Jack -Short Stories

The Third Moment: When I Nearly Died

As I was getting older and becoming a young man, I started to notice the little changes that were occurring in my peers. The other boys were starting to become taller, their voices would deepen and they were becoming more interested in the opposite sex. Myself on the other hand, I stayed as I was, always a smallish boy with delicate features who could have been mistaken for a girl had I been dressed in drag.

Things were starting to become more difficult for me to comprehend when it came to the typical interests and hobbies of the 'normal' fourteen year old boy. I never held any interest in anything besides reading or my school work. Naturally I was the easy target for other, much larger boys in my grade. It was a tough and daunting task, trying to navigate my way through this period in my life. My father was of no help and my mother never gave me any sort of advice on where my attention should lie.

The time that I must tell you about is one that I would easily wish to erase from my memory, but without it I'm certain my life would not be where it is currently. It was a moment that will forever haunt me and yet give me strength. At times I wish I could go back and do things a bit differently but I have always been a firm believer in karma and that everything happens with a purpose.

My mother was late picking me up from school one afternoon and I was thrilled with this little bit of new found freedom. In the back of my mind I knew that I should have gone straight home but, being a boy, I ignored my gut instinct and took the time for myself instead. The school was becoming deserted and the massive school grounds became a thing of wonder to me. The time that I was alone had passed quickly by as I explored.

I ventured out to the baseball diamond and I walked a line on it, the one that ran from third base to home base with my arms stretched out as if I was a tightrope walker.

Little did I know that there were eyes watching me as I made my way around home base.

My name was called out just then and I glanced up to see the three boys who made it their goal in life to see to it that I knew just how abnormal and dissimilar I was compared to them. My heart sank as I laid eyes on them, I really did not want any trouble. I watched with curious eyes as they strode up to where I stood, each of their faces held the same stone expression and each were easily twice my size. The 'mouth' of the three boys was Scott Anderson. He was the one who orchestrated what the other two boys did to me throughout the school day.

I looked up at the three as they gathered around me, arms crossed in front of their chests. I won't ever forget how massive their arms were. I'm certain they weren't that big but compared to my lack of body mass, they were gargantuan.

Scott took up the space in front of me, "well, look who Mommy forgot to pick up," he sniggered and poked me in the chest. My eyes darted down to his stubby finger that had jabbed me and then back up into his face. I resisted the urge to swipe at his hand but I knew that would only provoke them as they were only looking for a fight.

"You're such a fucking freak, Nolan." This was always the insult Scott had chosen when addressing me and I had grown accustomed to it. I only stood my ground, keeping my hands at my sides and not wanting to make any sudden movements. The boys never responded well to sudden actions. The other two boys, Drew and John, let out a hardy laugh at Scott's insult as they often did.

A hundred different comebacks ran through my mind. I wanted to call Scott out about the time I had heard him crying in the boy's locker room because his team didn't win the baseball game we had to play during gym. I recalled the time he had stopped me after English class to ask if I could tutor him so he wouldn't get kicked off the football team. If I had brought these moments up it would only have made the inevitable come that much sooner. Sometimes I wish I had spoken up.