I remember that day. The day I met him..
I was very young maybe around 10, he was the same age as me but we were different.
I remember seeing him on the playground floor.. he had scraped he's knees and was crying but not loudly.
I heard the words the other children called him but the one that stuck to me was the one that my friend's mom said.. "that boy is not normal."..
I didn't understand why they were mean to him. Even when I was little. I didn't understand why they were mean to someone who was like everyone else.
But then we started high school and things weren't that different except for that I heard things. I heard some students call him a satanist. Abnormal...a sinner.
I didn't know how to feel about that...at all.
I understood how to not judge someone just because of who they are...
A week after starting high school I started seeing him and he's family at the church I frequent with my family. He never seemed that focused on what the priest was saying but he'd always join in on the prayers...I couldn't help but steal glances at him only for a few moments.
One day, he sat down next to me in church, I fidgeted with the small cross around my neck nervously...it's not that I was scared of him but I've never spoken to him before so it is kinda nerve racking, even though we were only sitting next to each other...I still felt weird... I've known this boy since I was 10 and I never knew he's name.
As we were praying having our heads down, I guess he had seen me glancing at him cause he whispered to me "my name is Kieran"
I didn't respond...
. . .
As everyone was getting their things and leaving the church. I quickly grabbed Kieran's sleeve before he could leave, "my name is Alfie." I said quickly. I looked down, I didn't want to look him in the eyes, this felt embarrassing and all I did was say my name..."nice to meet you Alfie" Kieran said... before I or he said anything I heard my mothers voice so I quickly let go of he's sleeve and jogged over to my mother.. but while my family wasn't looking I waved him bye and he did the same flashing me a smile.
A smile
A nice smile
A pretty smile.
He's beautiful...
I was in the back of my parents car as they drove us back home. They were talking to each other but I wasn't paying attention. All I could think about was Kieran, not about the few words me and him shared with each other but he's name... it's very unique.
"Alfie." I snapped out of my thoughts as I heard my name, it was my father. "Your mother is speaking to you." He said. I glanced at my mother "who was that boy you were talking to?" I hear my mother ask."Oh, Kieran." I said glancing back out the window. "Ah the Scarus boy... I heard Jeremy that he is quite a particular young man." I heard my father say "how so?" My mother asked.
"Jeremy said the boy is good very kind but in he's own word he does not believe that the boy believes in god." He said sounding confused "at first I thought he meant that he believes in a different god. But Jeremy told me that he believes that boy is either a satanist or he believes in god but not that religiously." He said "oh my...a satanist?" My mother says putting her hand to her mouth.
Doesn't believe in god?? That can't be true, why would a none believer come and pray on holy ground??
It makes no sense..
Which is why I'm choosing to pretend that I never heard that.
