After talking to Mary, Dave had gone to the sporting goods store and picked up a self-supporting tent, three air mattresses and three sleeping bags. In a clear area at the back of the penthouse he had set up the tent and pumped up the mattresses.

He wasn't 100% sure how Mary felt about having her sons around their gay uncle so he wasn't taking any chances. The tent was right outside Mary's bedroom window. He didn't say anything about it, figuring she would discover it for herself. When bedtime came, he explained to the boys that the guest half bath off the den could be used for night time relief. And that the other guest bedroom and bath could be shared by the three boys to shower, and to dress in.

Lloyd showed up at the high school gymnasium that was on the list his wife had left for him. His mother-in-law, Jean, had called earlier to tell him she would meet him there.

He sat in his pickup and watched the people arriving. He was mildly shocked to recognize Arnie Johnson and his wife. They owned one of the nicer restaurants on this side of town. He wondered why they were there. They only had one son and he was the star of the football team. Well, he thought to himself, if Arnie was man enough to attend one of these meeting he wouldn't be out done. He opened the door and slid out.

He heard his name called as he stepped onto the sidewalk. He turned and saw Jean hurrying toward him. "Oh, Lloyd, I'm so glad that you've decided to do this," she enthused. It made him feel guilty. He just nodded in response with a tight smile. He couldn't help but be thankful that she wasn't condemning him, God knows he would have deserved it.

When they entered the auditorium there were about sixty people standing or sitting in groups around the room. Jean smiled, waved and said 'hi' to several people.

"That's George Brown," she told Lloyd. "He's a widower and his daughter Emily is a lesbian. He had a hard time accepting it."

Jean approached a young woman who was sitting by herself. Jean bent down and gave her a hug and asked, "How is Tommy doing, Lina?"

"He's coming along wonderfully, now. He took his first steps without crutches this week."

"I'm so glad to hear that, dear. I'll stop up and visit him tomorrow." Jean volunteered as a candy striper at the hospital which was how she'd first met Lina.

She and Lloyd moved on with her filling him in. "When Tommy, he's fifteen, told his dad he was gay, his dad went ballistic. Tommy ended up with both arms and one leg broken, a bad concussion and some serious internal damage, to say nothing of broken ribs and bruises. His dad is in jail without bail. The judge is probably going to throw the book at him. The shame of a grown man attacking a little boy like that. Fortunately, Lina arrived home in time to keep him from killing Tommy. She hit him in the head with a fireplace poker; knocked him out cold."

Lloyd thought about how he'd feel if one of his sons told him he was queer-- he corrected himself--- gay. He couldn't imagine attacking one of them, but he got a hard lump in his throat thinking that one of them could be that way. His eyes got a bit blurry. He thought about Max who wasn't good at any sports, who would rather read a book given the choice. His heart ached for the kid. He tried so hard to emulate his older brother. If it was possible to love one of his sons more than another it was Max that he loved more.

The sharp crack of a gavel had everyone finding seats. Lloyd looked around him at the array of people; they all looked like ordinary folk. Arnie and his wife were seated down the same row as Lloyd. Arnie caught his look and nodded to him. Lloyd watched him turn to his wife and say something. She leaned forward and waved with a smile. Lloyd was embarrassed imagining that they thought he was here because one of his boys was gay, like he was assuming that was why they were here.

"Good evening, friends. My name is Chuck Nelson. You've chosen me to lead this meeting. Two of my three children are gay." He looked around the room. Some people were nodding, others just looked at him. "At first, after learning this, I blamed myself. I thought that I must have done something wrong for this to happen to my boys. I called a psychologist. He advised me to save my money and come here. I am thankful he did. Through sharing my experiences with you, I learned that I was not at fault. There is not a thing I could have done to change my sons' sexual orientation. With your help and advice, I realized that I had to give my boys all the love, acceptance and guidance I could. Their lives are going to be hard enough without my adding to their difficulties. I am grateful to you all, and I would like to say to any and all new comers, I want to help you like I have been helped."

