Chapitre 29: Chapter 29

The next week saw Parker extricate himself

from Jennifer’s clutches, and he remained faithful to Mason until

early in the new year.

* * * *

At the sound of the lunch bell, Mason

gathered his books. News of Parker’s outing of him at the lockers

that morning had spread. Mason heard more than one person call out

“Fag” to him as he walked down the halls. Standing in line at the

snack bar, Mason was jostled and pushed. He spun round to face

whoever was doing it, but no one met his eye. He bought his

sandwiches, snacks and a couple of sodas and left. Walking around

the perimeter of the sports fields en-route to his tree, he tried

to recapture some of the happiness that he and Parker had enjoyed

during Christmas break. He forced to the front of his mind images

of him and Parker kissing in front of the tree, as they exchanged

gifts, Mason’s parents watching them contentedly. However, the

events at the snack bar weighed too heavily on his mind to allow

him to reminisce.