After six years, Jack still had occasion to wonder if he was a bad
parent. There were moments where he even wondered if he was a bad person. Those
always brought back memories of his closeted youth. No boy should have to live
in fear and shame. Thomas would learn that.
The boy returned home crying. He was surrounded by other boys. Somehow
he always seemed to attract these other children. Boys flocked to him and
accepted the slightly undersized young man as a leader. The caliber of Thomas's
friends worried Jack. Their character was exemplified by their costume choices.
There was a Manson, a couple of Nazis, and a questionable ghost amongst others.
Thomas stood in the middle of them dressed as Lincoln.
Also fitting.
"What's the problem?"
Jack asked the question despite his detective nature answering half of
it. The other boys look upset and nobody had any bags. They had been trick or
treating, so they should have candy. The lack spoke of bullies. Jack hated
bullies, but he was determined to teach his stolen son to grow up to be a man
who took care of himself. To hell with modern sensitivity.
"A girl!" Thomas let it out between sobs. "Dressed as
Eve. She came along and stole all our candy."
Jack looked between the boys. One girl? He wondered if she was a
monster. Though, the thought of her dressed as Eve, other than sending a cold
shiver down his spine for the correlation, made him think it might have been a
stunned by seven year old puppy love thing. Great. He was raising a little
heterosexual. Where had he gone wrong?
"Well, what have I taught you?" Jack ignored the other boys.
Thomas took calming breathes and squared his shoulders as his tears
tapered off. He stood taller and met his father's eyes.
"A man stand's up for himself."
"Correct, but he also thinks things through. What do you want to
do?"
"Beat her up!" One of the Nazi's chimed in.
"Is that right?" Jack asked.
"No, sir." Thomas dropped his eyes and spoke quietly.
"Good, there is never a reason to hit a girl." Jack hoped it
was a lesson the boy would take with him. However, Jack himself did not know if
he could follow the advice if he ever met the boy's mother again. "There
are other options though. How do you think around problems and get your
property back?"
The other boys looked to their leader, their president, their future
dictator. Their eyes held wonder and hope. Thomas's brow furrowed and he chewed
his lip for long moments. Finally he smiled and it was one of the darkest
things Jack had ever seen. Then the voice was even worse.
"She has a little brother."
Jack knew the lesson had to come in its own way. He sighed as they
turned towards the door as one. He had to say something though, just to be
sure.
"Don't kill him."
#shortstory #novel #author #writer #writing #writingprompt
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