Cool Fools 8: The calm before the...

Three months later.

“Now that’s what you call a hole in one!” exclaimed Jack White triumphantly, as he grabbed the golf ball out of the hole and moved off the putt-putt course.

“Then what cha call the first two putts?” asked Ethan White.
“Practice!” laughed Jack. “Everything’s practice until the last shot that goes in. Kinda like you when I threw some cereal into the toilet and taught you to pee standing up.”
“Hey!” Ethan snorted, “I never missed those fruit loops once.”
“Oh yeah, and how come my feet were wet every time you’re done!”
“You must have spilt some cereal on your foot!” Ethan retorted.
The father and son looked at each other and continued to bellow in amusement.

“Oh, I’m gonna hate the next course,” Woody sighed, staring at the miniature windmill that blocked the middle of the course, “Nine out of ten times, my ball gets blocked by the rotating blades, and if it does go in the mill, it doesn’t come out.”

“That’s when you get a child with small arms to pull it out for you.” Jack said. “I made Ethan get the ball for me all the time.”
“Yeah, and I got the scar to prove it from when the blade struck my head open,” said Ethan.
“Well, a true son of mine would have been smart enough to reach in the back and not the front where the blade was rotating at Mache speed.”
“Are you hinting something about the legitimacy of my birth, dad?” asked Ethan.
“Well…” Jack looked his son up and down, “Come to think of it…you do look an awful lot like the mailman that came to our house way back when your mother still worked at home…”
“Gosh, I need to find him then,” laughed Ethan, “Maybe my real dad wouldn’t have put my life at risk like that all the time…”

The father and son continued to jab and jibe at each other like so for the next three courses as well as on through the drive back to Ethan and Woody’s apartment. Woody made comments when he needed, but for the most part, he enjoyed just listening in on the conversation of those two handsome men. It should have reminded Woody of his relationship with his father (which was perfectly fine), but instead, it reminded him more of his relationship with Laurie, his sister.

The way Woody and Laurie used to poke fun of each other, saying some extremely rude stuff right in front of the other, but always getting away with it because they knew it was all fun and games. No offensive comment could break the brother-and-sisterly bond that they had. Unlike with the Welling twins, Woody didn’t have to watch his mouth every time he talked to Laurie. He couldn’t spend a night in bed with Reed Valentine without the boy making sexual advances at him. But with Laurie, Woody had no such problems.

Of course, Woody now had Ethan to talk to at nights. Woody sometimes wished he had a second person to talk to, just as Ethan had his dad.

As the truck pulled up the driveway, Jack White exclaimed, “I can still do a cartwheel if I wanted to!” He used to be the tallest gymnast in college.
“Stop fooling yourself, dad,” guffawed Ethan, “You can barely touch your toes now…you’re way past your prime. I would ask you to show me, but I don’t want to take you to the hospital afterwards.”

“Oh, yeah? Watch this, buddy!” Jack quickly opened the door as soon the truck stopped and ran to the patch of grass in front of the apartment complex. With hands over his head, the forty-five year old leaned forward and let his feet follow…over and over again…he wheeled four times without stopping and ended climatically with a somersault. “Yep!” Jack nodded satisfactorily, “This old man still got it.”

After diner that evening, Jack White had made an excuse that he hated to drive back to South Wind due to poor nighttime vision and asked to stay overnight. Of course, Woody and Ethan offered him a place to stay in the study room. The next morning, Ethan and Woody went to their respective classes and came home to see that Jack White was still there, this time now stating that the car was not working. Ethan wondered why his father didn’t call the mechanic already, and so he called one for him. When the car was fixed, Jack White said his wife was down in Florida visiting Ethan’s aunt so he might as well stay for that weekend. It was a week later, after three more excuses when Ethan finally asked… “Dad, tell me why you’re here.”

Jack stopped chewing the sandwhich he was eating and swallowed. Then he gave a big sigh and said, “Your mother and I…we are trying to see what it would be like if we lived apart for a month.”

“You’re separated…” Ethan’s jaw dropped.
“No…no…we’re just…giving each other some time off.”
“Off? Off of what? Off of a relationship? Off of a marriage?” Ethan said.
“Ethan, listen…”
“No,” Ethan said, “I don’t get it. Why are you two doing this…so suddenly?”

“Have you been living under a rock, Ethan?” asked Jack, “You know that she and I…our relationship have been very strained…it’s been strained since you were in high school, worse when you turned eighteen and moved out of the house and we were forced to face reality…But we haven’t done anything about it because we were afraid what it might do to you and how it would affect your relationship, but now we know, this is not going to bring you down…it might sting for a bit, but not forever. Because you are now engaged to a wonderful boy for goodness’s sake…you are going to be fine, even if in the end she and I do agree to separate forever….you are going to be fine.”

