Family Values Read online

  The next thing that I heard was the end of the phone call. What was I going to do? My baby brother is in the hospital and now my partner is here in town. Could things get any worse? As I was walking back to the table I noticed Maddie gazing at me.

  MADISON

  Is everything alright?

  DWIGHT

  Umm, yes.

  I took my glass of wine and swallowed it down in one gulp. I beckoned for the waiter.

  WAITER

  Yes sir?

  DWIGHT

  Let me get a Dead Bastard.

  The waiter smiled when I placed my order.

  WAITER

  I’m sorry sir but I have never had of it. Let me see if we make that.

  The waiter walked to the bartender. I looked across the way and saw that the bartender was shaking his head. It wasn’t long before the waiter returned.

  WAITER

  I apologize sir but he said that he don’t know how to make that.

  DWIGHT

  Okay pull out your pen and paper. It is 1 shot brandy, 1 shot bourbon, 1 shot gin, 1 shot rum, ½ shot lime juice, 1 dash bitters, 1 shot Ginger Ale. Pour all the ingredients in a tall chilled glass filled with ice cubes. Quickly.

  MADISON

  Why are you ordering a drink like that?

  DWIGHT

  I need it at this point.

  Maddie gave me a look of concern. I placed my hands on my head and realized that I was going to have to talk to Gran.

  DWIGHT

  Gran I have to talk to you about something. This is something that I have wanted to tell you for a long time but didn’t know how.

  By this time the waiter brought my drink order. I pulled the straw out and took it to the head. I felt Maddie kick me under the table. I ignored the first kick, but the more I talked the harder she kicked.

  DWIGHT

  My desire to please you and my family has plagued me to an unhealthy extent; I have spent the last years of my life distancing myself from you because of how you all treated me and I thought you might react to my truth. Today I am tired of the lies. Today, I decided to stop running. Today, I decided to be the man you raised me to be. Today I choose to be honest with myself as well as you. I am still the same intelligent, hard-working, Dwight Cove that you reared. I choose to love me for me and no matter what anyone says I have to live my best life. A life of truth, a life of love, and a life free from the burden of perceived judgment.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA (gently placing her fork on the side of her salad.)

  Okay so you are gay.

  I turned and looked at my sister and tilted my head. I just knew deep within that Madison had already told her. I noticed that Madison shrugged her shoulders.

  DWIGHT

  Gran, what are you talking about?

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Anyone who gives a speech like that can’t be anything else but gay.

  DWIGHT

  I know that this makes you hate me even more.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  I have no words and don’t really want to talk about it.

  DWIGHT

  Well we have too. My lover is on his way here.

  MADISON

  Great, we get to meet him.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  I refuse to have dinner with a tootie-fruity. I did not raise you to like men.

  DWIGHT

  It was not a decision.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  What do you mean that it was not a decision? God didn’t make man to be with another man. How you two are suppose to populate the earth? Two sticks rubbing together only make fire and that is how you are going to get burned? What would your grandfather say?

  DWIGHT (standing up at the table)

  Well Gran, with our two sticks rubbing together, we have had some very steamy nights and days too, if I might add.

  I left the table before I was forced to say anything else. I didn’t want to disrespect my grandmother, regardless of her feelings for me. Now that Brian has forced me to come out of the closet I know that I will really be disowned now.

  I went into the restroom and washed my face with cold water. As I held my face in my hands I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out to find that Brian was calling.

  DWIGHT

  Hello.

  BRIAN

  Where are you? I am in the dining area but I don’t see you.

  DWIGHT

  I am in the restroom.

  BRIAN

  Okay I am on my way in there.

  DWIGHT

  Okay.

  It wasn’t ten seconds after we ended the call that Brian walked into the restroom. He gave me a quick kiss on the forehead when we saw each other. Brian propped himself next to the vanity and folded his arms.

  BRIAN

  How is your brother?

  DWIGHT

  He is resting. He has two cracked ribs, a concussion and both wrists are broken.

  BRIAN (reaching out to hug me)

  Baby, I am sorry to hear that. I am here for you.

  A customer walks into the restroom. Brian and I quickly release each other.

  CUSTOMER

  Oh I am sorry.

  I looked down at the floor and turned. I didn’t want him to see my face. We waited patiently until the customer left before we began our conversation again.

  DWIGHT

  On top of all that you forced me to come out to my grandmother.

  BRIAN

  How did I force you to come out?

  DWIGHT (feeling the tension build up inside of me)

  By bringing your black ass here. I told you that my family is not like yours. My grandparents hate me. I was always that black sheep of the family.

  BRIAN

  I am going to overlook part of what you said because I know that “we” are upset.

  DWIGHT

  I apologize. Please forgive me.

  BRIAN

  Baby, you know that I am here for you. That is why I flew down…to be by your side. We are one.

