Last of the Summer Tomatoes (14 page)

Kyle shrugged. “As the judge said, typical city teenage boy stuff. Trespassing… well, skateboarding on public property, vandalism… that was for tagging, being out after curfew… that was when Hank was on a tear, and I kinda feared for my life. The usual, I guess.”

“
Usual?
”

“And I forget you’re a country boy. Most guys I know have a few misdemeanors on their records. It’ll all be expunged when I turn eighteen in August and complete this program.”

“But still, you didn’t do the thing that brought you here.”

“And then I wouldn’t have met you. Things worked out, no?” Kyle looked back out over the property. “But still… your parents might not like me getting involved with you.”

“Don’t you worry about that. My parents are very cool. Come on, it’s getting late. Ready to head back?”

Kyle nodded. “Yeah.” They headed back down the ridge.

Eleven

S
ATURDAY
night came, and Glenda had dinner on the table early and with only two place settings. She came into the kitchen, her flowing yellow dress setting off her eyes. She had her hair up off her face.

Kyle sat down at his usual place. “Only two?”

“Walt and I are having a date night; we’re going to head into the city for dinner and maybe a movie. You and Sam are on your own. Clean the dishes, check the cows and chickens before settling in, okay?”

Kyle was nodding as Walt came in. He had to do a double take. Walt wasn’t wearing his usual coveralls. He actually had on a suit. “Wow.”

Glenda leaned over and kissed Walt. “Yes, my Walt cleans up nicely, doesn’t he?”

Sam came into the kitchen behind Walt. “Damn, Pops, you like that cologne, don’t you?”

Glenda playfully slapped Sam’s chest. “I like it. You eat, deal with the animals before sunset, okay?”

Sam kissed his mother’s cheek. “Of course. You guys have fun.”

Walt put his arm around Glenda. “We should be back before midnight.” He led Glenda out the door.

“Wow… I’ve never seen them….”

“So clean?” Sam speared a piece of chicken as he sat down.

“Not what I was going to say. They looked nice.”

“They do clean up nicely. I should show you their wedding album. Mom was absolutely radiant; Pops looked James Bond-ish in his tux.”

“Really?”

Sam put some mashed potatoes on his plate, then handed Kyle the bowl. “You’d be surprised. So, you wanna watch a movie after we deal with the animals?”

Kyle grabbed a biscuit, then chugged half his milk before pouring some more. He’d certainly come a long way since that first breakfast. “Yeah, sounds good.”

They finished their dinner, then had a soap bubble fight while doing the dishes. It all seemed so easy, so free for Kyle. He could finally be himself. They checked the animals, locked them up and headed back to the house, actually holding hands. That felt especially good for Kyle.

Sam popped some popcorn, and Kyle grabbed a couple of sodas. He sat down on the couch, and it surprised him that he had grabbed something from the fridge without asking. And it didn’t make him sick to his stomach anymore to think he could go grab another one, again without asking. A Snickers bar landed in his lap as Sam sat down next to him.

“The latest superhero movie good for you? It’s free this month on the satellite service. Or we can order one, doesn’t matter to me.”

“I’m good, whatever you want. Just no horror movies.”

“You don’t like horror movies?”

“Not the gore and slasher stuff. Torture porn I think they call it? It’s just… well come on, if you think there is a machete-wielding wild man after you, do you really go down into a dark basement? Really?”

Sam snorted. “You’re right. I used to watch those—well, not the extreme ones, but like those Friday the 13ths or the Elm Street movies—at my friend Steve’s house when we were in high school. You know the trick?”

“Trick?”

“Trick to surviving those movies?”

“Don’t go in the basement.”

“No, smarty-pants, survive watching one.”

Kyle raised an eyebrow. “Survive watching?”

“Sure. So you don’t have nightmares.”

“Okay, how?”

“Root for the bad guy.”

“Seriously?”

“Well, it’s all fake, you know that. It’s a movie. So if you root for the bad guy, root for him to take out that annoyingly perfect cheerleader, it’s not scary anymore.”

