By the Creek by Geoff Laughton Page B

trying to think of anything he could have done wrong. Nothing came to mind.
    “You haven’t done anything, sweetheart. I just want you to know that you can talk to me about anything, including any feelings you might be having that you don’t understand,” his mother said, and David’s stomach fluttered.
    “How did you know?”
    His mother nodded slowly. “Everyone has those feelings of uncertainty and loneliness when they’re your age. It’s part of growing up. You notice girls and they notice you, but sometimes you aren’t sure what to do or how to act.”
    David shook his head. “Mom, I don’t have those feelings for girls.”
    “You will, dear,” she said.
    “No, Mom, I won’t. I don’t have those feelings for girls and I’ll never have those feelings for girls. You said you’d love me no matter what, but will you love me if I’m gay?” David challenged, standing up and hearing his mother’s sharp intake of air. But she didn’t yell or anything, which was good. She sat, staring back at him, obviously shocked, and David waited for the explosion he expected at any minute. “You didn’t know that already?”
    His mother shook her head, and after a while seemed to compose herself. “No. I thought you were shy around girls because you hadn’t dated, and I was going to try to help, but… I guess it makes sense.” She then jumped up and pulled him into a hug that squeezed the stuffing out of him. “It doesn’t matter to me. You’ll always be my baby boy.” He thought she might have been crying.
    “Mom, I can’t breathe,” David said as relief washed over him. He hadn’t really thought she’d reject him, but to have that suspicion confirmed in such a demonstrative way was comforting, even if she’d nearly suffocated him. She released him, but David held her, resting his head on her shoulder. “I love you, Mom.”
    “Did you think I’d hate you?” she whispered, and David shook his head.
    “I don’t know, Mom. All I know is that I’m different from everyone else and I don’t want to be. I tried to make it stop, but it wouldn’t.” David felt a lump forming in his throat.
    “Sweetheart, being gay is part of who you are. I know that. I didn’t know you were gay, but it doesn’t matter to me. You’re my son and I love you, no matter what.” She hugged him again.
    “How can you accept this so easily?” David asked. “I’ve been trying to figure out what was wrong with me for a long time, and when I tell you I’m gay, you accept it, just like that.” David was totally confused. “Am I some sort of flamer?”
    His mother actually laughed. “No, sweetheart. I guess your news didn’t come as a complete surprise to me. I think I may have known, deep down. But that doesn’t mean that your being gay doesn’t worry me.” She released him and slowly sat back down in the chair. “What will happen if the kids at school find out?”
    David had been wondering the same thing. “I don’t know. Carol and Lynn will probably still be my friends, but….”
    “Look, telling people you’re gay is your decision, not mine. This isn’t about me, but who you are. If you want to keep this to yourself until you graduate, that’s fine. If you want to come out at school, that’s okay too,” his mother said, and David sank into the chair, finding all of this a bit overwhelming.
    “Whoa, Mom.” David put up his hands. “I don’t know what I want to do. You knowing is sort of creeping me out, and before you ask, I don’t want to talk about my sex life with you. I’m glad you love me and accept me, but there are limits.” David actually shuddered.
    “You have a sex life? At your age?” his mother asked with a touch of fear.
    “Mom, ewww,” David whined. “Let’s leave it that I promise I’ll talk to you if I have questions, but yuck. I don’t want to talk to you about his. That’s gross.” David could not believe how this conversation was going. He’d run over in his mind a