Page 34 of Hittin' the Right Note
“I’m not surprised,” his father grumbles. “Mikey just loves being the center of attention.”
His father, Carl, is a dead ringer for Ward Cleaver fromLeave it to Beaver.Square jaw, brown eyes, prominent nose. Hedrinks a bit too much whiskey and smokes more cigars than are good for him, and he’s earned a few more wrinkles lately. Still, he exudes a strong, disapproving masculinity Mikey has always found intimidating.
Tonight, though, he’s not going to let them rain on his parade.
“I did a good job tonight,” he says.
“You did, sweetie,” his mother rushes to reassure him, but then she gives a little sigh. “Can I just give you another note?”
Now it’s Mikey’s turn to sigh. He knows better than to try to say no, since she’s going to say what she wants to say, anyway.
“Go ahead,” he says.
“Be careful of hanging around that other young man too much.”
He knows right away she’s talking about Luke, and he’s suddenly queasy.
“I don’t know what you mean,” he says.
“She means be careful you don’t look like a faggot,” his father grouses as they get into the car and start driving away. His mother clucks her tongue but doesn’t disagree.
Mikey’s face flushes, and he chokes down an angry response. He isn’t sure how, but somehow the whole night has turned into one long sour note. He wishes he was back with Luke, with more time to spend together.
It’d be better than spending time with these two,he thinks.
“It’s not just that,” his mother goes on. “It’s just…we don’t want you getting mixed up with the wrong type of person. That boy…well, he’s just not our kind of people, sweetie.”
This is exactly the reason he hasn’t told his parents about Luke before now, deliberately not telling them who he’s been spending time with. He’s just lucky his parents are too concerned with their own lives to worry too much about what their teenage son is getting up to. At least they bought him a carwhen he turned sixteen, so he doesn’t have to rely on them for rides to and from NACA.
“I know you need friends, but really, Mikey, what were you thinking?”
He should’ve known his parents would have this response to Luke. His boyfriend–he still feels a thrill when he thinks about Luke ashis boyfriend–deserves better, but when he tries to open his mouth to tell his parents off and to tell them all about what Luke means to him, he can’t actually get the words out.
“Besides,” his mother says, clearly not even slightly aware of the troubled thoughts going through his mind, “I have a feeling things are going to start looking up for you very soon.”
He wants to ask just what the hell she’s talking about, but he presses his lips shut and clamps down on his curiosity. He’s not going to play her game.
He can’t miss the way his mother’s lips purse at his refusal to go along, but she just keeps on talking.
“I’ve heard a rumor that a talent agent was in the crowd tonight, and he was very impressed with your performance.”
Now Mikey is curious despite himself. He leans forward a bit, just enough so he can see the little smile flickering across his mother’s lips.
His father, of course, doesn’t say anything but just instead keeps looking at the road ahead.
“I heard the agent is looking for someone who can be a part of a new boy band he’s putting together.” She pauses for dramatic impact.
I hate when she does this,Mikey thinks.
“And how did you hear about him?” he finally asks, knowing she’s not going to tell him anything else until he gives her what she wants.
“I know people,” his mother says enigmatically. “And I listen. Something some people could do a little bit better.”
Neither Mikey nor his father say anything.
His mother, clearly disappointed her not-so-subtle hinting hasn’t gotten the result she wanted, pouts and looks out the window, so Mikey does the same.
However, he doesn’t really see anything outside. His mind is too busy racing through the possibilities. He might have put on an act for his mother’s sake, but the truth is he’s almost vibrating with excitement. He’s already thinking about what it would be like to be a member of a boy band and, though he’s never really thought about it as a career path, now she’s put the idea in his head he can’t help but imagine it: the camaraderie, the screaming fans, the spotlight.
