standing. But would my son understand?

sat there, book unopened and trembling inwardly, waiting for him to speak. For I would have to be truthful. I had never lied to Hap about anything. Could I find the proper words to explain, to make him understand that this love, no matter what society and its mores proclaimed, was not debased and vile, but a wonderful, lovely, precious thing, as right for Claire and me as it was for any properly married couple, tho' they be man and woman and we two women.

When he spoke his voice was casual, but with vibrant undertones. "You don't ever wear a skirt around the house, do you Mom?" I looked at him. "No, I guess not." I couldn't trust myself to say any more. Indeed, what could I say? Then, "Two boys were expelled from school Thursday." I forced myself to look into his eyes. Please, dear Lord, give me the courage to face up to this, to my son. Please help him to understand. He said, "They were caught I me an, they found out that they were que.. . homosexual.' He stood and looked out the window, unable to look at me. My heart was sick, my tongue frozen. "That's all the guys could talk about." He imitated someone. "Did you he ar about Jim and Perry? They're fairies!"

He turned to me, and when he spoke again, the sweet conviction in his voice, the clarity of his eyes, brought tears to mine "Jim was one of the best athletes our school has ever had. Perry was the only boy who was absolutely sure of making the honor roll every term. They've been friends since they started school. More than friends. They were always together and nobody thought anything about it. But they were caught. They were in the woods, in back of Mason Hall, and a couple of seniors spotted them and went running to Mr. Townsend." Futile anger made his voice resonant, his eyes flash. "Everything was hunky-dor y until they got caught in the act."

He looked at me fully and una shamed. "Mom, growing up with you and Claire, I guess I just never thought about it much. Men and women, I mean. I mean. Or men and men, and women and women. I don't really know just what I do think. Some day I want a home with a wife and kids. I