His mom initially seemed very cordial to the both of them.
She exclaimed about how she had a long day at the healthcare facility. She made
sure to emphasize to the fact that she was a Nurse Practitioner to Olivia, but
beyond that she was happy to see the both of them giving them both a bear hug
upon seeing them.
Tyler noticed that Olivia looked a little uncomfortable,
being from Door County and not used to the difference in racial equality in the
room, so he kept his arm around her to keep her stable as his mom and aunt
prepared the meal for the evening. Bruce seemed to not mind anything sitting in
his easy chair with an episode of The
Andy Griffith Show blaring in
the background. Olivia wasn’t a fan of classic TV, but she seemed more at home
with Bruce than she did with Tyler’s mom and aunt and Tyler wasn’t going to
take that away from her. Olivia and Bruce were the only silent people in the
room at this point besides himself.
It wasn’t long before the buffet style food was ready, and
Tyler was appalled to find that his parents and aunt had gone completely
healthy in their diet. Gone were the days of ribs, collard greens soaked in pig
fat, and fried chicken; and in were the days of steamed veggies and fish. He
wanted some of his grandma’s cornbread, but realized that, as she used to say,
“…it sucks half the moisture out of your body…” The cornbread his mom did make
was more like cake, sweet and nothing like the recipe bequeathed to her.
Tyler had often told Olivia about southern soul food, and
having been raised on it, he expected it from his parents. Despite his
ignorance of his current situation, he ate along with little explanation.
Finally, his mother said, “I know this isn’t what you ‘spected, but we tryin’
to eat healthier.” Tyler didn’t like the tone of the comment for a couple
reasons. One: he knew his mother was acting the southern part for Olivia and
not being herself. Two: she was pointing out the fact that she felt they were
both overweight by making sure the meal was healthy.
He tried to keep the peace saying, “I completely understand,
in your line of work, you gotta keep it healthy.”
“I got a new patient earlier today,” she said, “one of the
local newscasters, Dad just loves her,” she always referred to Bruce as Dad,
“and she has colon cancer. Your dad wants her autograph.” She was matter of
fact about the entire ordeal, but Tyler got her meaning from the story. She
took in a piece of broccoli shortly after telling the story.
“So what do you do?” Minnie asked Olivia.
“I work archives for the Parthenon in Nashville,” Olivia
replied. “I was lucky to get this job right after college, we were both lucky
to find jobs in the same city really.”
“Especially with that good for nothing president we got in
office now,” Tyler’s mom said. “Hopefully we get a change in office next
election.” Minnie pursed her loops as she hummed her approval of the opinion
and nodded her head. “I hope neither of you voted for this guy.”
“Actually, we both did,” Tyler said, feeling a little hot
under the collar with anger, “and I think we’re voting for him again.” Tyler’s
mom shook her head but didn’t say much else after that.
The rest of dinner passed fairly quiet; after the food was
done Bruce put on a pot of coffee and served it to the rest of the family
gathered around the table. “Oh, I almost forgot, Dad,” Tyler said, “I got you
something.” Tyler jumped up from his chair and ran outside and rummaged through
the car until he found his father’s gift. Within a couple minutes he was back
in the house handing it to Bruce. “I know you’re not a Badgers fan, but I picked
this up before we moved out of Madison and thought you might want a new
football.”
Bruce beamed as he took the football from Tyler. He palmed
it and made motions like he was ready to throw it even while it was still in
the box. “Man, this is awesome! Thanks Ty! I was just telling Mom the other day
that I needed a new football. Remember when we used to go out to the
Gainesville High field and throw the ball around. Man, those were the days.
Thanks a lot, man!”
“You’re welcome!” Tyler replied. Bruce gave Tyler a big hug.
“Maybe tomorrow we could go out to the ol’ field and throw
it around a bit,” Bruce said, still acting like he was throwing around the ball
in the house.
“Definitely,” Tyler replied.
“Great!” Bruce exclaimed. “I’m gonna go put this away.”
Bruce left the living room still playing with his new football.
“You know he’s not coming back now,” Tyler’s mom said.
“I kinda figured,” Tyler replied with a chuckle.
“Why not?” Olivia asked.
“He’s never been much of a talker,” Tyler answered, “so
after dinner he always finds an excuse to escape the conversation in favor of
watchin’ The Andy Griffith
Show or somethin’.”
