It was on Wednesday after his class with Dr. Drake that Bryce encountered Jason Todd. Last winter, Bryce had been instrumental in Jason’s coming out, and for a brief time that seemed to augur well, but, in the estimation of his friends in Sigma Alpha Tau, Jason went overboard. He was discovered engaging in promiscuous and anonymous sex, and was also neglecting his obligations at the fraternity and his academic work. Jason was a music major, and had, during the phase immediately after coming out, given a truly impressive jazz performance, but then drifted into indifference and neglect. This had reached the point where several brothers of SAT accused him of sullying the reputation of the fraternity, and called for his expulsion. In the court of honor which followed, a lesser penalty was imposed on a recalcitrant Jason. Since then, Bryce had very little contact with his fellow student. Jason had not been to either of the fraternity meetings thus far this semester.
Shortly after eleven o’clock on that Wednesday Bryce left his English class, the class on the Restoration period in English literature, after getting approval of a term paper topic on Dryden’s Religio laici. He was on his own for the next hour, as this was when Damon had his dreaded political theory class. With nothing immediately pressing, he wandered listlessly towards the campus quadrangle, not certain whether he was headed towards the library or the Union. There, in the center of the quad, he encountered Jason.
“Hi, Jason,” Bryce greeted.
“Um, hi,” Jason responded.
“Missed you at the last SAT meeting,” Bryce said, just making conversation.
“You expected to see me there?” Jason questioned. “I’m surprised you even speak to me after last spring.”
That got Bryce’s attention. “Why wouldn’t I want to speak to you?”
“You were there at that hearing, or whatever it was, and saw me raked over the coals,” Jason complained.
“Jason, I have nothing against you personally. I thought you were a good brother and a great musician up until sometime after mid-term last spring. But I will not apologize for that court of honor. I agree with the decision of the judges that you were going overboard, and I was sorry to see that. But you’re still a member of SAT, and I accept you as a brother,” Bryce insisted.
Jason looked at Bryce for a couple of minutes, then asked, “You free now?”
“Yeah. I’m meeting Damon at noon for lunch, but until then I have no obligations,” Bryce replied.
“How about coffee in the Union?” Jason proposed. Although the Administration insisted that the building was the Albert B. Chandler University Center, students persisted in calling it the Union.
“Sure,” Bryce agreed, and the two walked to that facility, obtained something vaguely resembling coffee, and found a table off to one side.
“So, you agreed with the judges that I was going overboard, did you?” Jason began, once they were seated.
“Yes, I did. Jason, I know I cannot tell you what to think or what to do, but as a general rule I find that balance and moderation usually work better than extremes, and I think what you were doing last spring was an extreme,” Bryce said.
“Well, I don’t think I’m going to dress in sack cloth and ashes or anything, but I guess there is something to what you say,” Jason conceded.
Bryce smiled. “I’m happy to hear you say that. What made you change your mind?”
“A couple of things. First of all, I did go to the University Health Center last spring, and was told that I had contacted an STD,” Jason admitted.
“Sorry to hear that. I hope it’s nothing serious,” Bryce commiserated.
“Fortunately not. No AIDS or syphilis or anything else more or less permanent. They put me on a regimen of antibiotics, and now I’m back to normal. But that did get me to thinking that, despite what I thought were my precautions, I was being irresponsible if I intended to live much longer,” Jason assured Bryce.
“What else? You said several things led to a change,” Bryce enquired.
“At the end of the semester, I went home. Do you recall what I told you about my family?” Jason asked.
“As I recall, your family has a strong military tradition, and life at home was kind of regimented,” Bryce remembered.
“Right on. And not ‘kind of regimented.’ My dad never really left the Marines, mentally. Well, part of my problem last spring, as you recall, was neglecting my classes. That is simply not acceptable at home, so I was subjected to daily verbal abuse, called a disgrace to the family, and almost dragooned into joining the Corps. The gist of my father’s approach was, if I could not do a decent job on campus then it was the Marines for me, which would straighten me out. I fled back to campus. I signed up for the summer term, and repeated some of those classes where I screwed up. But my dad would not pay for that, so I worked my butt off all summer, working construction here in Clifton, and taking classes in the evenings, late afternoons, and any other time I could squeeze them in. That decided me I did not want to do that for the rest of my life. I was totally exhausted practically all summer. That’s the second thing,” Jason related.
