When Love is Wrong

3. Mr. Martin

A minivan picked me up at my house. My parents gave me bone crushing hugs and cried onto my shoulders. They waved to me from the front door as the van drove away. There was another boy in the back seat who kept his eyes firmly turned away and staring out the window with headsets on.

I sighed and did the same looking out my window.

I fell asleep as some point. I looked at my cell and it was 4 hours later! I couldn't believe it. I hadn't slept a wink the night before so I guess it was normal.

The noise of the tires crunching on the gravel road entrance must have woken me up. It looked a lot like the summer camp I went to when I was 9. A big log-style building and then a dirt road leading to small log cabins.

We followed our driver into the main building and were separated into different rooms.

"Hi Mitch. I'm Mr. Martin. How are you feeling?" the man in the room said as he put out his hand and gave me a firm handshake.

I was a little nervous and mumbled an "Okay."

"Just okay? I think you can do a little better than that!" he boomed out in a strong voice. "How about "Good sir. Thank you sir!'"

"Good sir. Thank you .. sir?" I repeated a little louder.

"Was that an answer or a question Mitch? Straighten your back, plant both feet and let me hear that again."

I did as I was told and said, "Good sir. Thank you sir." a bit louder.

"Well, that's a start Mitch. Welcome to Lake Superior Camp for Boys!" he yelled at me even though I was standing a foot away from him. "Hand me your bags and your phone and have a seat."

He took my cell and put it on a credenza behind him. Soon my laptop, books, pens joined the pile. I was handed back my suitcase with just my clothes minus one of my favorite shirts. It was floral so I guess no explanation had to be given on that one.

"Okay Mitch. We have a team that will go through your cell, music, laptop and pull off anything we think might not be helpful to you and get it back to you in a few days.  It will also help us learn a little bit more about you so we can help you get better, okay?" he said again in a volume I think was a little loud for the room and with a bit of manic energy.

"Sure, okay," I mumbled.

"Now Mitch, we don't want to have to do this every time, do we?" He shouted with a smile that showed all his teeth.

"Um, no sir! Yes.. sir?" I said louder than how I usually speak but still sounded small even to my ears.

"Well, okay then. Don't worry. Soon you'll be speaking with confidence. Come on, follow me. I'll show you to your room."


*****

My room was odd. Apparently the cabins were for boys after their initial "review." We are first put in rooms in the main building. It was sort of like a small hotel room and sparsely decorated with ugly, cheap wood cabin stuff. It had one bed, a night stand, a small dresser, desk and chair. There wasn't anything to write with or write on.

The bed looked normal, but when I sat on it, it felt funny. I pulled back the comforter and looked under it and discovered it was a hospital bed with wheels that were locked. I did have a small bathroom, toilet and shower. There was no television or window. It had an overhead fluorescent ceiling light fixture and a lamp on the night stand.

I kicked off my shoes, laid down on myback and tried to go to sleep. I just let the tears flow silently onto thepillow.