Tales of the City 03 - Further Tales of the City

Ann.
    “Then you did good.”
    Mary Ann turned the Kleenex on her own face and blew her nose noisily. “How long will they keep you here?” she asked.
    “Two weeks,” said Brian. “Maybe three.”
    “Then, let’s do it here.”
    “What?”
    “The wedding,” said Mary Ann. “Remember?”
    “Sure … but …”
    “Yeah?”
    “Well, you wanted a garden wedding.”
    “Fuck the garden. I wanna be married to you. Do you wanna be married to me?”
    “I do,” said Brian.
    Mary Ann beamed. “I’ll tell Mrs. Madrigal.”

Michael’s Doctor
    M ICHAEL SLIPPED INTO THE HALLWAY TO FIND JON reading a Highlights magazine next to the nurse’s station.
    “Hey,” said the doctor, “you’re supposed to be prone, sport.”
    Michael sat down next to him, wearing only his hospital smock. “Whoa!” he yelped, stiffening as his bare butt collided with cold plastic.
    Jon grinned. “They’re not for patients.”
    “What? The chair or the dress?”
    The doctor pointed to Michael’s room, admonishing him with his eyes.
    “In a minute,” said Michael. “I thought the lovebirds could use a little privacy. Anyway … stop being such a doctor.”
    Jon shrugged. “I’m not in white, am I?”
    “You’re on the verge … I can tell. Why don’t you get some sleep, Jon? How long have you been here, anyway?”
    “I’m all right,” said Jon. “I’ll go home with Mary Ann when she leaves.”
    “Did Mrs. Madrigal go home?”
    Jon nodded. “It’s past time for Bambi’s lunch.”
    “Jesus,” groaned Michael. “I completely forgot about that little drama!”
    “Didn’t we all?”
    “Mary Ann says that’s next on her agenda … now that the twins are back. Did you hear from the police, by the way? Anything new, I mean?”
    Jon shook his head. “I don’t expect there will be. No license number, no solid description. The people who found you didn’t reach the police until half-an-hour after the attack. I think we’ve got to write it off, Michael.”
    Michael’s eyes glazed over.
    “Hey,” said Jon. “You with me, sport?”
    “Yeah.”
    “It was an awful thing, Michael, but you can’t let it get the best of you. Don’t let those bastards change the way you look at life. Hey, sport … look at me.”
    Michael’s lower lip was trembling uncontrollably. Tears flooded his face. “I know, Jon … it isn’t that. It’s just …”
    “What?”
    “Do you think they blame me?”
    Jon blinked at him, uncomprehending. “Who?”
    “Mary Ann and Brian.”
    “Michael … what in the world are you talking about?”
    “Well,” answered Michael, his voice quavering. “Those guys who jumped us … they thought we were both gay … and … if I hadn’t been there …”
    “Jesus,” muttered Jon.
    “No, listen … they were just plain wrong about Brian. They had even less reason to attack him than me. But he got the worst of it. He …”
    “Even less reason, huh? Meaning, I suppose, that they had at least a marginal reason to attack you? Is that what you think, Michael? Do you really believe that you deserved to get it more than Brian did?”
    “Jon … I don’t …”
    “Goddamnit, Michael! How dare you talk like that? Brian doesn’t think that. Mary Ann certainly doesn’t. You’re the biggest homophobe in the family. What the hell does gay have to do with anything?”
    Michael looked at him imploringly, eyes brimming with tears. “Jon … please … I came out here for a hug.”
    A hug was what he got. “Listen to me,” said Jon, speaking directly into Michael’s ear, “you taught me everything I know about being happy with myself. Don’t poop out on me now, kiddo.”
    “Jon, I just can’t keep …”
    “Yes you can,” said the doctor. “You’re the toughest little fucker I know. You’re right out there on the battle lines … and that’s where I want you to stay. Christ, Michael … I’m the guy who wouldn’t let you kiss him in airports.”
    Silence.
    “I’m different now,” Jon added. “You’re the one who changed me.”
    Michael pulled away from him and looked into his eyes. “Who have you been kissing in airports?”
    Jon faked nonchalance. “Oh … lots of people.”
    “I’ll bet.”
    “Wanna try for a hospital?”
    They kissed for almost half-a-minute until the head nurse returned to her station.
    She cleared her throat noisily. “If you don’t mind, gentlemen.”
    Jon looked up at her and smiled. “It’s all right,” he said. “I’m a