Early November proved to be cold on the day the Soccer game between the Wondercolts and the Diamond Dogs. On Saturday that they’ve competed, the leaves on the trees had already fallen off the branches, leaving nothing but sticks behind. The wind didn’t help either team from the biting cold, yet, they were committed until the end.
Fortunately, it was one of the few games of the season as far as either team was concerned. Both were looking forward to Thanksgiving break, where they’ll be taking time off inside somewhere warm. However on the wet grass, in perfect weather or not, their soccer match must be taken care of.
In the stands, parents and friends sat side by side in their sweaters, jackets, and hoodies. Among the crowd, two pairs of parents were applauding, clapping and cheering their kids on the field. One of them, the Apples, was the father had on his pair of cowboy boots in a tan jacket while the mother had her black coat on but still left her blond hair uncovered. While the other pair, the Cloudlines, which the mother had on a deep blue hoodie with yellow lightning while the father blew into his hands in hopes that warmth would return.
“Oh come on Hurricane,” the wife in blue said. “It’s not that cold.”
“Says you,” he rubbed his hands, “at least you’re wearing something that has a hood.”
“What? It’s the only thing I have in my closet to show Soarin our support.”
“I know Rain,” her husband put his light blue hands into his pockets. “It’s just I guess I wasn’t dressed for this kind of weather.”
“Y’all don’t think it’ll rain soon?” the blond mother that was sitting next to Rain asked.
Hurricane sniffed the air, “Probably sometime later, but if it does, the game would be long over by then.”
“Hope it doesn’t,” the father in the tan jacket commented. “Don’t wanna have Brae’s first game in years go to waste.”
“I’m sure it won’t Johnnie,” Rain waved it off. “There’s still a good half-hour to go anyway. Besides, are you sure this is your kid’s first game in years? He’s not half bad.”
“Well, he did join the team a month ago,” Braeburn’s mother nodded. “But no matter what, Ah do think this is a turn for the better.”
This got Soarin’s parents attention, “For the better?” Hurricane wondered, “Fuji, what do you mean by that?”
“Have either of you noticed?” Johnnie asked, “Braeburn’s finally comin’ out of his shell here. He’s been on our farm for years, and hadn’t gotten interested in any sports since he was a little fella. Not ta say that he’s quite enjoyin’ himself around your guy’s team.”
“Y'all should have heard ‘em the other day,” Fuji said. “He was really lookin’ forward about playin’ soccer with your son then he is on the farm. Not that it’s a bad thin’, if anythin’, we were startin’ to get worried about ‘em. He’s almost always on the farm, and almost always didn’t want anythin’ to do with school clubs or nothin’. But since July… he’s been goin’ out more with your Soarin.”
“You know, now that you’ve mentioned it,” Rain pulled back her hoodie to uncover her silver hair. “Our kid has been hanging out with Braeburn a little more often now. Oh sure, he still has practice and other friends that he goes to, but lately, he’s been going out with his best friend a lot. I know those two are close, but what’s changed?”
“Who cares,” Braeburn’s father shrugged, “whatever happened, must have been a good thing. Ah mean, he’s somehow a bit happier than ever, so really what more can we ask for?”
“I suppose you’re right,” Hurricane returned to the game.
For a while, both parents had their attention on their sons on the field. Every so often cheering when their team scores a goal or when their kids have the ball.
“What are ya doin’ fer Thanksgivin’?” Fuji asked.
“To be honest,” Hurricane sighed, “We were planning to go westward to have dinner with our relatives.”
“Were?”
“We…” Rain embarrassingly admitted, “We’ve found ourselves a little short on money to go anywhere for Thanksgiving. Oh, we can still buy the stuff for the big dinner, it’s just that we can’t afford to go anywhere at the moment.”
“Ah’m sorry ta hear that,” Johnnie leaned over. “Does that mean you’ll be by yerselves this year?”
“Afraid so,” Hurricane nodded.
The Apple couple looked at each other for a moment. “Excuse us,” Johnnie said, “how about you folks come over for our Thanksgivin'?”
“Sorry?” Rain snapped her attention.
“Ah mean, why not Y'all jus’ come over for our Thanksgivin’, with us Apples?”
“Oh no,” Hurricane shook his head, “We don’t want to intrude-”
“Nonsense,” Braeburn’s mother waved it off. “We wouldn’t mind at all. Why, since this year we’re eating’ at Granny Smiths, there should be plenty of food to place and ta go around! You can jus’ bring over a little somethin’ like rolls or what-have-you over. Now it won’t be fancy or nothin’, but there’ll always be plenty of food leftover.”
“Besides,” Fuji’s husband added, “Ah think that our boys would be more than delighted if you folks were invited over. Besides, since our family is mostly made up of farmers, Ah guarantee that everythin’ will be fresh and made from scratch from the potatoes to the pies.”
