The Seed

Uriah's Confession

     As Ronald and Uriah entered high school, they both gained popularity, although for different reasons. Uriah was handsome, outgoing, funny and athletic. He always dressed well
and even had a car, which really sealed the deal. He was high on the Totem Pole of Coolness. All the girls would have sold their souls to sleep with him just one night. All the guys talked over one another just to hold a conversation with him, to be acknowledged by him. Everyone
followed him around wherever he went. To them, he could do no wrong. He might as well have been on television. It was what everyone would have expected.
     Ronald, however, was popular because he was known as the loner. He only had a small group of classmates that he spoke to on a regular basis, but mostly he was quiet and introverted with everyone but the teachers, principal and office administration. He was usually
seen by himself, his face a dark slab of stone. He rarely even laughed in a crowd. There were whispered rumors among the other high schoolers that he was crazy. Some even believed that he had killed someone once. Plenty of people wondered about him, sneaking glances at him out of the corners of their eyes, but rarely did anyone say anything to him, and he never said
anything to them. If any of the girls had a crush on him, he would have never known. But he got outstanding grades. And, thanks to his friendship with Uriah, everyone knew not to pick on him.
     One night, when the boys were seventeen and in the eleventh grade, they were at Uriah’s house playing video games in his living room. Ronald’s mom was a single parent, and Ronald was a hotel valet, but he did not make very much money for what he did. Uriah’s mom, however, was a real estate agent, and his dad was a sports broadcaster. Uriah was their only child, so they had more than enough money to dish out in pursuit of their son’s happiness. As a
result, Uriah had the best game system and games to go along with them and did not have to do anything but go out and purchase.
     “I think I got a crush on somebody, man,” Uriah blurted out in the middle of the concentration and silence.
     Ronald waited a while to see if the information would be offered, then asked, “Who?”
     Uriah shifted, licking his lips as if nervous to make the confession. “Ashley.”
     Before he could stop himself, Ronald shot Uriah a glance then looked back at the game.
     “Ashley Anderson?”
     “Yeah.” The mumbled response was immediate as if the question was expected.
     Ronald could not help having the question “Is Ashley all that sexy?” flash through his mind, then wonder, “What would it be like if Uriah had a crush on me instead?” Shaking the
thought out of his head, knowing that such a thought was not only very gay but impossible, he responded, “Well, just talk to her, bro. See what’s up.”
Uriah shot him a look that said, “Why am I even talking to you about this?” Aloud, he said, “Hell, nah, bro. She ain’t like them other females. She don’t even look at me, speak,
nothing.”
     Ronald’s brow furrowed, and he began pressing one of the buttons on the game controller with rapid-fire speed. “You never know till you try.”
     Uriah didn’t say anything else about it.