The Gus Diaries

Part 99

Remembering III
 

It hasn’t been long since Dad and Pop met Chris Hobbs at the mall. It all still seems so damn surreal.

I didn’t let on to my dads that I’d heard where they were meeting since I was pretty sure they wouldn’t want me there, but I had to go. Too many strange things were said during their phone conversation for me to just sit back and ignore the situation. Let’s face it, there’s a reason I’ve made it as the editor of the school paper in my junior year.

Jeff and I arranged to meet at the sporting goods store we used to go to regularly for supplies when we were on the basketball team together. Shit! I wish we were still together everyday.

“Newbie, what the hell is going on? You sounded panicked on the phone.”

“I am pretty fucking close to panicked.”

I reminded him about Chris Hobbs and then divulged his relationship to Mark Hobbs.

“Damn! I knew that guy was an asshole, but I didn’t know it was a family trait.”

“If he’s anything like his goddamn uncle, I’ll be spending the year worrying about you.”

“Hey, Gus, relax. Remember, your Pop was a lot smaller than the asshole who bashed him.”

I tilted my head. “Don’t you get it -- Hobbs used a baseball bat. Pop wouldn’t have stood a chance even if he was the size of a quarterback...” I looked down at the floor. “... or a basketball forward.”

Jeff put his arms around me. He didn’t do that often in a place like the mall. “I’ll watch my back. Besides, we still don’t know if Mark is anything like his uncle.”

I returned the hug and rested my head against Jeff’s shoulder, nodding my agreement and hoping he was right.

“It’s about time we found a discreet location in the food court, so we can find out what the fuck is going on.”

“Gus, are you sure you want to do this? You know we can trust your dads.”

I nodded again. “I don’t have a choice -- too many worries, too many unanswered questions.”

Jeff kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear. “Sometimes it’s better to leave unanswered questions alone.”

I stood up straight, trying to act strong and determined despite my nervous tension. “I can’t.”

“Okay. Then let’s go.”

We walked toward the center of the mall. There was a huge circular area lined with a variety of food kiosks. In the center was a maze of tables, many separated by small dividers giving the illusion of privacy to people eating.

The two of us stood just inside an alcove that led to the hall where the restrooms were located. In less than five minutes I spotted my dads. They took a table facing away from us, and luckily, just on the other side of the low divider behind them, there was an empty table.

We cautiously made our way to the target and sat silently. If I hadn’t been so concerned about what I might learn, it would have been fun playing spy games with Jeff. But this wasn’t a game and both of us knew it.

I pulled out a small notepad I had in my pocket. It was the only way Jeff and I could communicate, so we wouldn’t give ourselves away. I just wished we could have found a spot where we could see Dad and Pop, but that would have been too risky.

Less than two minutes later, another arrived with a voice I now knew belonged to Chris Hobbs.

“Well, look at you two. All comfy, cozy.”

I could imagine the grimace on Dad’s face. “Nice to see you too. Crushed anyone’s spirit... or head... lately?”

“Hey, Taylor, your fuck buddy has a great sense of humor. Too bad you didn’t get any of it from him.”

I scrawled on the notepad, Fucker! Jeff took my hand and stroked it gently.

“This is not my fuck buddy, this is my husband.”

“Oh right, Pennsylvania did let that insane law slip through.”

“Look, Chris, we didn’t come to discuss politics.”

Dad huffed. “I’m not sure he’d understand if we did.”

“Brian,” Pop hissed.

“You said you wanted to talk about Mark. That’s the only reason I came. So what’s up with my nephew?”

Dad spoke and his voice took on an eerie calm. “He’s at CMU.”

“I know that.”

“I’m not finished. If you can keep your wiseass mouth shut for a minute...”

“Fine, go ahead.”

“Another student living in the same dorm is a kid I happen to think rather highly of. He’s the foster son of good friends and he’s gay.”

“So it runs in the family. I knew it was like a disease. I tried to teach my kids--”

“Shut the fuck up.” I could hear the edge in Dad’s voice. “As the CDC will confirm, being gay is not a disease, but it is a predisposition you’re born with.”

“I repeat, what the hell does this have to do with Mark?”

I heard Pop take a breath. “We don’t want to revisit the past. I’m not sure what you have or haven’t taught him, but Mark has some pretty screwed up ideas about how to be socially appropriate with gay students.”