Through out the next hour different people spoke of their experiences with gay relatives or friends. One theme stood out in Lloyd's mind. The people spoken of were basically normal people with just a different sexual alignment. He started realizing how his prejudice had really affected the lives of his family, including Jean, whom he loved as his own mother. He knew that she was aware that he was reason that Dave kept his distance from his family. Yet, she had never rebuked him. He put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a hug. She smiled and gave his hand a pat. Lloyd became aware that Arnie was at the podium.

Arnie cleared his throat and looked around the room. "This is the fourth meeting I have attended, but this is the first time I've stood up here. I didn't come here to share in dealing with a loved one. I came because the court ordered me to. I am guilty of having abusively ejected a gay couple from my restaurant. They had done nothing more than hold hands for a moment. They brought charges of discrimination against me. They agreed that if I would attend these meetings for six months they would drop the charges.

"It was one of the kindest acts anyone has ever done for me. I have come to realize that my warped ignorant prejudice was completely uncalled for. I want to apologize to the two men, who, by the way, are here this evening, and try to make amends for publicly humiliating and embarrassing them. I was wrong in what I did." He cleared his throat again. "I will continue attending these meetings and I will also urge anyone that objects to any couple expressing their affection for each other in my restaurant, to join me. Ron and Bob, I apologize. You are welcome any time to dine in my place. And I won't object to a little intimacy. You have as much right as anyone else to show how you feel toward your partner." Arnie bowed his head for a moment then curtly nodded and stepped away from the podium.

Lloyd was impressed with what Arnie had revealed and found himself feeling ashamed for assuming that Arnie's son, who was one of David's buddies, was gay.

After the meeting Lloyd walked Jean to her car. She kissed him on the cheek and got in. He stood there bemused as she drove away. He kind of expected a reprise of the meeting. He got into his pickup and drove home deep in thought.

He had gone to this meeting not knowing what to expect. He came away with his mind in turmoil. He'd been raised to believe that gays were perverts; that they preyed on children and sought to find converts. In this meeting there had been gays present, well, at least the two that Arnie had apologized to. Lloyd had studied the crowd. He couldn't figure out who they were.

He thought back to the days when he had dated Mary. Dave was still in high school then. He had been a football jock, and he had been into track and swimming, too. Lloyd recalled how he'd been amazed at how fast Dave could move for a little guy.

Lloyd thought about how he'd been quite fond of Dave back then. He'd looked forward to having him as his brother-in-law. Then his anger rose remembering Mary telling him that Dave had come out to his mother and her. He'd really liked Dave until he'd done that. Dave had been in college then.

Lloyd had made some off the wall comment about queers and Mary had set him straight. He still remembered her last words on the subject that night. "If you love me you will accept Dave." 'Well,' Lloyd thought, 'I had her convinced that I had accepted him. It was really careless of me to let her overhear my conversation with David."

David. That was another thing that had rankled Lloyd, but that, too, he had hidden from Mary. Having to accept naming his oldest son after the faggot. And to make it worse, Mary had called the boy David from the day he was born. That was his last conscious thought as he cuddled his pillow in his lonesome bed and fell into an uneasy sleep.

Lloyd stepped into a vast room. He knew it was full of faggots. He could tell most of them were because of their flamboyancy. The rest of them had to be, too, just because they were there. A real flamer sidled up to him. "My, aren't you the butch one," he cooed in Lloyd's ear.

"I'm not a faggot," Lloyd spat back.

"Oooh, how would we know? You're in this room with us, aren't you, Big Boy?"

Lloyd looked around in a panic and saw Dave. He stood in the midst of them, but separated by a space around him. "Tell them, Dave, tell them I'm not one of them."

Bill Way was standing close behind Dave. He looked angry. He stared bullets at Lloyd. Dave just looked at him with a hurt expression, shook his head and didn't answer. Lloyd looked around, desperate for a way out.

