A/N: Thank you so much for all the comments. I love that so many people can relate to this story and the characters. Please continue to read and review even to just say that you either loved it or hated it. Thanks!
The rest of the ride to the airport is silent as Pa listens to his favorite Gospel station on the radio. We reach the airport and I make my way into the airport. It only takes me a minute or two to make it to the baggage claim in the relatively small airport to find Glen standing with two bags looking around nervously. Glen is not usually nervous.
I was ten and Glen was sixteen. He picked on me all the time. Stole food off my plate at dinner, hit me a little too hard, and made fun of the yellow blanket I still carried around. Glen adapted to the rules of the family quite easily. Glen wasn't mean spirited but easy going so I couldn't blame him for blindly following the expectations. Glen was a jock and your conventional teenage boy so it wasn't too difficult for him.
When Glen was eighteen and graduated from high school, I begged for him to not go away to college. I pleaded with him to not leave me with the now thirteen-year-old Victoria, a full-fledged teenager in every sense. I understand now, five years later, that Glen had to leave. He had to get out of this bubble that we are protected by here. Glen went to school in New York, a big city. He talked to the family often at first but eventually drifted away. Glen always reassured the family though, that he was not being corrupted by the city, full of sin.
Glen notices me coming and suddenly drops his bags and envelopes me in a strong hug. I have always loved Glen's hugs, comforting and confident. I realize that no one else is with him and ask him, "Where's Chelsea?" with an eyebrow rose.
"She had an important call with a director of a gallery in Austin." Glen picks up on my worried look and quickly adds, "She'll be here in two hours."
I've never met Chelsea before. I visited Glen and Madison, his former fiancée, when I visited him in Dallas last year. Glen got a great marketing job right out of college last year. I begged him to convince my parents to let me travel to Dallas to visit my brother.
Glen, engaging back in conversation asks me, "So, I have girlfriend now."
"Yeah…" I reply not knowing where he is taking this.
"When are you going to get a girlfriend?"
At sixteen, I realized I was different. I wasn't like Victoria. I didn't obsess over boys. I didn't feel the need to put on makeup and do my hair perfectly before walking out the door. At first I just thought I was a tomboy or haven't met 'that' guy yet. Now I think that I was lying to myself. I soon was spiraling into a black hole of lesbianism. I also was starting to question the things taught to me by my family and my pastor. I could hardly sit down and listen to the bullshit coming out of the pastor's mouth during mass. I needed to escape.
The only con of being in Dallas was Glen's slutty girlfriend, Madison. Madison was from Los Angeles, which according to my family is even worse than New York. As soon as I arrived, Glen looked at me surprised and said that something was different. I told him that four years would do that but he kept questioning and trying to figure out whatever mystery he had found. After the effects ofbeing closeted for a few months, I decided to come out to him. Once I told him, I got the opposite reaction than I expected. Glen actually started jumping up and down and screaming, "I knew it! I knew something was different!"
I blush and said, "No. Glen, you know I can't do that in our house."
"So…rebel, it's really bad ass. I did it," Glen replied. I look at Glen confused. What does he mean rebel?
"What? When did you rebel?" I question.
"Oh, you know, moving away from home." I know that there is more to this story but I don't want to make Glen more nervous than he already is. I wonder where Pa is.
"I think we should find Pa," I tell Glen, hoping to make him calmer and more relaxed.
Glen and I walk out of the airport and on the street we see Pa's van. I get in but Glen stays behind. I hope he's not expecting a greeting.
"What 're you doin' boy, git in the car," Pa greets.
"Uh Pa, Chels isn't going to be here for another two hours so I thought I'd wait and we'd just catch a cab later."
"Don't be ridiculous boy, we can come back for her later."
"Okay Pa," Glen replies solemnly. He gets in the van and we silently drive home until we pass the Bojangles' that causes Pa so much rage.
"You remember about that Bojangles, right Glen? Those people that frequent there, those black hoodlums."
"What did they ever do to you," I mumble quietly.
"What?" Pa questions.
""Nothing," I reply and look over at Glen smiling at me slightly but sadly.
"Make sure you tell Chelsea that white folk don't go there, okay Glen?" Pa asks.
"I don't think that will be a problem," Glen replies shakily.
We continue our journey home and I can't help but feel that something is not right. I can feel in the air that drama is to come.