Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez Page B

at home.
    “Maybe if I left—”
    Her reaction was instant. “Honey, I’ve asked you not to talk about that. You don’t leave until you go to college.” Jason doubted he could stand his dad that long. He almost said so but didn’t want to upset his mom any further.
    Sunday afternoon Kyle showed up at 2:00 on the dot. Jason’s mom brought them a tray of orange slices and told them to “Study hard,” then left for her A l-A non meeting. While Kyle explained variables, Melissa colored beside them on the carpet.
    She proudly handed her drawing to Kyle. “It’s for you.”
    “Wow.” Kyle grinned. “It’s pretty. Thank you.”
    Jason couldn’t tell what it was. A fter Melissa went to play in her room, he and Kyle joked about what the drawing might be. Rex came in, and Jason showed Kyle how the cat fetched.
    Jason felt relaxed with Kyle. He was so easy to get along with. He seemed so normal. Sometimes he wondered if Kyle was really gay or maybe just afraid to get laid with a girl, like he had been till he met Debra.
    When they were between math equations, he asked Kyle, “Did you ever have a girlfriend?”
    “No.” Kyle gave him a bewildered stare. “Why?”
    “Just curious. You never wanted to, like, do it with a girl?”

    “No. I guess I’m a Kinsey six.”
    “A what?”
    “A Kinsey six. In the fifties, Dr. Kinsey found that most people aren’t exclusively gay or straight. He came up with a scale, zero to six, from totally heterosexual to completely homosexual. I’m pretty sure I’m at the end of the scale. I’ve kissed girls, but …” He made a face like he’d sucked a lemon.
    Jason thought about what he said, wondering where he fell on the scale. A gain the hours flew, and it seemed his mom had just left when she returned. She invited Kyle to dinner, and Jason encouraged him to stay.
    “Sure!” Kyle agreed.
    The boys helped prepare the meal. Kyle fixed their beverages and Jason set the table. “How many places?” he asked his mom.
    She sighed. “Five, in case your dad comes home.”
    Jason hoped he wouldn’t.
    During dinner, his mom asked Kyle if he played basketball.
    “I think they’d have to widen the hoop for me to make a basket.”
    They laughed. It was more than Jason had laughed in months. A fter dessert Kyle helped him clean up. When they were done, he didn’t want Kyle to leave.
    “Well,” Kyle said, looking at the clock. “I guess I better go home.”
    “You, uh, want to go to a movie or something?” Jason asked.
    Kyle looked surprised. “Well … sure.”
    “Great.” Jason knew he’d have to ask his mom for cash, but by the way she’d smiled at dinner, he could tell she liked Kyle and would happily give him movie money.
    A t the movie theater, Kyle stood in line at the concession stand while Jason got their seats. Jason looked around to see if he knew anyone. Even though he was having a great time with Kyle, he couldn’t get what Corey had told him out of his mind. People talked. What if someone from school saw them?
    Kyle shuffled into the theater juggling a load of popcorn and drinks. “Here’s your Coke. Want some popcorn?” When Jason reached into the bucket, his thumb accidentally brushed Kyle’s. The touch of skin made him a little uneasy. It was as if a little zap of electricity had sparked through his body. He tried to ignore it, but each time their fingers bumped, he felt himself grow more excited, and when they reached the bottom of the bucket, he felt disappointed.
    The lights dimmed, and Kyle pulled a wad of napkins from his pocket and handed some to Jason. Jason wiped the salt and butter from his fingers and started to lay his hand on the armrest between himself and Kyle, but stopped short. Kyle’s hand was already there.
    Jason straightened his back. Kyle better not try anything funny. They were just friends. Nothing else. Just friends.
    The film opened with a barrage of machine-gun fire. Jason tried to focus on the movie, but Kyle’s hand