Mom stops him first.

Before he was out the front door Gerald was stopped by the sound of his mother's voice. "Are you going out?" she asked from the kitchen.

"Yes Mum" he said, in somewhat exasperated tone, stopping and turning around.

"You're going top be back before dinner, aren't you?" she continued.

"Yes Mum" he said walking back toward the kitchen.

"And you'll leave after dinner?"

"Yes, or tomorrow morning. I haven't decided yet." said Gerald as he walked into the kitchen.

"I'm sorry" said his mother "It's just that I'm making a special dinner for the family and I didn't want you to miss it. Oh, did you see that Katrina's old friend Elizabeth is visiting us again?"

As he looked at her Gerald found himself hearing her thoughts without even trying -... poor girl. She had the biggest crush on Gerald and he didn't even know she existed… She's looking more grown up now ... Very pretty … She'd probably have a chance with Gerald now ... Of course he'd never take advantage of a young girl like that ... Would he?-

No thought Gerald before he realized it and felt his mother's mind accept it, making him feel bad. Then again he wasn't sure she would have been at all happy to know what had happened upstairs. Perhaps shutting down her train of thought was for the best. Either that or he was self justifying. He decided to try realigning his karma.

"I saw her upstairs with Katrina" he said and listened to her thoughts

-That's good ... Katrina and Elizabeth used to be such good friends ... I never understood why Elizabeth stopped coming around … I'm glad they made up …-

How would you feel if they were more than friends? asked Gerald.

-More than friends?- wondered his mother.

What if they were lovers? What if Katrina was gay and Elizabeth was her girlfriend?

-Katrina can't be gay... She dresses like ... well ... immodestly ... and she flirts with boys ... and …-

She's never had a boyfriend

-She just hasn't brought anyone home... that doesn't mean …-

What if it did?

Gerald's mother looked pained but thoughtful.

-I ... I don't know …-

You love her

-Yes-

You want her to be happy

-Yes-

So you'll accept her for who she is, even if she's gay and you'll wait for her and Elizabeth to come downstairs and will not disturb them.

-O.k. I mean it might just be a phase. I mean I experimented in college…-

Gerald withdrew from his mother's mind and left her with her memories of college experimentation, memories he really didn't need to share. In fact he felt the need to scrub his mind of the fact she had them was ample penance for stopping her suspecting his 'transgressions' with Elizabeth.

He quickly walked out of the house before he accidentally picked anything up.