Jon was weakening. He finally said. "I'll ask my mom tonight and let you know tomorrow."
"Just think about doing it. That is all I can ask. Thank you Jon."
At home Jon delayed asking his mother, but she (as mothers always seem to) knew something was bothering him.
"Sit down Jon and tell me what is bothering you."
Jon sat, took a deep breath and explained that Mrs. Rose wanted him to play the female lead in the class play.
"What do you want to do?" Joanna asked.
"I am not sure." Jon admitted. "I'd like to have a part in the play, but I am afraid of what others will think if I play a girl's part."
"Do you think you would get beaten up?" Joanna asked.
"I don't think so. It could happen, but Mrs. Rose she have the football team protect me from harm."
"I can't tell you what to do. I always liked doing plays. I was a thespian in high school."
Jon looked at his mother in shock. "Mo-ther. I didn't think you were like that."
Joanna paused for a moment then figured out what Jon thought. "I said I as a thespian, not a lesbian, Jon. A thespian is a person who is involved in plays. What I was saying that I liked acting. Mrs. Rose must think a lot of your ability. To play a lead takes skill and play a role so out of character takes even more."
"So you think I should do the play?" Jon asked.
"It is your choice, but I do think you would find the role enjoyable. I suggest you sleep on it and decide in the morning."
Jon agreed.
That done, Joanna went out some last minute chores. She went to the laundry and emptied the dryer, folding the clothes. But her mind was on Jon and the play.
"I think it would be good for him to take the part." She said to herself. "But, like him, I worry about him getting beat up or even picked on for doing so."
When she finished folding the clothe, she wasn't any closer to solving Jon's problem She was pretty sure that Jon wanted to do the role but was afraid of what everyone would think.
She entered Jon's room to leave his clean clothes on his bed. As she turned, she knocked the rock off of Jon's night stand.
She bent and picked up the rock saying, "I wish
