William woke up around seven on Sunday morning to a quiet house. He went through the usual morning routine. Bathroom, breakfast and he was now sitting in front of the TV, feeling slightly unnerved from the silence his house had. He needed to talk to his wife and son. But they were no where around.

“Nah. I....” He sighed. “I don't know. But I was going to see if you could have Dad keep an eye on my place. I need to talk to Maggie and Troy and they're in Livermore.”

As promised, a little time with William and a glimpse at Modines house.

November 27 1982
Northern California

William wasn't sure how he made it through his double shift, much less his second one in two days. Through out the day his thoughts remained on his youngest son. He wasn't sure what to do, or if he should do anything at all. If he went with how he was raised, he'd take to using the belt to straighten the child out. Back in the early sixties boys didn't wear dresses, not without consequences. If he had done it, his father would have beat him, or sent him to an asylum to get straightened out. Or he would have just left the kid to his own devices against the other boys his age.

Maggie and Modine had taken the time, on several occasions now, to remind him that it wasn't the sixties. Things were different. So he was willing to let Maggie take the reins on this. She seemed to have a plan. But to him, the plan was moving too slow for his tastes.

He was headed for the office of the mill to clock out. It had been a long tiring day. He just wanted to go home and sleep, but he knew he'd end up thinking about his son again. He was just to the door when a thin man came jogging up. His hair was white, what hair was left. Time had been kind to his features. He was one of the few bosses that most of the regular workers actually liked. “Hey Will.” He slowed his pace till he fell into step with William. “Can I have a word.”

“Yeah Steven, what's up?” Will asked without stopping.

“That was going to be my question.” He gestured Will to step into an office. As he shut the door, Will leaned against the wall. “Are you okay? You've been out of it for the past two days. Hell, you almost cause several accidents in the past five hours. So what's happening?” He crossed the room and sat on the edge of his desk.

William sighed. “Trouble at home.” He said. “Been trying to think things through.”

“Anything I can do to help?” Steve asked.

“I don't even know what I can do.” Will replied.

“Look, I can't have you in a forklift like this. It's nothing personal, but I just can't let you do it.” Steven drummed his fingers on the desk. “You still got some sick time, right?”

“I haven't taken a sick day in well over ten years.” Will replied.

“Take one, please.” Steve suggested. “You still have Monday and Tuesday off, this gives you three days to talk to your wife, or the kids, whoever is causing the problem. Then you can come back on Wednesday.”

“Steve, it was just today...” William began, but his supervisor cut him off.

“Yesterday too.” Steven pointed out. “Look, I'm begging. Take the day off. It's not going to kill you. But the way you're headed, someone will get hurt. You're a great worker and a good man. But even good men get to have bad days.”

“Yeah.” William sighed.

“How much sleep did you get last night? Thursday night?” Steven asked.

“Not much, just kept tossing and turning.”

Steven nodded. “Then it's settled. Go home, get some sleep, don't come in tomorrow. You do and I send you home. Talk to the wife and kids, get some peace. Okay?”

William nodded. He didn't want to complicate matters and tell his boss that it wouldn't be possible till Tuesday, so he just stood up and held out a hand. “Thanks.” Steve shook it and smiled warmly at him.

“No problem. I'll put you down for a sick day now.” Steven turned to his desk and pulled out a white sheet of paper and began writing. “Go on home and find your head.”

November 28th 1982

William woke up around seven on Sunday morning to a quiet house. He went through the usual morning routine. Bathroom, breakfast and he was now sitting in front of the TV, feeling slightly unnerved from the silence his house had. He needed to talk to his wife and son. But they were no where around.

He sat there for what felt like an eternity, till he finally stood up and got dressed. A few minutes later he was standing on the porch to his parents house. He knocked, unsure if his parents were awake. He waited for a minute and was about to leave when the door opened up. His mother looked out at him and smiled. “Hello Son.”

“Hey Mom.” He replied, slumping his shoulders as he did.

“Everything okay?” She asked. She knew that Maggie had told him about Tracy. So she knew the battle he was having in his mind, at least she thought she knew.

“Nah. I....” He sighed. “I don't know. But I was going to see if you could have Dad keep an eye on my place. I need to talk to Maggie and Troy and they're in Livermore.”