“I taught him? That’s a fucking laugh. His mother’s brother is gay. When my good-for-nothing brother ran off, she thought I’d be a better influence on her kid.”

Dad snorted.

Pop’s volume began to escalate, and I was getting more concerned by the minute. “How could she imagine you’d be a good influence? Please tell me you haven’t shared your hate with the kid.”

“Hate! What I did was a fucking prank and you know it. The judge knew it and that’s why I got community service.”

I grabbed the pen and pad, silently writing, A prank! This guy is delusional.

I heard a hand slam on the table. Jeff and I both startled. “A prank! You nearly killed Justin.”

“Sometimes pranks get out of hand. At least I didn’t bring a gun to shoot him.”

“Brian, don’t!” I could imagine my Dad trying to hit the guy and Pop stopping him. “He’s not worth it.”

“You’re lucky I didn’t sue you for ruining my football career. I never played again, and I needed a fucking new knee.”

“I should have taken the bat to your head too while I had the chance, after all, it was just a prank.” Dad’s words were filled with anger and something else... the venom spewing from a snake.

“Taylor, you’d better keep your husband on a leash. He might go off half-crazed like you.”

Pop huffed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Chris. That was just another little prank. Did you think I’d pull the trigger? Well, I didn’t that time.”

Trigger? Jeff scribbled on the pad. I shrugged, confused. Pop is the biggest damn pacifist in the world. This makes no sense.

“What the hell do you mean by that time?” Chris suddenly sounded on edge, nervous.

“Let’s just say there are certain things that still get me angry enough to want to fight back. One of them would be if a single hair on the young man, in Mark’s dorm, is tossed out of place by your darling nephew.”

Pop’s voice wasn’t familiar. It took on a threatening tone I’d never heard. I needed to find out what he was talking about.

“No one had better hurt Mark. I’ll find you and...”

Dad abruptly rejoined the interaction. “Then tell your little ward to keep his mouth and his hands to himself, and all of you will be safe and sound. Otherwise, I can’t be responsible for the actions Justin might take.”

“You fucking faggots.” Chris whispered, but the words were frightening enough at any volume.

Pop sounded more confident than ever. “That’s us, fucking faggots. And if you and your nephew want to remain intact, you’ll keep my warning in mind. Anyone who knows me can tell you I always keep my word.”

“Goddamn you, Taylor.”

“I’ve already been damned to hell by better men than you. I’d be happy to seal the deal if pushed hard enough. Care to test me?”

Dad whispered. “Justin.”

“Don’t worry, Brian, I’ll make sure to keep whatever I do far from home and family.” There was a brief pause. “Take my word for it, Chris, one false move and no telling what I might do. Keep that in mind next time you speak to your little prodigy.”

Chairs rustled and someone started walking away.

Dad called out, “Don’t forget.”

Chris yelled back, “I won’t.”

I sat back and took note of Jeff for the first time since he’d written his last comment. His eyes were wide and it was obvious we were equally shocked by what we’d learned. Fortunately, we had the willpower to remain quiet.

“Brian.” Pop’s voice was hushed and I could hear his pain.

“Shhh, Sunshine, he won’t hurt Jeff. He’ll call off Mark -- too fucking scared for his own ass, not to mention the kid’s.”

“How could I threaten him like that? It’s been years.”

“I know. It was as if you were transported back to those bullshit months.”

Pop moaned. “The Gay Avengers.”

“I remember another name you gave yourselves.”

“Right, The Pink Posse.” There was a brief pause. “Shit, I had a gun... and I almost used it.”

“But you didn’t, Justin. You knew when it was time to stop.”

“I never told you about that night -- not in detail.”

“Come here, Justin, come closer.” I heard the chairs shift. “You didn’t have to. I knew it was a turning point and something major happened. That was enough.”

“I had the gun and I--”

“You don’t have to say it.”

“It was loaded. I had him on his knees and made him apologize, even though I knew it wasn’t genuine. Then I shoved the gun--”

“That’s enough. You did what you had to do. Hobbs lived to remember your anger, and hopefully, it will be enough to keep Jeff safe.”

“And Gus when he’s with him.”

“Yeah, Sunshine, and our Gus.”

The chairs moved and my dads walked away. I looked at Jeff, knowing my eyes were moist. I didn’t even try to stop the tears.

“You’re pretty fucking lucky to have such amazing dads. They’d do anything for you.”

I nodded. “And you too.”

 

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