Neil picked up the phone on the second ring but couldn't even say `hello' before TJ gushed, "My love! I have the most wonderful news! And, you are responsible for it!"
"Whoa!" the eighteen-year-old exclaimed. "May I phone you back?"
Confused, the disappointed fifteen-year-old answered, "Okay."
The younger boy waited for the much anticipated return call a very long thirty minutes. At first, he worried something was wrong then concluded his lover was probably not alone and couldn't speak freely.
Finally, his cell rang with him hurriedly asking, "Neil?"
"Yes, it's me! I'm sorry I couldn't talk, because I was chatting with Cory."
"The arrogant asshole?"
"Yes. I'll explain after you give me your good news."
"Do you remember suggesting I should tell my father I love him?"
"Of course!"
Relating the complete story, the fifteen-year-old concluded, "That's one more reason that I adore you. You convinced me to express my feelings to him and it turned out far better than I expected!"
"I'm delighted, TJ! I don't know the man very well, but I feared he wouldn't change."
"Now, please tell me about Cory."
"That news is not so good. He came onto a hot jock named Brad who lives in my dorm. It started out slowly when he tried to make friends by praising the guy's physique. The stud reacted by being a little friendlier. That continued for about one week. Then, Cory made a serious mistake. They were showering at the same time this morning. Cory complimented him on the size of his cock and asked whether he used it for anything besides pissing. Replying 'not yet' the guy left. The obnoxious snob then made a bigger mistake. He followed the dude while saying, Let me show you a great way to use your dick.' The jock stopped and asked what he meant. The idiot whispered, I can give you a first class blow job.' Brad was furious. He hit him in the face while yelling `get lost, you filthy little faggot!'
"I was returning from the library when I saw a trail of blood on the floor leading to the sorry chump's room. I knocked several times without getting a response. I called his name until he opened the door to let me in. For fifteen minutes he claimed nothing was wrong until finally admitting, under pressure what had happened."
"That's terrible! Is he all right?"
"Physically, yes. He had a bloody nose and a black eye. Mentally, however, no. He's convinced Brad will spread the word that he's a fag, making his life on campus a living hell. Frankly, I think he's right. The students will despise and torment him. We spent almost two hours chatting. That's when you called. He settled down by the time I left but he's confused over how to proceed from here. He mentioned dropping out of school but then he would need a good excuse to give his parents. They hate gays as much as your's do, so the truth is not an option. While I still dislike the kid, I feel badly for him."
"Does he realize that he brought it on himself?"
"He does now. My comments yesterday may not have had an effect but a battered face certainly did!"
"It could have been worse -- a few broken bones or internal injuries."
"He knows his physical injuries will heal. However, his psyche won't. Not with everybody tormenting him. I have no solution for that."
"Is he bothered by the realization he is gay?"
"I can't be sure. When I started talking to him, he seemed to be full of self-hatred. I hope that I convinced him being queer, while unusual, is neither abnormal nor shameful."
"That's an awful story, Neil! I don't like him, either. And, he was wrong for coming on to the jock, but Brad had no business physically attacking him!"
"I agree! The question remains: What can be done about it?"
"What if you talk to the guy: I'm thinking out loud here. Suppose you mention you spoke with Cory, saying he has learned his lesson. Then, you add that broadcasting what happened will only hurt the kid more. You can end by stressing that Cory's education, perhaps even his life, depends on it."
"You mean he might be suicidal?"
"I don't know: You're the one who spoke to him. But, it might happen; you never can tell!"
"I don't know whether I can pull it off but I'll try. I'll do that right now. With luck, he won't have spread it around yet."
"Let me know how it turns out!"
"I will. I love you! Until later."
"Me, too, Neil! Bye."
The eighteen-year-old went directly to the stud's room. He would have preferred to have more time to plan what to say but he couldn't waste any more time.
Knocking, he was relieved to find the jock there.
When the door opened, he said, "Hi, Brad: I'd like to talk with you if you have a minute."
"Sure, come in," Brad said as he opened the door wider and stepped out of the way. "What's up?"
