Two Worlds, One Mind

Chapter 5

"What's your name?" A small voice squeaked from the foot of Elliot's cot. A blonde boy sprang up into view.

"Hello." Elliot replied. Socialization was not his strong spot.

"You're name's hello? HEH HA" The boy bent his neck so spastically and awkwardly, it took Elliot aback. He stepped off the cot.

"N-no, my, uh, name is," He rubbed his hands together, "Elliot." His heart rate elevated. The way the boy stared at him with unblinking eyes made him nervous.

"I'm PATRICK. Hi, hello, hi, nice to meet you." The boy was no older than 7 years old. He politely outstretched his hand. Was Elliot supposed to touch him?

Before Elliot could think of a way to interact, the blonde boy immediately recoiled and made an angry noise. He recovered.

He began to speak slowly, "I'm sorry, I would shake your hand, but I FUCKING SHIT" Patrick proceeded to drop to his knees and desperately hit his forehead, chest, and soldiers, and pressed his hands together.

Elliot had so much anxiety about this strange new boy. Why was he twitching? Why was this all happening so fast? Why was he talking to him? Why did he just say that? Was he even more socially inept than Elliot?

Patrick whispered "Forgive me, Father, I have sinned," and stood back up.

Elliot almost burst into tears at this interaction. He was so confused and afraid, he almost passed out. They made eye contact and Patrick blushed.

"I'm so sorry," he pushed up his glasses, "I have Tourette's Syndrome. I don't know," his neck snapped, "WHY I DO THE THINGS I DO. But I know that I can't stop doing them."

This was one of the longest conversations Elliot had ever held. "Why?"

"My parents told me it's because I am a terrible child and I willingly disobey God GOD GOD FUCKING DAMMIT" He repeated his weird ritual of dropping to his knees and whispering to some "father".

"Who's 'father'?"

"That's funny," Patrick snorted in amusement. Elliot's face gave no sign of understanding. Patrick twitched before he spoke. "Y'know, God, the Father, I pray for his forgiveness every time I use naughty language."

Elliot couldn't breathe. "I'm gonna sleep now."

Patrick hopped into the cot. "Okay but I get the pillow tonight. As a WARNING, IM A BIT OF a kicker."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm so exited to finally GET A cotmate!"

Elliot could move past living in this new space. He could deal with the fact that he had not seen his dad in hours. He might even be able to tolerate this new kid hanging around him. However, there was no way he was going to share a bed with this heathen. He wouldn't share a high-five with someone else let alone a bed.

"No, no, I don't really, no."

"There's nowhere else to SLEEP so you might wanna FUCKING SHIT" Patrick busied himself with his praying.

Elliot broke his focus on Patrick and finally noticed just how many boys were in there. His cot was against a wall of 12 others and opposite to a wall, also with 12.

Elliot had yet to find a boy near his age. He also had yet to find one that would be quiet for more than 5 seconds. The room echoed the laughter, cries, and screams of his roommates. When he was introduced, most of the boys were already in bed, waiting for sleep. He was lucky to only be touched once on this trip.

As he lay on the floor next to Patrick, he feared for tomorrow.