Swimming to Freedom by Robbie Michaels

Author:Robbie Michaels [Michaels, Robbie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: young adult
ISBN: 978-1-63533-780-8
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press
Published: 2017-11-28T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11—For Want of a Telephone

AFTER TYLER’S weekend visit to help Brandon clean out the garage, followed by one of the best hours of Brandon’s life spent on Joel’s basement sofa, and then by joining the guys at the gay youth group meeting, Tyler became a regular visitor to Brandon’s house just about every weekend. When he arrived, he always got the evil eye from Brandon’s father.

Out of earshot of Brandon’s father, one weekend Tyler said, “It’s like your dad just doesn’t seem to grasp why I would want to hang around with you. He always looks at me so suspiciously, like I’m only here to rob him or something, when really all I want to steal is your heart. It’s not like I’m trying to make off with the secret recipe for how to make Coke or something.”

Brandon’s dad watched the two of them, like a hawk looking for any opportunity to dive in and go for the kill. He watched them talk, he watched them walk, and he watched them even when they were just sitting quietly together. It was abundantly clear he did not understand the friendship that had developed between Tyler and Brandon, and he most certainly did not approve.

After about a month, one Saturday after Tyler left, his dad finally couldn’t stand it any longer and told Brandon, “All right. Enough. You need to stop this and focus on what’s important.”

“Oh?” he said, looking at his father.

“You’ve had your little fun, now send that boy away and focus on your swimming. You’re not a kid anymore.”

“Yes, Dad, I know that, but you don’t seem to have figured that out yet,” Brandon said, surprising himself by keeping his voice flat and calm.

“What did you just say to me?” his father demanded.

“You say I’m not a kid, but that is precisely how you’ve been treating me by trying to control my entire life and run everything. It’s just killing you that I’ve made a friend on my own and you’re not part of it.”

“He’s trouble, Brandon. He’s nothing but trouble. He’s got an angle. I know he does. I don’t know what it is yet, but I guarantee that he’s up to something and you’re going to be the one who gets hurt.”

“He is not trouble, Dad. He’s a friend, and I’m doing just fine.”

“Enough!” His father glared at him. “He’s not to come around here anymore. That’s final.”

“No, that doesn’t work for me,” Brandon said, doing his best to remain calm, even though he was feeling anything but.

“What did you just say to me?” his father demanded.

“No,” Brandon said, looking directly at his father and speaking very clearly. “It is not your decision to make. It is mine, and I said no.” Brandon somehow even managed to keep his body language relaxed in order to project an in-charge, confident attitude. He didn’t know where that ability was coming from, but he knew he had to show his father that things were changing.

The conversation ended in a draw that day.

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