Damaged Goods by Diane McNab - HTML preview

ZAC'S HIGH SCHOOL FORMAL

Over dinner one night Zac announced his High School Formal was coming up.

“Well Son we need to get you to the right establishment to arrange appropriate attire” said Grayson.

“That's ok Dad, Mum and I are going to a hire place in the city. It's where everyone else is going, it's cool.”

Grayson thought it was far from cool wondering how many other kids had worn the hired suits. “I insist, I will even take you myself to get you fitted out properly.”

“Thanks but no thanks Dad. I have already made up my mind” Zac said quite firmly.

Summer and Zac went to a hire store in Queen Street. The girl helping them was sweet and actually a bit flirtatious with Zac which made him go slightly red, particularly when she took his inner leg measurement.

The night was looming and Madge asked Zac who he had asked as his partner for the dance adding “I must say if it's Lydia you had better wear a raincoat. I have seen how she looks at you and believe me that girls has ants in her pants.”

Zac understood the meaning of a raincoat and feeling a little overwhelmed (and embarrassed) stated “I am not taking Lydia.”

“Well that's good, she is very pretty, but she seems to have in store in prize at the end of the rainbow if you get my drift?” said Madge.

Madge would have said more but Summer had a Mother's moment of intuition and kicked Madge under the table as a warning to shut up.

Zac took a deep breadth and said “Actually I am taking a boy, I am taking Jack.”

“So have you asked him?” asked Summer.

“Yes I have and he said yes.”

“Oh wow you will look wonderful together” Summer stated giving her Son a huge hug.

“Thanks Mum I can always count on you to be understanding but what about Dad?”

“Well your Dad is not going to the dance is he? You are going with someone you choose to so how he feels is not your concern.”

Later Summer and Madge sat in the kitchen drinking a cup of cocoa before calling it a night.

“Well there's a battle to be borne that's for sure” said Madge.

“You are right” sighed Summer “but I know which side I want to win. The fact that Zac has acknowledged who is at a very early age makes me very proud. However, the dinosaur that is going to enter the room leaves a lot of room for speculation as to whether he will be accepting or not.”

The night in question arrived quickly.

Zac looked at himself in the mirror resolved to the fact that he was gay. Yes he was young to make such a decision but was well aware that thanks to his Mother it was an acceptable place to be.

He went downstairs in his penguin suit and his Mother dissolved in to tears.

“Look at you” she gushed “you are a perfect painting, one I could never create in a life time.”

“Geeze Mum that's over the top even for you” laughed Zac noticing Madge was also dabbing her eyes.

With that Grayson arrived saying “Just making sure my Son is dressed appropriately.”

Summer retorted with “And what if he hadn't been, maybe wearing board shorts and a t-shirt, what would you have done?”

Grayson not understanding the animosity from Summer kept his mouth firmly shut.

A few moments later Jack arrived. Summer announced him to look so dashing and gave him a big hug.

At this point Grayson asked when the boys would be picking up the girls.

Zac looked his Father straight in the eye and said “There are no girls Dad. Me and Jack are going to the formal together as a couple.”

Grayson felt gob smacked.

Summer broke the awkward pause in the conversation announcing “Here is your limo, let's get some photo's.”

Much flashing of photo's and waving went on before the long car disappeared around the corner.

Grayson went up to the bar area and poured himself a very large scotch.

“What the hell just happened?” he asked in honest confusion.

“Your Son Zac went to his first dance with a partner he had chosen and didn't they look so happy together?” asked Summer.

Before Grayson could reply there was a loud banging on the door and Madge appeared in the room with Jack's Mother Helen in tow.

“Were you aware of what was going on between my Jack and your Son?” Helen asked shrilly with blazing eyes.

Summer looked at her and calmly replied “They are two boys that made a choice to go to a dance together. Further than that I have no idea what goes on in anyone's minds, particularly boys at their age. It is something they will have to work out for themselves if people are liberal enough to let them do so.”

Helen almost screamed in her reply. “Liberal, you use the word liberal, you are nothing but a joke for being a poor excuse for an artist. And as for you” directing her words to Grayson “you are another joke. Everyone knows your own Wife took her own life just to be rid of you!”

“Get out of my house now before I throw you out” Summer retaliated.

Helen left slamming the door behind her.

Grayson looked at Summer and said “We need to talk.”

“Not tonight Gray, I think more than enough has been said. I honestly don't believe any more words should be spoken. Please just go home.”

“Well that was pretty brutal, how are you holding up?” asked Madge walking in to the room.

“I have no answer to that” said Summer.

Zac bounded in to the kitchen the next morning with a big smile on his face.

“So how did your night go, did you enjoy it?” asked Summer.

Zac answered with a big grin on his face. “Yeah it was cool. Jack and I actually danced together which made a few jaws drop but after the initial reaction everyone seemed to get over it, apart from Lydia who said she always thought I was a poofter. I notice Dad isn't here, was there much trouble in paradise after I left?”

Summer sighed and said “Let's just say enough had been said for the night and that is the place I wanted to leave it at so he went home.”

“She is a wise woman your Mother” said Madge from the kitchen sink.