Soarin’s parents looked at each other. It was a tempting offer. While they, like every other family, preferred to spend the holiday among the family of uncles, aunts, and cousins that they haven’t seen for some time – they knew that this year won’t be the case. Yet, the parents of their son’s best friend had offered a few spots at their table.
“I guess we’ll give it a shot,” Hurricane said, “Just so that it won’t be just us when the day comes.”
“Perfect,” Johnnie smiled, “Don’t you all worry none, Ah promise that yer in for a treat, especially when we get to dessert.”
_*_
Weeks later, behind the tall curtains back stage once more, Sweetie Drops was nervous. It is the night of the recital, and the auditorium was filling up. Her class had a majority vote that not only would they be going first, but they will do the Beethoven piece to start with.
It wasn’t that the Candy Maker was unprepared. If anything, she already knew each note, trill, and when her foot needs to press which peddles, even though she still bought her the music sheet anyway. Not only that, but Mr. H will be the one conducting so that she won’t get lost in the pacing of it.
“Hey,” her girlfriend whispered, “you think you’re ready?”
“I… I hope so,” she flipped open her little book to the marked page. “Though I admit, I don’t think I’ve played anything like this. I do wish that I’d do okay.”
“C’mon. You’re gonna do better than just okay,” she elbowed her. “You’ve gotten a lot better over this trimester. You’ve always played beautifully.”
“But, what about the mistakes,” Bon Bon wondered as she looked out to the piano at the center of the stage. “What if I mess up?”
“Sweetie,” Lyra placed a hand on her shoulder, “You’d need to have some confidence here. I’ve heard you play before, and I do think you’re ready.”
“How can you be so certain?”
“Remember when I made that portrait of you not too long ago? Where even though I have spent a good two or three hours on that painting, it didn’t look anything like you?” This got her Candy Maker to smile, “Do you remember what you’ve told me when I said that I’ve completely failed?”
“I said that it was pretty because you put your all into it, and that’s what counts.”
“And it’s the same here. I know that you’ve worked hard on this. And who cares if you mess up? To me, it’ll be the most wonderful song that you’ve ever played.”
“It’s seven o’clock,” their Orchestra Teacher said as he walked back stage. “Everyone starts heading out.”
While students stared to make their way towards the stage with their families applauding, Lyra went over to Harmonic and asked, “Hey Mr. H, would you mind if I sat next to Bon Bon while she plays to help turn the pages?”
“Why? Don’t you have a part to play in the opening piece?”
She shook her head, “No, there’s no harp in the Beethoven song. So could I just sit there to turn the pages of her music?”
“Okay, but you two need to get going,” he usurer them onto the stage, in the glaring lights that shown brightly upon the student orchestra. The couple walked over toward the black piano bench that sat beneath the row of pearly white keys and black silken keys. Lyra pulled the bench away from the piano, giving Sweetie Drops room to sit down before she did.
“Let me,” Lyra opened her book to the marked page and placed it on the little stand before their teacher walked on stage.
He instructed for the orchestra to be tuned. Bon Bon pressed the key of her piano in which the strings, wings, and brass had soon adjusted to humming the same notes.
Taking the microphone, Harmonic said, “Hello everyone, welcome to the annual Canterlot High recital. We thank you all for coming out this evening to hear the results of our dedication and hard work over the past several months.
“Our first piece that you’ll be hearing comes from the Second Movement of Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto. This Adagio will be performed by our Pianist, Sweetie Drops, who has put a lot of effort into this, so how about we give her a hand?”
The audience did, and all Bon Bon could muster up is a simple wave.
“Not only her, but this orchestra has surpassed any expectation that I had, especially when they’ve wanted to do this first because out of the two that this particular class has done is the most difficult to play. Yet, I do think that in rehearsals, these kids have done what professional orchestras wish could achieve. So, without further ado, here is the Second Movement, of Beethoven’s 5th Piano Concerto.”
“Bonnie,” Lyra whispered. “Don’t play it for them expecting you to be perfect. Play it for me.”
When the strings harmonized together in a morning glow, like a musical interpenetration of what a sunrise should be, Sweetie Drops closed her eyes as the music from the orchestra washed over. Listening intently to let go of whatever worried her, and focused on the girl sitting next to her. She had to invasion that the spotlight was brighter while the world around them grew dimmer but still heard the music clearly. In her mind’s eye, even when she opened her eyes, she started to daydream that the only thing that existed is the piano, her, and her sweetheart.
Now, this piece that she’d practiced for months wasn’t about something historical or of cultural value. Looking back at the music sheet, she waited for her cue to start. For the moment, this slow descend of the keys was a love song without words.
