sixwordstories | (no subject)

He's already married, so that's grand-kids sorted out at least! And you said you had a younger brother, too? He's not gay, right?

Frankie? [can't help but laugh] I don't know, he just turned 10. But statistically speaking, I highly doubt he will be.

Actually, the more older brothers you have, the more likely you are to be gay, because of, um, actually, I'm not sure why! It had something to do with natal hormones or something! But it's not a foregone conclusion or anything! I know someone who has five older brothers and he's straight! It's kind of funny, really, because he has this totally obvious crush on this friend of his, who's a girl, and she has one on him too, but neither of them has worked out the other does, so they pretend they don't, and then have incredibly awkward conversations!

... I hope for everyone's sanity that Frankie doesn't turn out to be gay. I can't imagine 3 our of 4 brothers being gay happens very often. Aww, they'll figure it out eventually. Liking someone is always awkward if you're not sure they like you back, no matter what age you are.

And sometimes they seem to like you back but still won't go out with you! Girls are weird! I suppose boys are weird too, though! I guess you've never had a boyfriend, though, huh? That'd be pretty hard to keep secret!

Girls can be very confusing, I've dated a couple. I actually have had a boyfriend... just broke up with him recently but I'm with someone now. It's very, very hard to keep it secret but it's possible.

You need Joe not to be related to you, and then you could date each other! Although, I suppose, if you weren't related, you wouldn't live or work together, so that doesn't work together! Also, it suddenly occurs to me that that's a completely inappropriate thing to say and not the sort of thing you'd want to think about! Sorry! Sometimes I forget I'm speaking out loud!

[visibly pales and starts shaking a little, hoping the younger boy doesn't realize he'd just stumbled on the truth]

[blinks at him, confused] Are you okay? Is it me? Sorry, I didn't mean -- wait, do you need a shot? We've been talking for ages! You should test your blood sugar! Do you want some juice? You don't want to get sick on your birthday!

[knows its not his diabetes but he's glad for the change of subject, not wanting to keep talking about the idea of him dating Joe because that was in fact what he was doing]

Yeah, I should actually check my levels. If there's juice around, that'd be good [busies himself with pulling his meter out of his bag and pricks his finger to squeeze a drop of blood onto the strip, still pale]

[stops to watch this, fascinated, entire conversation forgotten] How does it work?

[looks up from the small device in his hand] The machine monitors the levels of glucose in my blood and tells me a number. Anything between 90 and 180 is about normal so if the meter tells me a number lower than that, than I need more sugar and if the number is too high, then I need more insulin.

[the meter beeps and he reads the screen and turns it to show the other that the number is '76'] It's low so I need to drink some juice and get something to eat soon.

Juice! Hang on! [bounds away, returns at speed with some] What sort of something to eat? I have chocolate!

[takes the juice appreciatively and opens it, taking a sip] Thanks. No, no, chocolate's too much sugar, especially with the juice. A sandwich would be pretty good but you don't have to get that for me, I could get one for myself after I finish the juice

I don't mind! That meter thing is pretty clever for something so tiny! I wonder how it tells! I suppose glucose must alter the conductivity of the blood, and then it checks resistance or something! Is there much lag? Like, if your levels were dropping rapidly, would it pick it up? Do they drop rapidly? I don't actually know how long it takes blood to circulate around the body! Hmm!

I'm not exactly sure of the mechanics really [shrugs and looks at the little meter he's still holding] Well it just tests the blood that I give it, that's why I have to keep checking. After the juice and food, I'll check again to make sure it's risen back to a normal level. They don't really drop that rapidly but they can spike very quickly if I take in too much sugar and not enough insulin to help break it all down.

Huh! You're pretty brave!

How do you figure that? [keeps sipping his juice]

Because you have to do that all the time and keep your secrets and be in public all the time with weirdly obsessed fans and have to have security and birthdays on stage and you're in two bands and playing everything and writing stuff and, just, everything! And you just keep going! Blimey! If I had diabetes, Colin would have to follow me around everywhere to make sure I don't die of being distracted!

[smiles faintly] It's hard sometimes but when I think of my fans, they help me keep going and get through it. And Joe does follow me everywhere to make sure I'm okay even though I've learned how to handle it well over the years.

Hee! Brothers are cool!

[finishes up his juice and closes the bottle again] Yeah, brothers can be pretty amazing.

Actually, Colin's probably looking for me, and you need to go find a sandwich so you don't keel over and die, so I should get going! It was nice to meet you!

[chuckles] Alright, it was nice meeting you. Take care of yourself