The Plan
Trisha was already on her second cup of coffee when the doorbell rang. She opened it. Chris entered. He looked so disturbed, so lost, she already felt her refusion melt away and her anger for his intolerant family grow. How can somebody be so stubborn not accept a different way of living. Chris pured himself a cup of coffee. They went to the balcony and for the first five minutes they just sat together, enjoying the view and the early morning.
‘Trish? Did you think about it?’ Chris asked shily. ‘Chris, what do you expect me to do. I mean, playing your girlfriend for one evening, I mean, no problem with that. But for you family? Dont they expect me to be then more often around you, coming with you to other family meetings, Sunday lunches etc.?’ ‘Trish, I have thought about this too, and I made up a plan how we can avoid it. We will have a fight this evening, aehm we will make it sound as it has not been the first one and that will be the reason why we are going to break up shortly afterwards. So there is no obligation for you to go there anymore. I will have my freedom again and still my family.’ Trisha felt her anger grow. She meant that nobody has to play a role in front of his family. Why cant they accept him the way he was? ‘And there isnt just my family around, there will be a lot of other people there, it is their big spring/summer party they have each year. So we will have time to avoid them quiet a lot.’ Trisha felt her resistance becoming smaller and smaller. Why not, she asked herself. I mean, what sounded better, going on a party with Chris, ok it is his family, but he said there are many other folks there too or staying at home and whatch a video? Hard question. Maybe she would have a chance to give his family a little more sense about other-sex-relationships. ‘Ok, I do it’, she finally said. Chris jumped up and took her into his arms and gave her a big hug. He hoped that she would do it but in fact didnt belive in it. ‘Oh, I owe you big times. I dont know how I should ever repay you for that.’ ‘Well, you could start telling me a bit about your family, what kind of party it will be, how I should dress and we have to discuss our fight’, Trish replied.
And so they spend the whole day sharing information about each other they didnt know yet like favorite dishes, prefered vacation spot etc. They as well made a plan how they will handle their fight. By 6 pm they had everything covered, bought Trisha a suitable dress and planned their fight. Chris left her and said he is going to pick her up at 8 pm. That gave her 2 hours of preparation time. Trisha went on and filled her bathtop to take a relaxing bath. What a birthday she thought by herself. On 8pm Trisha was ready to be picked up. 10 past 8 Chris drove into her driveway. He looked great in his Tuxido. To damn bad he was gay, Trisha thought again. But thats life.
‘And how are you doing?’ he asked. ‘I start to become quiet nervous, but I am doing it. I promised it and I will keep it’, Trisha replied. She felt how her blood started to rush through her veines. 'Everythings going to be ok’, Chris replied again. He gave her a hug and meant, ‘you look beautiful, I should have told you that actually right away’, and helped her into the car. They started to go over their plan again, he gave her some extra information and then he suddenly said ‘Hmm, by the way, I should warn you of my brother, he can be real picky and stubborn sometimes. He is very though meaning that he wont excuse any fault. He, hmm, I dont know how I should say it, but he will actually be the only risk in our plan. My parents I guess as I know them will be fooled easely but not him. So if you have the chance, avoid him.’
‘Gee thanks that you are telling me that now!’ Trish looked at Chris. ‘And he doesnt know that you are gay either?’ ‘No!’ Chris yelled at her, ‘and he never shall find it out. He wont accept anybody who isnt as perfect as him. It is hard to say, but he’s the one who is keeping the family together. I mean, my little sister and I were always the protected ones and he had to be the one who had to take over the family business, which, by the way he isnt doing bad. I just thought I should tell you before we are there.’ ‘Chris, you scare me, I mean, how am I supposed to play your girlfriend when he will be so smart as you tell? He will be looking through it like that. Can you say his name again, and the rest of your family?’
‘Ok, once more, my older brother’s name is John II. He you should avoid, as I am doing it. He isnt pleased about my lifestyle anyway but then, it’s my life so. Then there is Marie, my little Sister. She is about your age. Oh, and of course Marc, her boyfriend. My parents, Silvia and John Griffin. Then there will be my grandmother from my mothers side, Clare. All the others you will meet during the evening. It makes no sence if I tell you about them. So thats about it.’ Saying that Chris took a right turn and drove into a driveway of a really huge house where there were already loads of other cars blocking the way. The valley boy was busy giving out the numbers and getting sort of a system into the parking order. Chris stopped and helped Trish out of the car again. ‘So, ready?’ he asked. ‘No, not at all, but I cannot change it anymore. I mean, you have never told me that your family is so wealthy. I mean…’ She didnt finish her sentence as a young lady ran towards them, waving with her arms and finally landed in Chris open arms. They huged and kissed each other. Trisha guessed that this must be Marie, his younger sister. ‘So, you must be Chris girlfriend then. Hi, I am Marie, his sister.’ ‘Well I guessed so,’ Trish said, ‘everything else would have made me jealous. Oh, I am Trisha, nearly forgot.’ They grinned at each other and shook hands. ‘It’s really nice to finally meet you. I mean, we, the whole family was speculating who this would be. He just mentioned you quickly and thats about it.’ ‘Well, same here, so if I am not really knowing anything about you, complains can go straight to him.’ She gave Chris a soft box in his upper arm. ‘Ok, ok, I admit, it is all my fault, so blame it on me.’ Chris smiled at his two ladies. ‘So, has the party already started? Then we should hurry in and get it over with, so that Trish and I have some time to enjoy it as well.’ ‘Sure, just follow me. I have saved you the best spot. Far away from our parents, so that we young people are sort of our own.’ ‘Marie, you are the best,’ Chris replied and took her arm. Trish stood there, not quiet knowing what to do. Ok, Chris was used to this, but for her it was sort of a shock, all this money, this richness. Well, she has said A, so now she has to say B as well. No way around it. At least they would not be sitting close to his family. And she hoped that his brother was sitting with his parents, as he should be representing the family, as Chris has said. I will see, she said to herself and followed Chris and Marie to the main entrance. There the next step of this theatre was waiting for them. His parents.