There was tenderness in every passing bar, but also sincerest as well – where each mellow note was sweeter than marshmallow drops fresh off the copper pot, which created a balanced harmony between her and the orchestra. Even with the higher portions reminded her of the lyre that poetically plucked with grace.
A minute after delightful minute passed, yet to the pianist, it might have been seconds. She wanted to preserve this moment she was expressing to her girlfriend for eternity. When Lyra did turn the page of her book, she took the opportunity to glance over to something as timeless as the day they’ve met.
Yes, she’s been her best friend. But she also had been with her as they grew up, watching her blossoming into something that transcends perfection. Not to mention when she first realized not only what she was, but for whom she fell for, to her, calling Lyra a goddess was an understatement. Being with her, for whatever excuse, was all she needed in her strangeness.
She recalled that while Lyra wasn’t always what some would call normal with her past obsession with unicorns and other mystical creatures, Bon Bon didn’t mind that. Lyra was not just unique with her learning how to play an instrument that few knew how to first, nor her entertaining ideas that she could talk about for hours on end. Rather, to someone like Sweetie Drops, Lyra was happiness in the flesh.
As much as she wanted to go on forever playing, eventually, she ran out of music to play. And the applause from the auditorium brought her back into reality. She looked over to her teacher, who was clapping with a nod of approval.
“That was beautiful Bonnie,” Lyra hugged her. “I told you that you’d do great.”
Sweetie Drops, on the other hand, was relieved that she’d done it. Getting off from the bench, she bowed to the audience before walking off stage, leaving Lyra to take her position at her harp.
“That was very good Ms. Drops,” she was taken by surprise when she found Principal Celestia from the shadow of the curtains. “I’m impressed by your performance.”
“Principal? What are you doing here?”
The tall sunny woman walked out onto the backstage. “For several reasons,” she said. “One of them being that I was running rather late for your guy’s recital, and I promised Harmonic that I would be here, that, and for one other reason.”
“That being?” Bon Bon raised an eyebrow.
“I have a very special request from your students, I intended to ask once Mr. Trotivari was out of earshot.”
“What request?”
Celestia hummed in thought, meanwhile, Harmonic finished his introduction to the next piece that Sweetie Drop’s class was playing and begun conducting. “Alright, it has to do with Christmas that his son and I are conspiring on for your teacher. You see, I’ve learned that his son is going to get married the week before. Yet, at the same time, his son and his fiancé are planning to go out of town after the wedding for a couple weeks, which means that Harmonic will be alone for Christmas. Knowing what has happened this year, I can’t afford him thinking that everyone has abandoned him on the most joyful day of the year.”
“That sucks,” Sweetie commented. “I mean, I’ve heard about that he had a spouse that died back in January. So, this might be the first Christmas where he’ll celebrate without him.”
“Oh, you’ve heard too?” She nodded. “Although he keeps telling me that he’ll be fine. Yet, I know that inside that he’s anything but. This is why I’m lending a hand in organizing something special when the time comes.”
“What are you planning to do?”
Celestia smiled, “When the time comes, I’m hoping to get some of the students, and, maybe a handful of teachers to arrange a surprise Christmas party at his home on the 25th of December. Now grant it, I acknowledge that it probably won’t be easy since not everyone could nor can make it. After all, some of you students may not even be in town, or have other obligations on that day. Yet, I’m hoping to gather enough students and teachers to throw the kind of Christmas that he and his family had done in the past; in this case, an Italian Christmas.”
“Like what? Bringing bowls of pasta and pizza or something?”
“From what I was told by his son, it’s a bit more elaborate, but cooking from his native country does count. More importantly, I was hoping that I could get involve students that have been in his orchestra class to play a carol on his doorstep.”
“Huh. That’s, rather nice of you.”
“I’m just looking out of him is all,” she said, looking out to the Orchestra teacher. “Do you think that you and some of the others would do it?”
“For me, I don’t think I’m going anywhere for Christmas. Although, I can’t really say what everyone else is doing.”
“Understandable,” Celestia nodded. “For the time being, I’ll ask everyone else about it later, but for now, let’s enjoy the music.”
_*_
Across the country, families had made their yearly pilgrimage to see their distant relatives to share in the feast of late autumn. Many would travel by car or by plane, to take the effort of spending a few hours, or a few days, all for the sake on this one day. And that by the time those said relatives get to their destination, they’d expect the delicacies of whatever they had last year to be just as they remembered it. From the most, flavorful turkey with tarty cranberry sauce; to the buttery mash potatoes; the fluffy rolls; the most tender of vegetable casseroles; and the sweetest of pies that all have been prepared, cooked, boiled, bakes, fried, and topped with perfection, all for the sake of this one day.
