Glen, engaging back in conversation asks me, “So, I have girlfriend now.”

“Yeah…” I reply not knowing where he is taking this.

“When are you going to get a girlfriend?”

At sixteen, I realized I was different. I wasn’t like Victoria. I didn’t obsess over boys. I didn’t feel the need to put on makeup and do my hair perfectly before walking out the door. At first I just thought I was a tomboy or haven’t met ‘that’ guy yet. Now I think that I was lying to myself. I soon was spiraling into a black hole of lesbianism. I also was starting to question the things taught to me by my family and my pastor. I could hardly sit down and listen to the bullshit coming out of the pastor’s mouth during mass. I needed to escape.

The only con of being in Dallas was Glen’s slutty girlfriend, Madison. Madison was from Los Angeles, which according to my family is even worse than New York. As soon as I arrived, Glen looked at me surprised and said that something was different. I told him that four years would do that but he kept questioning and trying to figure out whatever mystery he had found. After the effects ofbeing closeted for a few months, I decided to come out to him. Once I told him, I got the opposite reaction than I expected. Glen actually started jumping up and down and screaming, “I knew it! I knew something was different!”

I blush and said, “No. Glen, you know I can’t do that in our house.”

“So…rebel, it’s really bad ass. I did it,” Glen replied. I look at Glen confused. What does he mean rebel?

“What? When did you rebel?” I question.

“Oh, you know, moving away from home.” I know that there is more to this story but I don’t want to make Glen more nervous than he already is. I wonder where Pa is.

“I think we should find Pa,” I tell Glen, hoping to make him calmer and more relaxed.

Glen and I walk out of the airport and on the street we see Pa’s van. I get in but Glen stays behind. I hope he’s not expecting a greeting.

“What ‘re you doin’ boy, git in the car,” Pa greets.

“Uh Pa, Chels isn’t going to be here for another two hours so I thought I’d wait and we’d just catch a cab later.”

“Don’t be ridiculous boy, we can come back for her later.”

“Okay Pa,” Glen replies solemnly. He gets in the van and we silently drive home until we pass the Bojangles’ that causes Pa so much rage.

“You remember about that Bojangles, right Glen? Those people that frequent there, those black hoodlums.”

“What did they ever do to you,” I mumble quietly.

“What?” Pa questions.

“”Nothing,” I reply and look over at Glen smiling at me slightly but sadly.

“Make sure you tell Chelsea that white folk don’t go there, okay Glen?” Pa asks.

“I don’t think that will be a problem,” Glen replies shakily.

We continue our journey home and I can’t help but feel that something is not right. I can feel in the air that drama is to come.