  We LOVE one ‘nother.  And we’s gonn a spend our lives t’gether.”  Billy paused to gauge the reaction from his parents.

“Whatcha mean by ‘love’, Billy,” his father asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

“The same kinda love you have for momma, Daddy.  And she has for ya.  “It’s the same as a man and a woman.  It’s love — a REAL love — ‘tween two men.  I know it ain’t common but it happens sometimes.  I also know that I’m different.  Will’s different.  I’ve known what I wanted ... and what I am ... for a long time.  It ain’t no passin’ feelin’.

“Yur tellin’ me yur queer?” his father asked.

“Yup.  So’s Will.  And lemme say one more thing.  I’m gonna do ever’thin’ I can to make ‘im happy.  He’s gonna do the same for me.  Just like you and momma do for one ‘nother.”

Mr Simpson was totally unprepared for the startling news and couldn’t find words to express his feelings.  He turned to his wife and said, “Ain’t ya gonna say nothing?”

She paused, knowing what she wanted to say but struggling to find the right way to say it.  “Can’t say I’m surprised.  I kinda had suspicions for a spell.  So I’ve had time to get myself ready.  I’m disappointed but I ain’t mad or nothin’.  When ya have kids ya do what ya can to protect ‘em.  Love ‘em.  And ya want ‘em to be healthy and happy.  When they grows up, they gotta find their own happiness, don’t they?  Well, Billy is growed up.  Into a fine young man.  If’n livin’ with ‘nother man makes him happy, we oughta let ‘im do it.  Sure ‘nuff, it’s not what we wished for but he’s our son and we oughta love ‘im just like the day he was born.”

Mr. Simpson was stunned by his wife’s comments.  His feelings, by contrast, was that being queer was not manly ... and definitely not what he wanted his son to be.  He spoke harshly to his wife, “Ya mean ya don’t give a hoot ‘bout yur son bein’ queer?”

“He’s YUR son, too!” Mrs Simpson replied.

“It ain’t right!” the man declared.  “It’s wicked!  That’s what it is!  When he was little, I’d take ‘im out t’ the woodshed and whack some sense into ‘im.  Maybe that’s what I oughta do now.”

“You’ll do no such thing!” Mrs. Simpson replied defiantly.  “I’m not ‘xactly happy ‘bout it neither.  But he’s OUR son!  And he’s not a little boy no more.  He’s a grown man and can live his own life.  That don’t mean we can’t love him just ‘cause he ain’t ‘xactly like us.”

Billy interrupted in an attempt to prevent the escalation of the argument.  “Momma!  Daddy!  I’m sorry yur disappointed.  But please don’t get in no fight over me.  If’n yur mad, yell at me.  Not at each other.  I don’t have no memory of you ever getting’ in a fight.  All I can remember is the lovin’ ya showed one ‘nother ... and us kids.  Maybe it weren’t the kissy huggy type but I always knew that what ya done ya did outta love ... for one ‘nother and for us kids.  The love ya had is what Will and me have.  I know it’s hard to understand and it’s not what most folks feel but I’m tellin’ ya the truth when I say I love Will just like I would love a woman if’n I was like most folks.  But I ain’t.  And don’t ever doubt that I love both o’ you more than I can say.”

Billy was successful in lessening his father’s anger toward his mother but didn’t expect that the anger would be redirected.  Mr. Simpson glared at Will and said, “Ya done this t’ my boy.  Ya done corrupted ‘im with yur big city ways.”

“Hold yur horses, daddy.  It weren’t Will what done it.  I knew that I liked boys more ‘n girls long before.  Back when I was just fifteen back in Miss’ippi.  ‘Course I couldn’t say nothin’ ‘bout it ‘cause I thought somethin’ was wrong with me.  But the cravin’ didn’t go away.  It got stronger.  Me ‘n’ Will met in Basic Trainin’ and got t’ be good friends.  Much later I found out he was like me.  That made me feel heaps better ‘bout myself.  It weren’t Will that corrupted me.  He only just filled a big empty spot in my soul with his love.”

Mr. Simpson was quiet for a moment before he said. “So that’s why y’all got kicked outta the Navy.  ‘Cause yur both queer.”

“That’s right, sir,” Will interjected.  “The Navy has a policy against homosexuals.  But let me assure you that I love your son and I’ll do everything in my power to make him happy and protect him from harm.  I love him for the same reasons that you should be proud of him.  He’s honest.  He has remarkably good sense.  He’s got compassion for other people.  I have no doubt that he learned all of that from you so you can not only be proud of him but you can be proud of yourselves for raising an outstanding son.”

“Yur sweet talk ain’t gonna change my mind, young fella.  Bein’ queer ain’t natural.  I reckon there ain’t nothin’ I can do ‘bout it neither.  ‘Cause it’s plain ya got yur twisted minds made up.  But lemme tell y’all one thing.  Ya better not do or say anythin’ in front of the other chil’ren.  If’n ya do, there’ll be holy hell to pay.”

“Don’t worry, Daddy,” Bill said.  “We know better than that.”

Continuing his authoritarian demeanor, Mr. Simpson declared, “And that includes makin’ a fuss in bed that they might hear.  No disgustin’ behavior in this house!  Is that clear?”

To be continued...

Iatia’s inspiration and editing cannot be ignored.  Thanks, my friend.