2
Saylor
M
y mom is an influencer. She’s been doing something or other online since I was five and she started posting videos about my hair. When the twins were born, looking like mini clones of me with their identical dusty blond curls,things really started taking off. Now you can follow @CristineFord along with twenty million people across a handful of platforms.
I blink as I read the caption on the video:
So Proud of Saylor️The video starts to play, but a loud whistle blowing in the halls drowns out the audio. I glance up as Coach Synthia pokes her head in and raps her knuckles hard on our door.
“Get dressed! Get your kicks on! It’s time for street ball, baby!”
“See?!” Laykin says.
“Yeah,” I mutter. “I’m coming.” I grab a pair of shorts out of my bag and start my mom’s video over again, swallowing hard.
“Hey, gang,” Mom says brightly. She’s in her “confessional” chair in her office, where the light and acoustics are just right. Her makeup is also perfect, her blond hair up in a messy bun. “I know we’re halfway through Pride and you guys know all my kids are away, but I was thinking today just how blessed I am. Just how great my relationship is with my kids. And I just wanted to share it with you guys.”
I press the bottom of the screen. The video is ten freaking minutes long. I swallow. This can’t be good. I hold down the corner of the screen and listen at double speed as my mother, Cristine Ford, does a whole storytime about how I came out to her and my dad.
“I was a little shocked when she told us she’d ended things with her boyfriend,” Mom goes on. “We still love Rhys and I was worried something had happened, but instead I feel like she gave me and her dad the greatest gift.”
“What the frick?!” I hiss out loud.
Mom sniffles on the screen and I know exactly what’s coming. I watch her as she goes on, dabbing her under eyes with the backs of her knuckles. Behind me, madness is breaking out in the hallway. It’s time for street ball, but I can’t take my eyes off my phone screen.
My mom didn’t even cry when I came out to her. She was smiling the whole time while my dad just kinda gave me his typical
as long as you’re happy, I’m happy shrug. She hugged me and literally said “Yay, how fun!” And then asked me if I needed anything. I appreciate the acceptance and the support, but where was all this emotion when I told her?
The whole Ford family established Gay Is Good years ago. A bunch of my friends are queer. My mom’s best friends, who happen to be Bethany’s moms (plural) are also gay. I’m happy my parents are cool with it. I know I’m lucky. But a ten-minute video?!
Copyright © 2026 by Rebekah Weatherspoon. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
