I know that it has been awhile since the last post mainly due to family problems -- mom and dad's health and then I fell and injured my wrist -- so there was no typing until the doctor allowed me to start again on 11/3/04. Now back to the story.
From where we left off in II-3 before the delay:
Mike and Mark are at odds with one another, with Mark now staying with Mr. Mike, the new high school principal, for the summer.
I called to Mike for a private talk. When I questioned him about his treatment of Mark he told me with a straight face, so I knew that he was not trying to bullshit me. "Dad, Jerry from the team last year was going around telling the others that I liked to get fucked up the ass because I was a flaming faggot, and that Mark was the true male in our relationship." With that said he started to sob and sob.
I held him in my arms and hoped that by the end of the month I would have my two boys back together, I would have them both living with me, playing football together, as well as being boyfriends once again. But I have the feeling that Mark is going to be asking Mr. Mike if he can stay with him until school starts up again, because Mike has hurt him so badly.
Part -- II-4 -- As described by Mr. Mike, the new high school principal ~
It was hard to see my two young friends split because of "Peer Pressure", and it was even harder as I was taking over as the new principal of New Town High in the fall. I also knew that prior to football practice beginning for the season that there was something I would have to inform the team of that would affect all the players on the team.
The Monday that practice was scheduled to start, I had a conference with Marty concerning his son, Mike. I had to inform him that New Town has a "NO Tolerance Policy." Marty was shocked at first when I told him that Mike was going to be suspended for the first month and a half due to his actions toward Mark, and because he had failed two classes last year making him academically ineligible to play on the team. I asked Marty, "Do you want me to tell Mike that he will have to sit out until October 28, and that he was not going to be in the same classes as his other teammates until he passed the required test with a 3.0 (B) GPA in the classes he failed."
Marty just shook his head, "No, he would tell Mike in front of the rest of team to get across the point that grades are as important as playing the game."
It was weird to see the football team playing without Mike, but Mark took over to fill the position left vacant with the absence of Mike. New Town High won their first 4 games with Mark as team captain. He filled the position well for and ran so well that nobody could stop him. After the football team had won its last game they only had practice since our next football game would be the schools Home Coming Game scheduled for October 29 against Catonsville the only other undefeated team in the county.
I overheard some of the football players along with some of Mike's so called new friends (those also held back because they had failed) as they got on his back about his attitude towards Mark.
Mark was doing well in his make-up classes with a 3.33 (B+) GPA along with having gotten A's on the test required to pass the two test that he needed to make up for those he failed last spring. So I was not surprised when I walked into school on October 27th with Bagger, my Seeing Eye dog, leading me to the office, when Mike and Marty requested a conference with me. They asked if it would be possible for Mark to attend since it was to talk about Mike's attitude toward him. I sent a note to Mark's first period teacher asking if he wanted to attend the meeting or finish his advanced placement class that he signed up for last year.
I was not surprised at the response that came back since Mark was carrying a heavy academic load with 2/3 of his classes being AP, he was at present holding a 4.0 GPA. Mark had written on the note, "My classes are more important than listening to his excuses, but please feel free to reschedule it during a study hall or lunch." I handed the note to Marty so that he could read it as the secretary had already whispered his response into my ear. Marty asked me if I could find out when Mark's first free period was that would match Mike's in order that both boys could attend the meeting. I did not need any assistance with that as I remembered that Mark had told me that the two of them had a study hall during 3rd period. Marty requested that I set up an appointment for that period. "Consider it done Marty," I responded, "but please ask the secretary to send a note to Mark that he is to report to my office during period 3."
It was during this meeting that I told Mike he was eligible to play in the game on October 30, but he was still on probation for violating the schools No Tolerance Policy. Marty tried to get Mike to apologize to Mark during that meeting, but he acted like Mike was not even in the room with him or that Mark's feelings had been hurt by his actions and words. Maybe this was my fault in part for having told him he was eligible before asking for the apology.
After about 20 minutes into the meeting Mark told Marty that he would not play on the same team as a homophobic bigot like Mike, and he got up and left the room returning to his study hall. Once again with Marty's help we tried to get Mike to say he was sorry for what he did, as well as what he said to Mark. He still refused and once again he found himself suspended from the team, but by Marty this time as well as 1 week in school suspension that I ordered which he had to attend or be turned over to the Juvenile Courts. Mike was never one to be able to whisper as long as I remember him, and I heard him call Mark that f**** faggot. Once again he was faced with telling the football players why he was not playing and explain why Marty had suspended him from the team.
The weekend went off like New Year's Eve; as several of the football player's fathers ordered and paid for fireworks after the football game win or lose. Mark took the team to a 62-0 victory over Catonsville, and re-wrote several of the records: the most points (56) by one player record; both for the county as well as the state; and the most touchdowns in one game (9). Mark had been voted Player of the Month for September by a local newspaper and after this game against Catonsville he should win the title a second time.
I am sure that Mike would not be taking this too well; especially since both the school paper, as well as the community paper, is now calling Mark "Our Star Player".