“Wow. That threat of the Marines provided powerful motivation, I see,” Bryce noted.
“You bet. I definitely do not want the rest of my life to be like it was for the first twenty years, with everything a matter of obeying orders or some code of conduct that puts me in a straitjacket,” Jason agreed. “But there’s something else.”
“Oh? What’s that?” Bryce asked.
“I met someone,” Jason said with a big grin.
“Met …? Oh! Yes, I recall your complaints about not having a boyfriend last spring,” Bryce grinned. “Who is he?”
“His name is Nate Hagan. He was in my music history class this summer, but he’s an art history major,” Jason enthused.
“Oh, boy. I can hear my father now. Music and art history. Neither of you will ever have a decent income,” Bryce teased.
“We’ll cope. He’s absolutely wonderful. I told him about my sordid past, including the STD, and he was wonderfully forgiving and understanding. I think I’m in love.” Jason was almost giddy by this time.
Bryce grinned broadly. “I know what that’s like. Congratulations. But why not bring this paragon around to the house? Are you keeping him under wraps? I’d like to meet him.”
“You think that would be okay? At the house, I mean?” Jason queried.
“Sure. Why not? I think most of the brothers know Damon and I are a couple, and we’ve received very little flack. In fact, let me tell you what you missed at the last two meetings. You remember the to-do last fall about Bick Lomax and Mack Campbell? Well, the Administration, influenced by large donations from their fathers, has decided to let them back in.”
“Aw shit! I didn’t need to hear that,” Jason complained.
“Yeah, but it goes further. Curtis has been raked over the coals twice by the VPSA because the big honchos want them readmitted to the fraternity, too. Last night, we voted overwhelmingly for a resolution which says no way will those two get back in SAT,” Bryce informed his interlocutor.
“Overwhelmingly?” Jason asked.
“There were no ‘noes’ and only a handful of abstentions. And we had a pretty good turnout, because it was advertised ahead of time what was up. You should have received an e-mail notice from Terry,” Bryce pointed out.
Jason blushed. “I’m guilty. I was feeling so negative about the fraternity that I deleted messages from Terry without reading them.”
“Shame on you. Let me tell you, Damon is so pleased with the acceptance he’s found among the brothers that he is practically putting them up for canonization. You have nothing to fear, if what you’re telling me is true,” Bryce assured Jason.
“It’s all true. I guess this is another facet of my life I need to get back in focus,” Jason admitted.
“Okay. Friday is the Welcome Back party. Show up, and bring your boyfriend with you. What’s his name? Nate? Bring Nate with you. I look forward to meeting him,” Bryce proposed.
“Yeah,” Jason said, indicating he had not considered that, but thought it a good suggestion. “Nate is in some art society, but it’s more an honors group than a social one, like SAT. Maybe he’d like that.”
“I want to see you and Nate dance at the party on Friday, just like me and Damon,” Bryce encouraged him.
“You think?”
“Definitely. At least one dance,” Bryce insisted.
Jason grinned. “We’ll do it.” Then he got a troubled look on his face.
“Oh, oh. What now?” Bryce wondered.
“You’re Catholic, right?” Jason asked.
“Yeah. Seems I have a reputation at the house about that, but I don’t really know why,” Jason admitted.
“Because most of us are not all that interested in religion at this stage of our lives, and you are. That makes you a fucking freak,” Jason teased him.
“Is a fucking freak any better than a celibate freak?” Bryce kidded back.
“Definitely. Shows you’re human. But the reason I asked the question is that Nate is having problems along those lines. He comes from a Catholic family. You know, the big Catholic community down around Washington and Marion Counties and Gethsemeni Abbey,” Jason said.
