Their high spirits were shaken when they saw Alex and his gang approach.  There was no way to avoid a confrontation and the crude taunting they had suffered only a few days before.

Alex strutted toward them and stood only two feet in front of them.  Five hangers-on formed a circle around the two anxious teens, blocking any hope of escape.  They were trapped.  It wasn’t a dark alley or a lonely country road but they feared the worst: a physical beating accompanied by sneers and insults.

“Hiya, dudes,” Alex said.  “I wanna apologize for what we said the other day.  It was wrong and we’re sorry.  Ain’t that right, guys?”

A chorus of agreement confused Jerry and Zack.

“To make up for it,” Alex continued, “we’re all gonna watch out for you.  If anybody gives you any shit about being fags — oops, I mean gay — just say the word and we’ll set ‘em straight.”

Alex and his followers then walked away, leaving Jerry and Zack perplexed by the astonishing encounter.  Walking to their car and on the drive home they tried unsuccessfully to think of an explanation for the athletes’ sudden and mysterious change in behavior.  The puzzle troubled them until late afternoon.  Only when they started preparing supper could they think of anything else but even then inexplicable turn of events was not far from their minds.

Over dinner, Jerry and Zach told Jason about the strange encounter with Alex and his band of homophobes.  “When you told me about the harassing,” Jason said, “I was angry that such persecution was still virulent.  But reversing their bigotry so quickly is — frankly — suspicious.  Do you think they were just trying to get you to let your guard down?  Will they attack you some time when you’re not expecting it?”

Neither Zack nor Jerry had considered that possibility, which was no doubt due to their growing up in a gentle, cooperative, and amiable Amish community.  “No,” they said in unison.

“There may be a way to find out,” Jason speculated.  “You say Brad apologized to you for the insults?”

“Yes,” Zach replied.

“Could it be that there’s more to the story than what you experienced?  I mean, might Brad have convinced the group it was wrong and they should make it right?”

“Not likely,” Jerry said.  “He said he was the bottom of the pecking order and had no power or influence on the group.”

“Still,” Jason said, “he may have been instrumental in causing the sudden change in the group.  I don’t know how but you have to admit it’s possible even if it’s unlikely.  Why don’t you ask him?”

“Good idea!” Jerry exclaimed.  “I’ll call him right after dinner.”

Jerry called Alex’s cell phone.  “Hi.  This is Jerry.  You said you’d let us know if there might be more trouble.”

“I did.  What’s the problem, Jerry?”

“No problem.  I just have a question.  How come the sudden change of attitude today?  Alex actually apologized and promised to look out for Zack and me.  What’s going on?”

“Alex didn’t change his mind.  Neither did any of the others in the group.  They did it because the coach demanded it.”

“I don’t understand,” Jerry said.

Brad explained how the incident had been reported to the coach, the coach’s angry tirade, and his threat of suspension from the team.  He concluded with an ominous warning, “Today was just a sham to satisfy the coach.  Believe me, Alex and the rest of the group haven’t changed a bit.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they planned some kind of attack as long as they were sure they wouldn’t get caught.  So be careful.  If I hear anything more specific, I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks, Brad.  For the information ... and for telling the coach.”

“Whoa!  Hold on!  I didn’t tell the coach!  And I’d rather not say who did ... for their own protection if you know what I mean.”

“Thanks, Brad.  You’ve solved a mystery that’s been puzzling us.”

For the next several weeks, Zack and Jerry were watchful, especially in the parking lot or other places where nobody was around but their apprehension was unnecessary.  They would occasionally see Alex, one of his underlings, or the pack of bigots together but there was not so much as a greeting pass between them.  In spite of the absence of an immediate threat, they worried about the time when football season was over.  Alex and his henchmen were all seniors and banishment from the team would no longer be a threat.

<><><><><> 

In early November, Jason informed the teens that his two daughters, their husbands, and three grandsons, ages 10-15, would be arriving from out of town to celebrate Thanksgiving.  It would be the first family gathering since his late wife’s funeral.  Jerry offered to leave the house during the visit but Jason said, “No!  I want you to be a part of the group.  After all, you’re like sons to me.  A family gathering wouldn’t be complete without you.”

Zack announced, “Jerry and I will prepare the dinner.  That will leave you free to be with your family.  And don’t argue.  We’ve done pretty well cooking meals here and we would welcome the chance to prepare a special meal.  Right, Jerry?”

“Absolutely!”

The young men thoroughly enjoyed planning, preparing, and serving the feast although they became annoyed at Jason’s frequent question, “Anything I can do to help?”  They also enjoyed the abundant compliments on the meal from all the adults.  (The grandsons were too busy eating; boys of that age have big appetites and poorly developed social skills.)

