HOME RUN Chapter 13: Justin: ~~~~~ Justin was still considering the offer of promotion. It would be a huge achievement, after everything, for him to become head of a department at the tender age of 28. He still hadn’t told Tim, who’d been trying his best to apologise for his behaviour. He’d been far more attentive the last few days and had even started to ask about Justin’s work. Justin rubbed his eyes, he couldn’t quite get this how he wanted and it was now after 10.30pm. He had the radio on in the workroom for company and to help him stay awake. He wondered why he listened to this particular show; guys bemoaning how they couldn’t hang on to their boyfriends or how they’d been cheated on and he was about to turn it off. But then there was something different about this item. “This is Dr. Franklin. I believe we have a caller on line 2. I see we don’t have a name? Okay caller, how can I help you?” “Umm …. It’s my Dad …” said the young voice on the radio. “Your … your Dad? I think you may have got the wrong radio show young man and it’s getting pretty late ….” chuckled the host. “No, this is the right show. My Dad’s gay”. “Oh. Okay. Then what appears to be the problem?” “I think he’s lonely. He doesn’t have a boyfriend, though I think he had one a long time ago.” “What happened?” “I don’t know, he’s never said, but I found some old photographs and I think it was him”. “I see”, said Dr. Franklin. Initially, he’d started to treat the call a little light heartedly, but he could tell from the tone that the boy was obviously very concerned. “He’s always on his own and he looks sad”, the boy continued. “Is he there? Shall I talk to him?” Dr. Franklin asked. “He doesn’t know I’m calling”. “I see. I don’t have your name. Can you tell me your name?” “It’s Gus”. “And how old are you Gus?” “I’m ten”. “And your Dad …… What’s your Dad’s name?” “It’s …… gotta go. I think I hear him”. And there was a click as the phone was put down. Justin stared at the radio and wondered how many ten-year-old kids were called Gus. Surely it couldn’t be Brian’s kid; that was impossible. And when did Brian ever have trouble getting guys? No, it was laughable, but when Justin went home that evening he had a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach, which kept him awake until the small hours. Brian: ~~~~~ Gus quickly turned off the radio. “Gus. What are you doing out here?” asked Brian as he came into the living room, rubbing his eyes. “I was getting a drink”, said Gus, picking up the glass of water. “Do you know what time it is? It’s nearly two. Come on, we’ve got another big day tomorrow. You want to go skating, remember?” and Brian escorted his son back to bed. Strange, he could have sworn he heard him talking to someone. He must have been dreaming. Liberty Diner: ~~~~~~~~~~ “Will everyone shut the fuck up”, yelled Debbie and immediately the room was hushed; she was working the late shift and it had been a long day, so no one challenged Debbie Novotny when she was in this sort of mood. She turned up the volume on the radio just as the boy signed off. There’d been so much noise in the diner they hadn’t caught the kid’s name. “Shit. I wanted to know how that turned out”, she said, pouring out coffee for the men in the booth opposite the counter. Michael, Ben, Ted and Emmett had been to the movies together and had spent the last couple of hours sitting in the diner, just talking. Michael had promised to wait for his Mom and walk her home. She’d cut back on some of her hours and didn’t normally work this late, but the diner was open 24/7 and she had offered to cover for someone who’d asked for the night off, much to her new fiancés objections. “We’re not married yet!” she’d reminded him. “That sounded awfully like Gus”, offered Emmett. “You know, our Gus… Brian’s Gus”. “Are you crazy? As if Brian needed help from a true love …. doctor …. whatever“ stated Michael, draining his coffee cup. His Mom’s relief had just arrived and Debbie had gone to collect her coat. “What about you Ted? You must see Brian more than anyone, working for him”, asked Ben. “True, but he doesn’t come in to the office now as much as he used to, and I saw him about once a month when he moved to New York. I dunno, I think he has changed some. He doesn’t blow up as much as he used to. Still a demon when it comes to securing an account mind”. “Maybe looking after a kid has calmed him down a little. You learn to have patience when you’re dealing with a ten year old” stated Debbie, taking her son’s arm on one side and Ben’s on the other. But her mind was working overtime and Emmett was right. It did sound awfully like Gus. To be continued.