Chapter 9 - Gen 6 - Lyric

My Granddad was the first one to rib me about the public disgrace, Forrest had already gone to work, it was too late for me to warn him about it, he was going to learn how a public disgrace felt the hard way.  Its pretty easy when you are innocent to pay off the paps or sue them for slander, but we were not innocent.  I was not even going to bother fighting this one.  It was all my fault, I had gotten us into this situation, I felt guilty and decided to meet him out of work.

Forrest:  I could kill you Lyric, nobody saw us - right!!!
Lyric:  "I'm sorry!!  Did they give you hell?"
Forrest:  "They have had a right scream today at my expense thank you, plus I got into trouble with coach for being out all night, he has struck me off the team sheet!!"
Lyric:  "It's not so bad, it might feel like it right now, but it will all die down in a few days when they get something new to gossip about!!"
Forrest:  "It's embarrassing and I bet you have hidden away indoors all day haven't you!!"

 He surprised me, I had half expected him to laugh over it, but he was pretty embarrassed.   I think a lot of it was the shock of his first public disgrace, suddenly he was realizing his life was now public property, nothing was private anymore, not even our sex life, when it had been so stupidly dangled in front of them to make a meal of.  That was all my fault, I was irresponsible, I should have known better, I had let him down, and I should have prepared him better for what a public disgrace could do to him.

Cain: "So who's clever idea was it?"
Lyric:  "It was my fault, I wasn't thinking!!"
Cain:  "Obviously not with your head!!!   You know your Dad will have kittens over this, you know how straight laced he is!!"
Lyric:  "Come on, you can't tell me none of you have never been a little daring in your time Granddad, I know you of all people are no angel!!"
Cain:   "I've had my moments, but not in public no!!  Lyric you know better than to do stupid things like that which are definitely going to attract attention to yourself!!"

He started asking questions about Melon and Lilac, he wanted to know what was happening and when.  I think Granddad was worrying, he keeps pointing out to me that his time is running out and he really would like to see another heir in place before he joins his other family out in the garden, he is so morbid, always talking about his own death, I really wish he wouldn't!!

Lyric:  "I am sorry Forrest!!"

I decided to hide out indoors for a few days until all the fuss had died down, maybe a little cowardly I know, but I just couldn't deal with all the hassle of people laughing and pointing the finger.  So instead of going to the park to play for tips I stayed home and sang to an empty room, I was pleased that I had no shows booked other than my weekly park gig and by the time that came round again hopefully all the fuss would be over.  Forrest was not so lucky he had to go to work and take the ribbing he was getting from his work mates.

After a few days I put on a brave face and went out.  As soon as I got outside the Karaoke bar I could hear that familiar cat squealing noise again and before I even opened the door I guessed my Aunty Dixie was on the karaoke machine again.  I stood giggling as Dixie and her friend Melon Berry continued to hurt everyone's eardrums with their racket and didn't give a damn they were obviously enjoying themselves. Uncle Brice adding to the noise heckling them, publically displaying disapproval at his wife's singing!!

I went over to Uncle Brice to chat.
Brice:  "I hear you have been a naughty boy Lyric" he was laughing as he said it, I knew that Uncle Brice would see the funny side of it and find it amusing.
Lyric:  "What did Dad say, I haven't spoken to him, I half expected him to phone me up and give me a lecture"
Brice:  "He was not very amused but you know him, he is a stuffed shirt!!  Take no notice, I've done far worse in my time, just try not to get caught next time!!"

Dad and Harper are still living with Brice.  There seems no sign of Mom and Dad sorting out their differences, Dad is even considering getting a divorce.   Brice said that Dad was feeling a lot better about things these days and has thrown all his energy into his career and gained quite a few promotions lately.  I am really glad that Dad is a lot happier now.

I needed to sell a few albums, so I made a start with Uncle Brice, who was pretty happy to have one off me.

After auditioning for a gig at the Karaoke bar, I made my way over to the rodeo bar where I also had an audition.  I came out feeling pretty pleased with myself, I had two more dates for my diary and two more shows to perform.

The crowd in the park was bigger than usual this evening, so I made the most of it, earning quite a lot in tips and I sold quite a few albums.  The public disgrace has died away and not one person mentioned it, so I was finally able to relax.

In some ways I am wandering if that public disgrace had not actually done me some good, as there seemed to be a new buzz in the air, I was constantly being hassled for autographs and photo's, even more than normal which I found very strange, I expected to be snubbed, but I was actually experiencing totally the opposite, at one point I actually felt like I was being mobbed..

