[MacGirl]

After they finished eating, Stacey started to help her father with the dishes, but he waved her away. “You girls have things to talk about, I’m sure. Go on. I’ll clean up tonight.”
As they headed up the stairs to Stacey’s bedroom, Erin spoke. “Your dad is so cool, Stacey. I wish my parents were like that.”
“Yeah, he is. I’m really lucky to have been adopted by him. We’ve had our disagreements, for sure… I know I told you about the fight we had just before Christmas.”
“How did that come out? You never told me,” said Erin.
“Really? I guess with all the intensity of work, I forgot about it.” Stacey grinned. “We made up, of course. We wound up having a really good heart-to-heart about some stuff that had been bugging both of us for a long time.” She smiled. “Dad’s been trying to be less overprotective of me, and I’m trying to be more understanding when he is.” They walked into Stacey’s room, and she closed the door.
Erin wasn’t sure how to broach what she wanted to talk about, so she went about it in a roundabout way. “Hey, have you been following this stuff about legalized gay marriage?”
“Yeah, I have. I think it’s insane that two adults who love each other SHOULDN’T be allowed to marry. I mean, love is love. You can’t help whether you’re attracted to women or men, same as you can’t help what color your skin is.”
“That’s for sure.” Erin felt relieved that her friend had said that.
“But enough about politics…” Stacey began.
“Stacey, I’m gay,” Erin blurted out, close to tears.
“What? Did I hear you right?” Stacey was stunned.
“Yeah, you did. I’ve known for about three years, but I just thought it was the confusion a lot of kids deal with. But now I’m sure.”
Stacey sat down next to her friend and hugged her. “That’s OK by me, Erin. You know I don’t have a problem with gay people, and I certainly don’t have a problem with you being gay. I love you just the way you are.”
Erin cried on her friend’s shoulder for a long time. She was so relieved to be accepted by the person who was like a sister to her. “My parents…” she began.
Stacey waited. “My parents kicked me out of the house yesterday when I told them,” said Erin. “They’re strict old-school Catholics, you know.”
“Oh, God,” answered Stacey. “Where did you sleep last night?”
“Nikki Carpenter let me crash at her place. I told her my parents and I had had a fight, but I didn’t tell her what it was about.” Nikki was an old friend of MacGyver’s, and was known at the Phoenix Foundation for her generosity as well as her infamous prickliness.
“Good thinking, to go to Nikki. She can be a little difficult, but she’ll do anything for you,” answered Stacey. She was fond of Nikki, who had become like a mother to her. “So what are you going to do now?”
Erin took a deep breath. “I have no idea,” she answered. “Nikki really doesn’t have room for me, and I don’t want to impose on her, especially since I don’t know her very well. And it’s going to take me awhile to find an apartment, with the market as tight as it is.”
Stacey was about to say something else, when there was a knock on the door. “Come in, Dad,” she called.
Mac opened the door. “Do either of you want dessert? I’ve got some chocolate-chip cookies in the oven. They’ll be ready in a few minutes.”
The girls looked at each other. “Sure,” answered Stacey. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Everything all right?” The look on Mac’s face turned to one of concern when he saw Erin’s red eyes and tearstained face.
“Um, yeah,” Stacey told him. “We’ll be right down.”
The door closed. “Here’s another idea,” Stacey told her. “Dad would be happy to let you stay here, I’m sure. You wouldn’t necessarily have to tell him why, at least not at first.
“Are you sure he wouldn’t mind?”
“Give me tonight, to talk to him. I’ll let you know tomorrow at work. But I don’t think he’ll mind at all.” She opened the door. “Now, what do you say we go have some cookies before Dad eats them all?”

“You’re on your way? OK, thanks Nikki. I’ll see you in a little bit.” Erin hung up the phone.
“Nikki?” asked Mac.
“My parents and I had a fight yesterday and I’m staying with Nikki Carpenter, um, until we all settle down,” explained Erin.
Mac was still puzzled by Erin’s behavior, but Stacey gave him a look that said, I’ll explain later, Dad. He decided to say nothing more.


Fifteen minutes later, Nikki came up to the door and after some chitchat, she and Erin left together. Mac closed the door after them.
“Want to tell me what’s going on?” he asked his daughter.
“Yeah, I just didn’t want to explain in front of Erin,” answered Stacey.
Mac sat down in the rocker, wearing an expression of curiosity, and Stacey took the couch. “Dad, Erin told me tonight that she’s gay,” she began. “When she told her parents yesterday, they kicked her out of the house. They’re really strict Catholics, I guess. They’re not even speaking to her. Nikki’s letting her stay at her place for awhile, but she really doesn’t have room. Plus, Erin doesn’t want to impose on her.”
“Now I get it,” answered Mac. “I thought she was awfully quiet tonight.” He was silent a moment. “Poor girl. I can’t imagine what it must be like to be rejected like that by your own parents, and especially over something you can’t control.”
Stacey was pleasantly surprised by her father’s accepting attitude. She knew that a lot of people of his generation were uncomfortable with homosexuality, and dealt with their discomfort by making light of it or by being hostile towards gays. Then again, it really wasn’t surprising at all. MacGyver was well known for his open mind and open heart, as well as his Houdini-like ability to get out of seemingly any sticky situation.
“Dad,” said Stacey, “could Erin stay with us? I mean, just until she can find her own place.”
“Well, I suppose it could work,” answered Mac. “We do have that old army cot that one of you could sleep on. Of course, there’s always the couch, too.”
“Yeah, she could have my bed, and I could sleep on the cot on the floor. I know you like the couch, but it’s a little soft for me. Plus, if she wound up staying for any length of time, I know she’d insist on at least helping out with the cost of groceries.”
“I won’t hear of it,” answered Mac with a smile. “You tell her she can stay as long as she needs to, and not to worry about money.”
“Thank you, Dad,” Stacey said, hugging him. “This means a lot to me, and I know it’ll mean even more to Erin.”
“Hey, you know I’m a softie when it comes to people in a jam,” he answered, smiling. “I’m so proud of you, honey. You have such a good heart.”
“So do you,” she told him. They smiled at each other a moment, then Stacey released her father. “I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll get to bed.”
“So soon? It’s not even nine yet.” Stacey normally stayed up until at least ten-thirty.
“It’s been a long day, between working my tail off at the office and hearing Erin’s story tonight.”
Mac understood. His daughter was emotionally and physically drained. “I’ll probably get to bed in another hour myself,” he told her. “I was playing hockey after work.”
“So that’s where you were. I’ve noticed you’ve been getting a hankering to play.”
“Am I that bad?” Mac asked with a grin.
“Worse,” his daughter teased. They both laughed. “Good night, Dad. I love you.”
“I love you too, honey. Sweet dreams.”

[ghostdoll]

Hmmmm... interesting to say the least.

Thanks for sharing your story.