“Even though he’s seen every episode a thousand times,”
Minnie chimed in. They all laughed.
Things got quiet again as they all sipped their coffee.
Tyler knew that Olivia must feel awkward, but he also couldn’t think of a
conversation starter that wouldn’t lead to something offensive to the
sensibilities of any member of the current party. Finally, his mom spoke up:
“Minnie, did you watch any of the Democratic National Convention coverage?”
Tyler cringed.
“Of course not,” Minnie replied, “I don’t want to listen to
the garbage they peddlin’.”
“I had a morbid curiosity it check it out,” Tyler’s mom said.
“Couldn’t stomach most of it though. Buncha queers and queer sympathizers
talking about women’s rights to kill unborn babies and blaspheming God.”
“That’s no surprise to me.”
“I don’t see how they don’t understand that God is trying
to punish gays with plagues like AIDS. Look, I don’t condone women in positions
of authority like in the presidency, but Michelle Bachmann’s husband was cured
of his sinful lust. She understands it, but we have these Democrats in charge.
I’m tellin’ you, this country’s goin’ to hell in a hand basket. You agree with
me, right Olivia.”
Olivia and Tyler stared at each other in amazement at what
they had just heard. Tyler could tell that Olivia didn’t know how to respond to
what she just heard, so he spoke up for her, “Her brother is gay and has AIDS.”
Minnie looked shocked by this admission, but Tyler’s mom
was unperturbed. “So you know exactly what I mean,” she said to Olivia.
“Her family doesn’t look at it that way, and I don’t think
you should either.”
“Why shouldn’t I? The Bible says it’s a sin, so that’s how
I see it.”
“It’s not a sin, these people are born gay, they didn’t
choose it.”
“It’s sexual deviancy, maybe you should read your Bible
more.”
“Maybe not everything in the Bible is true,” Tyler could
feel his blood begin to boil.
“I won’t have you blaspheming in my house,” Tyler’s mom
began to raise her voice. “There was a time when you knew better, when you
believed the Truth. You were going to be a youth minister, remember that?”
“Yeah, I grew up though,” Tyler replied coolly.
“I hope you get right with the Lord, or you’ll find
yourself in eternal damnation in the lake of fire.” Tyler felt his face flush
with anger, but he tried to keep his composure. “That goes for you too Olivia,
and you should tell your deviant brother that as well. God ain’t gonna mess
around when he comes back.”
“There is no god!” Tyler exclaimed.
***
“I thought you had quit,” Olivia said, walking up from the
house.
“I had,” Tyler replied, “but a kept half a pack for this
week just in case.” He took another drag of his cigarette as Olivia came up
beside him and put her arms around him. “I’m really sorry about that. Maybe it
wasn’t such a great idea to come up here during an election year.”
“It kept the night interesting,” she said with a laugh.
“Did you mean what you said in there?”
“I don’t know,” he replied flicking his cigarette butt
toward the road. “I think I just really wanted to get a really good dig in at
her. What was the scene when you left?”
“Your mom and Aunt Minnie didn’t say anything. Minnie was
looking into her coffee mug shaking her head. Your mom sat there with her mouth
wide open for a few minutes, but then she started glaring at me. I thought it
might be best to come after you at that point.”
Tyler turned and pulled Olivia in for a hug. “I’m really
sorry, I was hoping for something…different from them.” He sighed and let go of
her taking her by the hand, “Let’s get out of here.”
They walked back to the car, Tyler once again taking the
driver seat and Olivia getting into the passenger seat. As Tyler started up the
car, Bruce came out of the house onto the carport and walked toward the car.
Tyler rolled down the window as Bruce walked up. “Everything alright?” Bruce
asked.
“Alright as it can be,” Tyler replied. “You know how Mom
can get.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“I don’t know how much longer we’ll be staying in town, so
we might not make it back here.”
“We still have a game of catch to play, you know.”
Tyler smiled, “Yeah, Dad, I know. Meet you out at GHS
tomorrow?”
“Sounds like a plan,” Bruce replied.
“See you then, Dad.” Tyler pulled the car out of the
driveway, the events of the evening all but pushed out of his mind by the
thought of playing catch with his dad again.