But for Soarin’s family, who had been invited over to their son’s best friend’s family, they didn’t know what to expect. Even when they got out of the car that was parked across from the apple orchard, with their Wondercolt athlete carrying a bowl of salad and a tray of banana cream pie at the address they were given, all three of them had a cloud of uncertainty over their heads.
“You’re sure that this is the address?” Rain asked, closing the passenger door.
“I think so,” Soarin said as they walked up the dirt road a little way, “Brae told me to look for the sign that says- wait… Sweet Apple Acres! Yep, we’re in the right place.”
“Man, they weren’t kidding, when they said they have a big family.” Hurricane looked at the long line of cars on the side of the dirt road. Some of the licensing plates, he noticed were out of state. “You’d think that we would even find a place to eat?”
“Wouldn’t they invite us if they knew it was going to be this full?” his wife asked. “I’m sure that for a place as big as this, I think they might have at least a table to spare.”
“Don’t worry,” their son turned his head while still kept walking forward, “Brae said that his cousin’s farm is much bigger than his. Plus, I’ve heard that they’ll be eating in the storage barn, and their house that should be enough room for his whole family, and us.”
“If you say so,” his dad sighed, looking throw the lines of already picked apple trees, that was now bare of their leaves as well in the cool air. They could barely make out of the red and white painted barn up head, along with the outline of the house as well on the hill. Once they came to the wide open gate, not only did they found more cars parked around the farm, but they found someone there to greet them.
“Hey Soar,” Braeburn smiled, “Glad Y'all can make it.” He took the dessert that the aqua athlete was carrying, “And hey Mr. and Mrs. Cloudline, how you’ve been?”
“We’re good,” Hurricane said, “Is there still any room in there for us? There looks like there are a lot of people here.”
“Course there is,” the yellow cowboy started walking towards the farmhouse, in which the three of them followed. “Pa has already told the rest of the family that you’d be comin’ over. So yer expected at least.”
“Where are we going?” Soarin’s mother asked.
“To tell ya the truth, we haven’t started yet. The turnkey is takin’ forever, and mah cousins are setting up the chairs in the barn. Besides, there are a few of us Apples that’re runnin’ late. So really, you folks are on time.”
“Is all of your family here?”
“Yes’m, kinda like an unofficial family reunion in a way,” he opened the front door to the farm house, “Jus’ make yerselves at home.” The Cloudline family looked through to find that a living room that was packed with people. The younger relatives of Braeburn were running around in their loud game while the older were telling them to be quite so they could hear what is said about the game on the T.V.
“Brae,” Soarin said lifting the salad bowl, “Where do you want me to put this?”
“Actually, let me take that,” he took the mixed greens with his free hand, “and, would you mind stayin’ out here, I wanna talk to ya.”
“Oh, sure thing man,” after his boyfriend had disappeared in the sea of faces and swam back to the front door, Soarin asked, “What’s up?”
“Not here,” Braeburn guested over to the orchard, “Over there.”
Now he was curious, while Soarin followed him into the depth of the skeleton like forest, he wondered what was it that his best friend wanted to talk about that required being out of earshot and out of sight from everyone.
The farmer stopped suddenly, looking over his shoulder a few times to see that they were alone, he said, “Sorry for the whole cloak and dagger, but Ah wanna talk to yea about somethin’.”
“I’m listening,” Soarin leaned on the bark of a tree. “What’s up?”
“Well… Soar, how long has it been again? That we’d started to really goin’ out?”
The athlete looked down at his hand, “July, August, September, October, November… Five months now. Why?”
“Jus’ think about it fer a moment. Think back to all the dates you’ve ever been on. How long have any of them last?”
“I don’t know… a couple of weeks to… oh.”
Braeburn nodded, “That’s what Ah realized too. This might be the longest relationship you’ve ever had.”
“Well duh, I can easily see that,” he then tilted his head, “Why are you bringing this up?”
“Soar, Ah need ya to be honest with me here,” the yellow Apple rubbed the sleeve of his jacket. “Do ya still wanna keep this goin’?”
“Wait, Brae? You’re not suggesting that we should break up, aren’t ya?”
“No!” he said in surprise, “Soar no! That’s not what Ah’m sayin’. If anythin’… Ah don’t wanna end it. When yer around, you’d always given me a reason ta be happy about. Ah don’t want that to go away. The reason Ah’m bring this up is because Ah’m amazed that it’s lasted for so long. Don’t you see it? The longest relationship with anybody as Ah can remember you bein’ with anyone lasted for a couple of months. But five? Don’t ya think that’s sayin’ something?”
Soarin looked to the side, “I know. Even though I never thought that I would have a boyfriend, yet, giving you a chance and all, I don’t really wanna take it all back.”
“Really?”
