(Based off the film Divorce American Style; what if Richard Harmon was a closeted gay man in 1967?)
Strange Ones by Ben Travis, and it was a secondhand book. This was not the first time he had bought books like
this; he had been collecting such novels for several months now. His best friend Lionel had helped him locate a
secondhand bookstore to obtain these books. The books showed the world of same-sex love, particularly those
between two men. Richard could not let his wife know about these books; at least, that's what he thought. He
had been wondering about certain tendencies he had since he was a little boy. He was admiring boys more
ardently than women and thinking another man was cute. There wasn't anything wrong with thinking another
man was cute, but he felt like he could be at ease with men than woman. He also felt as if he was in love with
another man at times. Yet, he kept these tendecies a secret for many years. He did marry, however. He had a
blonde, perky wife, by the name of Barbara. They had two children together.
But, as people say, a woman's intuition is very acute. "Richard, what are you doing in your room?" He heard
Barbara's voice from the hallway. Richard immediately hid the books underneath his pillow. "Um, nothing. I'll be
out in a second," he replied, his fingers slightly trembling. Richard slowly and carefully opened the door.
"You've been acting strange lately, going out at night and never telling me where you're going...are you hiding
something?" she asked, slightly glaring at Richard. "No, darling, I've never hid anything!" Richard replied, trying
to hide his emotions.
"You're lucky the boys are at they're grandma's...because I want a divorce!" Barbara suddenly demanded.
"What?" Richard was startled at her aggressiveness.
"While you were at work, I found these books hiding underneath the bed. Let's see, this one's called Lost on
Twilight Road, and this one is called The Night Air."
Richard was trembling. His secret was about to be let out by his own wife. Barbara continued.
"These are...despicable books, you know? Stories about, about, men liking other men romantically! Then I heard
from your friend Lionel that you had been going into those so-called "queer bars" or whatever at night! No
wonder you've been acting strange lately! You romantically prefered men over women! I find those kinds of
people repulsive, but you're lucky I don't find you in particular repulsive. Why did you marry me? Why did you
even father two of my children?" Barbara frantically screamed.
"Barbara, I thought I was just going through a phase...since I was a young boy, the people around me would tell
me, 'Oh, if you get married to some nice girl and perhaps have some children, then this nonsense will all go
away.' but that's not at all true. I've always found men to be attractive, but so many people think such people to
be despicable people. They, they, shudder in horror at us, scream at us, despise us!" Richard explained to her.
"Who's 'us'?" Barbara questioned, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Other people who are like me."
Barbara wiped off a tear from her face.
"You mean, you were a homosexual all of this time!?"
Richard sighed. "Yes, I am a homosexual."
Barbara shrieked again. "What will the boys think when they find out their father is a sissy, pansy homosexual?"
"Oh, you don't understand me!" he yelled back.
"Understand? What is there to understand? Homosexuals are...are..." Barbara stopped her sentence in disgust.
"You better tell the boys that their father is simply a loving father; not a psychopath."
Barbara hesitated, and she didn't reply to Richard's request.
"You should pack your things and leave. If Lionel can find you a queer bar, then he should probably be able to
find you an apartment," she slowly answered.
"There's nothing wrong with being homosexual, Barbara. I wish you could understand. The only difference is the
gender of the person I fall in love with. There's nothing 'strange' or 'unusual' about it. I truly think it's pathetic for
you, of all people, to have such bigoted views on homosexuality. You were a decent person, at least in my mind,
but if you have such thoughts, then I suppose it will be for both of our sakes to separate. As long as I can see the
boys, I don't care if you get custody of them."
Barbara was trembling now.
"What, so you can teach them to be homosexual? You probably just chose men over women, I suppose."
Richard glared at Barbara, trying to take control of his anger.
"People don't teach people to be who they are romantically. I never chose to be homosexual, just as you never
chose to be heterosexual. I'm leaving as soon as I can get my things packed up."
"Goodbye, then. I'm sorry I had to kiss those lips of yours that have probably touched other men's lips..."
Barbara scoffed at him.
...Nearly two hours had passed after the heated argument, and Richard was now ready to leave the house.
He was not only leaving his wife, children, and house, though. He loved his children very dearly, but he lost all
platonic love and respect he had for Barbara. Lionel was not a homosexual, but was friendly to homosexuals and
knew many of them. He headed out for the taxi to go to Lionel's apartment, which he would live there
temporarily. He was, essentially, leaving the shadowy world of having to hide who he was, to a more brighter
world. He couldn't reveal himself to the entire world, but at least, he wouldn't have to hide his identity from a
wife.