Classmates

“After you graduate, you are coming back home to run the family farm, right?”

Brody only half-listened to the phone as his mother rattled on. She was determined to control his life, and he was just as determined to not let her.

“Your father, God rest his soul, would have wanted that.”

His father wanted him to learn all he could, set his own path, and do well. His father died during his junior year in high school, so he took over the farm because he had to. He also made the honor roll and played on the high school football team. No teenager should have that much responsibility.

“And since you’ll have a degree in music, you can be the music director at the church.”

Definitely not his plan. Brother Chris, the nosy family preacher, had pressured Brody to be a fine Christian man, married with many children. Brody resisted the preacher and his cautions about the evils hiding everywhere. Liberals and homosexuals caused everything bad in the world. A frame of mind that irritated him and was the opposite of his father, who taught him to learn about something before judging.

“I know the mothers of some girls you went to school with,” his mother said. “Fine Christian young ladies who are still here in town. One of them will make you a fine wife and give me many grandchildren.”

Grandchildren? Not from him. He’d never told her of his preference for the male half of the equation. That was a topic best kept to himself.

“Brody, are you listening to me?”

He sighed. “Yes, mom. Stop worrying and stop trying to control my life. I’m doing fine. I need to go. We’ll talk soon.”

“Fine, but I don’t like you being so far away in a big city full of perverts. I wish you’d come to your senses and move home. Cities are full of crazy liberals, you know.”

“Mom, stop listening to one-sided news. Love you!” Brody hung up before she could say anything more.