Free The Telling by Eden Winters

getting up go to Sunday School, then going to Grandma and Grandpa’s to eat. The Christmas Plays, the baseball
    team, summer camp. But I’m confused of why God would make me the way I am if there’s no hope of me going to Heaven.”
    “Oh, baby. I’m so sorry. I go to church because it gives me a sense of peace, of belonging. When I was your age I sat through Hellfire
    for Divorcees sermons, but they never bothered me, ‘cause you know what? The God I believe in loves his children, every last one of us, no matter
    what other people think.”
    There she was in all her glory: the mama bear, defending her cub. How he loved this woman. Slowly the tension drained. Michael should have known
    she’d be there for him, just like she always had.
    “And I go to this church ‘cause I grew up going there, and my parents go there, but there’s nothing stopping us from finding
    another, more accepting place to worship. I’m your mother and you’re my son, nothing could make me turn my back on you, got
    that?”
    “I know, Mom,” he admitted. “I’m sorry. This is just hard for me. I had no idea what you might think or say, and I
    couldn’t bear it if you turned away from me.”
    “Son, that ain’t a-happening. Ever. I love you and I want you to be happy. This isn’t what I would have chosen for you
    because I know how hard it’ll be. Teddy and Nick caught hell before they finally picked up and moved to Atlanta.”
    Teddy had been a childhood friend of his mother’s and proof, in Michael’s eyes, that gay wasn’t a choice. There was no way
    you’d mistake Ted Funderburk for a straight man—ever. Nick, however, was a football hero and all ‘round good ol’
    boy. The town gossips reached the conclusion that Teddy somehow corrupted their favorite son and infected him with the gay disease. The two men had faced a
    tough battle long before Michael truly understood the issue. After all these years they were still together, so that counted for something, right?
    “Well, I don’t plan on marching down Main Street in a rainbow shirt, Ma. And I could always go to college somewhere
    else…” He hated to bring up leaving because he’d just gotten home and didn’t want his mom to worry all over again.
    But he already felt like a traitor for allowing her to create a nice apartment when he had no intention of staying any longer than necessary. Still, the
    worn look around her eyes reminded him of her worries—worries he’d add to by leaving.
    “You do what’s right for you, son, and to hell with what people say. They’re too busy screwing up their own lives to worry
    about yours.” Her soft soprano filled the car then as she sang a line from a 70’s song that mirrored the sentiment, then glanced over
    at him and smiled. “I always loved that song. I do have one question for you, though.”
    Fear momentarily gripped his heart when his mother grinned and asked, “Who is he?”
    “What?!” Michael sputtered.
    “If you’re telling me now it must be because you’ve met someone, right?” Her heart-shaped face glowed with
    excitement. “Are you gonna bring home a keeper to meet your mama?”
    Damn, did she have to be so darned intuitive? Not quite ready to talk about prospects yet, he bluffed with, “No one in particular. But
    I’m hoping one day.”
    “Today just might be your lucky day.” She gave him a coy, sidelong glance.
    Before he could ask what she meant they were pulling into the driveway of his grandparents’ house. She must have been driving slowly so that they
    could talk longer, for an aging Buick was already parked under the shed. His grandparents had beaten them.
    As his mother turned the key and killed the ignition, Michael asked, “What do you mean?” They had just moments to conclude this
    conversation and he was
not
going into the house with unfinished business.
    “Well, it seems Dad has taken a liking to one of your sister’s roommates and invited him to Sunday dinner with