He awoke in a cold sweat. He didn't often dream - or he didn't often remember his dreams on waking. Here he was, awake in the middle of the night with this dream still vivid in his mind. He closed his eyes and Dave continued to just look at him with a hurt expression. He opened his eyes and stared at the dark ceiling for a moment before he got up, afraid to go back to sleep. He wandered into the kitchen and got a drink of water. He glanced at the clock. Shit! It was four a.m. He might as well stay up, he'd be getting up in an hour anyway. He put on a pot of coffee and headed for the shower. He reviewed the dream while he let the hot water massage away his tenseness. When he thought of his appeal to Dave to defend him, he wondered if he subconsciously classified Dave with the obvious ones. He wondered if that had any significance.

The day had gone smoothly until Dave and Joe returned from their early morning run. As they ascended to the Eyrie, Joe wrapped Dave in a sweaty hug. "You know, Babe, I really do enjoy these runs now that I've built up enough stamina to keep up with you. It really is invigorating."

"Told ya." Dave replied, returning the hug.

Joe wrapped his arms around Dave and kissed him on the lips just as the elevator door opened. Gary was standing there staring, opened mouth.

Dave blanched. Joe let go of him and grinned at his new nephew. As he stepped out of the elevator he ruffled the boy's hair. "Hey, Gary, how is the world's greatest kid this morning?

Gary looked up, grinning back at him. "I saw you and Uncle Dave kissing."

Dave hesitated in the elevator. Joe squatted down in front of the boy. "Yeah? So what? He's my boyfriend and I can kiss him anytime I want. What's the big deal?"

"My daddy says only faggots do things like that."

Joe stood up. "Well, I say your daddy is wrong. Let's go get a glass of O.J. and discuss this, okay?"

Gary grinned up at him. He had no idea what a faggot was and he doubted that his uncle or Joe was one. "Okay," he replied.

Joe ushered him into the kitchen. Dave followed and stopped just outside the door and watched Joe get the orange juice out of the fridge.

"Hi, Uncle Dave, we went for a swim."

Dave turned to see his nearly naked nephews, David and Max, come in through the patio door, drying themselves.

"Man, it's great to just get out of bed and jump into the pool. May we have a glass of juice?" David asked.

Dave jerked himself out of his double shock and smiled at them. He couldn't help but notice how David was maturing, but he didn't dare let his thoughts show.

"Sure, guys, Joe and Gary are getting some now. Why don't we join them? Joe, get out three more glasses, please. Sit down, Joe and Gary were just going to have a chat. I think we should all join in."

Everyone sat around the breakfast table. David and Max looked expectantly at Joe.

"So what's up?" David asked.

"I saw Uncle Joe and Uncle Dave kissing on the elevator," Gary piped up. "And we are going to have a discussion about it. He's going to tell me what a faggot is."

"No way," Max said, looking at the two masculine men. "You guys really kiss each other?"

Dave blushed, but Joe looked Max right in the eye. "If what Gary just told you is true you already know we do. But what your dad told you is wrong. I want to set the record straight."

Dave and his three nephews sat around the table watching Joe. "Do any of you really know what a faggot is?" Joe asked setting out cereal bowls, milk and several varieties of dry cereal.

David turned red as he muttered rather sullenly, "It's just another name for a queer."

"And what exactly is a queer?" Joe asked ignoring his attitude.

"It's a guy who likes other guys."

"Likes?"

"You know, that likes doing sexual things with other guys."

"Oh, you mean homosexual."

David turned a darker shade of red and nodded.

"David, would you call a black man a nigger," Joe casually asked.

"Absolutely not... no way, I'd get my mouth washed out and get grounded for a month."

"Why?" He passed each boy a bowl and set the boxes in the middle of the table where they could grab whichever they wanted. Dave had gotten up to get coffee for himself and Joe.

"'Cause it's a nasty offensive word. No one should use it."