........ or is my music finally beginning to create the desired affect that I wanted.  I have had a very good day, everything going the way that I wanted it to, which was the last thing that I expected when I left the house this morning.

I was not the only one who has had a good day, Forrest is back on the team sheet, as well as receiving a promotion.  We are both over halfway towards achieving our desired career goals, so we are both pretty happy with life again at the moment, quite a difference from only a few days ago.

I made my way to the Rodeo bar early, I was putting on a show in a few hours and in a really good mood until I spotted my Mother lurking.  I was signing autographs and trying to ignore her, but she made her way over making it pretty clear that she intended to talk to me.  This is going to be interesting I thought!!  

There is never any "hello son how are you?"  its always blunt and to the point, straight away she launches an attack on me, I should have known what was coming!!

She was not happy with me, disgracing the family, its bad enough me being gay without misbehaving like that in public, she rambled on and I just listened, I could feel my blood boiling, but I stood there biting my tongue and trying not to react to her rambling.

There is only so much I can take, and I thought I was going to get away without losing my temper completely, if she had left it at just that, I would have been fine, but she didn't, that was not the only thing she was not happy about.

Amber:  "And what is this STUPID idea you have got into your head about baby sharing??"

I snapped, the nerve of the woman!!

Lyric:  "Stupid idea!!??  Well come on Mother - how the hell else do you expect me to to get the heir that you expect from me - I am gay - did you think that I was going to be a good boy, turn myself straight, marry a woman, have lots of kids and live happy every after in that STUPID head of yours??? 

I was livid and I let her have it, in public and I didn't care who was listening.  She had lumped an impossible responsibility on my shoulders when there were better alternatives than me, I really don't know what goes on in that head of hers, sometimes I wandered if this was not her way of trying to turn me straight, she was lucky I was even trying to do it at all, if it was not for Granddad Cain then I wouldn't even be considering it, I'd tell her where to stick her family wishacy and be just as spiteful as she was being to me.

I told her to but out of my life, I hated her and I wanted nothing more to do with her.   She didn't shout back, she just turned around and walked away.

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Lilac:  "Wow Mel, you never said Forrest was rich!!"
Melon:  "He isn't, this must be his boyfriends house."
Lilac:  "What has he told you about his boyfriend?"
Melon:  "Nothing really."
Lilac:   "Who was the old guy who let us in, only I swear I've seen him before!!"
Melon:  "I don't know, he said Forrest will be down in a minute, just wait Lilac."
Lilac:  "You don't think the old guy was his boyfriend?"
Melon:  "Don't be stupid, just shut up, you are getting on my nerves already!!"

Cain woke me up to tell me the girls had arrived, Lyric was still asleep so I left him, he had been shattered last night and it would probably be better if I softened the blow and told them who he was before he appeared and shocked them.  Although I expect them to already know, it is not a secret in this town especially after our antics at the local swimming pool.

Forrest:  "Hey Mel, I didn't expect you this early!!"
Melon:  "You forget I'm an early bird, but I thought you'd be up by now lazy bones!!"
Forrest:  "We had a busy day yesterday, I had a game and Lyric ...... well he was working till very late last night."
Melon:  "Lyric.....so finally you tell me his name"
Forrest:  "Sorry, I suppose I had better warn you before he comes down ....."
Melon:  "You have been very cagey about him Forrest, why?"

Lilac who had been quiet up till now suddenly spoke.
Lilac:  "I know why he has been cagey, I know who his boyfriend is - that old guy that let us in - that was Cain Ugli wasn't it - your boyfriend is Lyric Ugli!!"
Melon:  "Don't be stupid Lilac!!"  Mel snapped at Lilac and the look she gave her kind of shocked me, if looks could kill!!

I was surprised they didn't know already, but it had not taken Lilac long to work it out.  I watched the two girls bickering between themselves, I suddenly sensed something was not quite right with them, there seemed to be a lot of tension between them.

Melon:  "Ignore her she's insane.!!"
Forrest:  "Actually Mel she is right about Lyric Ugli, he is my boyfriend."
Melon:  "Really!!??"

Mel just looked at me, we had been best friends for a long time, since we were kids, granted we had lost touch over the past two or three years, and I doubt she would have changed much in that time. I knew her very well and I knew that look, she was far from happy and that worried me.

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Chapter 10

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