Brian Un-henged

Chapter 9

“So have you spoken to your parents about it? You don’t have much time,” Curtis asked Gus. They had waded through a shallow part of the stream so they were across from the family to speak in private. Jennifer and Seth had joined the family at the stream. Even Molly had dipped little Taylor’s toes in the cool water.

“Not yet, which is really stupid since I start in two months. I really want my MBA like my Pop, but they accepted me into PIFA! It’s not easy to get in there.”

“Yeah, I know. It’s really an honor to be accepted there.”

“I really want to learn the business so I can work for Kinnetik full time. I really love that stuff. I’ve watched my Dad when he was closing some big deals; it’s amazing. I mean, I’ve always known he’s some sort of big shot but damn, he’s good. He’s like a different person when he’s pitching a campaign.”

“You’re really proud of him, aren’t you?” Curtis asked.

“Yeah, I am and I want him to be proud of me too,” Gus answered.

“There’s something else, isn’t there,” Curtis said suspecting something by the tone of Gus’ voice.

“How’d ya know?”

“I can hear it in your voice.”

“I know you want to be a vet like Dr. Raph, but maybe you should consider being a Social Worker like Hunter. I think you’d be good at it. Yeah, there’s something else, but the Moms are not going to be happy,” Gus admitted.

“Why, what is it?”

“I want to officially change my name.”

“To what? You already have a lot of them.” The boys laughed.

“I know, Gus Peterson-Marcus at your service. And you should talk, Curtis Samuels-Sanchez-Angles. I want to add my Dad’s name in there too. I don’t think my mother will have a problem with it. She really loves my dad, but mama Mel is not going to be happy.”

“Is she ever happy?”

“Yeah, she got a lot better since they came back from Florida last year. The Moms get a lot more mushy now,” Gus said then added an exaggerated shudder to emphasize the point.

Curtis laughed at the drama. “Now I know you’re gay,” Curtis laughed.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re a drama queen like the rest of them!” Gus tried to be insulted but couldn’t. The boys laughed until their sides ached.

“If you want to see a drama queen, let’s go find a frog and bring it back to my Pop. Now there’s a real drama queen!”

The boys fell over backwards on the warm grass as they laughed by the side of the stream.

“I bet you can do some sort of dual program thing,” Curtis said after a while when he caught his breath.

“What do you mean?” Gus asked as he sat up.

“There are lots of programs where you can attend two colleges at the same time. Does Penn have an art school?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Then maybe you can work something out with PIFA. You said you wanted to concentrate on computer graphic art.”

“Yeah.”

“So, what’s the main thing you need for that?”

“Like, duh, a computer,” Gus snarked.

“So you don’t have to physically be at two colleges at the same time. You study at Penn for your business degree, then remotely take the computer courses and submit your assignments to PIFA.”

“Shit! You should be a guidance counselor; you’re a genius.”

“Thank you,” Curtis said smugly then his stomach growled loudly. “I’m a hungry genius. You think your Dad started cooking yet?”

“Even if he didn't, there’s plenty of food. Everyone brought something. And if you give my Pop the old puppy dog eyes, you’ll be stuffed with burgers and dogs in no time.”

“Then let’s go; this genius wants to be fed.”

“After you!” Gus playfully slapped Curtis on the back as they got up off the grass and waded back to the other side of the stream.

 

*****
 

“Hey Pop, you have starving children here,” Gus yelled over the music at his father. “And that’s so gross,” he said as he watched his dad grind himself into Justin.

“You’re just jealous that you don’t have your own hot twink,” Brian said. Gus and Justin rolled their eyes. Curtis blushed but couldn’t help giggling. Curtis caught Justin’s eyes as he remembered what Gus had said about the puppy dog look.

“Bri, I think some hungry kids are giving us a hint,” Justin said as he winked at Curtis and Gus. Brian turned them around so he could dance with his spouse and spy at the boys at the same time. Both boys turned up the puppy dog look.

“Whoops, that is some serious eye action going on over there, Sunshine. Okay, enough with acting like an over the hill club queen, time to grill the burgers,” Brian said as he pulled a big white chef’s hat out of his back pocket and plopped it on his head. The boys and Justin cracked up with laughter.

“I get no respect,” Brian groused good-naturedly as he went to tend to his grilling. His hat flopped around in the breeze as he walked away. Justin and the boys laughed heartily.

 

*****
 

“Excuse me,” a voice said at the corner of Edna’s Treasures.

Brian turned from the grill and looked at the man and woman who were standing there. “Can I help you?” Brian asked imperiously.

“Oh, um, I, um, I thought this was a concession stand.”

“A what?” Brian asked as he came out from behind the barbecue and advanced towards the hapless couple.