"Right. Now, there are two words that seem to be in you fellows' vocabulary that are just as nasty and offensive as the "N" word. Those two words are queer and faggot." He placed his hands on the table and leaned forward looking at each boy in turn. "I'm sure none of you use either of those two words in front of your mother, do you?"

All three boys vigorously shook there heads. No one realized that Mary was standing outside the kitchen listening.

"Am I right in assuming that your dad uses these words?"

All three boys looked back and forth at each other. Gary nodded. The other two stared at the table top.

"I'm sorry to know that. From what I've seen of you guys, you're fine upstanding young men. I think your dad must be a fine man, too. But as I said, those two words are as bad as the "N" word. Next question." He sat down next to Dave. "Max, would you choose to be gay?"

"Gosh. No way. I'm not stupid. Why would I want to be picked on or beaten up?" Max exclaimed around a mouth full of Cheerios.

"David, do you think gay kids choose to be that way when they could choose to be straight and not get picked on and beaten up?"

"I've never thought about it. I guess it would be kinda dumb, wouldn't it?" David said. He'd lost some of his sullenness.

"Well, guys, there is no choice for people that are born gay. Nor is there any choice for the ones that are born straight. God made all of us the way we are just like he made some people black and some white, yellow or brown."

"So why were you kissing Uncle Dave?" Gary queried.

Mary stepped into the room. "Joe, I would like to answer that if you will allow me to."

Joe looked surprised, but nodded okay. "You've got the floor, Mary," he said.

Dave got up and poured her some coffee. She sat down in the empty chair between her brother and her eldest son.

"First off, boys, I want to tell you that your dad is going to classes while we are down here. He is learning the same things that Joe has been talking about. I can promise you that those words that Joe telling you were bad, will not be tolerated by your dad when we get home. You've missed a lot of years of not having your uncle and his partner in your lives because your dad was prejudiced against gays. Prejudice is caused by ignorance. Ignorance is a lack of learning. Your dad is learning that there is no reason to be prejudice. Just as you three are learning today.

"Gary, your father and I are partners. We are married. Dave and Joe are partners also. Our government and religions do not allow them to marry legally. But they are as much bonded together as your dad and I are. Dave and Joe love each other as much as I love your father. Gary, my little man, what you saw on the elevator was Joe expressing his love for Dave. Just like you've seen me and your dad express our love for each other. It's not wrong. It is just different."

"So if it's not wrong why do people ridicule them?" Max asked.

"Like I said, Honey, it is out of ignorance that people do things like that."

"Well, it's just not fair... and it's not right." Max was indignant, almost angry.

Dave and Joe exchanged looks; it didn't go unnoticed by Mary.

"No, Max, there is nothing right or fair about it. All we can do is try to educate people, help them open up their minds to new thoughts and ideas."

"I'd just like to say that I am sorry that I missed out having you in my life while I was growing up, Uncle Dave," David said. "I think you and Joe are really cool guys. I hope I get to know you both better while I'm going to school here."

Dave smiled at his oldest nephew. "Thanks, David, I feel the same way. And we definitely will spend time together while you are here. I'd really like to get to know you and get to play uncle."

"Joe, may I call you uncle, too?" Max asked as he grinned at Joe. "I mean if Uncle Dave were married to a woman she'd be my aunt so you really are my uncle."

"Hey kiddo, I'd be delighted to be your uncle."

"Wow, first we never had an uncle and now we get two at once. This is way cool, Mom." Max piped up.

"Well, he's my uncle first 'cause I've called Joe uncle from the beginning," Gary said.

"All right guys, rinse out your dishes and put them into the dish washer. I want you to get showered and dressed. David and I are going to tour the university and Joe and Dave are going to take you two," she pointed at her two younger boys, "over to the bookstore until lunch."

"Can we go to Gio Gio's for lunch? I like him and he makes good food," Max said.

"Well, how does everybody else feel?" Mary asked.

The other two boys eagerly agreed and Joe and Dave nodded when she looked at them.

