THE GAY ATKINSON

2012

My mum had just come back from work and I welcomed her with a smile.

"Here, your favourite" She said as she brought out a cartoon of Keto-friendly toasted almond crunchy bars.

"Thanks, mum" I said as I took the carton up to my room.

"Mum, you know she's not gonna wanna eat real food after that right?" Milo; my 15-year-old brother said.

"Shut up, Milo" I said as I went up the stairs.

"Is your father back?" My mum asked my brother.

"Yeah, he's in the garage" Milo answered as he walked toward the door.

"Where are you going to, young man?" My mum asked sternly.

"I'm just meeting up with a couple of friends, mum" Milo stressed.

"Not today, Milo. Not today" My mum said sternly and then Milo went up the stairs to his room in anger.

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2022

It was the next morning and this time around, Delores decided he wasn't going to be late for work again. He woke up early and prepared for work as fast as he could. Then he got into his car and drove off to Jenkins stores. To his surprise, the store had not opened yet.

"Mr Neville...impressive. For once in your life, you're not late. Congratulations" Jenkins praised as he got out the keys to the store.

"How long have you been waiting out here?" Jenkins asked.

"Almost two hours" Delores replied.

"Two hours?! What, you forgot we opened at 8?" Jenkins yelled in shock.

"I actually don't know when we open" Delores confessed.

"Look Neville, whatever it is that you're taking, you gotta stop it. How can you forget what time we open? You've been working here for 2 years now" Jenkins said ashamed of Delores's behaviour. Then he went into his store. Delores followed him and began to explain himself.

"Sir, when I tell you this, I need you to understand and believe me" Delores said frantically and then Jenkins came to a stop.

"What is it?" Jenkins asked.

"My name's not Neville... I'm Delores an 18-year-old transmigrated into the body of 28-year-old man. I had sort of like a reincarnation and on the day of my death, I woke up in Neville's body on the same day and in the same town but ten years later" Delores explained.

"Neville, go home" Jenkins said sternly.

"What?" Delores asked confused.

"Look, I don't want a drunk guy working behind my counter. I mean, are you even listening to yourself?" Jenkins asked embarrassed for him.

"I'm telling you the fucking truth, Jenkins" Delores said.

"It's Mr Jenkins to you, Neville, and please go home. I don't want you going around telling my customers your delusional story" Jenkins said as Sam walked in.

"Let me guess, he told you about his reincarnation and transmigration story?" Sam guessed.

"Damn right" Jenkins replied.

"Honestly, Neville, whatever the fuck it is that you're on, just hand it to me 'cause I'm going through difficult times with my boyfriend" Sam said.

"You're gay?" Jenkins and Delores asked in unison.

"Isn't it obvious? You two should be ashamed of yourselves" Sam said and then he went to the back to change into his uniform.

"As I was saying, Neville, go home, rest your head and when you get sober again, I'll be waiting for you" Jenkins said and then patted Delores on the shoulders. Delores nodded his head in agreement. As he was about to leave, the woman who came to purchase some ketos for her dead daughter came around. She parked her car right outside the store and then went in.

"Good morning" She greeted with a huge smile on her face.

"Morning" Jenkins and Delores chorused.

"I'm guessing you must be Jenkins since you're the owner of the store, right?" The woman asked.

"You got it" Jenkins said with a smile.

"I'm Patricia, my pleasure to meet you, again" She said with a chuckle as they both exchanged pleasantries.

"Hello" Patricia greeted waving to Delores who had been smiling at her all through.

"Hey" Delores said nervously.

"Anyway, I just dropped by to invite you for dinner tonight at my house...can I have your number so I'll text you the address?" Patricia asked with a smile.

"Dinner? Wow, any special occasion?" Jenkins asked surprised as he took Patricia's phone and dialled his number. When he was done, he returned it.

"Not really. Look, I know giving me a spare keto bar isn't that much of a big deal, but it was for me. So as a kind gesture, I'm inviting you for dinner, you can bring this guy too" Patricia said pointing at Delores.

"I'll be very delighted to come tonight" Delores said with a smile.

"Excuse me for a second, Patricia" Jenkins said and then he took Delores by the arm and they took off to a corner.

"Don't ruin this for me, if this goes well, I might be able to date her" Jenkins said sternly.

"She has a husband" Delores said.

"And how do you know that?" Jenkins asked.

"Because...because she's my mother" Delores confessed.

"If you keep up with this attitude, I swear you won't go far in life" Jenkins said and then Delores sighed.

"Promise me you won't say such when we go to her house tonight, 'cause if you bring up one more thing about you being reborn, I'm gonna tell her you suddenly picked up the flu and won't be able to come by tonight" Jenkins warned sternly.

"I promise" Delores said then Jenkins went to meet Patricia with a smile.

"So are you guys coming?" Patricia asked.

"Of course, when should we be there?" Jenkins asked.

"7 pm, sharp" Patricia said with a smile.

"It's a date then" Jenkins said.

"What?" Patricia asked with a chuckle.

"I-I mean...it's a time then" Jenkins said nervously.

"Okay, bye" Patricia said with a chuckle and then went out of the store and into her car.

Delores had been wondering what Sam had been doing since in the back of the store. He walked slowly and quietly and met Sam sobbing on the floor.

"Hey" Delores said calmly.

"Hey" Sam said in a teary tone.

"What happened?" Delores asked as he sat on the floor beside him.

"My boyfriend just broke up with me...he said he couldn't come out to his parents and he was tired of having a secret relationship" Sam replied.

"What? How long have you guys been dating?" Delores asked sadly.

"Four years now" Sam said with a chuckle.

"He's such a dickhead. What's his name again?" Delores asked.

"Milo" Sam replied. His response put Delores in shock.

"Do you happen to know his last name?" Delores asked.

"Atkinson, why?" Sam asked.

"No reason in particular. Sam, I think you're a lovable guy and any guy would be lucky to have you. So don't dwell too much on this and move on. You're too hot to give a fuck" Delores advised.

"Oh my God, that's definitely what a girl would fucking say. Why didn't I make you fall in love with me?" Sam asked as he rested on Delores's shoulders.

"I'm not gay" Delores said.

"Ain't that what they all say" Sam said with a smile. As both boys sat on the ground, Delores couldn't get it wrapped around her head that his brother was actually gay.

"Hey, how about you come with the Jenkins and I for dinner?" Delores asked with a smile.