Neil San Francisco — 1985 Brothers

The next night at Bert’s, Pam and Neil lean across the counter looking into each other’s eyes. It feels to them as if no one else is in the diner even though Jackson is at his usual booth sitting across from his usual sleeping partner. His partner has a garish-colored donut in front of him. Jackson has one of Neil’s muffins.

Jackson is writing another letter to his brother Jim. Eddie Jackson had always been the favorite boy, the good son.

But Jim was smart, Jackson thinks, smarter than I am. Jim had liked English, and theater. In fact, thinking back, Jackson is pretty sure that Jim had been gay, not a good thing to be growing up in a small town like Healdsburg, especially not if your father was the Sherriff.

Jackson sighs. He had felt the same way once, but now he’s older and less certain.