A Fresh Start [Gumlee]

Prologue

A Fresh Start

Prologue

I clutch on to mommys hand as we pass through the gigantic mall. You could probably fit twenty earths in here! Although mommy says that's not possible because we're on earth right now.

That's also what Ms. Mathews my teacher says, but earths really big and so is this mall! So earth probably could fit in here twenty times!

We enter kidsRus and I giggle to myself. Silly adults! Are is spelled A- R- E. Not just the letter R! I shake my head.

Mommy leads us through a part of the store that is decorated in nothing but pink! Pink is such a cool color! Sadly though mommy won't let me get anything pink it's only for girls!

I scan the various clothing which although has some colors like purples, oranges, blues, and reds, the color that sticks out the most is pink.

With my hand that isn't holding mommys I pull on her pant leg, she looks down at me with a small grin. "Yes baby?"

I frown, "Mom! I'm not a baby I'm four years old! I'm a big boy!" She laughs causing me to frown more. "Of course my big strong boy, what did you need?"

I beam when I hear the words big and strong! I puff out my chest, yes that's me very very big and very very strong!

"Can I get some of these pink clothes?" I reach my hand out and caress the bottom of a hanging pink shirt with white flowers printed all over it it's the cutest shirt ever! Pink and flowers my two favorite things!

Mommy scrunches up her nose which she does when she doesn't like something. "These clothes are for girls Barnaby."

"Maybe... But I'm a boy so when I wear them they'll be boys clothes!" I say with a pout.

Mommy shakes her head. "No you'll be a boy in girl clothing, and people will look at you weirdly." She begins walking away towards a part of the store that decorated purely in blue, no pink or purple in sight.

She pulls down a blue shirt with a green monster truck on it. I scrunch up my nose just like mommy I hate monster trucks! They're called monster trucks which means only monsters drive them! If I wear that shirt monsters will come after me.

I stomp my foot. "Mommy are you trying to kill me?"

She laughs before raising a brow. "What do you mean big boy?"

"The monsters are going to get me mommy." I say pouting and quivering my bottom lip a bit, I know this will get her to put that monster possessed shirt away.

She sighs and just as I thought puts it back on the rack. Mommy then drags me through the blue side of the whole store picking out all kinds of ugly clothing.

I sigh knowing she won't get me what I want, I don't care if they're girls clothes they look pretty and I know I'll be pretty when I wear them.

I stare over to the pink side sadly watching as a little girl twirl in a pink and white polka dot dress. She looks so happy with a huge smile on her face. Her mom looks at her with awe.

"Mommy if you'd let me wear pretty clothes I'd be happy like that girl." I say pointing to the still twirling girl.

Mommy frowns at me before grabbing my hand and dragging me from the store. "Barnaby if you put those clothes on that makes you gay, and gay is wrong okay?" Now stop it with wanting the girls clothes you're a boy! And you'll only wear boys clothing!"

My eyes begin to burn as mommy drags us into a store only for boys clothing. Tears drop silently down my face, as we enter. How would I be gay? What even is gay? I guess it's bad but then I just won't be gay! I'll just wear pretty clothes! She never listens to me.

Mommy walks up to me with a handful of clothes that are possibly the most hideous clothes I've ever seen. But I don't say knowing she'll yell.

"Thank you for my clothes mommy." I stretch a smile across my face.

She nods. "You'll only ever wear boy clothing, I refuse to have you be gay."

"Yes mommy."