Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
“I look like I’m nuts.”
“Well, the good news is, you probably won’t run into anyone you know.”
As we crossed the lot, he said, “True, but if someone takes a picture of me and I wind up as a meme, it’ll be your fault.”
When we stepped through the doors, I said, “I have so many good memories of this place. It was a big day out when Aunt Sue would bring me here.”
“Where do you want to go first?”
“The food court, of course.”
Once I’d bought both of us a giant soft pretzel and an Orange Julius, we began to wander around the mall. “I want to get something for Jeannie, something for the baby, and a present for each of her kids, so they don’t feel left out,” I said.
“How old are the kids?”
“Scotty is seven. He’s surprisingly serious for a little kid, and I completely adore him. He likes books and science, and I’m pretty sure he’s going to end up working for NASA.”
“How do you think he’s going to react to his parents’ divorce?”
I considered the question before saying, “I don’t expect it to be easy on any of them, but in a way, it might almost be a relief for Scotty. His dad was always trying to push him into sports, but he’s just not that kind of kid. Maybe the divorce will make Brad back off a little, so Scotty can just be Scotty.”
He nodded. “I get what you’re saying.”
“His sister Allie is six. She’s an amazing artist. I want to find her a cool paint set, or one of those huge boxes of Crayons with a million colors. She’ll love that. And Maddy is three and a half, and a total wild child. Her interests include screaming, running around, and trying to get into everything. Whatever we get her needs to be indestructible.”
Miller glanced at me and said, “I can tell how much these kids mean to you. It must have been hard to move away from them.”
“It broke my heart, but I felt like I was leading by example. I wanted them to see it was possible to leave Hickson and follow your dreams.” Although I was pretty much cancelling out that message by moving back a few weeks later…
“Hold up. Your hometown is called Hickson?”
“I know. It’s perfect, because it’s such a hick town.” I stopped walking and gestured at a holiday-themed window display. “What in the Jack Skellington is happening here? It’s the beginning of October, so this should be decorated for Halloween, not Christmas!”
“Yeah, it’s way too early.”
Once we finished our snacks, I led the way to a store that was half kids’ clothes and half unique toys and books. I squealed with delight as I hugged a giant teddy bear. Then we began our search for the perfect gifts. In just a few minutes, I found a book about space for Scotty, a nice watercolor set for Allie, and a tough looking rideable bouncy horse for the toddler.
As we picked out a couple of adorable outfits for the baby, Miller asked me, “Do you think you want to be a parent someday?”
“Probably. But it’ll be way down the road, like in ten years or something. I love kids, but for now I’m good with being a guncle to Jeannie’s gang.”
“Guncle?”
“Haven’t you heard that expression? It means a fun, gay uncle. What about you, do you want to be a dad?”
“Maybe in a few years. Bruce wanted kids right away, so I went along with it for his sake. But I didn’t really think I was ready, not at this point in my life.”
“Well, you can be a fun gay uncle too, and spoil Jeannie’s kids with me.” Something occurred to me just then, and I asked, “Didn’t you say you have older sisters?”
“Three of them.”
“Do any of them have kids?”
“They all do. They have eight between them.”
“So, you’re an uncle for real.”
“I am, although I’ve never met any of my nieces and nephews.”
“Why is that?”
Miller shrugged as if it was no big deal, but the pain in his eyes told a different story. “Because my sisters are even more homophobic than my parents, if that’s possible. Actually, they barely wanted anything to do with me in the first place. They were all teenagers by the time my parents adopted me, and they tolerated me at first. But then, when I came out, it was kind of like I’d given them the excuse they’d been looking for to cut me out of their lives.”
“That’s really awful.”
“It was, but I get it, in a way,” he said. “They had to spend their whole lives hearing how disappointed their father was that he never had a son. Then their parents adopted me. From their perspective, I can’t imagine that felt very good.”
“It’s still messed up to shun you, though.”