“I never thought of it that way.”

“See, that’s the trick. Freddy’s pretty funny if you watch it from his point of view.”

Kyle rolled his eyes. “Fine, I’ll keep that in mind. I’d still like to watch some explosions and cool special effects.”

“One superhero movie, coming right up.” Sam turned the lights off, the couch illuminated only by the TV.

They became engrossed in the movie. Kyle enjoyed the closeness between them. Little by little they moved closer to each other, clasped their hands, then a small kiss, then a deeper one. The movie was forgotten as they explored each other, their hands innocently roaming. Kyle felt his heart speed up, his body tingling. It reminded him of the dream he had so long ago, but now, now it was a reality. It was really happening to him. Someone really liked him enough to make him feel better, to make him feel good. And he hoped he was giving as good as he got. From Sam’s reactions, he at least was making him feel good too.

A clearing of a throat startled him. It wasn’t coming from Sam.

“You two enjoying the movie?”

Kyle leaped up, his head whipping toward the door where Glenda stood, her arms crossed. He couldn’t see her face in the darkness, the bright light from the kitchen behind her hiding her features. He jumped off the couch, upsetting the bowl of popcorn that was on the coffee table. He stumbled backward, knocking over the lamp on the end table. He was off-balance, not able to control his long limbs, and he crashed into a small bookcase, one potted plant falling to the floor, a few books following. He didn’t know how, but he made it up the stairs and into his room. He couldn’t catch his breath, and he began to panic.

He didn’t know what to do, how to react. He hadn’t seen Glenda’s face… had she been upset? She had to have been. A teenage criminal sucking face with her only son? How could she not be upset? And Walt… had Walt seen? His mind went out of control. He imagined all sorts of scenarios, none of them good. Would they make him leave tonight? Or at least kick him out after the sun came up? Would he be sent to another farm or was this it? Would he be sent to jail, his record ruined, his chances of escaping Hank’s house out of the question? How could he face anyone? They’d know, they’d all know he was gay.

He started to open drawers and tried to pack so he’d be ready. He made sure to not pack anything they’d bought him. They’d want it back, right? He tossed things aside, rushing to put only his things in his bag. His sketch pencils escaped their bag in his haste. He was trying to pick them up when the knock on the door came. He froze, backing up against the window.

“Kyle?”

It was Glenda. He couldn’t answer.

“Kyle, I’m coming in, okay?”

He swallowed, feeling like a trapped animal. He clenched his fists, hoping this would be over soon. Deep down he knew she wouldn’t hit him, she wouldn’t have Walt hit him, but to see the disapproval in her face; he didn’t know if he could take that. He had gotten too comfortable, too damn comfortable, and he let his guard down.

The door slowly opened, Glenda poking her head in before coming in the room. She stopped to pick up a couple of pencils on the floor, placing them back on top of the dresser.

“You going somewhere?”

“I…. Rather not wait until the last minute.” He couldn’t look her in the eyes.

“Okay, I’ve heard of being an early bird, but packing two months before you have to leave is a little extreme, don’t you think?”

“T… t-two months?”

Glenda sat down on the bed and patted the space next to her. “Sit down, Kyle.”

He didn’t want to. Hell, if he’d been on the first floor he might have attempted to jump out the window. But he couldn’t deny her, so he sat down, still not looking at her. He clasped his hands and stared at them.

Glenda took in a deep breath, then let it out. “You do know you aren’t going anywhere until the end of August, right?”

“You don’t want me here.”

“Why would you say that?”

“I… Sam… we… you….”

“I’m glad you know your pronouns.”

“I’m sorry.” Kyle felt the tears coming. He’d ruined everything.

“What on earth are you sorry about?”

“I… Sam… I was kissing him.”

Glenda put her hand over his. “And you’re sorry you kissed him?”

“No.”

“Well that’s good. I wouldn’t want you taking advantage of him if you didn’t like him.”

“What?”

“Hun, don’t you realize sarcasm, teasing?”

“You… he’s your son.”

