the methane gases released by the cattle were a major cause of global warming. Living inan environmentally sound and balanced environment is, and will always be, one of Hadrian’s central principles. Todd is proud that his father was instrumental in ensuring Hadrian’s ability to live in harmony with its small portion of the earth. “Yeah,” Todd continues, “Dad used to travel there a lot…” Pausing, Todd squeezes shut his eyes, trying desperately to hold back the hot tears fighting to stream out. “He travelled to the southern tip—soya farms—he was there when—”
“Oh, shit!” Devon is truly sorry. “6-13!”
“Yeah, well,—” Todd loses focus and begins to sob. He misses his father so much his whole body aches in agony. Will Middleton’s death had spun both husband and son into such a state of despair that their parent–child relationship has never recovered.
“Hey, hey.” Devon reaches his arms around Todd and pulls him in for a hug. He rocks Todd gently in his arms, allowing him time to cry while he whispers soothing hushing sounds. There are no words for a moment like this, and Devon doesn’t even try to find them.
“I’m sorry,” Todd utters through gasps. “It’s been eight years; you’d think—”
Devon won’t even let him finish. “No, I wouldn’t be able to get over it.” Still rocking Todd gently, he says, “You cry as long as you want. As long as you need!” Todd accepts Devon’s offer and releases a flood of pent up grief. He has only been able to share this level of emotion with Frank and Crystal. Having another person feel empathy is relieving.
After Todd is spent, Devon asks whether he’d like to have dinner with him. “At your place?” Todd asks.
Pleased that Todd is responding on a positive level, Devon replies, “I was thinking maybe we could go to a Japanese restaurant. How about Rezu ?” Rezu is Japanese slang for lesbian. The restaurant owners have chosen to embrace the slang term and make it their own.
Todd shudders. “Oh, man, I can’t—I mean—” Todd is not sure how to tell Devon he doesn’t even have a thumbprint, let alone credits.
Devon smiles. “I’m asking for the date, so it’s my treat.” After waiting a moment without reply, he asks, “So, what do you think?”
A date ? Todd wonders what this might mean. He won’t pressure me, I don’t think. Remembering Devon’s description of Davie (tumbles on the first date), Todd feels reassured that Devon isn’t likely to expect anything. “Okay,” Todd replies, still sounding uneasy, “if it’s not too expensive—Imean, I’ve heard Rezu is pricey—I don’t want you blowing all your credits on me.”
“Nothing’s too pricey for my first date with you.” Laughing, Devon says, “I can’t believe you said yes. Man, I’ve been wanting to ask you out all year.”
Todd blinks, “Really? Me?” He shakes his head in wonder. “I’m nothing special. I’m certainly not good looking or—”
Devon puts a finger to Todd’s lips. “You are a prize, my friend. Half the guys at Pride want to date you, but we’re all too scared to ask.”
“Why?” Todd is truly dumbfounded.
“Mostly out of fear of Frank,” Devon answers. Suddenly realizing Todd really doesn’t understand why anyone is afraid of him, he adds, “But, also because you’re the best damn b-ball player on campus. You got Rookie of the Year at Quadrants. I think everyone’s intimidated by that.”
Intimidated by me? Todd finds that concept hard to believe. It is amazing how humble a man can be when he is afraid of what other people might think.
“Come on,” Devon says, squeezing Todd’s shoulder muscle, in anticipation. “I got my mothers’ bubble. We’ll drive to Rezu .” Devon’s mothers own a ‘double bubble,’ a slightly larger vehicle designed to sit four. Only registered couples with one or two children are eligible to purchase one. All other residents of Hadrian are confined to owning a
“Oh, shit!” Devon is truly sorry. “6-13!”
“Yeah, well,—” Todd loses focus and begins to sob. He misses his father so much his whole body aches in agony. Will Middleton’s death had spun both husband and son into such a state of despair that their parent–child relationship has never recovered.
“Hey, hey.” Devon reaches his arms around Todd and pulls him in for a hug. He rocks Todd gently in his arms, allowing him time to cry while he whispers soothing hushing sounds. There are no words for a moment like this, and Devon doesn’t even try to find them.
“I’m sorry,” Todd utters through gasps. “It’s been eight years; you’d think—”
Devon won’t even let him finish. “No, I wouldn’t be able to get over it.” Still rocking Todd gently, he says, “You cry as long as you want. As long as you need!” Todd accepts Devon’s offer and releases a flood of pent up grief. He has only been able to share this level of emotion with Frank and Crystal. Having another person feel empathy is relieving.
After Todd is spent, Devon asks whether he’d like to have dinner with him. “At your place?” Todd asks.
Pleased that Todd is responding on a positive level, Devon replies, “I was thinking maybe we could go to a Japanese restaurant. How about Rezu ?” Rezu is Japanese slang for lesbian. The restaurant owners have chosen to embrace the slang term and make it their own.
Todd shudders. “Oh, man, I can’t—I mean—” Todd is not sure how to tell Devon he doesn’t even have a thumbprint, let alone credits.
Devon smiles. “I’m asking for the date, so it’s my treat.” After waiting a moment without reply, he asks, “So, what do you think?”
A date ? Todd wonders what this might mean. He won’t pressure me, I don’t think. Remembering Devon’s description of Davie (tumbles on the first date), Todd feels reassured that Devon isn’t likely to expect anything. “Okay,” Todd replies, still sounding uneasy, “if it’s not too expensive—Imean, I’ve heard Rezu is pricey—I don’t want you blowing all your credits on me.”
“Nothing’s too pricey for my first date with you.” Laughing, Devon says, “I can’t believe you said yes. Man, I’ve been wanting to ask you out all year.”
Todd blinks, “Really? Me?” He shakes his head in wonder. “I’m nothing special. I’m certainly not good looking or—”
Devon puts a finger to Todd’s lips. “You are a prize, my friend. Half the guys at Pride want to date you, but we’re all too scared to ask.”
“Why?” Todd is truly dumbfounded.
“Mostly out of fear of Frank,” Devon answers. Suddenly realizing Todd really doesn’t understand why anyone is afraid of him, he adds, “But, also because you’re the best damn b-ball player on campus. You got Rookie of the Year at Quadrants. I think everyone’s intimidated by that.”
Intimidated by me? Todd finds that concept hard to believe. It is amazing how humble a man can be when he is afraid of what other people might think.
“Come on,” Devon says, squeezing Todd’s shoulder muscle, in anticipation. “I got my mothers’ bubble. We’ll drive to Rezu .” Devon’s mothers own a ‘double bubble,’ a slightly larger vehicle designed to sit four. Only registered couples with one or two children are eligible to purchase one. All other residents of Hadrian are confined to owning a
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