“Actually, I don’t. I’m not from around here,” Bryce admitted.
“Well, anyway, Nate is kind of torn between being gay and being Catholic. I thought you could maybe help along those lines,” Jason suggested.
“Sure. I went through that last fall. I got a lot of help from Father Miller at the Newman Center, and maybe Nate should try that, too. But I’ll be glad to be of any help I can,” Bryce said with obvious sincerity.
About that time, Damon appeared, still looking apprehensive after his political theory class, but interested to find his partner talking with Jason Todd.
“Hi, Jason. What’s up?” Damon greeted him.
“Hi. I’ve just wasted your boyfriend’s past hour telling him about my problems,” Jason replied.
“He’s a pretty good listener. But I’m better,” Damon declared.
“No ego in my boyfriend,” Bryce laughed. “Damon, Jason was just telling me he’s found a boyfriend of his own.”
“That’s good. I was worrying that he was out after mine,” Damon kidded.
“No, my boyfriend is Nate Hagan. He’s an art history major,” Jason said.
“Oh, great! Bryce and I are in an art history class this term. We saw slews of art this summer in Europe. I am now an absolute expert on art history,” Damon proclaimed.
Jason laughed. “Well, we’ll have to get you and Nate together. Bryce was suggesting the Welcome Back party on Friday.”
“Good idea. And even before if it works out,” Damon agreed.
Jason rose. “I’m late. I’m supposed to meet Nate at Jouett Hall, and we’re going off campus for lunch,” he explained.
“Go for it,” Bryce encouraged him.
Jason departed. Over lunch, Bryce brought Damon up to snuff on what he had learned the previous hour. Both guys hoped things worked out for Jason. They did not see him again, however, until Friday at the Welcome Back party. In the meanwhile, Bryce did check with Treasurer Keith Hamilton to be certain Jason was still a brother in good standing. He was, although he was behind in his dues.
On Friday evening the Sigma Alpha Tau house blazed with light as the door was open, welcoming brothers, their dates, and visitors to the Welcome Back party. The festivities began at seven, but did not really get interesting until about nine. Brothers were stationed at the door to check IDs. Male students who were not members had to pay $20, but females over the age of 16 were admitted free, as there were usually more males than females. Kurt Bordenkircher and his staff were on hand in case anyone became rambunctious or inebriated. They absolutely would not allow a dysfunctional student to drive away. The fraternity also had a strictly enforced policy against any kind of hard drugs. By policing themselves, the brothers avoided having Campus Security paying visits, not to mention the city police. That happened from time to time with some other fraternities and sororities.
Bryce was scheduled to put in the hours from seven to nine at the door. He figured that was a reward of some sort, as he would then have the interesting parts of the party free. Damon was equally fortunate, in that he was scheduled to man the bar for those same hours, which included not only mixing drinks, but also serving soft drinks and the non-alcoholic punch available to those who wanted them. He would also direct guests to the keg on the back porch. The most onerous duty of the barkeeper was refusing drinks to those too far gone, but with Damon having the first shift that should not be a problem.
Just as Bryce was being relieved by Beau Lyle at the door, Jason Todd showed up with another guy. The first thing which one noticed on the other fellow was that he had dyed his hair a striking blue color. He was thin and wiry, but not skinny, and over six feet tall, which made him look thinner than he actually was. While the fraternity was accepting of gays, its admissions policies had not taken into account male dates of brothers, and so the newcomer had to pay the $20 charge, which he did not seem to take amiss.
Bryce turned his post over to Beau, and turned towards Jason and his guest. “Glad you could make it, Jason. And this must be Nate,” he said as he extended his hand. “I’m Bryce Winslow.”
Both guys shook with Bryce. “Yes, this is my boyfriend, Nate Hagan,” Jason said with obvious pride.
“Glad to meet you, Nate,” Bryce said.
“Likewise. Jason has mentioned you,” Nate said in a soft voice.
“Oh, oh. Should I be ducking?” Bryce kidded.
