Brad was at the bedside of his dad, Bradley Sr., who has just been confined at Norfolk Hospital for several days after suffering a severe stroke. He’s on life support. The monitor showed the son the jagged green pulsating lines that gave a visual of the heartbeat, that his father was still alive.
Brad looked at his father’s serene face, reminding him how he had been severe in the past, but owed him his life and education nonetheless. He was fearful at that moment that he might not be able to tell him the words that mattered, in case death took him. In his mind, he believed that his father’s soul was still inside that frail body, and if he suddenly expired, his soul would linger for a few seconds before being sucked into the gentle effulgent Light.
No sooner had he thought that that his father suddenly flat lined! His brain was further spin-cycled by the continuous alarm beeps from the life support equipment. He rushed outside the room, shouted for help at the empty corridor, and went back in. He struggled to say all the last words as fast as he could.
“Dad! I’m sorry to tell you, I’m gay! But I will stay married to Martha and be a good father to your favorite grandson. And I’ll visit Mom more often. Then, shucks, I’ll miss our visits to the strip clubs because”, Brad couldn’t hold back his tears anymore, “ you wanted me to be a real man, so okay, but I wished that lap dancer was a little bit more boyish. And I will stop seeing Jim, and am going to give away that Brokeback Mountain DVD. I love you so much, Dad!”
Brad hugged Brad Sr.’s still form, racking with sobs.
The hospital suite door burst open, the nurse coming through. “What’s going on? Oh…” Brad stood up. The nurse checked the patient’s pulse and went over the equipment and somehow silenced the beeps.
“Your dad’s okay. The LSS has some sort of malfunction, I’ll send the technician to check it up.” The nurse left.
Bradley Sr. began to stir, opened his eyes, took off the oxygen mask, and smiled, “I’d like to have a look at that Brokeback Mountain movie you told me about, son.”
“Aw, Dad…when’s the next lap dance huh?”
janetecabral Said:
on May 4, 2007 at 8:05 am
Hey Tom !
Great flash fiction! Actually I think you have the premise for a short story here. It would be really interesting to see the relationship between father and son develop. What led them both here, what happens next.
Great work
tomachfive Said:
on May 4, 2007 at 8:23 am
Dear Janet,
I’d love to explore that angle you showed me. I’m rather just beginning to write humorous flash fiction so maybe the next episode might be a little drama but if a comedic inspiration comes, then that’d be awesome!
Grateful,
Tom
janetecabral Said:
on May 6, 2007 at 7:32 am
Hey Tom
Absolutely! Comedy can be so hard to write, that’s why I think you have got a little gem here.
I am certainly looking forward to your next segment and browsing through your archives.
Wonderful!
janete
sarah flanigan Said:
on May 6, 2007 at 9:29 pm
oh you little trickster, i knew there was going to be a guffaw at the end. funny.
sarah
tomachfive Said:
on May 7, 2007 at 9:49 am
Dear Sarah,
I love how you call me that way. I feel naughty, (wink!). Hey, are you finally back? Gonna check you out, just to make sure.
Tricky little by little, but most of time truthfully fruity,
Tom
krkbaker Said:
on May 8, 2007 at 5:15 pm
This movie shocked me beyond belief. It started out so slow and I was like this is boring, then there was that tent scene…but I’m getting off track. This is sad really. Hopefully the dad would learn to try and accept the son as he is, however I have a problem with men who marry women knowing they are gay (since most men say they know it at a young age) and then have children and then are like, oh btw I’m gay. Good post, it struck a lot of emotions in me…..
Thinking
,
Kim
tomachfive Said:
on May 10, 2007 at 4:55 am
Dear Kim,
It’s a bummer, really, when such a situation happens. I know this certain guy who is very much married, but dates young guys on the side, and the daughters (four of them) knew about it. They’re cool about it (to my surprise), probably as long as the Papah brings home the bacon.
There are so many surprises in the world,
Tom
P.S. I wonder what are those emotions. Can you share them? You can pm me at tom_honrado@yahoo.com. Thanks.
Flori Said:
on May 12, 2007 at 11:54 pm
coolness! another flash fiction writer. finally someone i can relate with
i was a bit hesitant to post my own flash fiction but now i think i will 
i love the wit and the humor. good job!
tomachfive Said:
on May 13, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Dear Flori,
Thank you for coming! I’ve been trying my hand at humor, so far, so good. I enjoy writing about life’s quirks. It’s relaxing and fun. Thank you for the appreciation, ha.
Smiling beatifically,
Tom
zein Said:
on May 6, 2009 at 7:15 pm
^_^