by Nick Poff
“That makes two of us,” he said, trying to appear nonchalant.
Rex was visibly surprised. He looked carefully at Ed, and some of the hostility and bravado seemed to fade away.
Ed put a gentle hand on Rex’s arm. “It’s cool. Tell me about it.”
That one touch broke a dam within Rex. He burst into gasping sobs that wracked his body.
Ed sat down on the edge of the bed and put his arms around the young man. Ooh child, he thought. When is it gonna get easier?
###
It was a half hour later when Ed walked off the elevator and into the hospital’s empty lobby. He spied a pay phone in a secluded alcove. After plunking a quarter in the slot he called Paul’s office, told the receptionist who was calling and that it was urgent. Soon he heard Paul’s expectant voice.
“I got an I.D. for you, doc,” Ed said wearily.
“Who is he?”
“His name is Rex Kennedy. I recognized him because I once saw him bullying Neal at The Iceberg.”
“Oh,” Paul said. There was a moment of silence. “One of those, huh?”
“Yeah, he was one self-hating closet case. He still would be, but he got loaded with his buddies over the weekend and he was so well-lubricated on Southern Comfort he slipped and said something. He didn’t remember it, but his friends did. They jumped him last night when he finished his shift at that convenience store down the street from the hospital. I’d say the only good things about it were that they didn’t kill him and that he was close to the hospital.”
“Oh, that poor kid,” Paul said softly.
“Yeah. I was torn between yelling at him for being such a dick to Neal and hugging him. Turned out there was a lot more hugging than yelling.”
“Good ole Ed,” Paul chuckled. “I knew I could count on you.”
“Now what, though? Before they jumped him his oh-so-loyal buddies told his dad, apparently the fag-hating poster father for 1987. He told them to tell him not to bother coming home for anything but his clothes and car, which is actually sitting on four flats behind the convenience store.”
Paul groaned. “Well, for now anyway, I’ll come up with an excuse to keep him here for at least another night. And then…well, then I’ll have to see what I can do.”
“What can you do?”
“I don’t know,” Paul said quietly. “The kid’s eighteen, right? I can’t send him to the authorities. Essentially he’s on his own when I release him.”
Ed leaned his head against the wall. “Let me talk to Rick. Between the three of us we should be able to come up with something.”
###
Ed made one more phone call to ask Mrs. Litten if he could postpone a look at leaky faucet until after lunch. Then he slowly walked out of the hospital and across the street to the visitor’s parking lot. He got into his truck and sat, juggling his keys.
He had been honest with Paul; his desire to yell at Rex had been just as strong as his desire to comfort him. Ed was angry for the grief he’d given Neal, but at the same time he understood. “Sometimes those who point fingers have the most to hide,” Mrs. Penfield had once told him.
He also felt phenomenally lucky. His parents and family had accepted him, as had Rick’s. Anyone they encountered in their daily lives that had a negative opinion about their sexual orientation or relationship kept their thoughts to themselves. Ed, Rick, Paul…all of them had put up with prejudice and bigotry in all the ugly forms in which they came. They had survived, become stronger, and were doing the best they could with their lives. No doubt the same would happen for Neal, who’d had the benefit of a compassionate clergyman and the friendship and support of Ed and Rick.
But this kid…Rex…
I am hoping you can find it in your hearts to take the gifts I have given you, and perhaps find a way to use them to ease the struggle for others who haven’t been blessed with your good fortune. Mrs. Penfield had written that for Ed and Rick just before she died.
Ed put the key into the ignition. He pulled out of the parking lot and headed north on Main Street. He now knew what he was going to do.
###
Ed walked through the door of Cummings Realty. Patty Kercheval, who’d been Vince’s secretary/receptionist since the first day he’d opened the place, was talking smoothly on the phone. She smiled at Ed and waved him toward Rick’s office.
Rick was busily typing, frowning in concentration. He paused, muttered “shit”, and reached for a bottle of white-out.
