In Mike We Trust Read Online Free PDF Page A

she asked. “Can we just put this topic on hold?”
    â€œSure,” he muttered, wondering exactly what she meant by “on hold.”
    Thus commenced the waiting. Hours of it. Then days. A long, awkward week that bled into another.
    When he brought it up again, ten days later—over breakfast this time (he thought it might be a better strategy to catch her when she wasn’t exhausted from a day’s work)—she came back with the same response: “We agreed to put that topic on hold.”
    â€œBut what does that mean? On hold till when?”
    â€œUntil you’re older and more capable of dealing with it. Until you’re seventeen—or even eighteen. Between then and now, I think it’s best to just shelve the issue.”
    â€œ Shelve it?” he asked, trying to control his tone. “How?”
    â€œBy not doing anything about it. By not telling anyone.”
    â€œI just told you.”
    â€œOutside the family,” she clarified. “Please, Garth.I’ve got nothing against gay people. You know me. But the world is a dangerous place.”
    â€œIs it because you think I couldn’t defend myself, if someone tried to gay-bash me?” he asked.
    He could tell by her expression that that was exactly what it was—or at least part of it (though, truth be told, she’d probably be just as worried about him if he were six feet two). She fumbled for a moment, searching for words, then said, “The fact is, there are many deceitful, harmful people out there, and you never know who you’re getting involved with when you start trusting them. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you. I couldn’t. It would kill me.”
    â€œThis isn’t fair,” he said. “You’re making it all about you.”
    â€œThe world isn’t fair, Garth. That’s why we have to make careful, sensible decisions—even if they aren’t ideal. Promise me you’ll keep this private until you’re older and more equipped to take care of yourself.”
    There was no changing her mind, he knew. And there was no telling her now that he’d already come out to Lisa. “Fine,” he said, wondering whether or not he’d be able to keep such a huge promise.
    The next time he saw Lisa was at Bone Sweet Bone, the dog rescue shelter where they both volunteered on Wednesday afternoons. He recounted the wholefrustrating conversation and, with utter embarrassment, asked her not to tell anyone else and to pretend she herself didn’t know, if anyone asked.
    â€œThis is major,” she said, wiping out a cage. “I mean, how are you going to have any gay friends? Much less a boyfriend?”
    â€œI know, I know.” He hoisted a bag of dog food down from a shelf. When it hit the floor, half the dogs started whimpering. One of them let out a high-pitched bark. “ Quiet, ” he told the dog, “or you won’t get lunch.”
    â€œNice vet you’re going to make.”
    â€œHe knows I’m kidding. Don’t you…” He squinted at the index card taped to the cage, which bore the temporary name that Ms. Kessler, the shelter’s owner, had given the dog, “…Toodles. Anyway, I keep hoping she’ll come around, once she’s had time to digest it. But I’m not crossing my fingers.”
    â€œYou should call ROSMY.”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œIt’s not a who; it’s a hotline. The Richmond Organization for Sexual Minority Youth. Friends of mine have used them before and said they were really helpful.”
    â€œWhat do they do, teach you how to be gay?”
    â€œThey counsel. They offer advice.”
    He cut the string on the dog food bag and tore itopen. “I want the program that fast-tracks me to eighteen, so I can start being myself.”
    â€œYou know,” she said, “you could call anonymously, make up a name. You could