"You boys are going to turn into a Dago like me if you keep eating so much Italian food," Joe said as they were all leaving the kitchen.

"Yeah, Max, you little Dago." David said punching him on the arm.

"Stop right there." Dave raised his voice to be heard. Everyone froze and looked at him. "That is another word that is not to be used by you boys."

"What? Dago? I don't even know what it means," Max said.

"Uncle Joe just used it," Gary injected.

"I know he did. What you guys have got to understand is that it is a derogatory word that refers to Italians. It is acceptable for Joe to use the word because he is Italian. It's acceptable for a black person to use the 'N' word and it's alright for a gay person to use the two words we talked about. But it is wrong for anybody else to use them. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, Uncle Dave, it's okay to put yourself down, but wrong for someone else to put you down," David said.

"You got it." He wrapped his arm around his oldest nephew's neck and hugged him. David grinned. He liked his Uncle Dave.

Lloyd locked the door to his office and headed home. It had been a long slow day. The dream from the previous night had stayed vivid in his mind. He had an appointment to keep with a psychologist in two hours. He wondered if he had the courage to tell him about the dream.

At seven sharp he was knocking on Dr. Townsend's office door. A casually dressed man of about fifty-five years of age opened the door and invited Lloyd to enter. The doctor introduced himself and offered him a cup of coffee or a soft drink. Lloyd accepted a Coke.

"I'm sorry I don't have a glass of ice to offer."

"That's okay. The can is fine."

"Please. Have a seat." The doctor motioned to one of the high-backed wing chairs. Lloyd sat. He was not comfortable being here.

"Tonight will be a short session, Lloyd." He said seating himself opposite him. "May I call you Lloyd? Or would you prefer Mr. Brown?"

"Lloyd's fine, Doc."

"Well, in that case you may call me Harry, or Doc. What I want to do first is go over the information that your wife Mary gave me."

"Alright." Lloyd felt very apprehensive.

"You have three sons, David 17, Max 14 and Gary11."

Harry looked up at Lloyd for confirmation. Lloyd nodded.

"You're 47 and Mary is 44."

Lloyd nodded.

"Your parents are both deceased and you have an older sister that you haven't seen or heard from in about 20 years."

"Twenty-two years."

"Mary's mother lives near you. She has a son younger than Mary. Dave. He's 42."

Lloyd nodded.

"Dave is a homosexual and this is the crux of the reason you are here."

Harry looked up at Lloyd. Lloyd stared at him as though he were willing him to make something of it. Harry raised an eyebrow, but made no comment.

"Lloyd, I'm going to give you some home work. It's simply to read these articles and pamphlets before our next meeting, which is Thursday evening. I understand that you are going to PFLAG meetings, too."

Lloyd cleared his throat. "Excuse me. Yes, I went to one last night."

"Good. And you'll be going to another one tomorrow night?"

"Yes, I will."

"Okay, Lloyd, that will be all for tonight. I will see you at seven p.m. Thursday night."

The house was eerily quiet, as Lloyd sat down to read. He looked at the first pamphlet, "Common Misconceptions About Homosexuality." He opened and read the first paragraph. His first thought was this has to be propaganda put out by the gays. He looked at the title page and saw that it was put out by the American Association of Psychiatrists. The author was a prominent Doctor who even he had heard of before. He went back to reading. He read until he couldn't hold his eyes open any more. He trudged into the kitchen downed a glass of water and went to bed.

Again he was surrounded by hundreds of men who he knew were gay. And again in their midst stood a seventeen year old Dave, looking sad and hurt. His hands were held out towards him, palms up. Behind him stood Bill looking very belligerent. He looked around. Every man was turned towards him. There were no words spoken but he knew they were all asking, "Why?"

Lloyd woke up in another cold sweat. He turned on the light and looked at the clock. It was barely 12:30 a.m. He groaned, got out of bed and peed. He sat on the edge of the bed wondering if he could go back to sleep. He lay back down and closed his eyes.