He nodded, “Yeah. I admit Brae, when we first started dating, I’ve been questioning myself if I’ve been gay the whole time and not realizing it, or that I’m bi and have never given the chance to be with other guys before you. But you know what?” He put a hand on Braeburn’s shoulder, “I don’t care because, really, you are a great guy. You’re loyal, you listen, give to me things straight, a great athlete, a best friend, and I don’t see a reason why we should break up – because I don’t want to end this. I still want to go on more dates with you. I want to be with you, not because you’re a greater athlete then you give yourself credit for, but for all the little things too.”
“Little things?” the farmer asked.
“Like the way you talk in that Southern drawl. The way you go to great lengths to be together. The way you would stand up for me, like I would do for you. Not to mention that you bake the best apple pie in existence. Really, I’m amazed that no other guy has fallen for you… like I have.”
“And Ah still thank ya all the much fer it,” Braeburn smiled.
Soarin did too before he tilted head, his expression changed to curiosity.
“Soar?”
“Hey,” the Apple cowboy saw that his friend’s blue cheeks had turned pink. “Out of… curiosity. Had you ever… you know…”
“What?”
“Um…” Soarin rubbed the back of his head, “Dude, had you ever… kissed a guy before?”
Braeburn's eyes widened, feeling the blood going straight to his cheeks, “Say what?”
“I mean, I was just thinking. I’ve had a few smooches with a couple of girls before in the past. But, what about you, knowing that you lean towards guys, have you ever kissed anyone before?”
“Well… no,” he shook his head. “Ah would be lyin’ if Ah said that Ah haven’t thought about it. But, Ah have wondered what it would be like.”
“Do you… wanna give it a try?”
Braeburn looked straight in Soarin’s eyes in shock, “Y-You really mean?”
He nodded.
“But… with me?”
“Sure. Grant it, I’ve never kissed a dude either. But I’m wondering what its like.”
“Ah… oh my,” Braeburn backed himself to a tree. “Are ya sure? What if we’re seen?”
Soarin stepped forward with a smirk. “Look around, who’s going to see? I think we’re perfectly safe.” He stopped face to face, placing a hand under his chin. “So, you really never kissed before?”
He shook his head, “But… you sure?”
“With you, I’m more than certain. So... Brae, would you let me?”
Braeburn closed his eyes, licking his lips. “Ah… Ah think Ah’m ready.”
Taking in a breath through his nostrils, a quick wetting of his lips later, Soarin slowly leaned in.
“Braeburn?” both pairs of eyes snapped open at a third, familiar voice. With a sense of dread, they quickly located not only where, but who that the voice was coming from. The Apple farmer’s father and both of Soarin’s parents were present, all three were as wide-eyed and slack-jawed as their sons.
“Pa!”
“Mom! Dad!” Soarin immediately backed away, “H-Hey, didn’t see ya there.”
No response.
“So…” Braeburn started, “Did Y'all need somethin’?”
“As a matter of speaking,” Hurricane began, “Everyone’s ready to eat but you guys disappeared.”
Johnnie stepped forward, “Braeburn Apple, Ah think we need ta have a talk.”
“Same here,” Rain said, “Soarin Cloudline, a word?”
Both boys looked with uncertainty, but the yellow farmer obeyed and followed his father out of earshot while the blue athlete stayed put.
_*_
In truth, Braeburn was never prepared for this. Coming out to someone like his best friend was one thing, having a chunk of the school know about it was another. But for his father walking in on a privet moment, where it was very clear what was taking place to the point that it took little explanation in what was going on, was something that he’d never considered.
Looking over his shoulder to where his boyfriend was, he wondered what were Soarin’s parents saying to him right now. And more urgently, what was his dad going to say… or worst, do to him know that the truth was out in the open air.
“Before Ah say anythin’,” his father began without turning around or stopping. “Ah wanna be clear on somethin’ here. Ah’m not angry.”
“Uh… y- yer not?” Braeburn stuttered.
He shook his head, stopping at a tree and turning to face him. “Confused is more like it. Ah suppose it’s one of those moments where yer not ready for since Ah’m tryin’ to wrap mah head around this. Just… was yer friend really about ta kiss ya?”
His son couldn’t look at him in the eye, feeling the blush on his cheeks. “He…” sighing, he confessed, “yes’m.”
A tense moment passed, where the only sound that was heard was the chilly breeze.
“Braeburn,” his father said at last, “Is there somethin’, yer not tellin’ me?” He could see his son’s eyes shut tight, trying to fight the tears from bursting.
“You… You’ll jus’ get mad at me. Ah j-just know it.”
“Why would Ah be?”
“Please Pa, d-don’t make me say it.” The first trail of sadness ran down his eye, “P-Please don’t hate me.”
