Ring in Mine
Kim Terry
When I wrote Ring in Mine, John and his father were flat characters, an innocent and a villian. I have been amazed at what I have learned about them while writing their story and it has become their story not just John's.
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My thanks go out to Zack for proofreading this chapter and my other readers who have offered their insights.
Kim ----------
Ring in Mine: John Chapter 8
The morning was hectic. A tuxedo needed to be rented. Purchasing clean underwear, shocks and shoes was a must. At least John had taken care of the haircut the day before. They needed to be at the opening early. It had been decided that John would meet Susan at the show. John wanted to have some kind of flowers for his date. A quick call to Susan's mother determined the color of her dress.
With the flowers in hand they arrived at the gallery two hours before the opening. Susan enlisted Professor Terrion's help in pinning the flowers to her dress. The orchid matched the sparkles in her hair. John's fingers twitched. He wanted to draw this vision of loveliness.
The gallery was laid out with one large central display area with smaller rooms clustered around the perimeter. Bethany's work would be featured in the main gallery for the run of the show. John had always enjoyed Bethany's work. Even though they had painted many of the same models, she had more of an abstract feel while John's work was more stylized realism.
John and his date walked past an alcove featuring the work of an artist listed as J. Littleman. He recognized an image, a young baseball player wearing very little besides a jock and batting helmet. John was amazed to find his previous day's work framed and hung. The price tags really shook him. The originals of the images featuring his current hosts were marked as sold. The price of the prints was staggering.
"They were hung this morning and a set of the prints have already been sold." The gallery owner mentioned.
"Do you know the artist?" Susan asked. "He must be gay."
"I am told he is straight and has eyes only for a young gymnast." The owner offered.
"Bethany, have you seen these?" Susan called to her sister.
The artist stepped into the alcove and critically examined the pieces.
"John do you really feel this is fair? Who is going to look at my stuff with this in here?" Bethany gave John the evil eye.
"Two completely different styles. Not everyone wants pornography on their walls." John answered.
"I ought to hit this Littleman up the back of the head, trying to upstage my show." Susan watched wide-eyed as her sister did just that.
"That hurt." John complained.
"It was supposed to." Bethany walked away laughing.
"What was that all about?" Susan asked her date. John pointed to the signature on the paintings, `John L.'
She looked puzzled as they walked across the way to an alcove showing the work of John Litchfield. This collection was sports oriented but everyone was dressed. Susan asked about the story behind the pair of gymnast paintings. John explained how his father did not approve of gymnastics as a manly sport for his only son. Susan looked closely at the detail of the disheartened gymnast. She looked at the signature. Then she looked even closer.
"You did those?" Susan stared at her date. John nodded waiting for her rejection.
"Am I the gymnast?" John nodded again. Susan gave him a big hug. "I love having a talented artist that really knows how to stick a landing."
"It all has to be a secret. My dad wouldn't understand. He has a fear that I'm gay." John explained.
"I think we should check." Susan didn't give John a chance to process her last statement before her lips met his. Being older this wasn't her first kiss. John was a quick learner. He was soon playing tonsil tag like a pro. Susan noticed the swelling against her leg.
"I think we can safely say you're not completely gay." Susan laughed.
"If you two are done. Our guests are arriving." Susan's father announced.
Susan and John had been clued in on most of the pieces in Bethany's show, so they could talk about her work intelligently. Bethany trusted John but worried about her sister who had never progressed beyond coloring books.
John kept an eye out for his parent's arrival. The scenario had been well planned. When he spotted them getting out of the car. John and Susan took their places in the alcove with the Litchfield paintings.
From the back, with dark hair and the tuxedo it would be nearly impossible to recognize john. It was hard for John not to turn and watch his parents. Susan had to be his eyes.
"Your dad is in the Littleman exhibit. He is spending a lot of time looking at the partially dressed athlete drawings. Are you sure your dad isn't a little bit gay?" She asked.
"My dad hates everything that might be gay." John answered.
"I'm not so sure. He just adjusted the front of his pants." Susan responded. "Here he comes."
Susan waited until Mark was looking at the painting titled "Strike Three! before she started her performance.
"That is so sad. You just want to cry with him. Did you see the damp trail on his cheek?" Susan pointed out.
"Sports give you a thick skin and teaches you to work past failure. You learn to become a man." Mark expressed his opinion. Susan bantered back and forth with Mark, trying to make him see how much he had hurt his son.
Susan's father asked the couple to join the family for pictures. Mark still had not recognized his son even when the couple stopped in the archway and kissed.
The show was pretty much over. Only family and special guests remained. The waiters brought out a final round of flutes.
The gallery owner lifted his glass with the first toast. "A toast to a successful opening and a talented artist." The toasts continued. Susan's father offered the final toast of the evening.
"I want to take a moment to toast the newest member of our coaching staff, Mark Litchfield." Susan's father announced. The glasses were raised. Mark was somewhat in shock.
"It came down to two candidates. The committee was deadlocked. As chairman I had to make the final decision. I had a long talk with a young man last night. I can honestly say it was his recommendation that helped me make my decision." The Chairman of the Selection Committee paused. "Mark, your son was very honest. He mentioned the good and the bad, but in the end he was sure that you were just the person I needed on the coaching staff. It was his articulate presentation of why your strengths outweigh your weaknesses that sold me."
It was then Mark felt someone step next to him. The young man from earlier wrapped his arm around him. "I really do think you would be the best for the job."
It wasn't until hearing the voice, that Mark realized this was his son. Mark wasn't sure what to say. For the first time in a long time he was speechless. The room was expectantly quiet.
John nudged his motionless father and said loudly, "Dad, they are waiting for you to step up there and tell everyone you are honored to have this opportunity to join their team and you are going to give this new position everything you've got. That you are going to mold the young people in your charge into not only great athletes but well rounded individuals as well, ready to take their place in society when they graduate."
John didn't even pause. "Dad, you are going to tell them that sometimes your love of the game gives you tunnel vision, but you are going to help your players love the game and to use that tunnel vision to help them focus on achievement on and off the field. Then you are going to thank them again for their faith in you."
"Great speech dad." John said clapping.
The room broke into applause.
"Now go shake hands. Mom you need to be with him. You are a team." John finished and then faded back into the crowd to stand by Susan.
"John, that was a great speech. Even with how he treats you, you really love him don't you?" Susan asked.
"Yeah, he's my dad. He just gets confused about what is really important now and then." John answered. Susan must have liked the answer; she rewarded him with a kiss.
Mark was near enough that he heard his son's answer. It gave him a lot to consider. He thought about his roommate and best friend in college and it renewed his resolve that the same fate wouldn't fall upon his son. Maybe he could cut his son some slack. Mark was proud of John's accomplishments, but the skeleton rattling in his closet kept getting in the way.
This is the first chapter that we begin to see a glimps behind Mark's drill sargent mentality. There are hints of more insights to come.
My posting for this story is going to be intermittent. It is Medicare Open enrollment. If you would like to be notified when a new chapter is available drop me a line. ringinmine@yahoo.com