“JESSE,” ANTONY said with an ache in his voice. “You don’t have to do this.”
Jesse sighed. It was a week before the end of the school year. Antony and Curt were still trying to navigate the madness of teaching when the parents wanted them kicked out of town, and things were just… hard. It would’ve been difficult for Jesse not to know what was happening to Antony and Curt, and Antony could tell just from how distant Jesse had become with the staff how hard he was taking it. This wasn’t the town they loved, the people whose children they took care of. These people were scared, and in their fear, they started acting like psychopaths. It was a shame what fear fueled by bigotry could do to decent people. Antony wasn’t stupid, nor was he blind to the escalating stress his friend was under. Whether he liked it or not, Jesse had to do something, for his own sake. It seemed in Jesse’s mind, leaving was the right choice.
“I have to do what I think is best for the school. I can’t have this level of mistrust among the parents. The staff.” He shook his head. “It’ll just make things worse for everybody.”
“Well, what about your wife? What does she have to say about all this?” Antony asked.
“Carlita understands. We’ve talked about this, and we have a plan. Don’t worry.”
“But resigning?” Curt’s brow was furrowed, a series of deep cavities that seemed to age his face about ten years. “Do you really think that will make things easier? That it’ll change how people think around here?”
“Probably not,” Jesse said.
“Then why?”
The breath came out thick. “Because you two are my friends. And quite frankly, that makes people think that I favor you. Mr. Simmons is good friends with my father, so….”
“So yet again you’re being put under fire because of your dad,” Curt finished for him.
After a moment’s pause, Jesse nodded. “Yeah.”
Antony had no words. His mind was buzzing with anger. He closed his eyes and attempted to calm his breathing, then startled when Curt touched his shoulder.
“Nene? You okay over there?”
Antony didn’t say anything for a few moments, his teeth going to work in his mouth, nibbling at the inside of his cheek to keep himself from exploding.
When he managed to get under control, he nodded once. “I’m fine. Just… just pissed as hell.”
The three friends sat around the dining room table in silence.
“If this is what you feel you have to do,” Antony said after a few long moments, “we can’t… we won’t stop you. But just promise me something, Jesse.”
“Yeah?”
“Promise me you won’t give it up. No matter where you end up, don’t stop teaching. Promise me.”
Jesse smiled. “Let ’em try and stop me.”
“AND SO it’s with great sorrow that I step down as principal of Pauline Central.”
The small group of journalists who had gathered at the front of the Burnett Center started talking all at once. Cameras flashed here and there. The story of the superintendent’s son being appointed principal of one of Topeka’s top schools had been big news in Shawnee County. His resignation, in light of the scandal in which two of his teachers were at the center, caused an even bigger stir in the community.
“Is this because of your relationship with the two gay teachers at PC?”
“We heard you’ve been getting threats. Is that why you’re stepping down?”
“Does your wife know you associate with homosexuals?”
“Jesus,” Antony said. “Are they really that repulsive?”
Curt didn’t answer, just stayed glued to the television, watching Jesse navigate the shitstorm he’d sailed into with his decision to make his resignation public.
“I mean, what was the point of making a big deal out of this anyway? He knows they’re gonna nail him to the cross for this.”
“You know why, nene,” Curt said quietly. “He wanted to take the heat off us.”
“But why? We were in the wrong, and we’re taking our punishment, right? I don’t get why he’s doing this.”
“…really none of your business. If there’s nothing else, my wife and I have to pick up our children from daycare. Thank you all for your time.”
Jesse and Carlita walked back into the Burnett Center, no doubt to wait until the press dispersed. Curt shut the television off, then turned to Antony, whose mouth was downturned into a miserable frown. God, he missed his lover’s smile so much. The last couple months had been hell on them both, but especially Antony, who only wanted to teach and love Curt in peace. He wanted to… needed to make this up to him. It was his inability to retain his composure that got them here in the first place.
“I can hear you thinking again,” Antony said.
Curt sighed, then slung his arm over Antony’s shoulder.
“Wanna share with the class?” Antony asked.
Curt just snorted and shook his head. “You already know.”
“And you already know what I’m going to say to that.”
“But it’s true. I got us into this mess. And I haven’t done anything to answer for it. I mean, you have to stop teaching at PC. Jesse quit to take the focus away from us. But me? Coño, I was gonna quit at the end of the year anyway. How is that fair?”
“Babe, life’s fucked-up that way.”
“But why? And why aren’t you more pissed at me?” Curt looked Antony in the eye.