'Why were they asking why? Why what?' he wondered. Bill appeared in his thoughts. "Why have you treated Dave like you have? What did he do to deserve it?" Lloyd's eyes popped open. "I am awake. What is going on?" he said out loud. He got back out of bed. "I can't let myself go back to sleep, I'll just keep dreaming."

He went into the den, turned on the TV and found an old movie. He lay back in the lounger to watch it.

The color chart was hissing on the tube and daylight was brightening the room when he woke with a stiff neck, feeling worse than when he had fallen asleep, but at least he hadn't dreamed. He took three Tylenol, put the coffee to brewing and got into the shower. The day dragged by with many of his crew commenting on how bad he looked. And the question hung over him still

When Mary and David left to explore the university, Dave asked Joe to take the two boys somewhere and entertain them; he had some things he had to take care of. Joe knew what was on Dave's mind without any discussion on the subject. He was sure that Dave didn't need help in taking care of the matter. He took the boys downtown to the site where another tower that he had designed was being built. He gave them each a bright yellow hard hat and took them up to the top on the heavy duty elevator attached to the steel beam framework. He let them look around without getting off and then they descended back to ground level. He introduced them to the foreman as his nephews. Both boys grinned at that. They'd never been nephews before. It was a big deal to them both to have an uncle like Joe. Uncle Dave was great but Joe was their new hero.

Dave called Clyde and discussed bribing the Children's Hospital in California to take Gary right away.

"It would be an acceptable thing to do if it was done in a clandestine manner. How much are you thinking of offering them, Dave?"

"A new wing for research into childhood diseases?"

"I'm sure they would accept that, especially if there was a large grant to finance such research. Let me make some discreet calls and put out some feelers."

"I knew I could count on you Clyde. Let me know what you find. I'd like to get the kid straighten out ASAP."

Clyde called Dave back two hours later.

"Dave, luck is with us. They badly need a new research facility. I discussed how big, etc, with the hospital administrator. I've worked up some basic figures for you to look at. If you approve them we will go ahead with the offer."

"I'll be in your office in half an hour. Thanks, Clyde for moving so fast."

"That's why you pay me so much, Dave."

Throughout dinner at Joe's parent's home Dave was antsy. Joe knew that Dave was working on Gary's problem and ignored it. Mary asked him before they got there if something was bothering him.

"I've just got some unresolved problems I'm working on. I'm okay."

"Well, you do have a big sister if you need to talk about it."

Dave smiled at her. It was good to have her back in his life.

Mary's boys were made to feel right at home in the Paolini household. Suddenly they had a new set of grandparents, Momma Angie and Pops, and another uncle that looked just like Joe, Uncle Johnny, and an Uncle Tim. Eve told everyone straight out that she was too young to an aunt. Tim seconded the motion for himself. He was only three years older than David.

Lloyd sat though another PFLAG meeting, staring at the floor most of the evening, not really listening to any of the speakers. Jean would occasionally rub a comforting hand on his back, but other than that she let him be. After he'd said 'goodnight' to his mother-in-law, he sat for several minutes before starting his pickup. He dreaded having to go home to an empty house. On the way home he picked up a pizza and ate a slice and a half and left the box open on the counter. He sat in front of the TV and vacantly stared at it. The memory of the dreams wouldn't leave him alone. The TV station signed off. Lloyd had fallen asleep.

The hiss of the TV speakers became part of his dream. Dave still stood there looking so young and innocent, wounded. Bill pointed a finger at Lloyd and hissed. And then everyone in the room was pointing and hissing at him. He woke with a shudder, turned off the TV, moved to the kitchen table and sat staring out the window into the black night. He wondered why he felt so guilty. What had he done to Dave except warn him away from his family?

At seven he called his foreman and told him he was ill and was going to stay home. Minutes later Mary called to tell him she and the boys were staying through the weekend. That made Lloyd even more miserable.