Life in Fusion (22 page)

fifties outside.

I surveyed Sandy’s house, which was like any of the others

lining each side of the street. Not that they were all the same

architecturally speaking, but each one had been kept up,

meticulously. My neighbor back home, Mrs. Diaz, would have

been in heaven. I made a mental note not to tell her where I was

relocating to, as she’d likely try warning everyone I wasn’t the

meticulous sort when it came to pride of ownership.

The wood lap siding was painted a bright daisy yellow, while

all the trim, like the milled porch columns and the saw tooth

shingling adorning the peaks, had been painted a crisp, clean

white. I felt Wade take my hand and I became all giddy on the

inside, while trying to keep my cool on the outside.

It was odd to me, participating in PDA with Wade in a tiny

town like this. I kept expecting to hear someone yelling
Faggot!

Not that I was wishing for it, but I had this perception of what

small town life for gays would be like, and standing on the street

in broad daylight while holding hands with my boyfriend wasn’t

included. But I loved that Wade was so incredibly comfortable in

his own skin. And even though it required constant reminders on

160 Ethan Day

my end, I’d decided to let him set the tone of what was acceptable.

“Can you believe it’s so warm out?” Jackie said, as she walked

up to us.

“It is odd, but nice,” Wade said, squinting from the bright sun.

“I’m totally laying out later this afternoon.” I nodded. “Can’t

wait
to soak up those rays.”

“The smart mouth on this one,” Jackie said, looking at her

brother.

“You’re one to talk, lady,” I declared.

“Afraid he’s got you on that one, Jackie.”

She giggled, as if enjoying her reign as the Sarcasm Queen of

Summit City. “Whose idea was it to have this lunch at the bird

lady’s house?”

Christ, I hate birds.

“Apparently Sandy insisted.” Wade shrugged. “Wouldn’t take

no for an answer.”

Maybe it’s only a nickname that comes from her crazy taste in bird-

themed wallpaper?

“I’m shocked, since I’m fairly certain she’s none too keen on

me,” I said, frowning. “And I thought for sure she’d be the first

one to hop on the Boone bandwagon when I met her.”

“You don’t actually seem all that surprised at being wrong.”

Jackie pointed out, pulling off her sunglasses.

“Of course not,” I said, matter-of-factly. “I’m a horrible judge

of character.”

“That’s for sure,” Wade teased.

I punched him in the arm, which I believe actually hurt me

more than it did him considering he didn’t even flinch while my

knuckles popped. “You could at least wait thirty seconds before

heartily agreeing with me.”

“Please,” Wade said. “Thirty seconds in Boone-time and God

only knows where the conversation would be.”

Life in fusion
161

“He’s got
you
on that one,” Jackie said and I nodded, reluctantly.

“Real birds?” I asked.

“Huh?” Wade asked, shaking his head as if to rid himself of

the cobwebs. “Yes, real birds.”

“Fucking things drive me nuts,” Jackie said, heading up the

sidewalk toward the porch, causing Wade and I laugh as she made

loud shrieking and squawking noises.

“Will you please try to control yourself, Jackie?” Wade asked,

doing his best to sound disapproving despite laughing his ass off.

“How many does she have?” I asked, following Jackie after

Wade let go of my hand.

Wade shrugged and placed his hand on the small of my back,

nudging me forward. “I don’t know—a dozen or so.”

“Too many,” Jackie snapped.

I felt my lip snarling up as climbed the steps that led to her

front door. I’d hated birds since the third grade, when Samantha

Jacobs brought her vicious, killer parakeet for show and tell.

She’d defied the teacher, Mrs. Venable, by taking it out of its

cage. The psychotic, yellow viper flew right out of her hand and

dive bombed the top of my head, digging its tiny talons into my

scalp. It kept pecking me as I screamed, running around in circles

while all the other kids pointed and laughed. Only Gabe and Mrs.

Venable attempted to rescue me; Samantha Jacobs shrieked at the

top of her lungs while Gabe tried to whack the tiny demon with

his bright orange Trapper Keeper.

I plastered on a smile when Sandy opened the front door.

I could spy a cage through the front window and I wasn’t

sure, but it seemed to me that the closer I got to crossing the

threshold the noisier the birds became. Jackie gave Sandy a quick

peck and pushed on ahead, disappearing into the vortex of

Ornithophobiaville. With each step I took, I could hear Alfred

Hitchcockian music swelling in my head, the rustling of feathers

and the rattling of cages getting louder, as if they could sense my

presence and were readying themselves to attack.

162 Ethan Day

“You okay?” Wade whispered.

“Mmm hmm,” I squeaked, realizing my entire body had gone

rigid.

Wade began softly massaging my shoulders.

“They already all love you, so relax,” Wade whispered, planting

a discreet soft kiss on my neck just below my ear. “Well, all but

Sandy, I guess.”

I resisted the urge to smack him upside the head since I

suspected that would do nothing to endear me to Sandy, who

was now smothering Wade with adoration.

“Oh Wade,” Sandy cooed as she hugged him, her eyes shut

tight, an expression of bliss having taken over her face. “You’re

just the best thing to ever come out of Summit City, you

handsome, dear sweet boy!”

I stood there smiling, invisible. Wade was profusely thanking

Sandy for always taking such good care of him. It was all I could

do to keep from vomiting, thereby hosing her down in Exorcist-

esque flair.

“Oh, hello Boone,” Sandy finally said after releasing the Ninja

death grip she had on my man. “I didn’t see you there.”

I was opening my mouth to thank her and she knew it, yet she

turned to help Wade out of his coat as if she didn’t care to hear it.

“Thank you for offering up your lovely home to us today,” I

said, way louder than necessary.

“I’m not deaf dear,” she added, before leading Wade down

the hall by the hand. “And would you mind getting the door.”