“Being Captain Obvious now?”

Kyle had to look up at that one. Glenda was smiling. “I was kissing your son.”

“Okay. And?”

“I’m gay.”

“Well, I would have guessed that, or at least thought you were bi.”

“I’m gay.”

Glenda pulled Kyle into a hug. “This is the first time you’ve really admitted it to someone other than Sam, right?”

Kyle nodded.

“I’m sorry I made light of you kissing Sam. I keep forgetting where you come from.” She placed her hand on his head, holding him close to her chest. “I’m glad you and Sam found each other.”

“How could you? I’m… a teenage criminal.”

“Oh, I highly doubt that.”

“That’s why I’m here.”

“I’ve read your file. You got into trouble doing silly teenage boy things. You’re no criminal. You are a loving, caring, sensitive young man who has been dealt a lousy hand in life.” She turned so she could see him, her hands on each side of his head. “I love my son. I want my son to be happy. You make him happy. I have no problem with that. I have no problem with you two kissing, holding hands… and I’ll leave it at that as I know how teenagers act and don’t need that image in my head. As long as you care about Sam….”

“I do. I really do. For the first time… I care about someone.”

“Then Sam’s a good person to care about.”

“What about Walt?”

“What about him?”

“I… I was kissing his son, in his house, after all you two have done for me….”

“Do you honestly think Walt is homophobic?”

“I… I don’t know. He… he’s….”

“He’s a father who’s concerned about his son. Who loves his son. Now, it took him a little while to understand Sam and his sexuality, and the first time Sam brought someone home… I won’t lie, he was uncomfortable. But he’s okay with it now. He’s helping Sam clean up right now, and I can pretty much guarantee they are having a man-to-man convo regarding this.”

Kyle swallowed. “Really? Sam can talk to Walt about… you know, feelings and stuff?”

“Of course! Walt isn’t a caveman.”

Kyle looked down. “I’m sorry.”

Glenda kissed the top of Kyle’s head. “Nothing to be sorry about.”

“I… I made a mess downstairs. I should go clean it up.”

“They have it covered. If I had to guess, Sam’s worried sick about you.” Glenda wiped the couple of tears that had escaped from Kyle’s cheeks. “Can I send him up here?”

“You… I can still see Sam?”

“Well, it’d be pretty hard not to see him, he does live here.”

“No, I mean….”

Glenda gave him a big smile. “I really need to work on my delivery. I know what you meant. If you two want to date, it’s fine by me. You’re almost an adult and over the age of consent.”

Kyle blushed from his feet to his head. “I… not that.”

“Oh, hun… I know. I just meant, you two can go out and do what two people do on dates. You want to go see a movie or have dinner in town? Great. You want to go over to the next county for a camping trip? That’s good. It’s your life. You can determine what you do with it. You don’t have to ask permission. All we ask is that you do your work here first. We ask the same thing of Sam.” She kissed his forehead. “Now, can I send Sam up? I’m sure he wants to talk to you.”

Kyle nodded, looking over at the clock. “Um, it’s early. You and Walt are home….”

“It wasn’t planned, believe me. Walt ate something that didn’t agree with him, so we called it an early night. There’ll be other date nights.” Glenda got up, squeezed his hand, and headed out the door. A few moments later, Sam knocked on the door.

“Kyle? Can we talk?”

“Yeah, come on in.” Kyle was trying to straighten up, placing things back into his dresser.

“You okay?” Sam grasped Kyle’s hand.

“I… I think so.”

“Mom said you were pretty freaked.”

“Not the way I wanted to let your parents in on the fact that I’m gay.”

“But they’re cool about it.”

“Really?” Kyle looked into Sam’s eyes, obvious in his need for reassurance.

“Yes, really. Mom and Pops are great parents. They love me, and they love you too.”

“L-love me?”

“Well, yeah, you are easy to love.”

“I don’t think I know what love is. I don’t know how to love.”

“Would you let others love you? The rest will come in time.” Sam stepped closer, putting his arms around Kyle.