Extension: The Final Frontier (Excerpt)
Written by Jake Collins
Beth emerged onto the landing to find Carl standing motionless outside Kevin's bedroom. Allowing herself a small sigh, she came to stand behind her husband and gently touched his arm.
'How long have you been standing there?' Beth asked.
'Four, maybe five minutes,' Carl replied.
'Oh, Carl,' said Beth.
Beth peered over Carl's shoulder and smiled at the scene that met her eyes. The door of Kevin's room stood fully open, offering a very clear view of Kevin and Oscar spooning in Kevin's bed. Both boys were sound asleep, looking utterly peaceful and contented together. The morning sunlight glinted on the abundant locks of Oscar's blond hair.
'I knew it,' said Carl, somewhat ruefully. 'I knew what they were doing in here last night.'
'We both knew it, Carl,' said Beth. 'It was pretty obvious.'
Carl thought for a moment, then he said, 'Oscar's still only sixteen, right?'
'Yes, that's right,' said Beth. 'Are you planning on hauling Kevin down to the precinct and charging him with a misdemeanour?'
Carl frowned and said, 'No.'
'Good,' said Beth.
'Kevin could at least try having sex with a girl before he decides he's gay!' said Carl.
'It doesn't work that way, Carl,' said Beth, then she frowned slightly. 'Or maybe I shouldn't generalise like that – maybe it does work that way for some people, I don't know. But clearly it's not the case with Kevin, or with Oscar.'
'Why hasn't Kevin ever taken a ride on that busty blond girl he's so pally with?' Carl persisted. 'You know, the one who's always showing off her midriff. I can't understand why he wouldn't give it a whirl with her, even if he is only very close friends with that other girl – the Asian one.'
'Carl, there's so much wrong with what you just said, I can't even begin to process it,' said Beth. 'For a start, I know perfectly well that you know both those girls' names if you bother to think for a second. You're not thinking rationally – you've had a shock and you're letting your raw feelings get the better of you.'
'You're right, honey,' Carl sighed. 'It's just seeing my son like that... I still can't take it in, even after everything we've already been through.'
'Try looking at it this way,' Beth advised. 'Kevin and Oscar are in love with each other, they're both perfectly sensible young adults, and they've just spent the night together. Where's the problem in that?'
'I know there isn't one, really,' said Carl. 'It's me – I'm wrong! But I can't help feeling sick to my stomach when I think about Kevin... doing those things with another boy. It's these raw feelings, like you said, Beth – we can't control them, but we can make sure they don't affect our actual lives if we don't want them to.'
'You're right, Carl,' said Beth, reaching out to close the door of Kevin's room. 'Let's just hope you can follow your own advice, huh?'
'How long have you been standing there?' Beth asked.
'Four, maybe five minutes,' Carl replied.
'Oh, Carl,' said Beth.
Beth peered over Carl's shoulder and smiled at the scene that met her eyes. The door of Kevin's room stood fully open, offering a very clear view of Kevin and Oscar spooning in Kevin's bed. Both boys were sound asleep, looking utterly peaceful and contented together. The morning sunlight glinted on the abundant locks of Oscar's blond hair.
'I knew it,' said Carl, somewhat ruefully. 'I knew what they were doing in here last night.'
'We both knew it, Carl,' said Beth. 'It was pretty obvious.'
Carl thought for a moment, then he said, 'Oscar's still only sixteen, right?'
'Yes, that's right,' said Beth. 'Are you planning on hauling Kevin down to the precinct and charging him with a misdemeanour?'
Carl frowned and said, 'No.'
'Good,' said Beth.
'Kevin could at least try having sex with a girl before he decides he's gay!' said Carl.
'It doesn't work that way, Carl,' said Beth, then she frowned slightly. 'Or maybe I shouldn't generalise like that – maybe it does work that way for some people, I don't know. But clearly it's not the case with Kevin, or with Oscar.'
'Why hasn't Kevin ever taken a ride on that busty blond girl he's so pally with?' Carl persisted. 'You know, the one who's always showing off her midriff. I can't understand why he wouldn't give it a whirl with her, even if he is only very close friends with that other girl – the Asian one.'
'Carl, there's so much wrong with what you just said, I can't even begin to process it,' said Beth. 'For a start, I know perfectly well that you know both those girls' names if you bother to think for a second. You're not thinking rationally – you've had a shock and you're letting your raw feelings get the better of you.'
'You're right, honey,' Carl sighed. 'It's just seeing my son like that... I still can't take it in, even after everything we've already been through.'
'Try looking at it this way,' Beth advised. 'Kevin and Oscar are in love with each other, they're both perfectly sensible young adults, and they've just spent the night together. Where's the problem in that?'
'I know there isn't one, really,' said Carl. 'It's me – I'm wrong! But I can't help feeling sick to my stomach when I think about Kevin... doing those things with another boy. It's these raw feelings, like you said, Beth – we can't control them, but we can make sure they don't affect our actual lives if we don't want them to.'
'You're right, Carl,' said Beth, reaching out to close the door of Kevin's room. 'Let's just hope you can follow your own advice, huh?'
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