Love & Other Curses, 1985 | bxb | ONC 2024

CHAPTER 2 - Mud Boy

The different accidents of life are not so changeable as the feelings of human nature.

~ Mary Shelley, Frankenstein.

"Thomas," Mrs. Harding said, breaking the awkward silence. "This is Adam Lawson, your new foster—"

"Hey, hi," Thomas said, using his football helmet to point at the boy. "I, um, like your hair."

Adam ran a hand through his messy mullet. "Oh, thanks."

The stunning boy mesmerized Thomas. With his blue eyeshadow, arctic eyes, and heavy-metal mullet, he looked like a rock star and belonged on the cover of Rolling Stones or GQ. His athletic arm sleeves looked like a matching accessory to his sleeveless t-shirt, revealing every contour of his defined muscles. A hollow vintage cross made of interwoven strands of silver and brass hung from his neck by several chains of like material. Maybe he was the secret offspring of Peter Burns.

You spin me round...

The hit song played in his head and made Thomas want to dance.

"So, what happened?" Adam asked with a furrowed brow.

"Huh?"

Adam pointed. "You're covered in mud."

"Yes, Thomas," his mother said, folding her arms. "I think we'd all like to know."

Thomas fake laughed as he looked down at himself. "Oh, this. Nothing," he lied. "Just a bit of fun after practice." Miraculously, he'd forgotten all about his unhappy state the moment he laid eyes on Adam Lawson. A name he knew he'd never forget. No one ever did. Thomas pointed his helmet in the other direction. "I, uh, guess I should go shower."

"Probably a good idea," Adam agreed.

"Next time, use the school shower or the hose out back," Mrs. Harding scolded. "You have no excuse to come home so filthy." She had enough on her plate: five of her six children living at home, her son-in-law, her first grandson, and now Adam, who appeared to be a more significant project than she anticipated. But that was how she rolled. Her children's sporting events were optional, but she always had time to take in another child.

"Fine, got it," he said, turning away from his mother.

Adam grinned at Mud Boy's slick backside. "Hey, Thomas."

"Yeah?" He spun around, grinning, mostly because of Adam but also because the song still played in his head. He wanted to spin again.

"Um, thanks."

"For what?"

Adam smiled. "Just, thanks—for this."

Thomas rubbed the side of his face in confusion until a piece of caked dirt fell to the floor, which made them both laugh. "Oh, got it. Yes. Right. I'm glad I could help. I'm gonna go now." He walked away only to spin back on his heels to take another glance at Adam and because, well, the song. "Yup, I'm going. Ok." And this time, he did leave, grateful for the coat of mud hiding the heat flushing his cheeks. He raced to the stairs with his mother yelling after him not to touch anything.

After saying goodbye to Mrs. Harding, Sofia helped Adam retrieve his bag, gave him his traditional move-in book, and said goodbye while Thomas cleaned up. He loved long showers, but not today. The basin turned an instant grimy brown when the water hit him. He kicked off his shorts and underwear and washed in record-fast time. Only when he stepped out and stood in front of the mirror did he see clumps of mud still stuck in his hair.

"F-freak," he said, wanting to curse.

He jumped back into the shower and squeezed the shampoo bottle so hard the cap popped off, and half the Dimension container emptied onto his head. The faster his lanky arms and hands worked to wash the soap out, the faster the never-ending lather dripped down his smooth body. Citrus suds covered him from head to toe and burned his eyes.