A good kid

There's a young man who gives me hope for humanity. At the age of 15 (or was he 14 at the time?), he had the courage to tell his family that he's gay. He's smart, funny and polite.

His parents love him, so they worry and they nag him about things. Does he rebel? Well, sometimes he says things he later regrets, but he's more mature at 15 than many 50-year-olds I know, so he apologizes if he was out of line. He also recognizes that they care about him and realizes that he needs to measure their actions in that light.

I'm old enough to be his father--and that's damn depressing! (although I feel compelled to note that I would have been a young father)--but I'm proud to call him my friend. If Marc and I ever had kids, I could only hope they'd be as good as this young man. Okay, he needs to study harder, and I told him that, but nobody's perfect. :)

The icing on the proverbial cake? He's unwilling to get involved in cheap, meaningless sex. He has a boyfriend--and probably could have his way with any number of people, given his very good looks (if he keeps up like this, he's going to be a stunning adult)--but he wants his first time to be with someone special.

Obviously, his parents are good parents, but there's more to it than that. He's just a good kid. Good, smart, mature--it really makes me feel good to hear from him, because he always reflects these good qualities in what he says. The only thing we can't talk about, of course, is sex. Yes, we discuss it in general terms--things like waiting for someone special, etc.--but nothing graphic. (With that, several of my adult friends just keeled over. Yes, boys, I can keep from talking about sex!) :)

He knows I'm here for him, as is Marc, and that makes me feel good, too. I just hope there are lots more young men like him out there. I tend to think he's an exception, but maybe there are at least a few!