After desert of pumpkin pie, the three grandsons, dreading an evening of boring adult conversation, asked if they could go outside and play football.  Zack stood and said, “You folks enjoy yourselves.  Jerry and I will put the leftovers away and wash the dishes.”  When Jason’s daughters rose to help, Zack said, “Thanks but we’d rather you spend time with your father.”  Only Jerry and Zack were aware of what lay beneath their insistence on clearing the table alone — pain was mixed with their pride.  They had given no clue to their sadness over not being with their own families, most especially on a holiday.  They had fond memories of the many Thanksgiving dinners as they grew up.  The meals were superb but, in retrospect, they appreciated most the unity and fellowship with their parents and siblings.  Jerry was the first to voice his feelings as they loaded the dishwasher.  “I enjoyed the day, Zack, but I wish I could be with my own family on Thanksgiving.”

“I know the feeling, Jerry.  But that won’t happen.  Besides, you and I are sort of a family now.  For now and forever.  I love you.”

“I love you, too.”  Unaware that one of Jason’s sons-in-law was entering the kitchen, the two lovers briefly hugged and kissed to express their devotion to each other.

The son-in-law was appalled at the sight of two men kissing.  He turned around and returned to the dining room.  “Jason,” he said, “can I talk to you a minute?  In private?”

Jason was puzzled but accompanied his son-in-law to what was once a daughter’s bedroom but was now his office.

“What the hell is going on with your two boarders?” the younger man demanded, his fury obvious.

“Settle down!” Jason said.  “In the first place, they’re not boarders.  They’re house guests.  And, I might add, fine young men.  Secondly, what’s upsetting you?”

“I just saw them kissing!  On the lips!  Not just a peck, either!  They’re obviously fags!”

“I’ll thank you not to use vulgar language,” Jason replied assertively.  “As for your accusation, it’s true.  They’re gay.  They’re in love.  It’s a love not unlike a deep, abiding love between a man and a woman.  And, I would hope, between you and my daughter.”

“HOLY CRAP!  Are you telling me that you tolerate such disgusting behavior in your home?  How can you claim to be a Christian?”

“Let me put this plainly,” Jason said as he fought to control his anger.  “Their behavior is different ... not disgusting.  Moreover, it’s not sinful.  How can love and devotion be sinful?  Those young men are the most honest, hard-working, compassionate people I know.  They would put to shame many Christians — especially Evangelicals — who sit in church on Sundays and blindly endorse twisted interpretations of the Bible, who ignore its contradictions, and who quote only those parts that happen to agree with their biases.  The result, of course, is cruel bigotry!”

“I’ve heard enough,” the irate son-in-law said and stormed out of the room.  In the dining room he said to his wife, “Get your things.  We’re leaving!”

Usually submissive to her husband, she uncharacteristically replied, “Why?”

“Because your father is harboring two queers!  I won’t be any part of it!”

She knew that Jerry and Zack were gay.  Jason had told her previously but they agreed not to mention it to her husband because they knew what his reaction would be.  Defiantly, she said, “You can leave if you want to.  I’m staying here.”

Tom, an ex-Marine, was clearly infuriated by his wife’s defiance, he barked, “And how will you get home?”

“IF I come home, I’ll find a way.” 

The implication of the “IF” was clear.  For the first time in their marriage, Tom’s wife was rebelling against his dictatorial ways.  Her anger over being treated as an inferior subordinate in the marriage had been simmering for years.  It reached an explosive boiling point when he ordered her — in front of everyone — to get her things.

The bigot was in an awkward situation.  Unlike his experience in the Marine Corps where insubordination was swiftly punished, this was a family gathering and he had to reign in his anger.  “You mean you’re going to stay in this den of iniquity?”

“I am!” she said assertively.  “And if you’re the Christian you profess to be, you’ll show some tolerance.”

“Sit down, Tom,” Jason urged.  “Let’s not argue and spoil the evening.”

The man, obviously bewildered by his wife’s uncharacteristic disobedience and still incensed over the presence of ‘queers’ in the house, grudgingly sat down, seething inwardly but unable to do anything about the mutiny.  At least not at the moment; he would handle his wife’s noncompliant attitude later.

Jerry and Zach overheard the confrontation and were overcome with remorse that they had carelessly ruined the rare family gathering.  After discussing what they could do, they returned to the living room to apologize.  However, they didn’t have a chance.  Several voices called to them, “Come join us.”  “You’ve done enough work for the day; come relax.”  “Thanks for the spectacular meal; too bad we don’t live closer because we’d enjoy the results of your cooking talents.”  And from the wife of the bigot who caused the tactless scene, “Don’t let my husband’s remarks ruin the evening.  I think I speak for all of us — except Tom — when I say we think you make a fine couple.”  A chorus of agreement followed.

To be continued...

The author is indebted to Iatia (You know who you are, my friend!) for his valuable contributions to this story.