Ed leaned against the door. “You available for an early lunch, hot stuff?”
Rick looked up and sneered. “With you?”
“You had any better offers today?”
Rick looked around the office, consulted his desk calendar, and sighed. “I guess not.”
“Well, then, it’s your lucky day. I am taking you to the P & J for breaded cheeseburgers and onion rings.”
“Big spender.” Rick lifted his eyebrows.
“I am at that. Plus, we can eat in the car and have a little privacy.”
“Car? Does that mean I’m driving?”
Ed shrugged. “What’s the use of having a classic car if you can’t drive it to a classic drive-in?”
###
Once one of the P & J’s carhops had fastened a tray with their lunch on the driver’s side window and walked away, Ed began the story of his morning. When he was finished Rick slumped behind the steering wheel. “Wow,” he said. “Just…wow.”
“Is that all you can say?”
“I’ll think of something else later.” He sighed, and it seemed to Ed he suddenly aged way beyond his thirty-six years. “I just… the images in my head right now.” He shook his head and listlessly reached for the onion ring container on the dashboard. “You want to take this kid home, don’t you?”
“Isn’t it what Mrs. Penfield asked us to do?”
“Absolutely. Timing kinda stinks, though. How do we explain it to Neal?”
Ed took an onion ring for himself. “I guess we’ll just have to hope he can forgive him, or at least try to, or pretend to.”
“Are we ready for this, baby?” Rick quietly asked. “Neal is one thing, but this…well, we’re dealing with a damaged kid, and I’m not referring to his physical wounds.”
“We’ve got backup; Paul, Pastor Phil, and the best housekeeper in town. We’ll muddle through.”
Ed tossed his half-eaten onion ring back in the box. He reached over and took Rick’s hand. “Darlin’,” he whispered, “as long as we’re together we can do whatever we need to do.”
Rick looked at their clasped hands and grinned. “You’re getting onion ring crumbs on my hand, baby.”
“I’ve left a lot worse there.” Ed grinned in return.
“So you have,” Rick murmured. “Well, okay, by all means, let’s roar over the latest speed bump in our summer.” He squeezed Ed’s hand. “But if we take in any more strays we’re gonna have to hang a NO VACANCY sign on the front porch.”
###
Paul released Rex that afternoon. Ed piled him into his truck and drove to Penfield Manor.
“Why are you doing this for me?”
“Guys like us need to stick together. You want to stop by your house for anything?”
“No.”
“How about your job? Do you want to check in with your boss?”
“No.”
Ed shrugged.
When he pulled into the driveway behind the house Rex’s eyes widened. “You live in this big place?”
“Yeah. It’s a long story. C’mon. We’ll give you the grand tour some time. Right now I want to get you settled so you can rest.”
Ed led him into the house and upstairs, the cats following, curious about this intruder. Ed had called Effie Maude earlier, and she had been busy, preparing a room for Rex. She met them in the upstairs hall.
“Effie Maude, this is Rex. He’ll be staying with us for a while. Rex, this is Effie Maude Sanders. She takes care of the house and keeps an eye on us.
”
Effie Maude held out a hand. “How do, Rex?”
“Hi,” Rex replied, looking her over as he shook her hand.
“Well,” Effie Maude said, heading for the stairs. “Holler if you need me. Oh! I put some fresh towels in the bathroom.”
Ed and Rick had debated over which of the two remaining bedrooms to give to Rex. The nicer one was rather on the frilly side; they referred to it as the girls’ room as Judy and Jane always used it when they stayed for the night. The other room was reserved, more or less, for guests. It was a good deal plainer, but Ed and Rick had decided Rex might feel more comfortable there than in a room that contained a vanity table with an organdy ruffle.
“Here’s your room,” Ed said as he led Rex inside. “The bathroom’s down the hall and to the left. If you wanna wash the hospital smells off, go for it. I’m going to go raid my closet. We’re pretty close in size, so I’ll let your borrow some clean stuff to wear. Otherwise, I’ll leave you alone to get settled.”