“I tried being mad at you. For a minute. Then I realized, look, we’re both still alive, still young. We both have each other. We can get through anything, even our own stupidity, so long as we’re together, right?”
Curt didn’t respond. It couldn’t be that simple—could it?
“It is that simple,” Antony said. “So stop pouting and let’s eat. I’m sick of being in the house. I’ll even let you pick.”
Curt chuckled. “You sure that’s a good idea?”
“Of course it is. So long as you know, depending on what you choose, you may or may not be getting laid tonight.”
Antony’s smile was disgusting it was so sweet. Curt’s appetite did a backflip and snared on the toes of its acrobatics, his stomach turned inside out. “So how about Maddie’s to celebrate us gettin’ the hell out of here, huh?” he asked, voice on the verge of frantic.
“Good choice,” Antony said, nestling deeper into Curt’s side. “And since you feel so strongly about it, I’ll even let you pay.”
Curt scoffed, “So generous, nene.”
“What can I say? I’m a giver.”
“SO KANSAS City, huh?” Jesse asked.
“Yeah. One of my cousins has a place big enough for us while we get our stuff moved to the apartment, and she’s got some connections around town for jobs and stuff. We figure it’s close enough Ant can visit his brothers and sister, and Mama can come down and stay whenever she’s up for it, so….” Curt hoisted the smallish box with the few things he kept in his classroom and all the pictures his students had painted or drawn for him on their last day. He and Antony thought it would be easiest to tell the kids they weren’t coming back the week before the summer started, give them all a chance to say good-bye.
“And what exactly did Antony tell the kids?”
Curt snorted. “He said we were secret agents like the Avengers, and our next assignment was to help out at a different school.”
Jesse laughed, a loud pop of air that filled the parking lot. “Not bad.”
“Yeah. That’s your friend.”
“Hey, you’re the one he goes home to every night.”
“Jealous?”
“Naw. Besides, Carlita doesn’t like to share, and I’ve joined you two once or twice on your monthly dessert and drinks nights at Blue Moose to know that Antony doesn’t either.”
“Psh, yeah. That makes two of us.”
They stood in the parking lot in silence, the seriousness of the moment rendering them speechless. Curt opened his mouth a few times to say something to fill the quiet, but all he could think of was apologies and self-recriminations. Jesse wasn’t here for that. Good-bye was hard enough without either one of them playing a round of “who’s the guiltiest and most pathetic.”
“I’m gonna miss you, C,” Jesse said, his voice as quiet as a summer breeze.
“Me too, man,” Curt said. “Me too.”
“And, hey, KC ain’t too far away. So I’m expecting you to find space for me and the family every other weekend.”
That’s what they both needed—light, familiar. “So long as you promise to cook. Or at least bring me some Cicis.”
“Shit,” Jesse said in mock disgust. “By the time I get it to you, it’ll be solid enough for you to use to start building a second bathroom. Not sure how Antony puts up with you and your terrible taste in comfort food. Who even raised you? Surely not your parents, with all their luscious foods.”
“Ant said about the same thing the night I told him I was….” No need to finish that thought and ruin what was a companionable farewell.
Jesse caught the near slip, however, and they went back to quietly shifting from foot to foot. Jesse again broke the silence. “Take care of yourself, man.”
“Yeah. You too.”
“Ah, don’t worry about me. I’ve got a wife who keeps me in line, and I always know my way home. You be sure you remember yours. Don’t stay away forever. Then we can go to Cicis together, and I’ll kick your ass at Galaga like when we were in high school.”
Curt snorted. “Yeah, you wish. I don’t know how many times your mom picked you up crying from Sk8away. You sure you wanna go there?”
“Screw you, man. I got my fair share of licks in at Tekken 2.”
They laughed. The attempts at stalling were obvious, but neither minded. With one last long exhale, Curt nodded his head. “See ya around, J.”
“You too, brother.”
Curt put his box down. They’d known each other since they were kids, and in all that time, Jesse had never been one for bouts of sentimentality. But sometimes you needed a hug. A warm embrace and a quick pat on the back never hurt anybody.
“You hang tough, kid,” Curt said.
“Yeah.”
When they separated, Curt backed up and picked up his things. Jesse gave him a lopsided smile and a two-finger salute. Curt nodded, then headed for his car.
Sure gonna miss this place, Curt mused. He was so deep in thought, he didn’t hear the footsteps until he’d already gotten to his car. He placed his box on the old Pontiac’s roof, then reached in his pocket for his keys.
