24. Some Real "Who Shot JR?" Stuff, Brother.

After talking to Sarah on the phone, Curt returned to sit with Kevin in the living room, bringing him tea. There was a lot to process. During the homecoming dance, a tornado had grazed their high school the previous night. They were trapped in a closet during the storm. Kevin’s injuries could have just as easily been a serious head injury, but he escaped with just a rash from flying debris, which may not have happened if he had not moved quickly to protect his boyfriend. Then, they stayed up all night to make sure Kevin didn’t have a concussion.

“I think it's just hitting me how close I came to losing you last night,” Curt said.

“Seems dramatic. Losing me? What did I miss?” Kevin asked. “I think I had a dream… it was 1986, and you were there, and you, and you were there also…” Kevin jokingly re-enacted the ending of The Wizard of Oz.

Curt poked him. “Last night was crazy. I’m so glad your dad asked me to stay up with you.” Said Curt, who was so tired from such a long night.

Curt lay on the sofa with Kevin, who put his tea on the floor and held Curt to his chest.

“Hey,” Kevin said softly. “I grew up mainly in Georgia, and that was the worst storm I have ever been through …anywhere. But we made it through, and we will make it through many more storms, I fear.”

“That’s SOOO reassuring,” said Curt in a muffled voice. “NOT!”

“You know what I noticed?” Kevin asked, with a long pause.

“Are you going to tell me before it’s 1987?” Curt snickered.

“I noticed that you didn’t have a panic attack. That was a pretty intense situation, and you didn’t have any symptoms. You did well.” Kevin said confidently and proudly.

“Well, you knew what to do, and you pretty much covered me at the last minute before that corner of the gym got ripped up,” said Curt

“I didn’t have a choice.” Said Kevin. “Mother Nature wasn’t getting my guy.”

That’s when Curt knew what he had to do. It was time to be brave. It was also time to go home because he knew what had to be done now.

Curt had spent years pleasing his parents with intensive basketball training, Gus Macker tournaments, and summer camps. He wanted these things also, but he wanted to be authentically Curt Ryan. When Kevin Woodward showed up in their small farming town earlier that year, especially when he saw Curt as more than just the county's star basketball player, everything fell into place. After such a traumatic event like last night, this could be the time to have that talk with his parents.

When he arrived home, everything was standard for a Sunday. His parents were at the kitchen table, attentively looking up when he came in the door.

“Hi,” Curt said in an exasperated tone.

“We are so glad you’re home. How is Kevin?” Mrs. Ryan asked.

“No concussion, thank God,” said Curt. “He didn’t show any signs the medic warned me about, so I think he’s good, Mom.”

“Good, it looked like he took quite a blow to the head,” said Mr. Ryan.

“Yeah, he did. He got that from standing up to protect me, you know?” Said Curt. “That whop was meant for my head.”

Mrs. Ryan looked very concerned. “He’s very protective of you. Maybe the Woodwards finally have a redeeming person in that family after all. God bless him.”

“So, Mom… Dad…” Curt said with a level of importance. He took a moment, a deep breath, and swallowed harder than usual. At this point, his sister turned off the TV.

“What happened? Why is everyone so serious?” Asked Jenny, Curt’s sister.

“Mom… Dad… Last night made me realize how important it is to tell people how you feel. To appreciate those who love you and how critical it is to be authentic before it’s too late.”

“Okay, now you’re scaring us, son. What’s going on?” (Mr. Ryan)

“Honey, let him finish. Don’t be impatient.” (Mrs. Ryan)

And then he just blurted it out.

“Kevin and I have been going out,” Curt said bluntly, almost proud of himself for saying it.

“Could you be a little more specific?” Mrs. Ryan asked. “We aren’t up on the complete set of RAD terms that you all use these days. Where are you going …out…to?”

“It means they are dating, Mom,” said Jenny. “Oh… My… God… Well, this is super cool! I have a brother who is a basketball hero, the most popular guy in school, and he’s not only gay, but he’s dating a Woodward!?”

Curt’s dad looked very befuddled. His mom looked like she still didn’t get it, either.

“Where is my bingo card? Is that on it because this is full-on B-I-N-G-O Winner,” Jenny said as she ran back into her room to call a friend.

“Jenny… Do not call anyone!” said Mrs. Ryan. Looking back at Curt, she asked, “Are you okay? Did you hit your head? I mean, we love you, but this seems… unexpected?” She said, with a question mark ending through her Michigan accent. “We love you no matter what, but dannnng, baby! Are you sure?? Why decide this now?”

“I just wanted you to know how important he is to me, and it’s not a phase or anything like that,” Curt said.

Mr. Ryan got up and walked out of the room quietly.

“Okay, well, then I’ll talk to your dad and smooth that over if necessary, okay? But going forward, let’s talk about these things between you and me, alright?” Mrs. Ryan said. “You’re not going to take an ad out in the paper or anything anytime soon, right?”

“No, Mom,” said Curt. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, baby,” said Mrs. Ryan as she hugged Curt. “And, congratulations, I guess?”

Curt plopped on the sofa next to Jenny.

“Wow,” said Jenny, pushing her tongue into her cheek and her index finger on the bump out. “That was some Who Shot J.R.-level shit, Curt. I’m proud of you.” Jenny kissed her brother on the cheek and snuggled up to him.

“Thank you?” Curt said with uncertainty.

“I know you said the tornado damage triggered this level of transparency, but is there more to it? Ya pregnant or something?” Jenny asked with heavy sibling sarcasm.

“I'd be so rich right now if I were pregnant! When I asked Kevin why he took the brunt of whatever hit him, he said, ‘I didn’t have a choice,' and that’s kinda how I feel. I don’t have a choice because it’s the right thing to do. I want to be authentically me.”

“Did Kevin ask you to do this?” Jenny asked.

“He would probably have talked me out of it.” Said Curt.