When One Door Opens by JD Ruskin

his cheeks flush even though there was no one to see it. He had added a tube of lube to his order, since he was nearly out. He had contemplated ordering it online instead before dismissing the idea. Even with planned purchases, he sometimes wasn’t able to answer the door. God help me if the lube was delivered to Mrs. Simon when I didn’t answer the door. He would never survive that kind of humiliation. She would take one look at his face and know he had something dirty in the package. He opened the paper bag and dumped the contents on the counter. It took his brain a few seconds to process what he was staring at. Condoms. Min had stuck a box of condoms in with the lubricant. He had assured Min that he wasn’t dating Logan when they were in the store. Just two guys helping each other out and maybe getting to be friends. Apparently, she wanted him to be prepared just in case. The fresh flush of embarrassment made him remember the first time he had gotten condoms. It was the morning of prom….
     
    A knock on his bedroom door had woken him. Rubbing sleep from his eyes he asked, “What do you need, Mom?” He was surprised when Uncle Harrison opened the door. Yanking back the covers, he asked, “Has something happened—”
    “Your mom is fine,” his uncle said, closing the door behind him. “I didn’t mean to wake you, but I need to go into work today and I wanted to see you before the dance.” His uncle brought the desk chair over and sat in front of the bed. He was red-faced and jittery, looking at the walls as if he’d never seen the shrine to Kerry Wood, Gracie, and the Cubs.
    Feeling self-conscious in only boxers, Caleb rose and threw on a T-shirt and sweats. It wasn’t unusual for his uncle to stop by, but it was obvious something was up. Out of habit, Caleb quickly made the bed and sat cross-legged in the middle, wishing he had another chair.
    Finally looking at him, his uncle said, “I know prom is a big deal nowadays.”
    Caleb took a deep breath and prepared himself for the “I’m sorry” that was sure to follow. His mother had been giving him wide-eyed looks since he’d told her that Melissa had agreed to go to the dance with him. She was probably panicked they would end up killed by a drunk driver. Surely, she knew he’d never risk upsetting her by getting drunk. His uncle must be here to let him down gently. He swallowed a lump in his throat. He really didn’t mind for himself, but Melissa would be devastated even though they were only going as friends.
    “I should’ve given you these years ago, but you’ve always been a quiet kid and never showed much interest in dating.” His uncle handed him a plastic grocery bag.
    Confused, Caleb opened the bag and found a box of condoms. His jaw dropped and he felt his face flush. Before he could think of a response, his uncle continued. “I’m not saying anything will or should happen tonight, but I wanted you to have them, just in case.”
    “We’re just friends,” Caleb stammered.
    “Like I said, just in case. I know how embarrassed I was the first time I bought them and you being so shy, I didn’t want you to take the risk of not having them.” He shook his head. “God knows it would kill your mother if you knocked someone up.”
    “I’m gay.” The words were unplanned and irretrievable once uttered. He held his breath, waiting for his uncle’s reaction. He knew his uncle was a fair man and didn’t tolerate prejudice at home or at work. But tolerance was a long way from acceptance.
    “You can’t tell her.” Uncle Harrison’s voice teetered on the edge of panic. He paused and took a long, slow breath. “What with AIDS and homophobes she just couldn’t handle it. She’d be too afraid for you.” He ran a hand through his prematurely white hair. “I’ve tried to look out for you and your mom since that good-for-nothing boyfriend walked out on you both.”
    Lips pressed together, Caleb closed his eyes for a moment, willing tears