“What’s up, J? Come over here to get another reminder of that butt whippin’ I—”
The bat came in slow motion, as did the sound of Jesse’s voice from across the parking lot.
“Curt!”
On reflex he raised his hand, shielding his face. Growing up in Oakland, he knew a thing or two about protecting your head when someone got the jump on you from behind. The attacker got a good crack in on his forearm, though, and Curt went down on his knees with the pain. He couldn’t get a good look at the guy’s face. Just heard his voice.
“Damn, faggot. Stay the fuck down!”
“Chad?” Curt looked up. The kid’s face was contorted, almost as hideous as his girlfriend’s had been at the school board meeting as he and Antony made their way out of the building.
Despite having Curt trapped on the ground, Chad was too hysterical to seize his opportunity. He let out a growl, but before he could bring the bat down again, he was tackled from the side, hitting the ground with a breath-filled “Oomph!”
“You okay, C?”
Curt was still a bit dazed, and the pain in his arm was enough to keep him paralyzed where he sat.
“Talk to me, Curt. Are you—”
“F-fine,” Curt croaked. “I’m fine. He got my arm.”
“Can you move it?” Jesse kneeled down in front of Curt, looking him over for any other wounds. He went to touch his arm but Curt flinched.
“No! Better not touch that, man. Let me….” He rolled to his left, using his uninjured arm to balance himself on his car. “I’m good. Just… just let me… rest here… for….”
“Curt! Curtis!”
ANTONY WAS weary. His mind nearly broken, a carcass for the vultures of this town to feast on in his weakness. He’d never felt so utterly helpless. He paced the waiting room, unable to keep his nerves from jumping.
“Mr. James?” a nurse called out into the suffocating quiet of the waiting room.
“Yeah!” Antony all but tackled the nurse, rushing toward her with wide eyes and short breath. “Is he okay? Can I see him?”
“Slow down, Mr. James. The doctor just got through with him.” The nurse smiled, the first bit of warmth Antony had felt all day.
“Is he… is he okay?”
“He’s fine, Mr. James. A scratch or two on his legs, but his right arm is busted pretty badly.”
“Oh God.” The world almost tilted, taking Antony with it.
“Now, don’t you go falling over, Mr. James. You do him no good if we have to admit you too.”
Antony couldn’t even register the nurse’s attempts at calming him down. She was the first kind voice he’d heard in two months, but he was too worn out to acknowledge her sympathy.
“Can I see him now? Please?”
“Of course. I’ll show you to his room.”
“…HEAVY LIFTING, okay?”
“Sure, doc, whatever you—”
“Ram!”
The doctor turned at the sound of Antony’s voice.
Curt closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Baby,” he said as he let the breath go on a heavy sigh.
“What the hell happened? You were coming home.”
“I know—”
“I called your cell and you didn’t answer. I was so fucking scared.”
“Nene, I know. I’m—”
“Jesse called me screaming. I thought you were dead. I—”
As often as Curt had had to stop Antony’s rambling with a kiss, one would think the two were constantly spontaneously making out.
When he released Antony’s lips, he looked him in the eye, his left hand on his cheek. “I’m all right, nene. You?”
Antony nodded, his breath coming in short gasps.
“Ant?”
Antony stayed silent for a few more moments, attempting to keep himself under control. “How’s your arm?” he finally asked.
“Good,” Curt said, a chuckle floating after the word. “It’s fine. This is Dr. Hanley. She was just telling me how to take care of it.”
Antony looked to his left.
Dr. Hanley had an amused smile on her face. “I take it you’re the boyfriend?”
“Yeah. Is he gonna be okay?”
“Absolutely. So long as he doesn’t do any heavy lifting and takes his meds regularly, he’ll be just fine.”
“What about… you see, Doctor, we’re leaving town in about a week, and—”
“Mr. Ramírez has told me all about your move. I’m sorry to hear about what you’ve been dealing with. I have a colleague in Kansas City I can contact, let her know you’re coming around her way. She’ll have your information in case of any emergencies.”
“Is that… I mean, you can do that?” Everything—the town, the move, the attack, and now having to find a new doctor in Kansas City—was just so overwhelming.
“It’s all taken care of, baby. It’ll be fine.”
“Yeah. What about the fucker who did this to you?”
“Jesse got him, babe. It was that asshole from the school board meeting.”
“Is he in jail? That’s all I care about right now.”
“I believe that’s where I take my leave,” Dr. Hanley said as she stood. “I’ll tell Officer Jacobs to come on in.”
“See,” Curt said. “All taken care of.”