Chapter 71

“‘Cause they’re perverts, you moron!”

“Keep it down, boys,” I said. “Noah needs to sleep.”

“Aren’t you afraid of going to hell?” Eli asked earnestly.

“It can’t be any worse than working at Food World,” I said.

“But why would you want to go to hell?”

“I don’t.”

“But you’re a homosexual.”

“That’s right. I am.”

“But what is it? Is it like having long hair or something?”

“A homo is a queer,” Josh said. “They like guys instead of girls. It’s gross.”

“Am I gross?” I asked.

“No,” he said, failing to see my point.

“But you just said I was gross.”

“Homos are gross,” he said.

“Well, I’m a homo…”

“Not a realone. You’re just…Uncle Wiley. That’s all. Anyway, why are you a homo?”

“I got lucky,” I said.

“Is Jack your boyfriend?” Eli asked, still trying to puzzle the whole mystery out.

“Yes,” I said.

“Like my mom and my dad?”

“Yes,” I said. “It’s like that. We’re going to get married someday. Maybe.”