(Not that Jon would be embarrassed! There was nothing wrong with being the kind of swishy dramatic fashion-conscious gay guy that Stephen was. Jon just wasn't that, okay? He was totally masculine. He played soccer and was uncomfortable with emotion and everything!)
Oh come on, Jon is not that uncomfortable with emotion. At least he seems to have a high EQ.
"At the time, all I thought was that it was wonderful you were finding good adult male role models." She kept a careful eye on Jon as she said it — like she thought Jon might be too emotionally fragile for a little candor about his father issues
"It's just, in retrospect, you were so clearly starry-eyed over your seventh-grade science teacher."
Okay, that is really awkward. And embarrassing for mom to bring it up!
"Being a proud South Carolinian isn't about living there," said Stephen patiently. He was always having to explain this to people. "It's a state of mind."
Awww, Stephen is a fake. But he doesn't realize it.
It all changed after Stephen got the job in Texas, where it was just him and Papa. When he got back, Mama moved to the Charleston house permanently — followed by his two next-oldest brothers, given that after 10-year-old Stephen got his big break Papa no longer had time to work on advancing their careers. That was why it was just him and Papa now, too.
So Stephen's parents are for all intents and purposes divorced?
It sounded to Jon more like the nest had left Stephen. And when he was ten, no less.
Poor Stephen. :-(
But now Jon was glaring at Mama. "And where are you in all this? You can't even bring yourself out of parenthood-retirement long enough to take custody?"
Why does Jon want Stephen to keep from being emancipated? That would mean he'd be free to make his own choices about his career.
"Oh, I didn't mean — of course you wouldn't hold him back. But the boys have their whole working lives ahead of them. They deserve the chance to be kids while they can."
But she's fine with them being sexually active which also can have serious ramifications.
In the cabin of the Small Wonder, still at the dock but with the doors safely bolted, Olivia was mixing an impromptu cocktail in preparation for sending another text when her phone rang.
How great it must be to have your own boat that you can "bridge sail" when you want to be alone. :)
"Not everything. Not about Kristen yet. Just told 'em you an' me are faking it." Olivia sniffled, fighting a fresh upwelling of tears. "That's when Mom said the thing — how I was selling myself. Said it wasn't how she raised me."
So Olivia wasn't raised to be a child star?
It struck a nerve; Stephen turned to her, eyebrows arched, hands tensing. "Why is it so hard to believe?" he demanded. "I'm crazy about musical theater. I can coordinate my own outfits. When I was six I told you my life's ambition was to be a Disney princess!"
None of which means he's gay! Stephen is really buying into the stereotypes hard and fast.
"Mostly because I was madly in love with Aragorn!...It's a guy's name, Mama."
... Can you really be in love when you're seven?
"I've been going steady with Jon since May."
Yay! Cat's out of the bag! I just hope this doesn't cause any trouble with Papa, considering that Stephen's still a minor and they could keep him from Jon if they wanted.
"But, honey, I don't regret for a minute that he got to meet you."
no subject
Oh come on, Jon is not that uncomfortable with emotion. At least he seems to have a high EQ.
"At the time, all I thought was that it was wonderful you were finding good adult male role models." She kept a careful eye on Jon as she said it — like she thought Jon might be too emotionally fragile for a little candor about his father issues
"It's just, in retrospect, you were so clearly starry-eyed over your seventh-grade science teacher."
Okay, that is really awkward. And embarrassing for mom to bring it up!
"Being a proud South Carolinian isn't about living there," said Stephen patiently. He was always having to explain this to people. "It's a state of mind."
Awww, Stephen is a fake. But he doesn't realize it.
It all changed after Stephen got the job in Texas, where it was just him and Papa. When he got back, Mama moved to the Charleston house permanently — followed by his two next-oldest brothers, given that after 10-year-old Stephen got his big break Papa no longer had time to work on advancing their careers. That was why it was just him and Papa now, too.
So Stephen's parents are for all intents and purposes divorced?
It sounded to Jon more like the nest had left Stephen. And when he was ten, no less.
Poor Stephen. :-(
But now Jon was glaring at Mama. "And where are you in all this? You can't even bring yourself out of parenthood-retirement long enough to take custody?"
Why does Jon want Stephen to keep from being emancipated? That would mean he'd be free to make his own choices about his career.
"Oh, I didn't mean — of course you wouldn't hold him back. But the boys have their whole working lives ahead of them. They deserve the chance to be kids while they can."
But she's fine with them being sexually active which also can have serious ramifications.
In the cabin of the Small Wonder, still at the dock but with the doors safely bolted, Olivia was mixing an impromptu cocktail in preparation for sending another text when her phone rang.
How great it must be to have your own boat that you can "bridge sail" when you want to be alone. :)
"Not everything. Not about Kristen yet. Just told 'em you an' me are faking it." Olivia sniffled, fighting a fresh upwelling of tears. "That's when Mom said the thing — how I was selling myself. Said it wasn't how she raised me."
So Olivia wasn't raised to be a child star?
It struck a nerve; Stephen turned to her, eyebrows arched, hands tensing. "Why is it so hard to believe?" he demanded. "I'm crazy about musical theater. I can coordinate my own outfits. When I was six I told you my life's ambition was to be a Disney princess!"
None of which means he's gay! Stephen is really buying into the stereotypes hard and fast.
"Mostly because I was madly in love with Aragorn!...It's a guy's name, Mama."
... Can you really be in love when you're seven?
"I've been going steady with Jon since May."
Yay! Cat's out of the bag! I just hope this doesn't cause any trouble with Papa, considering that Stephen's still a minor and they could keep him from Jon if they wanted.
"But, honey, I don't regret for a minute that he got to meet you."
Awww, some parental acceptance at least!