Johnnie wrapped his son in his arms, with one hand on the back of his head, “Ah promise, whatever you’d need ta say, there’s no truth too hard that Ah can’t take. But Ah need ta know what is it that you want to tell me?”
Taking in several deep breaths and whipping away his tears, Braeburn spoke, “Ah… Ah’m not… straight. Guess there’s no other way Ah can put this… Pa… A-Ah’m gay.”
There was a sigh from his father, “Son… it’s okay now.”
“But, don’t ya mind?”
“In truth…” he let go of his son. “While this is a little weird then what Ah’m used to, Ah don’t think it’s that big of a deal yer makin' it out ta be. Grant it, Ah never seen this comin’ when Ah should have had. After all, Ah was worried that you’d might end up with a nasty girlfriend.” His father chuckled, but Braeburn was still on edge to laugh. “But in all honesty, this doesn’t change a thing between us.” This got his son’s attention, “Though Ah can’t help but think, how come it took ya so long to tell me or yer Ma about this?”
Braeburn looked at the ground, “Cause… Ah’m afraid.”
“How so?”
“Pa, Ah ain’t stupid,” he shook his head. “Ah knew- Ah thought that if ya found out that Ah’m… you know, that you would kick me out and say that Ah’m not yer son no more.”
“Brae,” Johnnie placed both hands on his shoulders, “Who put that idea in yer head?”
“Ah’ve heard about kids like me Pa. In how that when their parents found out, they… did awful things to them like leavin’ them homeless with only the shirts on their backs. Or if they didn’t kick them out, they would beat them, call them the worst names, even… have them raped ta make them ‘normal.’ Or sometimes they’d would send their kids ta camps ta change them, usin’ methods that don’t work but still leaven them scarred fer life. And these families were somethin’ like us Pa! Devout to their political and religious beliefs so much that they would rather have their own children destroyed then love them. And how couldn’t Ah think but wonder if somethin’ like that were ta happen ta me too?”
His father took a moment to let what his son had told him to sink in. “Are you really that scared of us?”
“It’s jus’ that Ah has no idea how you and Ma would react if you’d know, particularly with Soarin.”
Johnnie looked up to where the Cloudline’s were, “How long has this been goin’ on? With yer best friend Ah mean.”
Braeburn rubbed the back of his neck, “Ah’ve had a crush on ‘em fer a long time, but it wasn’t until recently that he started to go out with me.”
“How long was recent?”
“July.”
“Oh…” his father put a hand underneath his mustache, “That explains a few things.”
“Huh?” his son snapped in attention, “Explain what?”
“Well,” Johnnie sat down on a log, and guested for his son to sit next to him. “Yer Ma and Ah have noticed a change in ya. Fer you see, up until this year, you were almost always confined to the farm. Not it’s a bad thing, except, ya didn’t have much of a life outside of it. No sports, school clubs, or goin’ out with friends even, and even if when it did, they were rare. Then suddenly, with you goin’ out with Soarin more often… you wanted to know what good movies are out, or how you could join that soccer team, or even where’s the best place fer a hamburger are. It’s like you’ve expanded yer horizons all of the sudden, and that you were so excited about it. Not only that, but we’ve noticed that yer a lot happier than befor’, and whatever was happenin’ ta make you like this, why interfere?”
“So, Y'all are okay if Ah’m goin’ out with Soarin? Even if he’s a guy?”
“Brae, Ah’m gonna tell ya something’ that Ah’d need to promise me you’d won’t repeat to Granny Smith about, ya hear?” he nodded. “There’s a reason why Ah haven’t blown up over this issue, and that all have ta do with yer grandpa. Ya see yours and my generation has grown up believin’ that everybody’s created equal. When Ah was yer age, the Civil Rights Movement was at its peak in that schools were desegregated, voting rights were reformed, and, if you’d believe it, racial marriage laws were abolished, makin’ anyone from any race marries each other. Now-a-day’s it ain’t an issue anymore, but when Ah was growin’ up, it was a big hot button topic.
“At the time, when Ah was a little older than ya, Ah had fully embraced the whole equality thing. Mah dad, yer grandpa, did not. Ah remember one day that we got into a huge argument over this. Yer lucky that yer weren’t even born then, ‘cause ya don’t wanna know half of what we said to each other. Yet, Ah had to object because, back then, yer grandpa was a bigot. He used ta think that segregation was not only traditional, but a good thing because it keeps certain people out of trouble.” Here, Braeburn’s dad turned aside spat on the ground.
“Course,” he continued, “he did change his mind, but it would only come years later. He did become a good deal kinder in his later years. Yet, when we talked about what happened all those years ago, he only looked back with embarrassment that he said all those things. Ah made a promise to mahself that Ah wouldn’t be like that so Ah wouldn’t do the same.
