Date Me, Bryson Keller(66)

My house is ten minutes away from school by car, but today I walk. By the time I reach our street, my feet ache in my shoes, and I’m pretty sure that my socks are wet with more than just sweat. Again, I don’t care. I feel too empty to do so.

I’m so lost in my own thoughts that I barely take notice of the things around me. I don’t notice Dad’s car in the driveway, and it isn’t until I’m through the front door that I realize he’s working from home today.

“Kai, what’s wrong?” Dad, without any hesitation, crosses the room and hugs me.

My tears start then. He pulls me to his chest and holds me as I release everything I am feeling.

    Dad has never shied away from showing me affection. He’s never believed that boys shouldn’t be hugged, kissed, or loved. And so Dad stands there holding me tight while I sob.

Between my sobs, I tell him everything. I unload about everything that’s happened at school. And even when the words stop and all I have left are my tears and snot, he holds me.

“Everything’s going to be all right, Kai,” Dad says. His words are what I need right now. “I’m sorry, and I love you. I always will.” He holds me at arm’s length. “How about I make you something to eat?”

I follow him to the kitchen and take a seat. I watch him work in silence before he clears his throat.

“I want to apologize,” he says. “Mom and I messed up on Saturday.” Dad’s grating cheese onto a plate but stops to look at me. “I’m sorry for how much we must have hurt you. I know nothing can make up for that, but I’m sorry anyway.”

Dad’s sincerity is like a balm to my raw emotions. For the third time today, I feel myself on the verge of crying.

“I didn’t choose to be this way,” I say.

“I know, son, I know.” He moves around the island and comes to hug me again. “It must have been so hard for you to carry this all alone.”

I nod. “I wanted to be the one to tell you, when I was ready.”

“I’m sorry that it happened this way. But I’m not sorry that we know.” Dad bends down so that we are standing eye-to-eye. “I want to tell you that I love you and that I accept you.”

    “I’m scared, Dad,” I admit. “Everything’s changed now that people know. I’m not just Kai Sheridan anymore. I’m Kai Sheridan—the gay one.”

Dad sighs. “It’s going to be tough, but I want you to live your life for you from now on. You deserve to be happy. You deserve to love and be loved.”

“What about Mom?” I ask. “Will she ever be okay with this? Okay with me?”

“Of course,” Dad says. And he sounds so sure that I find myself wanting to believe him with every fiber of my being. “I know it might be unfair to you, but give Mom some time. She loves you, and nothing is ever going to change that. Nothing could ever.” Dad sighs again. “I think it’s just the shock of it all that has us acting foolish. That isn’t on you, though. I want you to be happy.”

I want that, too. I want to be happy. I want to live—it’s all I’ve ever wanted.

Dad returns to the cheese. He finishes grating, gets bread, and starts to make a grilled cheese sandwich. I watch as Dad butters both sides before placing the sandwich down in a piping-hot pan. It sizzles. Dad’s making me my favorite.

I smile. Though things are uneasy between us, I can tell that they will get better. Nothing ever stays the same.

As I start to eat, Dad leaves the kitchen. He returns with his laptop and sits down next to me. We don’t talk. We don’t need to. Just having him next to me helps. Dad places a folded piece of paper in front of me. I open it and read it:

    Dear Mom and Dad,

I have never been this disappointed to be your child before. I hope you’re aware that your treatment of Kai was totally unacceptable, and you should both be very ashamed of yourselves. I understand that we grew up religious and I know our faith matters, but does it matter more than the happiness and safety of your son? No one is asking you to not believe in God. You can do that and continue to love and support your son. The two are not mutually exclusive. Please reflect on what you have done and make amends. Until you do, I, Yasmine Sheridan, will not be speaking to you both.

It is with a heavy heart that I have written this letter, but it was necessary. I hope to see some improvement in your behavior soon. Please do not disappoint me again. Even though I am angry at you, I still love you both.

—Yazz





I choke back tears, but I’m also smiling. My sister is amazing.

“It’s true when they say that children aren’t born with hate or prejudice,” Dad says. “It’s us who teach them those things. I’ll never stop being sorry to both you and Yazz, Kai.” Dad pats my shoulder. I turn to look at him and find that he’s blinking back tears, too. I reach for him and hug him. Dad hugs me back.

    “Here.” I hand the letter back to Dad.

“You should keep it,” Dad says.

I nod.



* * *



? ? ?

I’m at the sink washing my dishes when I hear the screech of tires. The front door opens with a bang and Mom storms into the kitchen.

“I got your text. What’s wrong?” Mom asks Dad. I don’t look at them, focusing all my attention on the dishes. Dad tells her what’s happened with the Fairvale Academy Herald.