Chapter Ten; Part One “Viv! It’s good to see you again.” I throw my arms around my sister and hug her tight. She’s wearing a slinky little black dress with her hair in artful waves, and she looks stunning. “You, too, Meg.” Viv holds me at arm’s length and studies my dress. As I’m wearing… Continue Reading
Parental Deception; chapter nine, part three
Chapter Nine; Part Three “Mrrrrrreow!” Onyx leaps into the air, and I catch her effortlessly. I cradle her to my chest and nuzzle her fur. She purrs happily, waving her front paws in the air. Jet dances around me, excited that his human is home. He bats at my legs, careful to keep his claws… Continue Reading
Parental Deception; chapter nine, part two
They had the funeral a week later, and it was attended by hundreds of people. Several of them spoke up, giving loving eulogies of Henry. Many of them were gay men that he had met through the San Francisco’s Gay Men’s Chorus, and they sang, “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” by Boyz… Continue Reading
Parental Deception; chapter nine, part one
Chapter Nine; Part One “Gah.” I’m awakened by my phone ringing. It’s Jasmine’s ring, and it’s not stopping. I let it go to VM as I glance at my clock. It’s five in the morning, and I’m going to kill Jasmine for calling me so early. A minute later, my phone starts ringing again, and… Continue Reading
Parental Deception; chapter eight, part three
Chapter Eight; Part Three Predictably, I start getting antsy, but I don’t want to disturb our fragile détente. I breathe smoothly and slowly, trying to expel the tension from my body. I roll my neck around, which helps. My leg is falling asleep, but I don’t want to move it because it’ll disturb Onyx. Rembrandt’s… Continue Reading
Parental Deception: chapter eight, part two
Chapter Eight; Part Two I am still thinking about it as I drive home. I list all the reasons it’s a bad idea, but there’s a small voice in the back of my head saying, “I don’t care. Fuck his brains out.” I try to shut it up, but it refuses to be quiet. Should… Continue Reading
Parental Deception chapter eight, part one
Chapter Eight; Part One “Meow!” Onyx hurtles through the air, and I catch her as if she’s a football thrown by Fran Tarkenton. Back before he became a Republican asshole, but that’s neither here nor there. She tucks her head under my chin and purrs loudly. Jet saunters over and whaps my shin with his… Continue Reading
Parental Deception; chapter seven
Chapter Seven “You ready to go?” I ask Viv, cradling the phone on my shoulder as best I can as I look in the closet. I’m only going out with my sister, but I still want to look my best. “Almost. Jasmine can’t make it. Bob is having a bad night.” Viv’s tone is so… Continue Reading
Parental Deception; chapter six, part two
Chapter Six; Part Two “Hey, babe. How did it go?” Rembrandt looks up as I enter the living room. He has some Swedish movie on the TV, but he’s actually dozing. Ginger is on his lap as usual, and Onyx and Jet are flanking his thighs. Onyx squeaks when she sees me and launches herself… Continue Reading
Parental Deception; chapter six, part one
Chapter Six; Part One “I’ll take a large latte with skim milk,” I say to the barista at Ye Olde Diamond Shoppe. “And this zucchini pineapple bread.” He sighs and pushes himself away from the counter as if I’m asking him to murder his mother. “That’ll be six-seventy-five,” he says, a scowl on his face.… Continue Reading