“The thing is with us Apples, we’re a practical family. We only get inta things that affect us directly. Which Ah guess is more or less the reasons that almost none of us talked about the whole Gay Rights thing that, while we heard both sides of the issue, we don’t say anythin’ because the whole thing never affected us directly. Or at least... so Ah thought.
“While Ah personally have heard both sides of the issue, Ah couldn’t help but think that, ‘We’ve been over this already with the Civil Right Movement! We’d know what the answer is so this shouldn’t be an issue.’” He shook his head, “Guess that bigots won’t go away, Ah suppose.” He turned to his son, “Sorry that Ah’ve been ramblin’ on like that. It’s jus’ that even to this day, this still gets ta me.”
“At least Ah get ta see where Ah get ma strong opinions from,” Braeburn joked, in which the two of them laughed.
After his laughter died down, his father took on a more serious expression, “But seriously, as a Pa, while Ah may not completely wrap mah head around how yer… attracted to him, Ah think Ah do see why. Ah admit, Soarin’s always been a good kid. If he somehow gotten you out of yer shell, he must have done somethin’ right. But at the same time, regardless if he’s a he or a she, all Ah can say fer ya is, be careful.”
“Thanks, dad,” his son hugged him once more. “But, yer not gonna tell Ma about this, are ya?”
“Knowing her, she’ll find out sooner or later. Though, Ah can’t say if she’s as open-minded as Ah am. Ah won’t tell her right away, but when the time is right, Ah will. But don’t you worry now, even if she doesn’t approve, you still got me.” He looked over at the other parents, “It looks like they’re wrapping up. Now come on, we’re late for dinner as it is.”
_*_
While Braeburn walked away with his father, no doubt to talk about something uncomfortable, Soarin froze into place as his parents came up to him to have their own confrontation.
All he could do was stand there, heart pounding; he felt like a little kid again that was caught sneaking out of his room after bedtime.
“Did… Did we… miss something?” his father spoke first. “I think we missed something.”
When their son didn’t respond, her mother stepped forward, “Soar, what’s going on between you and Braeburn?”
“It’s um…” the blue athlete rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s complicated.”
“Is it?” Rain raised an eyebrow.
“You just… you just wouldn’t understand.”
“Try us,” Hurricane folded his arms. “Why were you about to smooch your own best friend?”
“Um…” Soarin trailed off in embarrassment, “H-How long where you are guys standing there?”
“We just walked up and saw your friend’s back against the tree.” His father answered, “If I didn’t know any better, it looked as if you were about to do all the kissing.”
His mother approached her son, but he turned his back, “Hon,” his mother said, “Is there something about you and Braeburn that you’re not telling us.” When he didn’t answer, Rain asked the ever pressing question, “Are you two dating?”
“.... Maybe.”
Both parent’s eyes widen, they looked at each other for a moment before returning to their child. “How long?” Hurricane asked. Their son held up his hand, showing all five fingers, “Days?”
Soarin shook his head, “Weeks?” his mother inquired, but he shook again, “Years?”
“Months,” he corrected them. “I’ve been going out with Braeburn, in secret, for five months now.”
“But, why?” Hurricane wondered. “You’ve always had been going out with the girls, but now this? What’s going on?”
Soarin looked up at them, while he didn’t see anger or disappointment, what he did see on their faces was confusion. “Look, I don’t know how well I can explain this but… For a couple of years, I knew that Brae was gay since he trusted me enough to be the first person to know. He’s no way open about it at all, and I didn’t realize that the dude had feelings for me since Jr. High or something like that. Yet, he never told me his crush on me for a long time, just because he worried what I would think of it. Do you remember when I started with those music lessons at Mr. H’s?”
They nodded and he continued, “Since me and Brae had our lessons that were right next to each other, I got curious to see what it was like for him. Well… I hid away while Mr. H was teaching him to play this love song, and he told him to envision the very guy that he’s in love with, and… he said my name. You would think that I would be weirded out by it, but the thing is… it didn’t. I was captivated in him putting his all into the song that I came out of hiding.
“Not to say that I had a talk with him about it. He told me that he kept what he really thought of me for so long because he was really afraid of losing me over it. That he never even dated anyone before because he always wanted to be near me. The guy was on the edge of tears when he told me, apologizing for even liking me. It was just… so unfair for him, while I have been trying to find which girl would be my… well, girlfriend, he never even gotten the chance to even ask anyone out.
“So… I asked him out. On the Fourth of July, we sat there on a hill in the orchard where he set this whole picnic up just for us to watch the fireworks. I did thought it would be just this one-time thing but… the truth is… I wanted more. Not to say that I’ve wondered if I’m really gay or bi, but as each date went by, I didn’t really care. I just gave him a chance, like I would with my other girlfriends.”
