Title: Tastes of Home
Writer: Azure K Mello
Part: 9
Feedback: Please! I wait for it like a trained dog, plus I like to know what people are thinking, it's reassuring. Thank you to everyone who has already sent me lovely note! And to the people who sent me corrections!
Other notes in prior parts.
Again "bif" means boyfriend.
Delia had a hard day at school, Ephram was sulking, and so Julia had brought her children to Serendipity, home of amazing brie burgers and better ice cream sundaes. Delia was blathering about who's nose she wanted to break while Julia listened patiently. Staring down at his ice cream Ephram made a decision and looked up slowly. "Mom," he said interrupting his little sister, "I'm gay."
Turning away from Delia she smiled at him kindly, "I know, honey."
"Oh." He hadn't been prepared for her to say that.
"What's gay?" asked Delia loudly.
"It just means that Jackson and Ephram are close friends," Julia said to her young daughter.
"I like Jackson," Delia stated as though it was an earth shattering statement, she always spoke thusly, as if everyone hung on her every word.
"So do I," said Julia looking into Ephram's face. "You don't like walnuts do you, honey?"
"No they're too waxy." He was nearly laughing with relief.
Julia leaned over the table and scrapped the offending nuts off the top of his sundae and popped the spoon into her mouth. "We should finish up, guys. You both still have homework to do."
Backstage Ephram was looking out at an audience. He was dressed in a new tux and feeling ill. Arms slipped around his waist. "Are you going to be sick?" asked Jackson.
"I had no idea how many people would be here. I think I might vom."
"If you do vom please do it away from my shoes."
"How are you so fucking calm?"
"It's not my first time. Calm down, if you fuck up you fuck up. There are no scouts from any schools here, and you're a newbie. It's almost expected for you to have one or two mishaps."
"Are you sure you aren't just calm because you've won two years in a row and you don't even like the piano?"
"Well there is that." He shrugged apologetically, "No one you give a damn about is out there."
"You're right. My mom isn't even here."
"I'm sure she'll be here. She's as excited as you are about today." He kissed Ephram's forehead. "I'm sorry but I have to go, Phram. I've lost my sheet music."
"You're on in ten fucking minutes!"
"Are you trying to make me as sick as you?" he said with a small smile.
"Well I do want to win."
"There's my boy." He beamed at the pale boy, "You'll be fine!" He walked away and then turned and walked backwards as he called, "Love ya!"
He was standing at the side of the street still wearing his new tuxedo, completely dry he stood in the middle of the rainstorm. Tapping his foot he muttered, "I can't fucking believe she isn't here." Dispassionately he watched as his mother's car careened off the road, "I can't fucking believe she would let me down."
Stepping onto the stage he was soaked to the skin, his tux was plastered to his flesh. He played the song angrily and better than he had ever done so in practice. Jackson was watching him in the eaves. "That's my bif. Isn't he amazing? He has no fucking clue about his own potential. . . You haven't seen my sheet music have you?"
Jackson had missed watching the boy sleep. Ephram had never slept well and always thrashed in his sleep. It was really quite amusing and endearing. A pillow was hugged tightly to the young boy's chest. "I'm sorry. I'm a complete cunt. Sorry." Ephram muttered and then Jackson touched his shoulder.
"Phram, you're dreaming, baby." He whispered knowing from experience that Ephram would wake up. He sat bolt upright; his eyes were focused directly ahead of him. "Are you ok?"
He studied Jackson for a moment as if evaluating the situation. His eyes were haunted. There was surprise and confusion all over his face. He looked at Jackson as though shocked to find him in his bed and as if he was trying to place where he knew the redhead from. "I'm fine." His tone was bemused and dead. "I just dreamt. . . I haven't dreamt in a very long time." He looked at his hands and then back at the other boy he saw the look on Jack's face and spoke with some awareness for the first time, "This isn't your fault."
