gether. Then the troubles began in

earnest.

First, came the loss of the job where Don had successfully worked for eighteen years . Then Jon's employer was called in the attempt to get him fired too, but that didn't work. Don began attending the church of which Jon was a member. An attempt was made to have them expelled from their church, but that also failed. There were anonymous phone calls of a threatening or obscene nature. Old friends crossed the street to avoid meeting them. Car tires were slashed and their apartment lease was cancelled, so that they were forced to move.

Finally the divorce got under way, Jon being named as correspondent in the full glare of publicity. The wife's three lawyers maneuvered to get the trial set before a judge noted for his prejudce against homosexuals. Don's lawyer, as well as the psychiatrist who stood by well during all this time, advised keeping things quiet. Don't live together now, they advised. Keep apart for the present, lest court commitment or a prison sentence result.

Instead, the two kept on living together, going to church together and, to let the whole world know that all of its fury could not deter them from their feelings for each other, they walked hand-in-hand to the middle of the main intersection in their Midwestern home city and in the fullness of noonday kissed each other there.

However, Don had no job and no income. It was Jon who supported them both. Fortunately, his family interposed no serious problems and. equally fortunately for them both, they kept on learning anew that, while sexual attraction may be important. life is much more than that; they liked each other and liked being with each other. That was what mattered.

The months dragged on and on, but at long last it was all over. Don was

one

not jailed or sentenced, but he was stripped of everything he had. Gone was all the property from a comfortable, moderately affluent way of life, even down to the beloved heirlooms inherited from his own parents. Everything was gone, except Jon, but that was enough. Their new life could now begin, a life they could build together.

They didn't slink quietly out of town, as so many expected and advised them to do. Don managed to find employment in another line of work, not very good pay, but a job nevertheless. So they lived quietly along until the time seemed ripe for their next move. This was to the West Coast, where they now live. Don is back in his own line of work once more and Jon continues the work for which he was trained.

8