-December 1966-

A young man stood in the campus bookstore at the University of Maine. Life was rather complicated for him. Working on his bachelors in English, The brown hair, honey eyed, smallish young man looked rather sleepy. At 20 years of age, College life to him was the pits. Too many good times, not enough work times.

His name was Gordie Lachance. Here in college, he knew people but had no friends. He was a member of different clubs, but sometimes, he wondered about guys like him. Not short, slender guys, but homosexuals. He knew a few but he kept his distance, because they were either real sissies, or just weird overall.

He remembered a saying. "Everyone's a little weird."

Now he thought some people took it too far as a few hippies came in in stinky fur coats.

Working in the bookstore, he had to shut up.

"They probably want something to do with Che Guevara." Gordie sighed.

He looked out the window. He saw couples walking around the snowy slushy landscape.

For him, this holiday he had no place to go. His mother moved to Boca Raton last year, and now she was going to go on vacation to Paris with her new husband. From Julia LaChance to Julia Newberry. His stepdad Gary was an accountant for Merrill Lynch, long since retired.

His mother also knew the secret about him.

The revelation came due to a boy in his life, a man now.

Christopher Chambers.

Everytime his name popped into Gordie's mind, he felt so sad. As if a cloud went by.

That reminded him, he needed to call his mom later.

–

July 1965

Gordie held the metal box in his lap on the drive to Orono.

His mom was driving him before Uncle Roy went to help his mom move back to Boca Raton.

"Gordie, we need to talk."

Gordie was depressed since graduation in May. She knew why. A rather vicious phone call from Joanne Chambers explained a lot, but Julia held her own against the irate mother.

"Yes?"

"So, Joanne Chambers called me a week ago and said she heard a rumour. I want to know the truth, young man. No lies. Be honest." Julia pulled over to a picnic area and felt now was the perfect time.

"Were you in love with Christopher?" she asked.

With those words, Gordie let out cries and thick sobs. Tears fell in his lap.

Tears fell down Julia's cheeks. Her son's primal cries of pure sadness touched her deep within. To think he suffered in silence.

With that, Julia needed to be honest with him. She grabbed his hand.

"Son, Eyeball threw Christopher out of the house a week ago. I gave him some money so he could get to the dorms at his school in Bangor. He begged me not to tell you, until he left. I had enough to spare from the savings where he could get to school and live for a few days."

Gordie was now giving an angry face. "What? Why?"

"Well, if he is a homosexual, they don't want him." Julia said flatly.

Now Gordie was worried. The whole time his mom was acting secretive, he knew why.

The phone calls, the quiet tone. Gordie was upset but understood why she did it.

She also made a confession. "That's why your dad didn't love you…like he should have."

"Duh" Gordie said, crying. Somehow, Julia knew that that wasn't the reason Gordie was crying.

—-

Gordie got home rather early, at 7pm. He needed to study for finals. His roommate, Rodger, was packing up. Rodger was a quiet guy but he was transferring to MIT to study computer technology. Rodger was nice enough, but he kept to himself, usually staying in his wing of the apartment.

Rodger said as he got his book, "Letter for you Gordon."

Gordie saw the letter on the counter and it was from Lilly Brower. A good friend who after school ended, drove to San Francisco to join a lesbian commune. Her dad found out she was lesbian and threatened to cut off her schooling. So what did she do? Take a van and drive to Haight Ashbury.

Hey Gordie!

How's tricks? HAHHAHA, I am living in an apartment with a bunch of hippies, one guy his names Tommy, he keeps wanting to fuck me, but im not sure im ready to try that yet. I got a job on the Castro, you'd love this place, full of queers. I keep getting asked out but i'm never sure they are real chicks or chicks with dicks, ya dig?

Heard your moms moved out of CR. Good. That place is a fuckin dump. Not sure why Vern wanted to stay. He got a college scholarship but he declined it. Heard its cuz he knocked up Earlene during the party. Teddy and Wanda broke up. I heard it's because he was still fucking around. He started fucking with Beverly, Chris's ex. Apparently she knows how to do the nasty. He didn't try that shit with Wanda. She would have sat on him.

Oh, Have I got one from home no one will tell you. You remember Tina from home, you remember, the ugly dyke with a wart on her face, she said she saw Billy Tessio humping some kid behind the queer bar in Lewiston. Apparently he was balls deep until he saw her staring. She said he had an ugly hogger. Not one you would want to see let alone play with. Probably riddled with unknown VD. That's why Ma Tessio threw him out.

Something else. Chris' mom found you out didn't she? I heard Eyeball blew up when he found out, and they got into a fight, and your moms were arguing. Poor guy. Heard he is in a community college in Maine, but I don't know where.

Well I love you lots. Miss you

Lilly.

PS. Dont suck green dick.

PSS. Dont eat any kind of ass.

Gordie was wistful. He wondered if she was the type to give flowers to people. Nah, she would give the bird to people.

—

At Student Housing, they were always awaiting students who were transfers, or who were changing rooms. The bookstore was kept open for students who were transfers as well.

Gordie was bored shitless, no one showed up. As long as he was here he could do restocking. But he did that already.

-DING-

"Welcome to UoM Bookstore, How may I help you, My name is Gordon" He said as he was picking up something from underneath the counter.

"Gordie?" A familiar voice spoke.

(NO) Gordie's heart was in his throat. His head felt clammy.

He put his hands on top of the counter. Another set put his hands over Gordie's own.

(IT CAN'T BE)

His fingers were rough.

(THIS ISN'T REAL)

The smell of cigarette ash and mint, mixed with his lavender scent.

(NO WAY)

Gordie looked up shyly over the counter.

With a rough beard, blue eyes, long hair, and denim jacket.

It was him.

Christopher Chambers.