As Ethan continued to drown in gloom for the rest of the day, Woody secretly admitted that Ethan’s father did seem happier than ever. Back when Jack White was still with his wife Linda, the man would usually stand silently beside her as she greeted the guests and he talked only when necessary. He always had on a tight-lipped smile, but his eyes always seemed painfully sad to look at for too long. Ethan had always claimed that he took after his father’s lively spirit and unbounded energy, but Woody never saw this trait until now…

****

The month long separation of Ethan’s parents would inevitably turn into a legal divorce. For a while, Ethan refused to talk to his father, believing that he was the one who suggested ending the marriage. But as he talked to his mother, he began to realize that she was the one who initiated, and his ever-gloomy state worsened.

For the spring semester, Woody did not take classes in which Ethan taught, but based on what he heard around campus, the students were complaining that the discussions he held were becoming boring and lacked the general conducive atmosphere that was present during the beginning of the semester. Soon, Ethan resorted to grading papers exclusively, and never asked to lead any class discussion unless Professor Heinzworth ordered him to.

More frequently, Woody would find himself woken up in the middle of the night to the sound of crying. When his eyes adjusted, he would see the older boy lying on his side, facing the other way, sometimes even shivering under the blankets. Naturally, Woody would ask what was wrong. Although Ethan would refuse to answer, Woody didn’t have to dissect the older boy’s brain to know what was bothering him.

But then one night, Woody woke up, startled, as he felt a sturdy tapping of his shoulders. Drowsiness washed away as Woody rolled over to face Ethan. “What is it, honey?”

“Is it enough?” Ethan asked offhandedly, his eyes swam in tears.
Woody shrugged, “Is what enough?”
“Is everything I’m doing enough for you to realize how much I love you? For you to realize I could never abandon you, your beautiful soul and your wonderful heart. Is it enough? What more do I have to do to prove to you…”

“Nothing! You’ve proven enough. Everyday when I wake up next to you, I feel like the luckiest person in the world. All my wishes have come true.” Woody sighed, “Okay, well, maybe not months ago. Maybe I didn’t realize that then. But now I do. Every time I look at this bracelet, I’m reminded, I’m reassured that that our love is stronger than anything out there that threatens to break us apart.”

“So you’ll never leave me?” Ethan asked.
“Why would you even ask that?” Woody said.
“Answer me. Please tell me you’ll never leave me.”

“Wow, did we just switch roles?” Woody chuckled, “I thought I was the one who was afraid of being dumped.”
“Seriously, though. Would you ever leave me?” Ethan asked.
“Of course not! I shouldn’t have to say it. You should know that by now!”
“Then why did my mom leave my father? They promised each other, didn’t they, at Church, before God, to be together til death do they part. So why did it happen? Why did they break their vows?”

“I don’t have an answer for you, Ethan,” Woody said, “Or at least, not one that you would like. But the troubles between your parents have nothing to do with us…not if we don’t let it. I sure as heck WILL NOT let it affect us, so will you?”

Ethan stayed quiet…staring at Woody.
“Are you gonna let it affect us?” asked Woody again.
After a while, Ethan shook his head and uttered a week, “No…”

****

As soon as Woody got out of his last class, he listened to the message Ethan left on his cell. “Hey, honey. How are you? So when you’re done with your classes, why don’t you go home and put on your best casual formal and drive over to 2020 South Iron Street. I have a surprise for you! Love you so so very much. Bye!”

Woody was surprised to hear Ethan’s voice so high and cheerful. Great, Woody thought, Ethan was finally getting over the slump. The young man drove home quite curious, wondering what Ethan had in store at 2020 South Iron Street…wherever and whatever that is. As Woody went into the apartment and headed for the bedroom, his mind made a map of the notable places on Iron Street. He knew it was in the downtown district where the post office, electric company, power plant, library, and health department situated. There was also a fire station and police department. Woody couldn’t see any of these as a good place to have a date or hold a surprise. The more Woody thought about it, the more excited he became. Ethan’s surprises were always big, but he couldn’t think of anything else that could top the proposal.

How casual is casual formal? Woody wondered as he shifted through the closet. What restaurant downtown required such a strict dress code? Maybe it was the new Italian restaurant that just opened. It was reviewed in the town’s newspaper with five stars. Or maybe it was the old French restaurant that was closing down in a couple weeks…Ethan must have gotten a reservation just in time before the last day.

As Woody continued to scavenge an outfit he deemed ‘casual formal’ something fell out of Ethan’s jacket. It rolled under the bed, and Woody had to bend down and reach under to get it. The first thing Wood noticed was the sound of rattling, and as he retrieved it from under the bed, Woody saw that it was a prescription bottle. Cautiously curious, Woody read the label. Needless to say, it was name out to Ethan White, and the name of the drug was mirtazapine. Woody thought it sounded familiar. He recalled picking up something with a similar name for his mother before, but couldn’t quite remember what it was for.

