From The Closet To The Mountain Top: THE STORM, #3

By Matthew Beckett

A series of short stories showing both the dark side of homophobia and what life would be like in a nonhomophobic world for those of us who are gay, plus two or three in which the tables are turned on homophobes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matthew Beckett
• Release date: Oct 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781502264718

Matthew Beckett

Matthew Beckett has been a story teller since before he could write.  His Traumatic Brain Injury at age eight and subsequent inability to secure private health insurance until this January has given him a particular passion for this topic.

Book preview

THE FOLLOWING ELEVEN SHORT STORIES REFLECT MY OPINION, AS A GAY MAN, ON GAY RIGHTS AND HOMOPHOBIA, BUT ARE ABSOLUTELY NO MORE THAN MY OPINION.  NOW, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO

FROM THE CLOSET TO THE MOUNTAIN TOP

BY MATTHEW LUCAS BECKETT

THE UNEXPECTED CRUSH

I could feel my heart skip a beat as Gabe knocked on the door.

Jacob, let me in.  We agreed not lock each other out, remember?

Just a minute, Gabriel, I called, knowing that he only liked Sam to call him Gabe.

I look around the room.  The candles are too much, too obvious, I decide and quickly put them away.  I give the room one last, critical look.  Everything else is perfect.

Then I walk over and open the door to see Gabe's gorgeous face looking impatient and cross.

Sorry, Buddy, I say.  I was just straightening up a  bit.  This is not a total lie, even though it is also not the whole truth.

Gabriel's face relaxes.  Sorry I was impatient Jacob, he says apologetically.  I guess I'm a bit cross because Sam won't be joining us tonight.

Oh? I say, doing my best to look like this is news to me, even though I actually asked Laura and Martha to make sure that they kept his girl-friend away from our dorm for this evening.  I don't mind that he has a girl-friend, I know he can never love me as I love him, but some time alone would be nice, and certainly tonight we need privacy.

His exceptionally large nostrils sniff and then he breaks into his brilliant smile, causing my erection to harden into solidity.

Meatloaf, he says with delight.  And you remembered that I like French Fries with it, not Mashed Potatoes.  He sniffs again.  And Garlic Bread.  One more sniff.  And Caramel Pudding.  What's the occasion?  You haven't made my whole favorite meal in a long time.  He pauses.  And I know when we eat here, it's always you.  You just don't usually go quite this all out.

It is true that since the cafeteria closed for repairs two months ago, either I cook or we go out.  I know Gay Men liking to cook is a stereotype, but for me it's also true.  I decide to hold off on the full scoop.  Gabe knows I'm Gay, of course, but the rest of what I want to share tonight he does not know.  But I think it better to eat first, so I simply shrug.

Didn't have any classes this afternoon and decided to make a  treat for my best friend, I pause, then think and quickly add and his girl-friend.  Pity she can't join us.  I am relieved to see that he did not seem to notice my blunder.

He smiles again, making between my legs even harder.

Well,, he says.  I've been in classes all afternoon and I'm famished.  So, if it's ready, let's eat.

We Say a quick Grace and then I serve both of us hot Meatloaf, French Fries and Garlic Bread.

Gabe dives in with gusto at once, but I spend as much time looking at him and thinking about later this evening as I do eating.  At first, this does not attract his attention, for he's always been more of an eater than I am.  Since he is more than a foot taller than me, played football through High School and weighs close to if not more than a hundred pounds more than me (it's not a subject we discuss regularly, so I'm not sure of an exact amount) this makes sense.  But when he starts on his third helping and I'm barely more than half way through my first, he stops.

Are you all right, Jacob, Jake? he asks.  It always makes me especially hard when he calls me Jake, which is why I usually insist on Jacob, and I'm already VERY hard this evening.  I'm having thirds, and you've barely touched your firsts.

I dive into my food.  Sorry, Gabriel, Oh how I want to say 'Gabe', but it's still too early in the evening,  The other girls promised they'd keep Sam away until 10, so thee is time.  Just got my mind on other things, I suppose.

Gabriel nods.  That boy in English Class today? he suggests.

Well, I can't deny that the young man who sits next to me in our English 101 Class is HOT.  In strictly physical terms he's got Gabe beat by a wide margin, but my feelings for Gabe have become so much more than just physical, plus I don't even know this other young man's name.  But, as now is not quite the right time yet to show my full hand, I nod.

He is HOT, I add.

Well, says Gabriel.  I wouldn't know about that personally.  But I do know that he is your type.

Can't deny that, I say, leaving unsaid that while not as extreme, Gabe has many of the features that make our classmate my type.  It is remarkable that my friend knows the facial features I like, apart from this young man possesses them more than anyone we've ever known, and yet has never guessed that I might