**Meanwhile, as Susan and Gregory drove home, the conversation from dinner lingered in the air.
“Do you think Victor was trying to tell us something about Jonah?” Susan asked, her voice tinged with worry. Gregory gripped the steering wheel tighter, his jaw clenched. “I do not know. But if there is something going on with him, we need to find out.” Susan nodded, though her heart was heavy.
She loved her son, but the thought of him being led astray filled her with dread. “Maybe we should talk to him,” she suggested. “Just to make sure everything’s okay.”
Gregory did not response, but the tension in the car was thick. Victor words had done the job he wanted, and the Hartfields were now on a collision course with a truth they were not ready to face.
***
Jonah could not hide the surprise on his face when he saw his parents standing at his door step. "Mum! Dad! What are you doing here?" He asked. Ushering them inside. "What? Can't we visit our own son once in a while?" His mother asked him.
"No mum, you know that is not the case. It is just so unplanned." He tried to explain. "Son, life is too short to plan things." His father nodded. They walked into the living room. Where Jonah offered them seats. Jonah quickly rushed to the kitchen to make tea for his parents and coffee for himself.
He turned on the kettle and spoke to his parents over the counter entering into the living room. "So dear parents, what brought you here today?" Jonah asked again. "How are you Jonah?" Susan answered back with a question ignoring his own question. "I am doing fine mum, really good." Jonah answered. "That is great to know." His father said nodding his head. "And how has work been?" His mother asked.
"Work has been fine mum. Although I have been on vacation for a while now." Jonah replied. "Yes, we are aware. Your new boss mentioned that." His mother told him. "New boss?" Jonah asked surprised. "Yes, your new boss. Such a fine young man. He has visited us twice now. He is always singing your praise too." Susan narrated.
"Mum, that man does not know me. I did hear we had a new boss but he had never stepped foot in the office before." Jonah explained confused. "That is weird because he made it seem as if he knew you." Gregory said.
"What did he say his name was?" Jonah asked. "Victor Crane. That's what he said." Gregory answered. "I'm not sure but I think that's our new boss's name." Jonah said.
"Well we had dinner with him last night." Susan said. "Mum, dinner? With a complete stranger? That is so dangerous mum." Jonah groaned.
"I mean we were just trying to be in good standing so you would not get fired. Sorry if that bothered you." Susan said emotionally blackmailing Jonah. Jonah sighed. Jonah set out the tea pot and tea bags as he turned the hot water into the tea kettle. He set that down in front of his parents. "Mum, dad. I have to go use the bathroom now." Jonah said. "I will turn on the TV to keep you entertained. I'll be right back."
Jonah said as he raced upstairs to the bathroom. The huge screen came to life. A commercial played. After the commercial, a drag show program is aired. "Ughh, I hate what is going on in the world nowadays." Gregory first spoke up.
"You are right. We used to have pageants were girls dressed up as girls and they looked so beautiful." Susan said " Now our world is riddled by confused youth who think guys can be girls and girls can be guys." Gregory added. "You are right they also believe same-sex attraction is healthy." Susan said.
Jonah stood on the last step his hair glistening with water from a quick shower. He was going to meet his parents but stopped to listen in on their conversation.
"Well it is not their fault. I blame the companies supporting this and creating shows like this." Gregory complains. "It is absolutely disgusting what children are being fed on TV." Susan continued. "I am so grateful we raised Jonah well and he didn't turn out like those liberal gay people who are destined for hell." Gregory said. Jonah's heart raced. He loved his parents but he wasn't sure they'd love what he had become if they had found out. "I hate them all of them." Susan said. Jonah shook his head and finally walked into the living room.
"Oh honey, you are already here." Susan said looking up at Jonah. "Son could you please change the channel to a sports channel." Gregory requested. "You know I'm not that good with technology of these days." His father added. Jonah chuckled, "Dad but I have shown you and mum multiple times how to do it but you guys still don't get it." "Pardon our old age honey." Susan said. "Jonah could you believe people are now holding pageantry contests for men to dress as women?" Gregory asked.
"Yeah dad, sadly it is pretty common nowadays." Jonah said his heart pounding in his chest. Jonah's hand roamed over the remote trying to change the channel. Soon enough the sound of a loud stadium and a commentators voice filled the room. "There, all done." Jonah said. "Thanks son." Gregory said.
"Jonah, we came to see you because your boss was concerned." Susan started.
Jonah's brows furrowed. "Concerned about what?"
" He said a lot of things about youths of nowadays getting carried away. Then, he showed me some magazine covers." Susan explained.
"Carried away? Magazine covers? These things are weird and confusing, mum." Jonah said trying to understand what his mum was saying.
"Jonah he showed us magazine covers of you and a man caught in compromising positions." Susan started in a low voice. "Though he told us, it was false and lies. He thought you were getting carried away by mixing with the wrong people." Susan continued.
Jonah heaved a quiet sigh of relief. He couldn't believe his parents were this close to finding out. This wasn't the right time for him to do so.
"Jonah you're not saying anything. I'm concerned about you." Susan said taking Jonah's hands in hers.