Soarin leaned on the bark of the tree, “And since then, Braeburn was an unexpected surprise. He went of his way in time and money to really show how much he cares about me. Like him joining the Wondercolts, all that was because he wanted to be near me. And when we had Thunderlane that was about to beat his face in was when I realized how much I cared for him back. Although I got punched, Braeburn got back on his feet to defend me.
“So… as weird as it sounds… I’ve fallen in love with a dude.”
His dad put a hand to his head, sighing, “Well, this is certainly unexpected.”
“But I guess that leads to the all-important question,” Soarin’s mother asked, “How come you never told either of us before?”
“Oh, great idea mom,” he deadpanned. His words dripping with sarcasm, “I would just say, ‘Hey guys, I gotta go on another date with my boyfriend, will be back by eleven!’ Oh yeah, you guys are going to take it so well.”
“Actually, I would say ‘Have fun you two and don’t forget to be safe.’”
It took Soarin a good solid minute to register what he just heard before he turned to her, “What?” he turned to his dad, “You heard her too, right?”
“Tell me,” Rain said, “You said that you started to really start dating back in July right? Do you really want to continue this with Braeburn?”
“I do, but how come you’re not exactly, you know, weirded out, angry or anything?”
“Well, I do admit that I am a bit disappointed that you haven’t told me or your father about this. However, from what you’ve told us, I think that your friend must be doing something right.”
“It’s kinda impressive in a way,” Hurricane admitted, “Not even my dates in High School lasted for nearly half-a-year.”
Soarin looked back and forth between his parents gawking, “So… you’re actually okay with this?”
At this moment, his dad walked over to the tree to put an arm around him, “First two rules in parenting: Make sure your kid is safe, and make sure they’re happy. I admit, this is going to take time on my part to get used to learning about you and your friend. But if you’re really want to keep going on dates him and if it makes you all the happier, what do I have to complain about? Besides, it’s Braeburn. If it were some other girl that we hardly know about, naturally we would be suspicious. Yet, with your friend, we know enough that he’s a good kid at heart. Still,” he looked at his son in the eye sternly, “if he does something to you that you’re not comfortable with, tell us immediately. I don’t care if it’s a she, or a he, I don’t want you to be taken advantage of.”
Soarin turned to his mother, “But, what about you? Why are you fine with this?”
She sighed, “Soarin, have you ever wondered why you’ve never got to meet my dad, your other grandpa?” he shook his head. “Before I met your dad, the family that I grew up with wasn’t what you would call, ‘functional’, especially when my dad wasn’t exactly right in the head all the time. Don’t get me wrong, your grandpa Skyler wasn’t all that bad, he loved all of us but, he wasn’t normal compared to other dads that I knew. I found out later on that he was actually schizophrenic. I remember his odd behaviors like he was a huge clean freak where if he comes home at night to find even one thing out of place in say, in the pantry, he would throw everything off the shelves onto the ground wake everyone up and tell us to pick his mess up.
“Also, my dad was very controlling over our lives and he would get upset if we didn’t do things his way. So, when I got to engage with your father, your grandpa called me up, yelled at me for ‘abandoning’ him for Hurricane, and that if I didn’t break it off right there and then, he would disown me. I don’t think I was any angrier in my life when I screamed back and slammed the phone on him.” Here, her husband placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“I don’t know if you remember going to your grandpa Skyler’s funeral, but I don’t think you would since you were little at the time, but when I heard about the news that he died, I never cried. Not ever once for what he said and did to not just me, but to your other Aunts and Uncles too when they got married. Soarin, I’m not, ever, going to do what he did to me. I still love you too much to even do something so cruel.
“And besides,” she smiled, “I think your friend is rather cute.”
“Mom!” Soarin objected, trying to hide his blush, “Don’t say things like that!”
They heard a crunch of leaves that was heading their way. The three of them turned to see Braeburn and his dad coming up to them.
“Ah suppose you folks come to terms with your son too?” Johnnie asked.
“Actually,” Hurricane nodded, “I think we were just done. Oh, and Brae,” the yellow Apple looked up, “How about you come over to dinner say… Next Saturday?”
Braeburn’s eyes widen. Looking over to his father, he gave a nod. “Ah… Ah would like that.”
“Welp,” Johnnie looked at his watch, “Ah think we’ve wasted enough time as it is. Let’s get straight to what we’ve come for already.” They all agreed and started to make their way to the Barn.
“Hey Pa,” Braeburn said.
“Hm?”
“Thank ya,” he said, reaching out for Soarin’s hand, “Fer givin’ me some peace of mind.”
Soarin took hold of his boyfriend’s hand, “Mom, dad? Thanks for understanding.”
“You’re welcome,” Rain said with a smile.