Billie Joe’s Journal: The Center
Published: 11 Dec 17
Edited by Gardner Rust
Epilogue
I took classes in accounting and philosophy at the local community college and I keep the books for the garage. Carl’s presence allowed Pop to expand the garage. After the expansion, Pop was supervising five mechanics from his upstairs office that was mostly windows.
Donnie finished school and came to stay. He went to college to learn computers from the ground up and to keep all of Pop’s state of the art. In his spare time he raced a Funny car sponsored by the garage.
Danny surprised everyone when he went to divinity school. He became Father Daniel and was the only priest who could impersonate both Bogart and Edward G. Robinson with the proper authority, which delights the kids if not his Bishop. When he must scold one of his boys for misbehaving, using the impersonations takes any sting out of it. The boy understands Father Daniel approves of him if not his actions.
Denny became a chef. He went to school near San Francisco before attending classes in Paris and Florence at Argyll’s suggestion. On holidays he comes home and cooks his latest creations for Gram and Pop and Carl and me. On the holidays he isn’t with us in Alabama, he can be found at home in San Francisco, cooking for Argyll and Adam.The most recent talk is of him opening a restaurant near The City. The last time I talked to Argyll, he was looking for investment possibilities close to home. Denny approves.
Adam and Argyll are still together and visit once a year. No one asks when I’m going to visit them. I haven’t returned to San Francisco, although my feelings for The City are like that of an old friend I no longer see.
If I died in that alley it wouldn’t have been so bad. While I hadn’t quite reached nineteen, I’d lived life on my terms. I left home to search for my community, and while it took some time, I found it. I’d loved Carl completely and I’d been loved completely in return. I would have left a mark on the world in which I lived. I was loved by people who knew me and I had three beautiful boys.
I remember the last idea I had before meeting my Waterloo; ‘I wanted to be a writer.’ I’d only written in my journals until then. Don’t get me wrong, I’m perfectly happy I lived. Living with my love is a lovely life, and all those other things are still true. I am blessed as well as happy.
I’m not certain there is a life after this one, but I am sure we need to give this life all we have to give. If you don’t, what is it you leave behind that makes you proud? What will people remember?
I can’t imagine what my life would have been like had I not runaway from home and ended up where I did. What I accomplished there often makes me smile.
I am taking some creative writing classes and I’ve recovered almost all of my journals from around the country. I’m thinking of writing the story those journals tell. I may call it, My Journey.
There are still some numbers I remember:
Tonight there are 1.3 million homeless children on America’s streets.
Forty percent are under 15.
Twenty to Forty percent are LGBT children. It’s difficult to say how many because we live in a society that will make their lives even more miserable should they confess to being LGBT.
Tomorrow thirteen of those children will be dead, and the day after that, and the day after that, etc., etc., etc.
These statistics come from Standup for Kids, a non-profit organization furnishing housing for homeless children.
Get involved or donate through their website or through The LGBT Center nearest you, and tell them, Billie Joe sent you.
Writer’s Comment: Billie Joe has done everything he knows how to do. What are you going to do?
Love & Peace,
Rick Beck
Talk to your friends. Spread the word. Let people who haven’t read The Center know they can add purpose to their lives by getting involved.
Notes of Interest about Billie Joe’s Journey:
What and who are we fighting for? Join the struggle to stop the hatred in Bill’s memory. He was not a fictional character. Bill’s Story.
ills_Story.html]We can’t afford to remain silent. The next generation of LGBT kids must know you care. Their lives sometimes depend on it.
Bill refused to live in a world that hated him. Thoughts of him were often on my mind during Billie Joe’s Journey, and my own. His death allowed me to create Billie Joe’s motivation for going in search of the ‘gay’ community.
Ralphie’s suicide and the note he left was inspired by Bill’s Story. This storyline didn’t exist at the time the trilogy began. Remember: it started as a short love story that readers wanted me to continue. The rest is now history.
Getting Started: I’ve done some of the work for you. The Center may have many meanings, but for me it’s where my heart is. Get involved in your local Center for LGBT action.
While I didn’t know there was a Center in San Francisco, my search revealed they are indeed there. My bad. Visit them with Billie Joe’s apology for any misrepresentation. It was unintentional. San Francisco Center.
Local San Diego realtors donate to their Center to house homeless gay children in San Diego. Call and join their effort. San Diego Center.
I’ve heard that there is a program in Los Angeles working to house homeless gay children. Tell me if you find something on this program.
Google for The LGBTQ Center nearest you. If you are in the UK,r Europe, Africa, Asia, or South America, there should be help lines provided to help someone in trouble. Only where it’s safe should you try to make contact with LGBTQ services in your country.
If you are in trouble and need someone to listen, call the Trevor Project. Someone will answer and they’ll listen and make suggestions.
The Trevor Project
Our trained counselors are here to support you 24/7. If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk, call the Trevor Lifeline now at 1-866-488-7386.