  I could not help but to fall into his arms. I planted my head in his chest and gave him myself to keep safe.

  I felt it was time that I introduced Brian to my family. As we walked out of the restroom I could feel my face turn red. The heat from my neck rose to my earlobes. Approaching the table I thought about the speech that I gave my grandmother earlier. I did not want to eat my words.

  DWIGHT

  Gran, Maddie, this is Brian.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Oh so that’s how you meet them - in the restroom. You are trash just like your mother.

  Right then and there my balls grew twice the size.

  DWIGHT

  Mrs. Ella Cove – this is my lover…Brian!

  I saw my grandmother “clutch her pearls.” My face lit up like lightning in a midnight summer sky.

  MADISON

  Um, nice to meet you Brian.

  DWIGHT

  This is my sister Madison. She is the one who raised me.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA (angrily)

  How dare you disrespect me like this? If it had not been for Jefferson and me, you would not be where you are now. Then to bring this, boy, in my face just to hurt me.

  BRIAN

  No disrespect ma’am but I haven’t been a boy for some years.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Who told you to speak to me? Madison, take me to the hospital right now. I can’t stand to be here any longer.

  MADISON

  Okay let me pay for the check. (beckoning for the waiter)

  I stood there beside Brian with a knot in my throat. I felt him place his hand on my shoulder. I wanted to cry but I was not about to give her the pleasure of seeing tears stroll down my face.

  As Madison paid the check Gran rose from her seat.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Don’t come to the will reading on tomorrow. You are not in it. You and your “boy” can go back to Seattle. I just can’t believe that you would do this to this family
.

  Gran walked towards the door.

  MADISON (stopping and placing her hand on my chest)

  Dwight you know that I love you. You know that she is set in her ways.

  DWIGHT

  Yeah still in the ole south. I think that we are going to leave tonight.

  MADISON

  No flights out of Meridian after 9 PM.

  DWIGHT

  We will drive to Mobile. I can’t take being here.

  BRIAN

  Baby, I just got here. I am tired. Plus think about your baby brother. He needs you here.

  MADISON (looking at Brian)

  He is right. Gran is upset right now. Please don’t leave.

  DWIGHT

  Okay. I will meet you back at the hospital.

  Madison stood on her tiptoes to give me a kiss. Realizing how short my sister was made me smile. She pinched me on the cheeks and exited the restaurant.

  DWIGHT

  So are you hungry?

  BRIAN

  Yes.

  I directed Brian to have a seat as we waited for the waiter to return.

  15

  I arrived at the attorney’s office reasonably late. I walked in with Brian by my side. Gran stood and walked towards me.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  What are you doing here?

  DWIGHT

  I received a text from an unknown number telling me to be here.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Who would text you?

  DWIGHT

  Gran I don’t know. Like I said – it was unknown.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Why is that boy here?

  DWIGHT

  Gran, his name is Brian. Please refer to him as that.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Okay, why is that boy, Brian, here?

  I didn’t care to respond. I took a seat and moved it to the far end of the office. I could not take being close to her. We all waited for the attorney, Mark Wallace, to return from his office to the conference room. I took my phone out and checked my Facebook page.

  Madison and Trent walked into the room. I noticed that she was wearing shades. She walked into the room and sat beside Gran. When Trent raised his hands to hug Gran I also noticed that Madison flinched.

  MARK (walking into the room)

  I apologize for being tardy. Mrs. Cove how have you been?

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Doing well and yourself?

  MARK

  Great.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  How is that baby?

  MARK

  She is good – growing like a weed.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  You remember my granddaughter, Madison. And this is her husband, Trenity Cooley.

  MARK

  Nice to meet you both. (noticing me in the corner) And you sir? (Grandmother Ella rolls her eyes)

  DWIGHT

  I am Dwight Cove.

  MARK

  Oh okay. Why don’t you move up?

  DWIGHT

  No I am fine back here.

  MARK

  Well okay. Ummm, let’s get down to business. Mr. Cove revised his will about three weeks before his death. It is very basic.

  We sat and listened to Mark read the will. Grandfather included everyone in his will. I knew that my name would not be listed but to everyone’s surprise, my name was called.

  MARK (reading the will – when Gran heard my name she turned and looked at me)

  “Dwight Cove. You know that we never really had a relationship. I watched you grow into a fine young man. I want you to know that you had a special place in my heart. I am…”

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Wait a minute. This can’t be my husband’s will.

  MARK

  Yes ma’am it is. May I finish? (continuing to read) “I am glad that you are my grandson. Your grandmother held hatred and malice in her heart for your mother. Regardless of who your father is – you are a Cove. I want you to cherish the bag that I am leaving you.”

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  What bag?

  MARK

  I don’t know. I have never seen a bag.

