Anna's recovery is a wonderful thing, but it also reminds Michael of who and what he is: a fifty-five year old, HIV positive man living with a man twenty years younger then him. Ben has promised him that he will stay with him no matter what, even if it involves having to bury him. Maupin is such an honest writer that he doesn't let his characters off the hook with pat happy endings like that. Michael knows he's blessed, but it doesn't stop him from feeling guilty and worrying about what will happen to the man he loves when he passes on.
Michael Tolliver Lives has of course a third message to the world: That the gay community is here to stay and nobody is going to push them back into the closet. These are real human beings in this book. Just like other people, some gays are assholes, liars and cheats, while others are kind and descent folk. Maupin writes about his community with honesty, affection, and humour - and in doing so he continues to put the world on notice that it is going to have to grow up and accept gays as part of society in the same way blacks were integrated.
Most of all Michael Tolliver Lives is a wonderful story about growing old and learning how to be grateful for the small gifts that fortune throws your way, and to deal with the pitfalls with as much grace and style as possible. Gay or straight, that's a lesson for all of us.
Article comments
1 - Natalie Bennett
This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net , which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States, and to Boston.com. Nice work!