Through the Years

By Z.A. Maxfield

Re-edited and updated version of a free series written in 2008.

Ethan Holmes and Barry Moffit have been in love since they were kids. These stories -- re-edited for quality content and given a Winterheart Designs cover -- were written in 2008, in part as a protest over the passage of Proposition 8 in California. They follow the course of Ethan and Barry's love affair in ten year intervals from the moment they first admit it, at prom in 1978, to a major breakup and reconciliation in 1988, to a family vacation in Hawaii that turns into more in 1998, and election night 2008, a time of deliberation and decision.

This version includes the bonus holiday (also previously published) story “The Cursed Noel.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Z.A. Maxfield
• Release date: Aug 4, 2012
• ISBN: 9780985386535

Book preview

Through the Years

Z.A. Maxfield

Through The Years

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Copyright © 2008 Z.A. Maxfield

Smashwords Edition July 2012

Published by Maxfield Books

Cover Art 2012 Winterheart Design

Digital Edition

ISBN# 978-0-9853865-3-5

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

1978

1988

1998

2008

The Cursed Noel

Dedication

For my friends. For my family. For equality. For a better future. With all my heart.

Acknowledgments

This story began as a free serial on my blog. I created a couple of characters my age and visited them four times in their lives together, in 1978, 1988, 1998, and 2008, to describe their love story as it evolved against the backdrop of the fight for gay rights and marriage equality.

I left them on the eve of the election, uncertain whether they would be allowed to marry legally in California or whether they would remain in a civil partnership. We know now, of course, that Proposition 8 passed and same sex marriage in California was outlawed in the state constitution. Much has happened since then, but that loss galvanized my desire to clarify my position.

I’ve combined the short stories here, edited them ruthlessly, and added the bonus Christmas short story, The Cursed Noel, about Barry and Ethan’s first Christmas together. I’d like to acknowledge the contribution of Pepper Espinoza, who helped me with edits, my daughter Zoe (zoesebookservices.com), who worked tirelessly to edit and format this for ebook release, and Lex Valentine a Winterheart Design (winterheart.com), who—as always—created a cover I love.

1978

Barry sweltered in the crush, packed in with the other dancers like sardines. For prom, Lisa’s mom had done her hair in some 60’s style he’d never seen her wear before—and hoped she’d never wear again. Her towering, stiff coiffure had some sort of sparkles in it, and when he got close she smelled like strawberry air freshener. She appeared as uncomfortable attending prom—that rite of high school passage intended to make kids like them feel awkward—as he did.

Can you believe this? Lisa hissed. She jerked her head to the right—toward Ethan Holmes and Sarah Emerson. Are they kidding?

Barry’s stomach roiled. Ethan and Sarah groped each other as if they were the last two people on earth and had to repopulate it. On top of that, they’d all had a few sips from Ethan’s flask. Now he felt dizzy and sick.

Stupid Ethan.

Barry didn’t even know how he’d gotten talked into going to prom, much less taking Lisa and playing Fred and Ethel to Sarah and Ethan’s Lucy and Ricky. He ought to have his head examined.

Every three months since the eighth grade, when his and Ethan’s perfect friendship crashed and burned in a fiery collision of values and principles and good common sense, Ethan came to him and begged him to remember the golden days. Family barbecues where they ran wild after dark. Late night monster movie festivals. That time at sixth grade camp when Barry felt so homesick he’d crawled into Ethan’s bunk and cried himself to sleep in Ethan’s arms.

It had always been Ethan and Barry, until that day in eighth grade when Ethan slammed Barry into a locker for no other reason than to amuse the boys on his soccer team. And now, watching Ethan—being part of the questionable legend that was Ethan Holmes and Sarah Emerson—a stab of anger and more than a little shame pierced Barry’s heart. Because every three months or so, Ethan could call him, tell him a good story, and manipulate him into doing anything Ethan wanted him to do for old times’ sake. And that was how he found himself here, at prom, dancing with Lisa.

The week before, Ethan had pissed his parents off in a spectacular vocal and physical display of rebellion that culminated in his driving his small pickup truck away from the house too fast. By accident it sailed through Archer Flanders wooden fence and across his rose bushes until Ethan finally parked it at the bottom of the man’s swimming pool. After that, the only way Ethan’s parents would allow him to attend prom was if he could go with, and presumably be watched over by, good old Barry Moffit.

Good old Barry.

Barry clamped his mouth shut. He was headed away to school in the fall, to UC Berkeley, away from Long Beach and Ethan’s manipulation. Until fall, Barry knew he could grin and bear it. Lisa tapped his shoulder. You’re grinding your teeth again.

Sorry. Barry put his forehead to hers. He gave up and began leading her off the dance floor.

Cheer up. They’re playing ‘Just the Way You Are’. It’s only a matter of about fifteen minutes and they’ll be playing ‘Last Dance,’ and then we can get the hell out of here.

If His Majesty King Ethan can be torn away from his adoring court. They walked to a quiet corner away from the booming noise of the speakers.

Why’d you say you’d come if you hate it so much? Lisa asked him, for about the twentieth time. I’m not knocking it. I’d never have been invited if you hadn’t asked me, so I’m grateful you did.

You shouldn’t be grateful. Barry avoided answering her question. You’re the only bright spot in this mess.

Well, for me? She dimpled. It was coming with the only guy in school who can disco dance.

He grinned. I live to serve. He had another dizzy spell and shook his head to clear it. "I should never have drunk Ethan’s booze. How sick is that? I know