No please, I’ll hang up my own coat.
“So sorry, I could have sworn

you had a hearing problem,” I mumbled under my breath as I

shut the front door behind me. I took off my coat and hung it on

a peg from the coat rack.

The real reason I’d yelled it was so others would hopefully

overhear it, and she couldn’t try lying after the fact by saying I’d

rudely not bothered to thank her.

Life in fusion
163

As I turned to go down the hall, where all the chatter was

coming from, I heard a loud squawk. Followed by Sandy sweetly

asking something called Peanut to settle down and be quiet.

The hallway began getting longer and darker as I mumbled,

“Sounded bigger than anything named Peanut should.”

Wade stepped back and peered down the hallway at me. “You

coming?”

“Mmm hmm,” I squeaked, forcing my leg, with every ounce

of sheer will I could muster, to take that first step.

A high pitched shriek came from my right and I ducked

down, tossing my arms over my head for safety. I slowly turned

and peered into a small sitting room with an upright black piano

and a small settee. I spied two yellow parakeets in a white metal

cage that hung from a wrought iron stand. There was a cat sitting

on the floor staring up at them as if it were making plans.

Kill kitty, kill!

The parakeets squeaked and began fluttering around in the

cage and I felt my eyes widen. I took off down the hall, fearing

for my life. I could hear the haunting laughter of my classmates

echoing all around me.

Wade cocked his head as I continued to make strides across the

wood floors, which creaked under the weight of each footstep.

Just keep your eyes forward and walk toward the man you love
.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Wade whispered once I reached

him. “You’re acting weird.”

Del came up and shoved Wade out of the way, giving me a

good, solid hug. “Wonderful to see you, my boy.” She ushered me

into the room and sat me in a chair next to the one Wade plopped

down into.

The family room was too small for this many people, I thought,

taking in my surroundings. The furniture was dainty, covered in

feminine floral fabrics—like something you’d expect to see in a

dollhouse. And there actually was crazy bird-themed wallpaper.

A porcelain tea set sat on the coffee table, along with a few

164 Ethan Day

matching cups and saucers, including the regular accoutrements

one would expect to find, such as lemon and cream.

For some reason I wasn’t quite able to focus on the actual

conversations going on around me. There was the clinking of

the china, and the rustling of fabric as everyone settled down.

I’d plastered on a smile, glancing around the room, making eye

contact while nodding my greetings. But couldn’t have repeated

a single word anyone had uttered. I was too busy making sure I

kept my gaze away from the one area of the room I knew held

evil.

Del was to my right, followed by Rita, the drama teacher. The

Mayor’s wife, whose name I couldn’t recall was next, along with

Jackie, then Maggie the romantic, and finally, Sandy the nut bag

bird lady.

They were all dressed up as if ready for Sunday service, hair

perfectly in place and make-up flawlessly and tastefully applied.

I cursed myself after my gaze flitted over to Wade because that’s

when I caught a good glimpse of it. A huge ass, mother fucking

Cockatoo, on one of those T-posts, sat in the corner behind

Sandy and Wade. It was salmon pink and white and kept bobbing

its head up and down as it sat perched on the stand.

Stupid thing looks like it’s trying to give head.

“Asshole,” the bird said, as if having been able to read my

thoughts.

Rita, Jackie and Mrs. Mayor all started laughing.

“Honestly Sandy,” Del said, “can’t you do anything about

that?”

“He’s a rescue, Del,” Sandy snapped. “Peanut’s come a long

way in the past year, but some habits he just can’t seem to break

himself of.”

“It is difficult to stop with the asshole once you start,” I said

under my breath with a grin.

Wade coughed, obviously pretending to choke as he reached

over and grabbed my knee, squeezing harder than necessary.

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165

“What was that Boone?” Sandy asked, pointedly. “I didn’t

quite catch that.”

“So sorry, I was too loud before,” I replied. “And I’m too

quiet now. Aren’t you just a little slice of Goldilocks?” I patted

Wade’s hand. “I was simply saying that I’ve heard worse terms of

endearment.”

“Worse than what?” Sandy asked, obviously lost.

“Than asshole, dear.” I smiled sweetly, as did she since

everyone was already cracking up. Of course, I could tell she

didn’t appreciate the insinuation.

“So when are your parents getting here, Boone?” Mrs. Mayor

asked. “We’re all excited to meet them.”

I was cursing my bad memory while making a mental note to

have Wade remind me of her name at some point. “They’ll be in

tomorrow afternoon. My friends are arriving today, so we can all

go out tonight for dinner and drinks.”

“His parents will be staying on for a few extra days after

the party to see the town and spend some time with us,” Wade

interjected.

“I can’t wait to meet them,” Jackie said, tapping her fingers

together as if she instinctively knew they would be the train

wreck she suspected. “I’m practically dying from the curiosity.”

I took the cup of tea Del offered me, wishing it were coffee.

“They’ll likely not disappoint.”

Wade accepted one as well, the delicate tea cup appearing

smaller in his big hands. “They’re very sweet, don’t let him

convince you otherwise. Made me feel right at home.”

“They put you through a parental hazing,” I said.

Del was tickled at that thought and I could already tell Jackie

wanted details, but restrained herself considering we were in

mixed company.

“They were just messing with me, teasing really.” Wade smiled,

clarifying for everyone else.

166 Ethan Day

“I for one, am so happy you agreed to the party tomorrow

night,” Maggie said, placing a hand over her heart. “I really think

we’ve outdone ourselves, and it was so much fun planning and

organizing it.”

“Of course, Maggie has a twisted sense of fun, mind you,”

Rita elaborated. “But it is going to be beautiful.”

“It did make sense to do it this way,” I said taking a sip of tea.