Modine stepped out onto the porch and she shut the door. “I see. She told me you knew. Can I ask, what are you going to say?”

“I don't know. I've been thinking about it the past two days. Hell, I almost ran a guy over at work last night with the forklift.” He leaned against the door frame.

“Son, what will you do? Troy is in a bad place right now. Will you support him? Or shun him?” Modine asked.

He shook his head. “I don't want to lose my child. I don't totally understand everything, mostly because Maggie and I haven't talked much, but I don't want to lose Troy, or Tracy or whatever he goes by.”

“Then be there for her, or him, whichever he chooses. Don't push, just be there.” She replied.

“Thanks Mom.” He stood up and hugged her. As he turned to go he stopped on the top step. “Thanks for helping him so far. Thanks for being there.”

“It's my job. Grandma's never get a break.” She smiled at him. “Just drive safe.”

He nodded. “I will Mom.” He said as he headed for the gate.

Modine went back to the kitchen, aware that there was talking in the guest bedroom. One of her other sons children had come up for the holiday and had to stay with them. Joy had managed to make it up from LA, was halfway across the world in the Army and unable to make it home in time. She had even manged to bring one of Modine's great-grandchildren, Angie, who was just two years younger then Troy. Conner passed her with two suitcases, presumably headed for Joy's car.

She took her place at the kitchen table and resumed her crossword puzzle. A few moments later, Joy and her daughter came into the kitchen. “Hey Grandma. Just wanted to say bye.” Joy leaned down and hugged the older woman. “It's a long drive home and I want to get there before night.”

“You drive safe.” Modine hugged her back, then she leaned over and hugged Angie, her great grandchild. “And you be good.”

“I will.” Both Joy and her daughter said at the same time, which made the old woman smile.

She watched them both head for the door. A moment later Conner came in. He passed the kitchen and disappeared into the back of the house. He came back to the kitchen and dropped a nightgown and pair of girls panties on the table.

“Would you like to tell me what the hell this is about?” He asked. He was holding onto his temper, but just barely.

“It looked like Angie left some clothes.” Modine replied. “Catch them before she gets too far.”

He shook his head. “No. She brought it to me Friday morning. It's not hers. I've just been waiting till they left to ask you about it. Tell me Modine, is this Troy's?”

“Now why would you think it's his?” She asked.

“Because, he's the only one who uses that room on a weekly basis.” He held up the nightgown and let it fall open. “And it's about his size. And his brother wasn't sleeping over here, so it's not from that punishment.” Modine knew she was trapped. It was either lie or tell the truth and hope for the best. She sighed and put down her pencil, hoping she was about to make the right choice.

“Troy got a similar punishment.” Modine replied.

Conner regarded her for a moment, then he nodded. “I thought you'd say that. But while you were outside yesterday, I saw the other clothes in your closet. Vance kept that crap at his parents place. So tell me Modine, is my grandson a queer?”

“Would it matter if he was?” Modine glared at him.

“Modine, I will not allow a queer in my family.” Conner stood there, countering her glare with one of his own.

“What if he was? And I'm not saying he is, but what would you do? Kick his parent's off of property they own? Take him out back and beat him to death?” Modine stood up, her voice filled with anger.

“Maybe a good beating would straighten him out!” Conner growled. “He needs to learn to be a man! Not some dress wearing fagot!”

Modine took a step towards him, her voice and hands now shaking with rage. “You lay one hand on that boy and I won't defend you when the cops come and I'll make sure they show.”

He looked at her for a moment, then he backed up from her. “Fine. But I don't want that....that queer anywhere in my house.”

“It's. My. House. too.” She stated each word clearly. “Don't forget that.”

“Dammit it Modine! If you coddle that child he'll get worse!” Conner screamed. “It's dresses now, but what if he turns into a rapist because of it! Attacking women and children. You want to be a part of that!”

“OH! And what if taking him out back and beating the sense into him just makes him into an overbearing, close minded jackass?!? Will you be proud of him when he's in jail for attacking someone on the street just because of how he looks, or talks!”

“Dammit it. Now you're just being stupid!” He blurted out. He froze as the words left his lips. Between the two of them, she was the smarts, he was the brawn.

“Do I even know you?” She asked.

