Free Heatstroke (extended version) by Taylor V. Donovan Page A

"I like boys."
     
"That's it!" His mom slapped him on the shoulder. Hard. "What has gotten into you?"
     
"What?" he asked all innocent. "What did I do? It isn't as if my gayness is a secret."
     
"There were better ways to let your grandmother know," Mom pointed out.
     
"You can't like boys," Grandma said.
     
"But I do. A lot," he said with a smile that he was sure didn't reach his eyes. "Must be genetic,
     
right?"
     
"Genetic?" Dad asked. "What in the world are you talking about?"
     
"And you never answered my question, Grandma," Michael continued. "Do I really look like Richard or not?"
     
"You didn't answer me either," Dad added. "When did you go to New York City?" He turned to
     
look at Michael. "Why do you think she went to New York City?"
     
"I know she went to see the musical with her best friend at the time. Her name was Helen,"
     
Michael informed, a slow smile spreading across his face when his grandmother covered her mouth
     
with one trembling hand. "She's Richard's sister."
     
"Who is Richard?" Mom asked. "Are you still talking about that actor? And why did you mention
     
homosexuality being genetic? Does this have anything to do with that genealogy project you've been
     
working on? Was someone else in the family gay?"
     
"I don't want to talk about this," Grandma Elizabeth said. "And I don't want to watch your
     
stupid video either."
     
"Way to be supportive, Grandma."
     
"Don't be disrespectful, Michael." His mother slapped him on the shoulder again.
     
"Turn that thing off right now," Grandma ordered.
     
"There are other gays in our family?" Dad asked. "I didn't even know we had more family!"
     
"We don't," Grandma snapped, then got up from her chair, and slammed the laptop closed.
     
"Please, Elizabeth," Mom said. "There's no reason to get so upset."
     
"We don't have any other family," Grandma repeated through clenched teeth. "And George was
     
not a homosexual."
     
If looks could kill, Michael would be five feet under.
     
"Was it on my side of the family then?" Mom asked.
     
"Who is Richard? And who is Helen?" Dad asked the second Grandma got quiet. "How does
     
Michael know about her?" He looked around the table, probably trying to figure out what the hell
     
was going on. "He has no idea what's he talking about," Grandma said. "I'm going to my room."
     
"Come on, Elizabeth," Mom said in a conciliatory tone. "We don't have to watch the video. Just
     
sit down and eat, please."
     
"Mom's right. You don't have to watch the video of your grandson's performance." Michael
     
reached under his chair, and grabbed the folder he'd hidden there when he first walked in to the
     
dining room. "But we can talk about my genealogy project instead, right?"
     
"I'm not hungry anymore," Grandma said. "I'm going to my room, and you better stop talking
     
about things that don't concern you," she growled at him.
     
"Fat chance," he growled right back at her.
     
"Michael!" Mom admonished yet again.
     
"Sit down, Mom."
     
His dad's voice was stern, and one look at him told Michael he realized something extremely
     
important was about to go down.
     
"I want to go to my room."
     
"And I want answers," Michael exploded. "I want to know what happened to Grandpa. I want to
     
know what you said to him every time he contacted you, and if you ever replied to any of the letters
     
he sent asking you to let him see his son."
     
His mom grabbed his hand, but he shrugged her off and leaned over the table.
     
"What happened, Grandma? I want to know why he disappeared, and how come nobody has
     
ever seen him again. Did he die? Where is he buried? What did you do with his body? I mean, I
     
kinda understand you being hurt because he was in love with somebody else, but he never betrayed
     
you, Grandma. And Dad didn't have anything to do with that, did he? You're the last person who
     
ever saw Richard. You gotta know what happened to him! You're his wife!"
     
"I don't know what you're