“Only north by northwest when the wind is southerly,” Nate quoted with a smile.
Bryce returned the smile. “Let’s get you two a drink, and see about finding my partner. He should have been relieved of duty about this same time.”
They did locate Damon, who was still in the neighborhood of the bar. “I figured you’d show up here eventually,” he told Bryce.
“Damon, you know Jason. This is his partner, Nate Hagan. And Damon Watson, here, is my partner,” Bryce made the introductions. They shook hands.
“I like your hair,” Damon said to Nate. “I’ve been thinking of doing mine, maybe in magenta, or possibly in an Irish green.”
Bryce moaned.
“It suits me,” Nate said, “and since Jason seems to like it, too, I don’t give a two penny stamp whether anybody else likes it or not.”
“That’s an unusual expression, the two penny stamp. I’ve never heard that before. Where did you pick that up?” Bryce asked.
Nate grinned. “My grandfather. I love him to death. He’s the only other person I know who says that. Sometimes I do it on purpose, but this time it just slipped out.”
The four men circulated, stopping to talk to others from time to time. One of the reasons for this party, in addition to welcoming brothers back for the new semester, was to check out some potential pledges. Consequently, Bryce made certain Nate was introduced to Phil Cecil, the Pledge Master, and to Curtis Manning, the President. Nate was a sophomore, but there was no requirement that pledges be freshmen. They encountered Roland Lyle and his partner, John Luke Lansing, and spent some time talking to them.
Unfortunately, they also encountered Bick Lomax and Mack Campbell. Although they grumbled about it, those two had paid their $20 each as non-members, and there was no reason to exclude them at this point. They were accompanied by a younger version of Bick, who must be his brother Buck.
“Oh, what have we here?” Bick began. “This must be the faggot section.”
“Looks like it, with that queen with the blue hair,” Mack responded.
Buck sniggered.
“You guys don’t belong here. Why did you come?” Damon said with some heat.
“Oh, it’s the little nigger queer,” Mack said. “Are you wanting another session with Bick?”
“If you’re going to act like that, maybe you’d better leave,” Bryce said.
“We paid our fucking twenty bucks. You can’t make us leave,” Mack stated.
“That twenty does not permit you to be obnoxious, and you certainly may be excluded for causing a disturbance,” Bryce countered.
“What disturbance? None of us real men have even laid a finger on you fairies,” Bick replied.
Buck sniggered again.
“Leave it to a blockhead like you to think that the only kind of disturbance is a physical one, but abusive language is also a type of disturbance,” Bryce declared.
“You think you’re so fucking smart, but one of these days you’ll get the shit knocked out of you, just like your nigger cocksucker did last year,” Mack threatened.
“Oh, let me get this down,” Bryce said, pulling out his phone. “It’s set on record, so if you want to make a confession for the courts, go right ahead.”
“Fuck you!” Mack responded. But the three of them moved on.
Jason and Nate were both looking a bit concerned by this exchange.
“I thought those two were expelled,” Jason said.
“They were, but the Admin let them back in after their daddies wrote big checks,” Bryce spat out, reminding Jason of their conversation on Wednesday.
Damon stepped in with, “If they give you any trouble, call Campus Security. Bryce has an in with one of the officers. In fact, the one who helped me last year when those two beat the shit out of me. His name is John Zoeller, but from what I hear, the whole force is looking for an excuse to clamp down on Mack and Bick.”
“Right on,” Bryce agreed.
“Good to know, but I’m hoping I never meet them again,” Nate said.
A little later, Bryce invited Jason to have a private talk. “I don’t mean to pry, but Keith Hamilton, who’s Treasurer this year, tells me you’re behind on your dues. You really don’t want to lose contact with SAT, do you?”
“I was not sure before. But, after talking to you on Wednesday, and after being here at the party, I don’t. But there’s a problem. I told you my dad is pissed off with me. He paid my fees and all for this term, but there’s nothing extra, and he definitely thinks SAT is an extra. I worked this summer, but most of that went for summer term. So, I’m short of funds,” Jason admitted.
