Bab 20: Chapter 20

“Why the macho tough guy stuff? I mean why do

you hide your more tender feelings from people?”

“To go to college I gotta get a football

scholarship. And to get that I need to play. They wouldn’t let a

limp-wristed fag on the field.”

“But, you’re not a limp-wristed fag…” Mason

shook his head. So much was wrong with what Parker said.

“The tough guy shit is designed to keep

people away, or at least keep them from guessing that I’m more than

just a football jock. Don’t get me wrong, I love football, the team

spirit, the buzz when we win a game. Even the macho B/S is

fun.”

“But there’s a lot more to you than all

that.” Mason interjected. “The gentle, caring needing-to-be-held

Parker Collins is a much nicer, more approachable guy than the

super straight, my-shit-don’t-stink Parker Collins everybody sees

at school.”

Parker laughed. “Exactly, but I choose not to

show people those other aspects of me. The Parker people see at