Your Mother Should Know

By Paul Alan Fahey

Philip feels in control of his life -- at least until his best friend, Jonathan, contracts AIDS, passes away, and leaves him feeling disconnected and uncertain about the future. Then the one steady influence in his life, his mother, becomes seriously ill. The doctor who makes the diagnosis of ovarian cancer is not hopeful. Once his mother commits to the treatment plan, there is nothing Philip can do but follow the blueprint they both hope will lead to her recovery.

In late April 1992, Philip accompanies his mother to Los Angeles for her monthly treatment. When he accidentally takes a wrong turn off the freeway, all hell breaks lose. Suddenly they find themselves in the center of the Rodney King riots. Gunshots ring out. Helicopters hover overhead. People loot and vandalize stores while others burn and overturn vehicles. Fires spring up all over the city.

In unfamiliar territory, Philip must guide his mother through this labyrinth of chaos to safety. With wit and insight coupled with a maternal concern for what's best for her son, Philip’s mother proves the old saying: a gay man’s best friend is truly his mother.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Feb 24, 2013
• ISBN: 9781935753711

Paul Alan Fahey

Paul Alan Fahey, author of the writer’s resource, The Short and Long of It, and the Lovers and Liars gay wartime romance series, is also edited the 2013 Rainbow Award-winning nonfiction anthology, The Other Man: 21 Writers Speak Candidly About Sex, Love, Infidelity, & Moving On. For more information, visit paulalanfahey.com.

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Your Mother Should Know

By Paul Alan Fahey

Published by JMS Books LLC

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2013 Paul Alan Fahey

ISBN 9781935753711

Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

Image(s) used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It contains substantial sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which may be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America.

* * * *

Your Mother Should Know

By Paul Alan Fahey

Two Lousy Days

San Jose to Burbank

On the Road

Shangri-La

Another Country

Into the Fire

Ambrose

Hospital Bound

A State of Emergency

First Aid

Tea and Sympathy

Beautiful Smile

The Whole Truth

Home

Two Lousy Days

Philip and his mother immediately liked Dr. Weissgarten, the young female oncologist who at first explained the experimental Taxol study and then helped process the paperwork for his mother’s treatment at the Norris Cancer Center—part of the large University of Southern California campus in East Lost Angeles.

We’ve had good success in our clinic with the drug, Dr. Weissgarten told them. It’s in the experimental stage right now, but I think it can help you. She went on to talk about the specifics of the contract Philip’s mother would sign and their need to travel south to USC for the monthly infusions of the drug. You check into the hospital on Friday morning for the treatment, stay the night, and then check out on Saturday morning.

Philip looked encouraged. Mother, somewhat less. Will I lose my hair?

Unfortunately, the doctor said, yes.

Shit!

I agree. The doctor flashed his mother what seemed to Philip a forced professional smile from someone eager to move on. Wasn’t time of the essence?

Sounds good. Philip looked over at his mother who nodded her head. Two days a month. We’ll go down to L.A. together, okay, Mom?

Depends on your meaning of good. Then she asked Philip about his job.

I’ll work it out. Part-timers are always eager to make some extra money.

Dr. Weissgarten looked from one to the other. Are we set to go then?

Philip nodded his head. Mother smiled and pushed the paperwork she’d signed toward the doctor.

Great, Dr. Weissgarten said. We should begin right away. I’ll schedule your first treatment for the end of this month.

Philip took the doctor’s hand and held it a moment.

And good luck, the doctor said. To you both.

* * * *

Five months later and the day before his mother’s fifth Taxol treatment, Philip tried unsuccessfully to parallel park in front of her apartment complex. Unfortunately he’d never mastered the art. Finally he gave up, circled around, and parked a few blocks away under a streetlamp. At least his car would be parked in a safe neighborhood.

Mother met Philip at her front door. He picked up her small suitcase and waited while she gathered together her purse and coat and then switched the TV volume to low; she always kept it on when she was away—anything to deter a possible burglar who might be lurking in the hallway. They were both unaware of the news bulletin flashing across the screen.

Special Report. A TV reporter spoke into a mic while an upturned vehicle burned out of control in