“Look, I don’t want to put you on the spot or anything, but you know I come from a fairly well-to-do family. I’ll lend you whatever you need, and you can pay me back when you get it,” Bryce offered.
“Why?”
“Because I think SAT needs you and Nate, and you need SAT. I’ll be honest. If this were late last spring, I would not be making the offer. But after what you told me on Wednesday … well, there it is,” Bryce said.
“‘When I get it’ is pretty vague,” Jason commented.
“No hurry. I’ll trust you. Brothers,” Bryce replied.
Jason paused for a few minutes, then he responded, “Okay, I’ll take you up on that. And thanks.” They shook on it.
Somehow amid all the goings on at the party, Damon and Nate managed to have a conversation about art history. Nate empathized with Damon’s fascination with Caravaggio. He’d seen copies of Saint John the Baptist, too. They agreed to get together some other time for more discussion.
It was after eleven when Damon and Kitty put on their show. They had become a legend, so at every SAT party it was now expected that Damon Watson and Kitty Jensen would be one of the attractions. Just as at the party last Saturday after the football game, they proved that they had not gone rusty over the summer. They were loudly applauded as they came off the dance floor. Bryce had a beer waiting for his thirsty and hot boyfriend.
A little after midnight, Nate approached Bryce and asked for a word in private. They retired to the library, which was not empty, but about as private as any place in the house at that time.
“What’s up?” Bryce asked.
Nate hesitated, then made up his mind. “Jason says you’re Catholic.”
“True.”
“And you’re gay.” It was a statement more than a question.
“Also true. I know this can be a problem, but I’ve managed to work it out in a way that satisfies me,” Bryce said.
“I haven’t. Not yet,” Nate confessed.
“I’ll be glad to talk to you about this any time, Nate. Well, maybe not in the middle of a party, as there’s too much else going on, but you know what I mean,” Bryce promised.
“Yeah. I’d like that. How about tomorrow?” Nate asked.
“I’m booked for tomorrow,” Bryce said, thinking of the World Championship Horse Show. “And Sunday Damon and I go to Mass at 11:00 at St. Boniface, and then have dinner with the Sandoval family. In the afternoon, we put in three hours from four to seven at the St. Vincent de Paul soup kitchen. I’m sorry if I seem to be putting you off, but these are kind of standing commitments.”
“What’s St. Boniface like? I tried the Newman Center last year, but I did not click there. I’m afraid I have not been all that faithful,” Nate admitted.
“I like it. I like lots of ceremony, and St. Boniface goes in for lots of incense, lots of altar boys, Latin for the “Gloria,” and the like. Why not come with us on Sunday, and bring Jason along. Damon’s not Catholic either, but he doesn’t mind attending with me,” Bryce invited.
Nate thought about that. “What about,” he hesitated, then with a big grin, he pointed, “my hair?”
“You will be with friends. Do you know Mike Sandoval or David Simpson?”
“No, I don’t think so,” Nate said.
“Mike is also gay, and David is his partner. They’re out, at least on campus and to their families, so I’m not violating any trusts. Damon and I always sit with Mike’s family, and go out to the Olive Garden for dinner afterwards. Please, join us. If you don’t like it, all you’ve lost is a few hours, and you’ll get Sunday dinner,” Bryce coaxed.
“I’ll talk to Jason, but on one condition,” Nate said.
“What’s that?”
“After that, or maybe after that soup kitchen thing, you talk to me, and maybe to Jason, too. I want to know how you do it,” Nate declared.
Bryce grinned. “Deal.”
They shook on it.
A little later still, when the rooms had thinned out a bit, the DJ put on a slow dance. Bryce invited Damon to join him on the dance floor, and gave Jason a meaningful look. Shortly after Bryce and Damon moved out, Jason and Nate joined them. Fortunately, Mack, Bick, and Buck seem to have left by this time. There were some stares, but no real problems. The party ended with everyone in a good mood.