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A High School Tale
Chapter 11
By Kavika
Iggy woke Friday morning. Although he was looking forward to the weekend and spending time with Carson he wasn't looking forward to working at his parents restaurant. He didn't like the tension that was building between he and his father. His poor mother had tried to play referee between the two but they didn't budge and she finally threw her hands up and stopped trying to play peace maker. She only hoped that they would finally come to a place and put aside their differences. Damn their stubbornness.
Francisco Sanchez worked in the kitchen at the restaurant of his dreams. He often looked back on his life. He'd come so far from where he started. Coming to the US at a very young age, he didn't speak the language and growing up in rural Mexico put him in a very hard place. He came to America with his mother and an older sister Rosa. His father was lost to a fever when he was only 5 years old. His mother wanted a better life for her children and the only place seemed to be in the US. He realized how blessed his life was and thanked God everyday for his life. His mother often told him that all the sacrifices she made to make sure her family was given better opportunities in life was worth leaving her home.
Francisco felt very blessed. The road was long and hard but he felt that he had finally come to a place in his life that his mother would be proud.
He enjoyed cooking but he would often venture out into the dining room to visit his customers. He was always happy to see those who loved his food and was grateful to see repeat customers. He never realized that many of his patrons were same sex couples. He didn't view them as "gays" but just as regular people. He even came to know many of them and considered them more than just customers. On this particular day while he was making his way around the dining room he came across one of his favorite customers. He smiled as he stopped to chat with Phil Jamison.
"Phil, it's good to see you. You're looking well." He didn't want to be rude but Phil looked a little down.
"Hey, Francisco. Thank you, how are you? He smiled looking up from his seat.
"Things could be better, but I'm hanging in there," replied the restaurant owner.
"I can relate. Things could be better with me too," he said with a down cast glance.
The man looked as if he needed a friend at the moment and Francisco sat down. They looked at each other for a few seconds. They had know each other for many years. Phil was one of the restaurant's first customers.
"Is there anything I can get you?" he asked reaching across the table and placing his hand on Phil's.
Phil cracked a weak smile as he placed his hand on top of his old friend, "Today would have been our 30th anniversary. I'm just feeling a little sorry for myself."
Suddenly he knew what was wrong. "I didn't realize you and Matthew had been together that long."
"We met in high school, fell in love and the rest is history." A lone tear slid down his cheek as he tried to smile at his friend.
Two years earlier Matthew had a massive heart attack and died. Francisco remembered going to the funeral. The church was packed and he was amazed at all the lives the couple had touched. So many people stood and each had a story of how their own lives were changed by knowing Matthew and Phil. Theirs was a life, and partnership, and a love that was only found once in a lifetime. They had been true soul mates. So many times they had come into the restaurant to eat and spent hours talking with Paola and himself. Often times they would stay long after closing time just to chat. They shared many nights of laughter and had built a strong friendship.
"It sounds like a fairy tale." he said.
"It was so much more than that. He was my first and only. My prince charming, my knight in shining armor. He smiled. "So today I came to our home away from home."
"Well, I'm honored that you're here to spend this time with us. I'm going to make you something special for dinner. You will love it. First let's start you off with a nice cool margarita."
"Now you're talking. That sounds like it would hit "the spot"
Francisco rose from his seat. "You sit right here and I'll be right back."
He made his way to the kitchen and began preparing the specialty of the house, his famous chicken mole. While cooking he talked with Paola and they both agreed to have dinner with Phil at his table.
As they sat eating their dinner Phil brought up the Sanchez children. "So, how is your oldest doing in school?"
"He's doing great," replied a proud father. "We're expecting him to receive a scholarship to attend college. We are excited."
"He's also tutoring students to earn extra credit and his counselor at school said it will look good on his college application." Paola explained.
"That's how Matthew and I met. I was his tutor in math. He was terrible." he chuckled. "He was the dumb jock and I was the nerdy kid."
"That sounds familiar," Paola commented.
Phil tilted his head in her direction, "Oh, did our Iggy meet a special someone?"
"Yes, he met a young man named Carson," she answered.
"Oh, really. How exciting!" He looked between the couple sitting with him and knew that there was some tension between them concerning their son. "It looks like his "coming out" was not accepted.
"We were caught off guard." Francisco went on to explain what happened at school with Travis Berry and the trouble at school. "We were suspicious but weren't sure until this altercation at his school."
"And how do you feel about his being gay?" Phil asked.
"His mother is more accepting than I," he confessed.
"Do you have time to spend with me tonight? We don't have to leave the restaurant but I'd like to share with you something about myself."
For the next half hour Phil Jamison shared with the couple his story.
Two hours later as Phil left Casa Sanchez. Francisco had listened to the struggles his friends had faced throughout their lives. His heart broke as he listened to all the troubles and pit falls they had faced. One thing that stood out was the fact that Matthew and Phil had faced life together. Phil confessed that he would not be the man he was today if not for Matthew and the relationship they had together.
As Francisco walked home from the restaurant that night he fought a battle in his mind. He could insist that Iggy and Carson end their relationship or he could support his son and give him his love and blessings. His tears stung his eyes and he walked alone.
Coming home he entered a quiet house. The living room lamp was the only light downstairs. He walked over and turned out the light and headed for the stairs. As he reached the top of the stairway he stopped. He looked over to Iggy's door. There was a dim light coming from underneath the door. He walked over to the door and quietly knocked. Hearing no reply from within he opened the door. He walked in to see Iggy asleep on top of his covers with a book resting on his chest.
As Francisco looked down on his sleeping son a sudden flash of memories raced through his mind. All the stories he had heard from Phil that night filled his mind. The hurt, the struggle, the scorn of being a gay person. Did he really want his son to face them alone? Was he the type of father that would abandon his son to a world that could cause him so much pain? The tears once again began to trickle down his face.
He quietly sat next to his son. He tried to be quiet and not wake him. He reached his hand over and stroked Iggy's cheek. Another flash and he relived all the happy memories that he and Paola shared with their oldest son. His first steps, his first day of school. He realized at that moment that he couldn't bear the thought of losing his son.
Iggy stirred and opened his eyes, he bolted up. "Papi, what's wrong?" He saw his father's tears. "Is it mommy? What's wrong?"
His father shook his head indicating that everything was okay. "Shh, relax mijo. The only thing that is wrong is your stubborn father." He wiped away the tears that stung his eyes. "Mijo, I'm sorry. I now know that being gay is only a part of you. You are still the same person. The same young man that has made your father very proud." He reached out and Iggy melted into his arms. "Please forgive an old fool. I love you no matter what. Believe me when I tell you that I was wrong to judge you."
Iggy hugged him harder, "Thank you Papi."
"I promise to be more understanding when it comes to your life. I want to be there when you need me and it's not my place to judge you. I only want the best for you Ignacio."
"I know Papi. I only ask that you trust me. I will always take your advice, your help, and your love.
A new beginning between father and son began that night.
I hope you enjoyed. It was a bit of a tear jerker for me...