The
Wedding
by Jay Mandal
It was at his auntie’s wedding that Adam first realized he was
different. Not because he hated his pageboy’s outfit – in that, he was
no different from his older brother – but because he wanted to wear a
dress just like the bride’s. Of course, he couldn’t tell anyone; even a
six-year-old knows what is acceptable and what is not.
When the boys in his class called him a sissy and threatened to beat
him up, he found he could stop them by making them laugh. When his
mother caught him in her high heels, she believed him when he said he
simply wanted to be taller.
He was thirteen when he fell in love. Alone in the house, he’d been
trying his sister’s new lipstick but had wandered back to the lounge to
watch TV. The doorbell rang, and he went to answer it. One of his
brother’s friends stood there. Jamie. Sixteen, fair hair and blue eyes
which seemed amused at something. Adam remembered the lipstick, and
covered his mouth with his hands.
“Promise you won’t tell,” he mumbled.
Jamie smiled. “Don’t worry – your secret’s safe with me. Next time,
though, try pink. Red’s not your colour.”
The End
“I
suppose you’ll be spending Christmas round at your mother’s again.”
“You know she’s been on her own since Dad died.
Anyway, I thought your sister had invited you for the day.” David knew
he sounded defensive.
Graham sighed. “We have this conversation every
Christmas. Just once I wish we could spend Christmas together.”
“Christmas is for families,” David said.
“And what are we, for heaven’s sake? Even the law
recognizes that gay couples constitute a family.”
“You know what I mean.”
“You mean children? What about my nieces and
nephews, then? We give them joint presents, but it’s just me there to
watch them open them. They always ask why you haven’t come, too. So
does Abby, as a matter of fact.”
“You can’t expect me to leave my mother on her own –
not on Christmas Day!”
“But she doesn’t have to be on her own. Abby would
be delighted if she came to lunch. The more the merrier, she’d say.”
“I can’t ask her, Graham. Besides, she’s used to a
quiet Christmas, and no one would call your family quiet.”
“She could come here,” Graham said, his voice
serious.
“We’ve been through all this. She wouldn’t
understand. Maybe when Dad was alive …”
“So you’re never going to tell her about us?”
“I can’t, Graham.”
“You mean you won’t.”
“I don’t want to hurt her.”
“But it’s all right to hurt me?”
“You’re young, she’s not,” said David. “It would be
too much for her.”
“So you’ll play the dutiful son and go home for
Christmas. And when she asks why you aren’t married, you’ll say you
haven’t found the right girl yet.”
“I’m just protecting her. When she was young, this
sort of thing didn’t happen.”
“Of course it happened, but it was illegal then and
people kept quiet about it. Now there’s no reason to.”
“You work in the media. If anything, being gay’s an
advantage. I’m a teacher. It’s not the same thing.”
“I understand that,” Graham said, “but this is your
mother we’re talking about. She brought you up, she knows you, she
loves you. You’re still her son whether you’re gay or straight.”
“That’s the point. It doesn’t matter that she
doesn’t know.”
“You don’t think it odd that the two people you care
about most have never met?”
“If things were different, I would tell her. But as
they stand …” David shrugged. “I was going to tell my parents about us,
but then Dad got ill and it didn’t seem like the right time. Now Mum’s
on her own, and she’s finding it hard.”
“So you’re not going to say anything?”
“I can’t see any other option.”
“I just wish he’d tell her. What if she finds out one day - it’ll come
as even more of a shock.”
“I suppose he thinks he’s doing the right thing,”
said Abby. “After all, he knows his own mother.”
“How d’you think Mum would have taken it?” Graham
asked his sister. Their mother had died seven years earlier.
“She’d have been pleased you’d found someone.”
“I always regret that she died before she had time
to meet David.”
“Who is this really about – you or David? Are you
sure you’re not being a bit hard on him?”
“It’s true I don’t want him to spend the rest of his
life regretting it. But don’t you think she deserves to know? Not just
about David, but about me and you? She’s got family she knows nothing
about.”
“Maybe it would be too much for her.”
“People are more resilient than we give them credit
for.”
“You’re not going to tell her? Graham, promise me
you won’t!”
“Finished packing?” asked Graham.
“Yes. Graham, I’m sorry-“
“It’s all right, I understand. It’s only for a few
days after all.”
“I don’t like keeping it from her, either. Besides,
every time I go, it gets more and more difficult not to say anything. I
can see myself letting the cat out of the bag one day.”
“I’m sorry I had a go at you” said Graham. You’re
under enough pressure as it is.”
“I’ve only myself to blame.”
“No, you’re only doing your best. It’s bad enough
being apart at Christmas, but there’s no point in arguing about it. Oh,
I forgot to tell you – your Mum’s Christmas card’s arrived at last. I
didn’t open it. You know, Abby was afraid I’d go behind your back and
tell your Mum about us. She made me promise I wouldn’t say anything.
She said things would work out somehow. What is it?”
“It looks like she was right.”
“What d’you mean?”
“Have a look at this.” David handed Graham the card
he’d received from his mother.
Graham frowned. “What about it? A Christmas scene, a
festive verse, signed Love from Mum. I still don’t see-“
“Look at the front.”
Graham looked. There were a couple of snowmen, some
brightly coloured parcels, a sleigh and a greeting. “Oh, my God!” he
said slowly as the words sank in. To my son and his partner. “How did
she know?”
“I’ve no idea.” David had found a letter in the
envelope in which the card had come. He took it out, and read it aloud:
“Thanks for the photo of you both. I’ve wanted one for a long time, but
I didn’t know how to ask.”
“I thought you vetted all our holiday pictures.”
“I do.” Quickly David took out his wallet and found
the section where he kept a photo of Graham and himself. It was empty.
“I was being so careful, and she’s known for ages.”
“It sounds like you and your mother were both trying
to be diplomatic. It’s the perfect opportunity.”
“What for?” asked David.
“You said Christmas was a time for families … well, let’s make it just
that.”
They stared at each other, then David went over to
the phone and began dialling.
“Mum? We were wondering … How would you like to
spend Christmas here with us this year?”
The End
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