Chapter 55

She was quiet for a few seconds. “You’re gay,” she finally said. “And that means you’ve already set out for a different path than mine. Or your father’s.”

“Not really, no,” I said a little defensively. “I still have to pay my bills and file my taxes, unless you know something I don’t know. Has the government exempted us gay guys from our civic and social responsibilities and decided to award us lifelong financial assistance?”

Man, Jack was really rubbing off on me.

My mother chuckled softly. “No.”

“Well, see, in that case, looks like I’m heading down that great big road right along Dad and you—next stop, Working Poor City, population three-hundred million.”

“You’re funny.”

“Thank you.” I smiled. “Look, Mom, don’t worry about me, okay? I’m just figuring things out right now. I might go back to school. Get those missing credits and all.”

“For your high school diploma?”

“Yeah, maybe.”