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Transcript below:
[19 years ago, Part 2 of 3]
[Bonnie is taking a pregnancy test]
Bonnie: Shit, it's positive! You have got to be kidding me.
[Solomon's house]
Solomon: Hey Dad, Bonnie called and asked me to come over so I'll be late for dinner.
Reggie: That's not a problem, son.
Reggie: I'm just glad things are going well with her. I'm proud of you. We all make mistakes, but you were willing to take responsibility and turn your life around. Not everyone involved in that lifestyle gets out so easily.
Solomon: Thanks, Dad. I just want to be a good son and a good person.
Reggie: You are, you are. You know, I feel bad for the parents of those people who've been out protesting for gays to get married. They must feel so ashamed.
Solomon: Yeah, it's pretty horrible. Anyway, I guess I need to head out.
Reggie: Tell Bonnie I said Hello!
[Bonnie's house]
Bonnie: Thanks for coming. I hope you didn't run into any of those protestors on the way. I heard they're getting rowdy out there.
Solomon: Oh, no, I didn't.
Bonnie: Crazy isn't it? I mean, I don't hate gays or anything but I don't think they should be getting married or raising children. It's just not the same.
Solomon: Yeah, it's…not right.
Bonnie: It's just unnatural. Like they can do what they want behind closed doors but they don't have to call it marriage or bring kids into it. Children need a mom and a dad. Speaking of…have you ever thought about getting married or having kids?
Solomon: Yeah, I'd really like to find someone I can truly love and grow old with. And I'd love to be a father. I'd love my kids unconditionally and support them no matter what.
Bonnie: Wow, that's great! You'll be an amazing husband and father, Sunny, I just know it. Look, I know we haven't been together that long, but I can really see us getting married, having kids, all of it. Actually, there's something I need to tell you.
Solomon: There's something I need to tell you, too.
Previous | Beginning of story | Beginning of story | Next
Transcript below:
[19 years ago, Part 1 of 3]
Reggie: No son of mine is going to be a homosexual! Don't come back until you get some sense.
Solomon: Fine.
[As Solomon walks through town, he glances at a gay bar. He walks past it to another bar across the street.]
Bonnie: Hey, I haven't seen you around here.
Solomon:…
Bonnie: Nice to meet you too, Sunshine.
Solomon: I'm sorry, I just got into it with my dad, so I'm not in a great mood.
Bonnie: I get it. I don't really get along with my mom. She wants me to be a different person, and I'm too stubborn to change.
Solomon: Yeah, I guess parents just have high expectations for their kids.
Bonnie: I'm sure you two can work it out. I want things to be better with my mom, too. My dad died when I was young, so I'm always worried I'm going to run out of time with her, too.
Solomon: It's tough because my Dad and I have always been so close. Now he wants nothing to do with me.
Bonnie: Why not?
Solomon: It's a long story. Nothing worth talking about.
Bonnie: Well, whatever it is, I'm sure it's not enough to ruin your relationship over. I would give anything to have one more day with my dad.
Solomon: I'd never want to be in your position. Maybe I should just swallow my pride and apologize.
Bonnie: I think that's the right choice. Maybe I'll work things out with my mom soon. I'm Bonnie by the way.
Solomon: I'm Solomon.
Bonnie: I think I'll stick to calling you Sunshine. Or how about Sunny? It suits.
Solomon: Ok…but what can I call you?
Bonnie: I don't care, as long as you call me. Here's my number. Don't be shy.
Safe Harbor Character Intros: Simone and Reginald "Reggie" Owens
Simone and Reggie live in Conifer Station where they raised their son Solomon, who has a family of his own. Reggie has been trying to repair his relationship with Solomon since he kicked him out for being gay 19 years ago. Though he claims to love his son, he has never been able to accept Solomon as he is and struggles seeing him with his husband David. While he has become more accepting over the years, it is still not enough for Solomon who wants full support or none at all.
Simone has a better relationship with Solomon and is overall more accepting of him being gay, but she does feel guilty that she didn't stand up for her son. From Solomon's viewpoint, he is more willing to interact with his mom but questions why she has stood by Reggie all of these years.
Catch up with Simone and Reginald and see what else is in store on July 24!
Part of a series of flash stories intended as a supplement to my story Safe Harbor. Context for this post is here.
Solomon was feeling optimistic after he and David sat down with Cece to explain what all their jobs entailed. She did seem to understand more about how the family's financial status afforded them opportunities that others don't have. Of course, he knew it would take more than one conversation to help his daughter see the bigger picture, but at least he and David had a better idea of how to approach things.
Working at the LGBT Youth Center wasn't easy, but Solomon knew he was meant for his job. Everyday he was face to face with young people in the community who were experiencing things he also dealt with when he was their age. It was fulfilling to see them persevere through all of the challenges that had befallen them.
Solomon reflected on the day his dad Reginald found out he was gay. A friend of his father had seen Solomon entering the local gay bar and passed the information onto Solomon's dad. Solomon was finishing up his Bachelor degree and still living with his parents at the time. When he arrived home from class one day, he was confronted by an angry Reggie. What happened next was a blur, but he remembered snippets of what his dad told him: "not in my house," "I raised you better than that," and "you're not really like those people," were some of the phrases that came to his mind.
Reggie kicked Solomon out that night. He couchsurfed at some friends houses for a while, but the feeling of rejection and loneliness became too much to deal with. He returned to his father's house and promised to turn away from the gay "lifestyle." He tried for a while; he began dating women and focusing on his school work, suppressing his true feelings. When one girlfriend started talking about marriage, he knew he was in too deep. He couldn't fathom getting married to someone he didn't love and possibly having a family with them. So he told her the truth. She didn't take it well. Neither did his father when he officially came out and said he was done hiding.
Solomon and his father were once again on the outs. Throughout the years they came together and then fell back apart. Reggie did, at times, express regret for denouncing his son but still struggled with the reality that Solomon was in a relationship with another man. He grew to love Cece (he initially said she wasn't really his granddaughter since they weren't blood related). But when Solomon and David got legally married, Reggie retreated once more. A few years had passed since then, but they still hadn't spoken.
Later that evening Solomon received an unexpected text from his mother Simone. He initially feared the worst after their sporadic contact, but the text simply said: "Do you have anything planned for Cece's birthday? We would love to come and help you set up and celebrate!" He was at once filled with both hope and doubt. He wasn't sure if he would ever mend things with his father but he knew he would regret not trying. After a slight hesitation, Solomon told Simone that she and Reginald were more than welcome to come. He hoped he wouldn't come to regret that decision.
