My Kind of Town

by Don Chapman

Bad news first

>> Honolulu Soap Co.

Sheets Ah Sun dialed the number for his son Laird's cell phone in California, heard his resonant voice answer.

"So how'd the last final go?"

"Hey, Dad! Piece of cake!"

"That's what happens when you're prepared."

Armed with a masters degree from Stanford Business, Laird was now prepared to take over the Honolulu Soap Co.

"Is everybody packed?"

"Well, that's why I called," Sheets replied.

Laird heard the tension in his father's voice. "What's up?"

"Good news, bad news, I'm afraid."

"Bad news first."

"It's your brother. He's not going to be able to make it up for your graduation. And your mother says she's not leaving his side until he's better."

"What ... what happened?!"

Sheets started to explain how Lance had been attacked during a rally at the Capitol when Laird interrupted.

"Lance? That doesn't make sense. He's so unpolitical!"

"It was a rally in support of the hate crimes bill."

"Ah." That explained everything, and proved Laird's suspicions that his younger brother was gay. He couldn't help flashing on the baths they used to take together as kids.

Sheets told Laird about Lance being attacked, falling and hitting his head on a curb, and how he'd been in a coma since.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"No sense distracting you during finals."

"I could have been praying for him."

Laird, unknown to his father, had recently been converted after reading the book "Jesus Was A CEO -- The Gospel of Acquisitions."

"Oh," Sheets said, plunging ahead, "but the doctors say he's coming around. They're hopeful."

"Is that the good news?"

"Well, yes, come to think of it. But there's more. Laird, I was going to announce this when we were all up there, celebrating over dinner. But I can't wait, I have to tell you now."

He took a deep breath.

"I'm naming you president of the Soap Company, immediately!"

"Oh, uh, wow," was all Laird could quietly say.

Sheets expected Laird to react with more happiness, more enthusiasm. But probably he was just too shocked by the news about his younger brother.

---

Don Chapman is editor of MidWeek.
His serialized novel runs daily in the Star-Bulletin
with weekly summaries on Sunday.
He can be emailed at dchapman@midweek.com