“We could smell the food and wondered if we could buy a burger or hotdog or something,” the woman managed to get out. She looked up at the regal, tall and extremely handsome man that stood in front of her.

“This is a private residence and we’re having a Fourth of July celebration. Please leave,” Brian stated.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. It’s just that there’s a bunch of cars down the lane. We were looking at those fabulous flowers and we’re all hungry and I got chosen to come and find out if you were selling food and…”

“Hey, Bri, sell the poor woman a burger,” Ted called.

“Yeah, you could use a little extra income,” Hunter felt compelled to throw in.

“You’ve got plenty of food, so make a few extra bucks,” Debbie said with a laugh. “I’ll even waitress for you. I kind of miss my old job.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Brian ordered his smartass guests. “This is a private party, and I’m not selling food,” he told the woman.

The man stood behind her and looked slightly terrified. “Let’s go, Eunice,” he said pulling on the woman’s arm.

Eunice took a last look at the beautiful man in the short shorts and muttered, “I’m really sorry to have disturbed you.” She and the man hustled around the end of the house.

“And tell the others to fuck off too,” Brian yelled.

“Pop,” Gus said coming up to his father.

“What?” Brian snapped.

“Pop, calm down. They’re gone.”

“Shit, fuck and double crap!” Brian bellowed. “Can’t we have any fucking privacy?”

“Brian, I’m going down the lane to send the cars away,” John said, coming up to his brother and hoping to ease the anger he saw reflected in Brian’s eyes.

“Why the fuck should you have to go down there? Bloody fucking idiots wandering around our property making fucking nuisances of themselves! Can’t have a fucking minute’s peace!”

“Pop…”

“Brian…”

“Dada!”

“What, Squirt?” Brian asked, finally allowing Bree’s voice to get through to him. She sounded worried.

“Daddy’s going to cry,” Bree said looking like she was about to do the same.

Brian glanced over at Justin who looked thoroughly crushed by Brian’s tirade. “I’m sorry, Squirt,” Brian said squatting down in front of his daughter. “I got upset.”

“I know, Dada. I’m okay. Talk to Daddy.” Bree kissed Brian’s cheek to convince him that she was all right. She was much more worried about her Daddy than anything else.

“Okay,” Brian said heaving a sigh as he stood up. He looked at Justin and knew he had really fucked up. “Bobby, can you take over the grill?”

“Sure, Brian,” Bobby said heading towards the grill and the food that was still cooking on it.

“And I’m going down the lane,” John said again. “You go take care of Justin.”

“I’ll look after Bree, Pop,” Gus volunteered.

“Thanks,” Brian muttered as he started in the direction of his husband. When he stopped beside Justin, he found he didn’t really know what to say.

“Get me out of here, Brian,” Justin whispered.

Brian nodded and took Justin’s arm. He steered them by the shortest route possible to head towards the stream. If anyone looked in their direction Brian scowled and shook his head. Everyone immediately backed off.

 

*****
 

“Do you think Justin will be all right?” Debbie asked as she watched the two men disappear down the path to the stream.

“I think Brian will fix things,” Carl tried to reassure her.

Debbie shook her head. “He fucking better. His words hurt Sunshine.”

 

*****
 

“I wonder if I should go after Brian,” Michael said to Ben. “I know he didn’t mean to hurt Justin’s feelings. I could tell Justin that.”

Ben sighed. “Stay out of it, Michael. It’s between the two of them.”

“You think I shouldn’t say anything?” Michael asked with a surprised look.

“I know you’re Brian’s best friend, but this is not your concern.”

“Okay,” Michael said slowly, but his eyes said he wanted to follow the path to the stream.

 

*****
 

“I should have kept my fucking mouth shut about Brian needing extra income,” Hunter told Nick. He felt like he had contributed to the meltdown they had just witnessed.

“It’s not your fault Brian went ballistic.”

“But I knew it bugged the shit out of him that people were invading his lane. I should have been more considerate,” Hunter said shaking his head.

“They’ll sort it out,” Nick said gently. He hoped that’s what Brian and Justin were doing at that very moment. He leaned over and kissed Hunter’s cheek.

 

*****
 

“Do you think Justin will be all right?” Lindsay asked Melanie.

“That fucking asshole always opens his mouth before he thinks about what he’s saying,” Melanie ranted.

“Mel, don’t!”

“Well, it’s the fucking truth. He needs someone to slap him upside the head.”

“Mama, Uncle Brian didn’t mean to upset Uncle Justin,” JR said trying to placate her mother.

“What do you know about anything?” Melanie snapped back.

JR blanched and then decided she did know something. “Uncle Brian is a nice man. He’s just upset about all the strangers coming out here, and you shouldn’t be mean to him … or to anyone.”

Melanie opened her mouth to cut her impudent daughter down to size.

