Robert had never been so upset in all his life. The car stopped short in front of him, causing the old man to slam on his brakes. His coffee from McDonald’s — with the caution “warning, hot” impressed into the lid— spilled into his lap. He let out a loud yowl as the burning liquid spread into his skin. He pulled over and put the car in park, opening the door and getting out, limping.
“At least Sasha and I had a great time tonight, before he showed up at the bar. It would be the last time in a while, if my father’s face had anything to say about it,” his son, James, thought, as he watched his father jumping around, waving his hand in front of his genitals.
The podcast on Edgar Allen Poe was still blaring on the radio, the dial turned up because of Robert’s hearing loss. James rolled his eyes. “I mean who cares about an old dead man writing about ravens and — what’s it called? A tell-tale heart. I mean really!”
Robert limped over to the passenger-side window and stared in at his son. “Are you OK?” James asked.
Robert was quiet. Then came soft sounds. Then loud cries. Loud bitter sobs. James’ mouth gaped open and questions came pouring in.
“Was he … crying? My father? That strong man? I guess I knew he wouldn’t like Sasha, But I would have never guessed things would end like this.”
James took a deep sigh and pulled his courage together. “Dad, I told you was gay when I was 25. Why are you so upset?”
Robert. wiped away tears and said, “Other than the fact that my skin is burning, I came tonight to take you to the hospital. Your mother had a heart attack.”
“What!?”
“I knew what you told me before, but just seeing you there, in the open, for all to see … I just didn’t expect it.”
“What happened to Mom, Dad?”
“Don’t worry, we’re on our way." The doctors will tell us more.”
Somehow Poe blasting on the radio didn’t seem as loud, as James was lost in his thoughts, worrying about his mother. He didn’t even think to call Sasha, who was still sitting at the bar, disturbed by the earlier interruption, and waiting.
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