After having to put up with all his bullshit and childish actions between Mike and Mark, I decided to take things in my own hands, after Marty told me that Mike was attending neither the game, nor the dance. I asked Marty if he could help me possibly get Mark and Mike back together, as I wanted to show Mike something. Marty gave me permission, hoping that my idea would bring the two boys back together. I stopped by Marty's house the morning after the game in a limo (since I of course am unable to drive due to my blindness). Marty met us with Mike tagging along behind him. The driver held the door open and Mike joined me in the back. I picked up the phone and had the driver start the limo as well as asking that he get my sister on the phone for me.
I guess that we where in the limo for almost an hour before Mike finally asked in an unfriendly voice," Where are we going?"
My response was, "Mike, I am sick and tired of your mouth, and your actions towards Mark; so we are going to visit my sister, but that is after we stop at a cemetery, as well as a local youth hospital. You better not make a derogatory comment at either place because your father has already contacted your mother, and even one comment that show you as a "Homophobic Bigot" and you will be living with your mother and Claude Darr. Now listen to me good young man; it hurts a great deal to go to either of these places, and because of that I have asked my sister to give you an explanation as to why it hurts me so much."
We arrived at the hospital first where I took Mike to introduce him to my brother, a young man about his age. "Hey Todd how are you doing today buddy?" I tried to say with as much cheer as I could possible muster.
"Oh about the same," was Todd's cheerless reply. This caused me to step outside and break down crying. (Everyone that knows me has heard me talk about my sister, but never about my baby brother -- Todd)
A few minutes later I felt Todd tap my on the shoulder asking why I was crying like a baby. I lied to my little brother and told him that my allergies where acting up again.
Mike saw both our faces, but I think he was shocked to hear a 15 year-old teenager talk like a little child, and not like the students at school. We visited with Todd for a couple of hours when the caregiver came to tell him that it was time for his lunch and then his afternoon nap. Before leaving he asked Mike if he would come visit him. "Yes Todd," Mike replied with some hesitancy, "I will try to come visit you again soon."
As we headed to the cemetery, the next stop in my plan, I picked up the phone and asked that we be able to stop at a flower shop first, but the driver informed me he had already picked up the two arrangements for me to leave at the gravesite. Once again I sucked it in big time, and I prayed that Mike would learn something about what problems that Homophobic Bigots can cause a family; especially my family.
I felt like my heart was in my throat as the limo came to a stop. This time I decided to leave Bagger in the limo, and ask Mike to give me his elbow to lead me; following the instructions I gave him to find the two grave makers. I could not see Mike's face but felt his arm tighten when he saw my last name on the maker with the names of Luke and Matthew listed with DOB that would have made them Mike's age. Also Todd name was listed, the young man he had meet only an hour ago. As he looked at the markers it became apparent that the three boys were triplets and that Todd was the 3rd, still alive, but limited.
After placing the flowers and saying a silent prayer that both of them would watch over Todd, I also asked if they would help Mike change his attitude towards gay men, especially Mark. Once done I turned to Mike, and said in a weak voice," Get me out of here".
Once inside the limo and with tears flooding my eyes I told the driver to get me out of there also. As I sat there I just hoped that Mike would listen to my sister Marie as she told him why it hurts me so much to go visit Todd or go to the cemetery. My sister Marie was the one that I had asked to explain to Mike what happened to our baby brothers and also caused her marriage to break apart since her husband was a lot like the homophobic bigots that caused all the problems.
I was brought back to reality when the driver buzzed to let me know we were at my sister's house. Marie saw the limo arrive, driven by her former brother-in-law, Craig, a man who now works for her as both a butler and driver. I introduced Mike to Marie, and we followed her into the living room where she had coffee waiting for us. Mike asked me if it was necessary to be here, and I replied, "It's your choice to leave, but do it and Marty will have all your stuff at Darr's house and that is where you will be dropped off if this is what you want." Marie saw the anger in my eyes, and she started to tell the story of Matthew, Luke and Todd.
I could not listen to the sad story she was going to tell him, so I go up to take Bagger outside to run in the backyard. Before I left I turned to Mike and said," I ask that you listen to every word my sister has to tell you."
Mike sat and listened to Marie explain to him that our baby brothers were hit in the head with a baseball bat as they cross Patterson Park heading towards our grandparent's house. When the 12 and 14 year old kids were asked by the police why they did it they responded; because they knew that Luke, Matthew and Todd where all gay, and that it was a sin against God. Once Marie had told him everything including how it broke up her marriage, and how badly it has hurt me. At one point in the conversation I over heard her ask Mike, "Why are you treating Mark like one of our brothers?"
As Mike started to answer her question, I could hear him break down in tears. My sister is pretty good when it comes to counseling teenagers, and I was laying my money on her getting Mike and Mark back together again. While they where talking I called Marty and invited both he and Mark to dinner as well as staying over night. Both Marty and Mark agreed to come telling me that they would be there within a couple of hours.
TBC....
For personal reasons I decided not to include what Marie would have described to Mike about what happened to Todd, Luke and Matthew.