  DWIGHT

  Grandfather gave me a bag the day that he died.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  What was in it?

  DWIGHT

  I don’t know. I never looked.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Bring that bag to my house today. I mean that.

  DWIGHT

  Just yesterday you told me to never step foot back into your house.

  Mark placed the will back into his briefcase. He also gave Gran a copy of it. She took the will and flipped through it quickly. I walked over to Madison.

  DWIGHT

  Why are you so quiet?

  TRENITY

  She is a little under the weather.

  I looked at Trenity. This was not normal behavior for my sister.

  MADISON

  I am okay. Just a little tired.

  16

  What was supposed to be only three days has turned into two weeks. Brian and I sat beside Landon’s bed and stared at him as he lay in an induced coma. His condition seemed to get worse by the day. I wondered if he was in any pain, was he able to think, did he know that his family was here.

  BRIAN

  I see your mind racing. What are you thinking about?

  DWIGHT

  Just thinking about Landon. What is he feeling? That’s all.

  BRIAN

  I think that he is resting. I am quite sure that he knows that his family is here.

  DWIGHT

  Yeah.

  BRIAN (looking at his watch)

  It is about dinner time. Do you want to go get something to eat?

  DWIGHT

  Just as soon as Trenity gets here. I don’t want to leave Landon by himself.

  BRIAN

  Who is Trenity?

  DWIGHT

  That is my Maddie’s husband.

  BRIAN

  Oh okay.

  The door to his room suddenly opened and in walks two dark complexion men with determination in their eyes.

  DWIGHT

  May I help you?

  ROMAN

  Yeah. I heard that my boy Landon was in the hospital. I wanted to drop in and check on him.

  DWIGHT (standing up)

  He is in a coma right now. He is resting.

  ROMAN

  Do you know what happened?

  DWIGHT

  Someone broke into my grandmother’s house and they must have attacked him.

  ROMAN

  Why would someone do that? Landon is a cool dude.

  DWIGHT

  Yes he is. The only thing that we can figure is that he was trying to protect the house.

  Roman glared at me. His mouth had a slight crooked smile.

  DWIGHT

  May I ask who you are?

  ROMAN

  I was a business associate with him.

  That answer didn’t set well with me.

  DWIGHT

  What type of business?

  ROMAN

  Let’s say sales’ rep.

  I knew that Landon was always into something but never knew what.

  ROMAN

  Well we are going to leave and let him continue to get his rest but we will return to visit.

  DWIGHT

  Okay that will be great.

  Roman tapped his associate on the arm and they turned and walked out of the door.

  APOLLO (standing outside the room door)

  I will get my money one way or another. I think that we need to pay his grandmother a visit.

  ROMAN

  What do you plan on doing to that old woman?

  APOLLO

  She will either give me my money or I will make sure that she pays for a funeral.

  ROMAN

  Sounds like my kinda payment plan.

  17

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA (sitting in the living room of her house)

/>   I am glad that you could visit with me today. I haven’t seen you since Jefferson’s service. How have you been?

  NURSE ROBIN

  I have been good. How have you been?

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA (pouring some tea)

  Doing well. Do you care for a cup of tea?

  NURSE ROBIN

  No thank you.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  I have a few questions for you. You spent a lot of time with Jefferson when he was ill. I know that you two probably talked some.

  NURSE ROBIN

  Yes ma’am. We did.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  A few days ago we read the will of my late husband. He mentioned a bag that was left to one of my grandchildren. Do you recall a bag of any sort?

  NURSE ELLA

  Yes ma’am I do.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Do you know the contents?

  NURSE ROBIN

  I do. But I promised Mr. Cove that I would not talk to anyone about the bag.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Well he is dead now. You can tell me.

  NURSE ROBIN

  No I can’t. I hold true to my promises.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Very commendable of you. That means a lot to me that you would carry that secret for my late husband. Well. How has life been for you? Have you found another job? Have you married yet?

  NURSE ROBIN

  Life has been good. I am still searching for new employment.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Married?

  NURSE ROBIN (laughing)

  No ma’am.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  How would you like to come and work for me again? You can have a full package and you might get a husband out of it.

  NURSE ROBIN

  What exactly would I be doing? I am only trained to care for someone. I am not business savvy.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Just say you will work for me and I will take care of the rest.

  NURSE ROBIN

  Okay. I will work for you.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Great. First things first. We need to go shopping. Let’s go…you can drive my car.

  18

  Noah was leaving his job when his phone rang.

  NOAH

  Hello

  WINSTON

  Good morning baby. How are you?

  NOAH

  Exhausted.

  WINSTON

  Well come on home. I have a surprise waiting for you. I am about to leave for work but I will see you this evening for dinner.

  NOAH

  Okay. What is the surprise?

  WINSTON

  You will find that out when you get here.

  NOAH