“Modine.” He swallowed hard and forced his anger back. “Look, I'm...I'm sorry, I didn't mean that.”

“Out. Now.” She took a step towards him. “Don't even come back in here till you've realized your mistake and I don't mean calling me stupid.”

“You're kicking me out?” He asked. “Where will I go? Who will keep an eye on you?” He asked, hoping to find a weak point.

“You've got a wood burning stove in your shed. Looks like you'll be there for a while.” Modine stated.

“Modine. Please, you need me in here.” He said.

“Do I? Do I really need a man who's more then willing to attack a boy who's forty years younger and smaller, just because you have outdated ideals?” Modine glared at him. “Just get out, now.” She hissed at him.

A little under four hours later William was pulling off the highway in Livermore. He had wished that he had called before he left, but it was still early and he didn't want to wake anyone. He knew it was bad idea to go and this could blow up in his face, but he needed to talk to his youngest child. His mind was finally made up on how to deal with his youngest child. He also didn't want Vance to feel left out, so he was thinking of things he could do with both children while he was there.

He pulled onto the main road Shelly and Frank lived off of and he begin to really worry about his decision. As he pulled into the parking lot for their town-homes, he didn't see Frank's normal daily driver. He thought about turning around and heading home, but he had to see Troy. He left the bag he has hastily packed in the passenger seat and he went around to the front door. He knocked, not too loudly, the scared part of him hoping that no one would have heard it and he could put it off till later.

He heard talking from the inside and then the door opened up, showing a very surprised Shelly at the door. “William?” She was stunned for a moment, he kept silent. “Come on in.” She said and she stepped to the side.

He stepped as his wife stood up from one of the nearby couches. “Is everything okay?” She asked. “I thought you worked today?”

“I did.” He replied, before letting out a deep breath. “But there was some problems yesterday and Steven begged me to take a sick day.”

Maggie blinked at that. She knew his record at work. He hadn't taken a day off due to illness in a long time, so this had to be bad. “What happened?”

“I couldn't focus. I kept thinking about what we talked about the other day.” He looked around the room, then at the stairs. “I almost cause a few accidents last night. So Steven made me take a day off, so I could get my head on.”

“You didn't....?” Maggie let the two words hang there. He didn't need anything else.

“No, I didn't hurt anyone.”

Maggie walked over and wrapped her arms around her husband. “Come on and sit down.”

“You hungry William? I got some eggs left in the fridge.” Shelly asked.

As if on cue, his stomach rumbled. He gave a slight nod. “I barely ate this morning, I couldn't focus.”

“Eggs it is then.” Shelly headed off to the kitchen.

“Come on and sit at the table, we can talk there.” Maggie said, leading him into the living room, then to the table.

“Is he here?” William asked as they passed the couches.

“No. Neither of them are here.” Maggie replied.

“Really? They off with Frank?”

“Just Vance. He has a friend with season tickets to the Forty Niners. They had a place for the two of them, so Frank took Vance.” Maggie said.

“Then where's Troy? Or is it Tracy?” He asked.

“It's Tracy this weekend and she's off with friends.” Maggie said with a smile.

“Friends? He, I mean she made friends over the weekend?” William blinked a couple of times. “Wow.”

“It was Rachel, Frank's niece? They've met many times. She heard Shelly talking to me the other day and she brought over a friend. A girl named Sage. They stayed here on Friday night. Then they stayed at Rachel's last night. Tracy will be back around noon today.”

“And you let her go?” William asked. “with people she barely knows?

“Shelly vouched for Sage and her parents. So I feel comfortable, plus she's only about half a mile from here and Frank's sister trusts those people with her two daughters.” Maggie said as she got up to get him a cup of coffee. “And you know how much guff she gave us when we offered to take them to lunch three years ago.”

William thought about it and chuckled. “I've never had a person who wasn't a cop take down all the information on my drivers license before.”

“Yeah, I remember.” Maggie smiled, then it faded. “So, why the surprise visit? I don't mind that you came here, but I'm not sure what's going on.”

“I wanted to talk to Tracy.” He said. “I've come up to a decision concerning her.”

"Oh?" Maggie failed to keep the concern out of her voice.

"Yeah." He nodded. "I'm giving her my full support."