Rex sat on the edge of the double bed. He looked, Ed thought, both bewildered and angry, as if he couldn’t get a handle on everything that had happened to him in the past twenty-four hours. Ed turned to leave, and as he was closing the door behind him Rex called “Ed?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
Ed smiled. “You’re welcome.”
###
Rick managed to finish early for the day so he could come home and get acquainted with Rex. By late afternoon Ed and Rick were sprawled on the den couch waiting to break the news of their newest lodger to Neal.
“I feel like such a hypocrite,” Ed said, his eyes closed as he lay in the dependable comfort of Rick’s arms.
“Why?”
“Remember when you were trying to get me to hire Sherm Crossett, high school bully? And I wouldn’t?”
“Oh, babe, this is different.”
“Tell that to my conscience.”
The back door slammed. Neal bounced into the den. “What smells so good?” He asked happily.
“Effie Maude’s chicken and rice casserole,” Rick said. “Neal, can you sit down? We’ve got something to tell you.”
Neal sat down. He apprehensively faced Ed and Rick.
Rick squirmed a bit, dislodging Ed, who sat up. “Something awful happened last night,” Rick said. “A young man your age was queer bashed here in town.”
“Oh, no!” Neal exclaimed.
“He was hurt badly, in more ways than one,” Rick continued. “If you understand what I mean. Apparently his family has turned against him, so Ed and I decided to have him stay with us for a while.”
Neal nodded.
“Here’s the thing,” Ed said grimly. “The young man is Rex Kennedy.”
A variety of emotions played across Neal’s face – shock, surprise, anger, and finally resentment. “Are you kidding me? You actually expect me to live in the same house with that shitbag?”
Ed sighed. “Look, I know this is a shock. It was to me too when Paul asked me to help with this guy. We don’t expect you to be happy about this, or even to be any friendlier with him than you need to be, but can you even begin to understand what he’s going through?”
“Why should I?” Neal asked bitterly.
“Well, at least now you can understand why he behaved the way he did,” Rick said. “He was terrified of what he knew about himself, and with good reason it seems.”
“Does that make what he did to me all these years okay?”
“Of course not. In some ways it makes it even worse. However, it’s obvious he was hurting as much as you were. It’s too bad the two of you couldn’t bond over what you have in common, but I for one have no problem blaming that on our fucked up society. The bottom line is this; Rex is out now, whether he wants to be or not, and like it or not, it’s our job to accept him as a gay man who needs friends the same way we do.”
“We gotta stick together,” Ed said with a pleading look. “No one but us is going to look out for each other.”
“I trusted you guys more than anyone else in the world.” Neal stood up, glaring at them.
“Neal,” Rick said. “C’mon, let’s talk some more. Effie Maude’s casserole will be ready soon…”
“I’ll eat out, thank you very much.” Neal walked out, and they could hear the back door slam behind him.
Ed sighed and said slowly and distinctly, “I…am...so…tired.”
“I’m not far behind you.” Rick closed his eyes and heaved a sigh of his own.
They heard movement in the hall and looked up. Rex limped into view by the doorway. “I hope he’ll let me apologize,” he said.
###
The three of them listlessly dined on Effie Maude’s casserole, and then adjourned to the den to spend the evening watching summer reruns on TV. At ten o’clock they called it a night, and everyone went upstairs, all of them listening for sounds of Neal’s return.
Ed and Rick were in bed reading when they heard footsteps on the stairs, and then Neal’s door closing. Rick looked at Ed. “You ready for this?”
Ed placed his open book across his face. “This has been a very long day.”
“Coward.”
Rick got up and pulled on a t shirt. Ed groaned, rolled off the bed and followed him down the hall to Neal’s door. Rick knocked gently. After a moment they heard Neal say “Come in.”