“Mel, don’t,” Lindsay said firmly. “Just don’t! JR’s right, and you’re not making matters any better.”

“I … I’m sorry, honey,” Melanie said to her daughter. Her anger subsided when she realized she was in the wrong. “I didn’t mean to add to the problem.”

“That’s okay, Mama. You were just upset like Uncle Brian,” JR said knowingly.

“Out of the mouths of babes,” Lindsay said.

“Me and my big mouth,” Melanie muttered shaking her head.

 

*****
 

“There’s sure a lot of head shaking going on,” Emmett observed to Drew.

“And well there should be,” Drew responded. “Sometimes these people don’t know when to shut the fuck up.”

“Nobody said anything that would be a problem if Brian hadn’t already been fuming inside,” Emmett replied.

“Brian … fuming?” Drew asked.

“This isn’t the first time that people have invaded Brian’s turf looking at Justin’s henge. Brian was already worked up about it.”

“Maybe Justin should just take down the damn henge and be done with it,” Drew suggested.

“Don’t think that’s about to happen,” Emmett said.

“You never know.”

Emmett looked at his husband and wondered what was going on inside the handsome head.

 

*****
 

“Justin…” Brian began as they emerged into the clearing by the stream.

“No, Brian, it’s my fault. I should never have started that stupid henge out there.” He gestured in the direction of the lane.

“Come. Sit on the rock with me,” Brian said gently. He took Justin’s hand and led him over to the big rock. They both sat down side by side.

“I really am sorry,” Justin repeated tears in his eyes.

“I know, but I don’t want you to be sorry. I love your art. You know that. But, all this turmoil with strangers gets to me.”

“And I should have thought about that before I started this project,” Justin said sincerely. “I just never thought about people coming all the way out here to see it … and it’s not even finished.”

“You’re famous, Justin, if you haven’t figured that out. Anything you do, people take notice.”

“I’m not sure I want to be famous then,” Justin said making a face.

“Too late,” Brian said with a smile.

Justin leaned against Brian and felt his husband’s arm come around his back and pull him close. “Are we okay, Brian?”

“Better than okay,” Brian said honestly. “And I shouldn’t have blown my stack back there.”

“You had every right. Who did that woman think she was, coming right into our backyard like that?”

“You remember Deb telling us about visiting Truckhenge? The guy who made it had it right in the field next to his house. He was happy to collect the proceeds from people visiting his creation.” Brian shook his head. “I guess we both should have realized what might happen.”

“What are we going to do?” Justin asked with a sigh. “I don’t want to destroy my work, but I will if these people keep coming and bothering us.”

“We could open up the concession stand that woman was looking for,” Brian said tongue in cheek.

Justin chuckled. “I can just see you flipping burgers and selling cotton candy to screaming kids.”

“Bite your tongue.”

“I’d rather bite something else,” Justin giggled.

“Me too,” Brian replied as his lips found Justin’s.

After a lengthy bout of face sucking, Justin and Brian finally broke apart.

“Do you think we could sneak into the house and fuck?” Justin whispered.

“We have about as much chance of that as Melanie has of winning Dyke of the Year.”

“Brian,” Justin cautioned. “Mel might do that someday. You never know.”

“Bite your tongue!”

“I thought that’s what we just did,” Justin laughed.

“Are you feeling better?” Brian asked, his face serious.

“Much,” Justin replied, “but I still don’t know what we’re going to do about the henge.”

“Hunter had a possible idea,” Brian said deciding it was time to broach the subject of moving the huge flowers.

“He did?”

“Yeah, he suggested that we should move them to the Village and put them in the garden there. It would be a secure place for them and would make more people come to the Village.”

“Wow! That was Hunter’s idea?”

“He does have a head on his shoulders in spite of his obsession with me,” Brian smirked.

Justin laughed again and smacked Brian’s hand where it wrapped around him. “You and your ego! But seriously that is a great idea. I can already visualize the flowers there. And what’s more perfect than putting them in a garden?”

“You really like the idea?” Brian asked.

“I really do.”

“Then let’s do it.”

“Right now?” Justin laughed.

“No, after our party and after we fuck the night away.”

“Now that’s my idea of a plan.”

Arm in arm they headed back to their friends and family.

When they emerged from the path everyone turned to see the state of their kings of Babylon. The smiles on their faces told all assembled that everything was all right in their world. A round of applause and many smiling faces greeted them. Like real kings they nodded to their subjects as they made their way over to the barbecue. Bree and Gus joined them, relieved that their fathers seemed to have returned to their usual demeanor. Justin picked up his daughter and kissed her cheek, eliciting a big smile. Brian threw his arm around his son and they smiled at each other.

“Everything okay, Pop?’

“Just great,” Brian said as he took the spatula from Bobby and resumed his place as barbecue chef extraordinaire.
 

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