"I saw a trail of blood in the hall leading to Cory's room. I checked on him to see if he was all right. It took a while, but he told me what had happened."
The muscular jock scowled at the memory of the incident -- more from the other boy's brashness than his response to it.
"Yeah! The faggot wanted to give me a blow job. That's disgusting! I let him know what I thought of his suggestion!"
"He was wrong. He told me he made a big mistake. And, I'm convinced that he's sincerely sorry for offending you."
"Insult me? He fucking pissed me off. Do I regret hitting him? No! The little queer had it coming!"
Brad was getting more agitated. Therefore, Neil tried to placate him by saying, "I'm not here to criticize you for your reaction. I might have done the same thing. He made the error, not you. And I believe him when he says he's sorry for saying it. He's sorry that he got hit, of course, but he's more sorry about pissing you off."
"Okay," Brad said, now somewhat calmer. "So, he's a sorry prancing homo! But, that's something he'll have to live with!"
"Yes!" Neil said, suppressing the urge to point out that one's sexual preference is not something to be scorned or persecuted. "He's gay. He needs to live with that. He's going to have a tough time, which brings me to my next point."
"Which is?"
"Right now, there are only three people in the world that know he's gay: Cory, you, and me. If the word gets out that he's a fag his life will be even worse. Other students will taunt, tease, and ridicule him. He's already talking about dropping out. That could damage not only his education but his career."
The jock seemed unmoved by Neil's appeal.
"Perhaps, he should quit school to go live in San Francisco with all the other faggots. He'd get plenty of what he wants there!"
With fading hopes of reasoning with Brad, Cory's defender decided to play his trump card. "What if people find out, forcing him to withdraw. He would have to tell his parents why, leaving him no choice but to remain here. But, his life on campus will become unbearable. I'm not exaggerating when I say that somebody in that situation might consider suicide. How would it make you feel being responsible for his death?"
"Great! That leaves one less fairy in the world!"
Frustrated at Brad's stubborn bigotry, Neil calmly fought to remain reasonable. Not prepared to give up, he stood, walked over to the desk and looked at a framed picture of Jesus on the wall. Turning around he asked, "Are you ready to look at that image without wondering what "HE" would do? Could the Lord's son be happy knowing one of his children took their own life because you threw the first stone? Or, might he be more pleased if you prayed for Cory, instead? What would Jesus do, Brad?"
Suddenly, Brad became silent and nonbelligerent. Long minutes passed while the eighteen-year-old waited for the hunk to say something.
Hoping that he had found a key to changing Brad's mind, Neil broke the stillness by declaring, "I'm not asking you to be friends with him. All I'm requesting is for you to give Cory another chance. You've taught him a valuable lesson. I'm pretty sure he won't try anything like that again -- with you or anybody else. Are you willing to save him from a life of torment here on campus? Will you avoid making him do something dumb such as ending his life? Will you not tell anybody what he said to you?"
Brad was silently thoughtful for a while but finally said, "Okay! I'll keep it to myself."
Neil felt relief wash over him even though the bigot added defiantly, "But, if that queer even looks at me funny again, the deal is off. Tell him that! Let him know he can expect no more favors from me. Furthermore, he'd better damn well watch what he says and does!"
"Thanks: I'll relay your message. I'm sure he will be grateful."
Stopping at Cory's room, his defender knocked. The occupant cracked opened the door. Seeing a friendly face, he opened the door all the way and invited him in.
Entering, his guest announced, "I talked to Brad."
The host's already sad demeanor plummeted further.
"He's agreed not to speak to anybody about what happened. He also added you'd better not even look at him funny, or he will out you! I've done as much as I can! I warned you, but you obviously didn't listen. Now, it's in your hands. Watch your eyes and your mouth, because you may not get another chance."
Neil immediately turned to leave.
Cory, speaking to the retreating boy's back said, "Thank you, my friend!"
Neil just kept walking.
Upon entering his room, he picked up his cell phone to report to his partner the results of his conversation with Brad and to specifically state, "TJ, I love you with all my heart!"
Thanks to Baruch for his valuable suggestions on this chapter.