They cautiously entered the room. Neal was sitting on the bed. Kenny G’s mellow “Songbird” was playing on his boom box stereo. He looked as tired as they felt.
“I’m sorry I walked out on you,” Neal said bluntly.
Ed and Rick sat down on either side of him. “No apology necessary,” Rick told him. “We’re just glad you’re here.”
Neal sighed and threw his head back to look at the ceiling. “The thing that gets me,” he burst out, “is that he’s gay. It’s like he barged into my clubhouse, or something.”
“Yeah,” Ed said, nodding.
“And to really rub it in, he’s tall and handsome and well built – all the things I’m not. Compared to him I’m a…an uncooked dumpling. And I hate dumplings!”
Ed and Rick both chuckled.
“And because he’s so hot,” Neal continued, “he can come in and take over. He’ll never have the problems I do.”
“Maybe. Maybe not,” Rick said. “Right now he’s dealing with some pretty heavy problems. I know you don’t believe this now, but the wounds on his outside will heal, but the wounds on the inside will be hurting Rex for a long, long time.”
“And he’s certainly not taking over anything,” Ed added. “If you think he’s gonna push you out of the nest or something.”
“I guess that’s pretty childish.” Neal looked at his hands in his lap.
“I don’t blame you a bit,” Ed said. “I’d feel the same way. This isn’t easy for Rick and me either, for a lot of reasons. Here’s the thing, though;
we’re hoping we’re both big enough and have enough compassion to embrace and be here for both of you. Will you at least let us see if we can pull it off?”
“Well, if you put it that way…” Neal rolled his eyes at Ed.
Rick grinned. “Look, just be polite. You don’t have to love him, and you don’t have to be friends. Just be as nice as you would be to your Iceberg customers. That’s enough for now, maybe for always. We’ll take it as it comes, okay?”
Neal collapsed backwards on the bed. “Okay,” he muttered.
Ed fell back and put his arms around Neal and kissed his forehead. “You’re our little bro, remember?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, don’t you ever forget it,” Rick said as he free fell on both of them. He hugged them both tightly and then pulled himself off the bed. “I think we could all use some rest. C’mon, old man. Let’s shuffle back to our room.”
“You’re older than I am,” Ed taunted, going to the door.
“Oh, take it somewhere else, please,” Neal groaned.
“Your wi
sh is our command, my prince.” Rick winked at him before he softly closed the door.
Ed noticed light shining under Rex’s door. He gestured to Rick. “I suppose we should tuck him in, too.”
Rick knocked on the door and opened it a crack. Rex was sitting in the chair by the window that overlooked Spruce Street, staring into the night.
Rex looked up. “He okay?”
Ed shrugged. “Good enough. You okay?”
Rex shrugged. “Good enough.”
On impulse, Ed walked across the room to stand behind the chair. He leaned over and put his arms around Rex. “Good night, Rex,” he said gently. “You’re not alone.”
Rex began blinking rapidly. He fumbled for Ed’s hand and gripped it tight. “Thank you,” he whispered.
Rick took Rex’s other hand. “Try to get some sleep,” he said quietly. “We’ll work it out. It may take time, but you’ll get through this. We promise.”
Rex nodded. He let go of Ed’s hand to swipe at his swollen, black and blue eyes. He managed a smile for both of them.
Ed and Rick left the room, pulling the door closed with a soft click. They walked back to their room as the cats appeared, filing in after them to settle in their usual places -- Jett at the foot of the bed and Arnie in the easy chair. Then one by one the upstairs lights went out, and all was quiet at Penfield Manor.
CHAPTER EIGHT
A palpable tension hovered over Penfield Manor the next few days as Neal and Rex went out of their individual ways to avoid each other, and everyone else – even the cats, it seemed – went out of their ways to accommodate them. In fact, the situation reminded Ed of the time he introduced Arnie into a home Jett had been ruling alone. He said as much to Paul Klarn when the doctor called to check on things.
“So what did you do with the cats?” Paul asked.