Ethan did seem a little under the weather lately; they were probably just antibiotics, Woody assumed, placing the drug on the table. The young boy now stood in front of the mirror and checked himself out. Yep, good-lookin’ as usual, in a pink button-up shirt and khakis and brown leather shoes. Woody was prim and proper and ready to find out where exactly 2020 South Iron Street was.

It was some ten minutes later when Woody turned a right onto Iron Street. And he began to read the street address…2000, he passed the old French restaurant….2002, he passed the new Italian restaurant…2006, there goes the post office….As he approached the destination, Woody’s mind began to lean toward certain situation….2010, there goes the fire department….2014, there goes the health department. Yes, Woody now concluded happily, 2020 South Iron must be the address for the public library. He could see it in the distance. The closer he got to the building, the more confident he was with his speculation. Ethan must have finished his short story, it must have been published, and he was doing a book signing today! Yes, that was it! That must be it.

But then the library…address 2018…passed him by, and Woody’s theory was trampled and discarded. The number 2020, as it turned out, was etched in stone to the side of the county’s police department. Troubling thoughts immediately seized Woody. Did Ethan get in trouble with the law? Was it serious? Did he call to bail him out? Why did he tell him to dress like this? Was there a court proceeding already? What the fuck was going on?

Woody spotted Ethan’s truck and parked in the open spot next to it. Confusion continued as Woody got out of his car and saw that Ethan wasn’t inside the truck. As he edged out between the two cars, Woody found himself pinned against the hood of his car as wet tongue and sweet lips smothered his face. Woody giggled and gave way into Ethan’s fervent, sloppy kiss.

After the kiss, they straightened back up, and Woody now had time to gauge Ethan up and down. The taller man was dressed in much more than formal casual. With a black and white tuxedo and slicked back hair, Ethan was straight up formal. Before Woody had time to ask why the showy outfit, Ethan grabbed his hands, “Come on,” and led him up the steps of the courthouse.

As they zipped through the large heavy door into the vast echoing hallway, supported by tall beautiful pillars, Woody finally made Ethan stop and ask, “Where in the world are we going, Ethan?”
“To the judge.”
“What for?”
“What else?” Ethan laughed, “To get married.”

Woody pulled his hand completely away from Ethan, “WHAT?”
“Yeah, let’s get married!” Ethan repeated.

“What? No!” Woody shook his head vehemently, “You have to ask me first.”
“I thought I did.” Ethan looked down at the bracelet on Woody’s wrist.
“No. Well, yes, you proposed.” Woody said, “But we barely made plans. None of our parents are here. None of our friends are here. I thought we wanted it be on a special day.”

“It is special. It’s a special day. Everyday with you is special,” said Ethan.
“But this is…this is just too sudden, Ethan,” Woody said, “We can’t do this…”
“Why not? What’s the use in waiting? I love you. You love me. Let’s get married!”

“No, this isn’t right, Ethan.” Woody sighed, “I know why you’re acting like this. And it isn’t right. I know your parents are signing the divorce papers today, but the cosmic equilibrium of matrimony ain’t gonna balance out with us getting married.”

“What? No!” Ethan denied, “It has nothing to do with my parents. You said so yourself, my parents getting divorced should have no affect on our relationship whatsoever…so yeah, let’s get married.”

“But I’m afraid…” gulped Woody, “your parent’s divorce is the exact reason you’re pulling this impulsive, brainless shenanigan!”

“Brainless shenanigan?” Ethan’s face sunk, “You think this is some kind of ‘shenanigan?’ Me wanting to marry you. Me wanting our love to be recognized by the State an ‘impulsive, brainless shenanigan’? We’ve been engaged for four months…how could this be impulsive?”

“Calm down Ethan,” Woody pleaded, “I’m just saying…the Ethan I know would not do this if he were clear headed.”
“Look, do you want to get married, or not?” Ethan asked.

“No! Not like this!” Woody shook his head. “I wanna marry the clear-headed Ethan. I wanna marry the Ethan I came to know and love.”

“Fine! Have it your way, Woody!” Ethan glowered. With his head hung low, he stormed down the marble-tiled hall. His heavy footsteps reverberated piercingly into Woody’s ears and knocked his heart a little bit out of place. Woody ran after him, but Ethan shrugged him away.

As Woody ran through the giant heavy doors, two dreadful realizations took hold of him and he stopped dead in his tracks. He didn’t know which struck his heart more. The first thing Woody realized was why the prescription that fell out of Ethan’s pants sounded so familiar. Mirtazapine…it was the generic name for Remeron, a drug Woody’s mother took to counterbalance the effects of menopause. Its main purpose, however, was an anti-depressant. Ethan was depressed enough for the doctors to prescribe the medicine.

The other dreadful realization: Ethan had never called Woody by his nickname since…well…since as long as he could remember.