indoctrination -byler

one

age 9 

Will Byers sat in the pews with his family, listening to the preacher drone on about mans greatest sin, that being homosexuality. His brother Jonathon elbowed him in the side as he started to drift to sleep. the nightmares keeping him up the night before, visions of creatures stalking and the feeling of cold damp air flashed through him as he jolted awake. A worried look from his brother burned into the side of his skull. he glanced around as he straightened his back and locked eyes with a raven haired boy, a light blush bloomed on his cheeks as the attractive boy quickly looked away with a red stained face and slight smile growing on his face. 

As the service ended Mike wheeler searched for the pretty brunet haired boy, a feeling of shame washed over him as the preachers words crept into his mind. he looked to the floor and exited the church with his family, his sprightly little sister Holly babbling excitedly as an ice cream truck pulls up near the church. Karen, his mother handed them two $1 notes, Nancy picked Holly up, placing her on her hip . the three walked to the truck and waited in line with the other church kids. Mike tapped the short boy in front of him on the shoulder, recognising his grey attire. The brunet  flinched and slowly turned around. 

"Hey, I'm Mike  whats your name?" the tall boy calmly introduced himself, noticing the boys fear. "Oh hi, I'm Will." he replied, slightly uncomfortable at the sudden interaction. "Are you new here i haven't seen you around before?"he questioned. "Uh yeah, we just moved here on Friday." answered Will, less uncomfortable now as Mike seemed to be nice enough . Their conversation was cut short as the ice cream man asked what Will wanted "Just a Calippo please." Will requested curtly, he handed the man the money and walked back to his family after quickly saying goodbye to Mike and his sisters.

"Who's that, did you make a friend already? thats great hun." Joyce said a quaint smile plastering her face. The three climbed into their car and drove off to their run down house to unpack the last few boxes of stuff.Getting away from Lonnie was hard, he was a cruel man with an alcohol addiction and a deep hatred for all things feminine, including his son Will, whom he deemed a fairy for enjoying art instead of sport. From a young age the boy had been abused, when Joyce wasn't watching of course. Jonathon tried to help but he learnt not to after a swift kick to the stomach. 

The three were happier now, finally free of the abusive drunk. Starting a new life in a small town just outside the city, good things were coming and they were thankful.