Page 9 of A Little Christmas: Rivi
But on the other side of the argument, I’d never know if I didn’t get myself out there. I was twenty-one. Still a virgin. Time wasn’t stopping to wait for me.
I looked at the clock on my phone. Uncle Trent would call in half an hour. I had that long to decide what I wanted and how to say it to him.
Frozen, listening to the silence, I lost track of time. The phone rang before I realized a half an hour had passed.
“Rivi? You called? What’s going on?” His voice always held a deep, resonant tone.
“Hi, Uncle Trent.”
“How are you doing? How’s the job?”
“It’s good. I’m happy with it.”
“That great to hear. Are you okay? Plans for Christmas?”
He pelted me with questions. I didn’t call him often. I steadied myself.
“Well, um, speaking of Christmas….”
“Go on,” he prodded.
I was hoping he might say something about his party. But I shouldn’t have expected that. His norm was to bring us gifts before or after Christmas, or if he was traveling, have them delivered. He did not usually spend that exact day with us.
“Well, um, I was out today. I was shopping, you see, and I overheard two guys. They were talking.” I stopped and cleared my throat.
“Did they say something that bothered you? What’s going on? Rivi, you can always talk to me. You know that.”
I pressed my lips tight until my teeth nearly cut into them, then spoke. “I do know that. But I don’t do it. I mean, I don’t tell you everything.”
“Well, that’s all right. But you know I’m here for you.” His voice softened. Like he really cared about me.
“You—you never told me you were gay, Uncle Trent.”
I heard breaths on the other end of the connection.
“Mama told me. When—when I came out.”
“That’s very brave, Rivi. I’m glad you told me.”
“I would’ve before, but I just, well, never found the right time. Mama told me if I ever needed to talk to someone, you would be a good listener.”
“She’s right. Is something up? Does this have to do with the two guys you overheard?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me. What did they say?”
“They, um, were talking about Club 99. And the Christmas party there with Santa. There was this poster on the wall, and Isaw it and then I heard them and I’m too shy to go to any clubs. I don’t meet people, but they were talking and, well?—”
“Rivi, can I ask you something?”
“Yeah.”
“Where were you shopping?”
I blurted it out. “The Haven.”
Silence.
