Being Different

Sometimes Grey, Sometimes Blue

As I stomped off campus, I heard the principal calling after me. "Derek Halestrom, come back at once! You are not to leave this campus!" He came up to me, huffing and puffing from trying to catch up to me. "You're a brilliant student, Derek Halestrom! Don't give up now..." He sighed, seeing at how distraught I was. I wished the ground had opened up and swallowed me whole right there.

"Mr. Williamson,  I have no intention of giving up at all. I appreciate you trying to accept me back here, but it's very clear that I don't belong...I'll find another school that is more accepting of 'FREAKS'...'FREAKS' like me! Good day to you, sir and thanks for having me...But I won't be graduating from here..." I huffed.

He tried to reason with me but it fell on deaf ears as I chose to ignore him. I continued to walk towards my motorbike, a gift from grandma when I turned sixteen. I donned on my helmet, strapped my backpack on tightly and revved up the engine. I rode off without another word. I just had to get away from there. There was a huge hole in my chest...an ache that refused to go away. My parents had done enough damage. If I was to start a new life, I would have to leave...

"YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE SCHOOL LIKE THIS, DEREK! Such attitude is UNACCEPTABLE!!!" The woman who was once my mother scolded me, upon finding out that I had the audacity to leave the school campus of my own accord. The school principal was obliged to inform her of my whereabouts. I had to go back home to collect a few things I had left when it was required of me by law, to remain at my parents' home. But I didn't go alone. Mr. Weizmann drove me in his car to their home. He didn't trust them one bit and preferred to be around in case I needed help fending them off.

"I'm just getting my stuff then I'm leaving, OK? I'll be out of your hair soon enough! Besides, since when have you ever cared about me???" I scoffed, trying to stem the tears that stung the back of my eyes. I quickly ran up the steps to my former bedroom to gather the last few articles of my clothing, books, posters and gifts my grandmother had given me over the years. There was absolutely no way in hell I would leave them. I packed them into my medium-sized suitcase.

These four walls had been a symbol of the mental torture that I had long endured from my parents. All-in-all, I was glad to be finally rid of them. But yes, I needed to find another school that would accept me during mid-term. But I still had to go back and acquire my transcripts and records before I could officially 'leave' the school.

"Derek, please don't leave..." My mother's tone had softened when I came downstairs, hauling my suitcase down the steps. "I... I love you..." She broke down in tears.

"A little too late, mom...I don't need your pity. I really wish you'd just cut out the act and say what's really on your mind...or do I have to guess?" I cocked an eyebrow her way, as I turned the doorknob. I flung open the front door, lifting the suitcase and placing it into the boot of the car.

She suddenly grabbed me, in a fit of rage, pounding her fists into my back, shouting, "YOU LITTLE BASTARD! SHE WOULD HAVE GIVEN ME THE MONEY! AFTER ALL, SHE WAS MY MOTHER!!! BUT YOU CAME AND TOOK IT ALL AWAY, DIDN'T YOU???!!!"

Mr. Weizmann had to tear her off me. I managed to rip myself away from her clutches and hop into the front seat next to Mr. Weizmann. He immediately started the engine and proceeded to drive away as she began to run after us. Soon enough, we were miles from the house.

"Your mother is insane!" Rob Weizmann declared, as he took off his glasses and rubbed his temples while we waited for the traffic lights to turn green. He shook off the bad vibes, as he drove us home. We weren't expecting the police to be at the front of my grandmother's home again. The prognosis wasn't good. As soon as we turned up the driveway, I saw the reason why. The entire front yard looked as if it had been bulldozed. My grandmother's favorite flowers and flowerbeds had all been uprooted and strewn across the grass.

I carefully entered the house, only to find room after room ransacked and ripped apart. Her room was especially damaged. The classic rocking chair had been deliberately flung across the adjacent wall and splintered into pieces. The beautiful antique radio was in the same condition. Her books, photo albums with pictures of our trips had been torn apart.

I sank to my knees in a sobbing fit. Who in the right mind could have done this? My grandmother didn't have a mean bone in her body. She never judged anyone. She was a kind, gentle soul that never meant anyone harm.

My own room was a mess too. I rummaged through the strewn clothes and knifed pillows to find the little rabbit still intact, Thank God! But again, photobooks of our travels together had been destroyed. Who could hate my grandmother so much? Who could hate me so much?

The police had to ask the other people in the neighborhood whether they had managed to witness anything unusual. People came forward and recounted as to what or who they saw in the vicinity, but there was nothing concrete to go on.

"Well, at least we have suspects. We have to bring in both your parents for questioning, young man" The officer explained to me. My brain was numbed. I wasn't even paying attention to what he was trying to convey. But to think that my parents could stoop this low to haunt me? I'll be damned if they dare try to weaken my resolve!!!

The Weizmanns offered me a living space in their home for the time being, until I could get grandma's house in order. But the police insisted that I not stay in the house for the time being, as the forensics team had to comb the place for some evidence which could take a while. They also cautioned that the perpetrators might come back to try and dig out what they were looking for.

I agreed to stay with the Weizmanns. I salvaged what I could of my own stuff and some of the memorabilia that remained untouched. As soon as I stationed myself inside my temporary room at the Weizmanns, I fell into bed, weeping. It had already been such a trying day that I felt extremely exhausted...so exhausted that I fell asleep in my clothes...