LITMIR.BIZ

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peering down to a wooden rafter.

      ‘It’s difficult, Dad. You wouldn’t understand.’

      ‘I want to listen and understand. That’s why I’m here,’ Cal said, wishing he was in a position to wrap his arm around him and hold his son to make him feel safe. ‘It’s just between you and me. No one else will know. Trust me.’

      ‘It’s embarrassing though. I don’t know if I can explain.’

      ‘It’s me you’re talking to.’

      Jack shifted his body forward and took a deep breath. ‘Well, it started with this girl Jessica Lawrence. She’s fourteen. She kept hanging around me for ages with her sister Samantha who is my grade. It started as a bit of fun, we’d tease her a bit but when we went to a party just before Christmas she brought along her friend Chloe. Her friend was nothing like her, you know, Dad, she was really hot, much more mature and I really liked her. I still like her.’

      Cal nodded. ‘And then?’ he prompted with inner relief his son was opening up.

      Jack licked his lips again and let out a sigh. ‘Well, obviously I knew this Jessica was on my case. Oh God, she’d bugged me all the time ringing me and texting me and, wherever I went, she was there. It was a joke. I even told her to get a life. It stopped being funny. She was annoying but I couldn’t get rid of her.

      ‘Anyway, I thought I’m never gonna get rid of her. I even told her sister to tell her to back off which back-fired. She accused me of being a tease. I couldn’t believe it. Anyway, I tried to ignore them. Then, after the New Year, I got Chloe’s number, bit the bullet and rang her. She could only say no. But, I couldn’t believe it. She said yes. I told her though not to tell her friend yet and she agreed. So we dated a few times but then, I still don’t know how this Jessica found out. But that’s what I mean, this is such a small town, maybe someone saw us out. I don’t know but this Jessica went ballistic when she found out. I mean, it’s not like I was dating her but she started giving me all sorts of shit. Calling me names and texting vicious messages. Then she started giving Chloe crap, calling her names and turning everyone against her.’ Jack held his head in his hands and blinked away the moisture filling his eyes. He then swallowed. ‘I mean, she was really nasty, the names and…Chloe didn’t deserve it and neither did I.’

      Cal reached out and rubbed his shoulder.

      ‘Well, then she…she put a post on Facebook, on her sister’s but it was her. It said I’d tried to molest her and I gave her an STD. Dad, it was horrible! All the posts and comments after it were…like saying I was sick and a user. Dad, I didn’t do anything. I don’t know how someone could make something up like that. I wouldn’t touch that! Dad. It wasn’t true but now I’m the villain. Robbie knows it’s not true and some of my mates but Dad, some, there’s a group of seniors – they called me a pervert the other day.’ Jack lips quivered. ‘I…I just want to kill myself. I can’t face being here. I tell you it’s worse than a nightmare. It’s real. I think the post was removed, but I can’t walk down the street. Everyone thinks I’m some sort of monster. Girls walk the other side of the street. Chloe has ignored me. I don’t want to be here, Dad.’

      Seeing his son’s eyes fill, Cal grabbed his son’s other shoulder and pulled him closer so that their heads met.

      ‘Oh Jack,’ he managed with a constricted throat. ‘No wonder you’re upset. That’s really tough, mate.’ He gripped Jack’s shoulders as they shook, swallowing hard with every muscle to contain his own emotion.

      Although his heart ached for his son, he considered it best to stop talking and let Jack spill out his pain. This was serious stuff for one so young. Anger fired inside him burning his chest. Stupid, silly girl. She has no idea. He doubted talking to her would improve things. No, he told himself. There’s no point. Jack was thankfully OK. And he could talk about it. He’d confided. That was a massive step, albeit just the first. He may take a while to regain his strength and dignity but he was sure they could do this.

      After several minutes Cal wiped his son’s tears with his thumb then reached into his pocket.

      ‘It’s a bit screwed up but you can use it. It’s clean,’ he said passing the boy a tissue.

      Jack took it from his hand and broke into a smile. ‘Ha, like me really.’ He blew his nose.

      ‘Yep. You’ve done nothing wrong so you’ve nothing to worry about. You’re dealing with a child here who hasn’t learnt the basics. Kids are like that. And it’s what growing up is all about. It isn’t pleasant, far from it, but you will get knocks in life. Most folk are nice but occasionally nasty ones come along and surprise you. You’ve heard the phrase “I’ve seen another side to him”? Well there’s the proof.’

      Jack raised his eyes and nodded. ‘I could have accepted it if she’d just slapped me or punched me but no, she made it, like, public! And what the fuck did I do?’

      ‘Dent her pride, shatter her dream. She was hurt. Her friend betrayed her. She’d perceived it as a personal attack and wanted to get even.’

      ‘But why would she be so malicious?’

      ‘Who knows? She’s immature and doesn’t know any better I suspect. And I’ll tell you something, it will blow over sooner than you think.’

      ‘No it won’t. The whole school knows about it now.’

      ‘People are too busy worrying about their own lives, believe me. OK, so you may get a group of silly girls with nothing better to do but tease but…’

      ‘Dad, seniors…they’re not…’

      ‘Those seniors will be off to college. You won’t see them.’

      ‘I’m talking about now. I’ve still got a couple of months before my SATs. I can’t go back. You don’t see it do you?’

      ‘Jack.’ Cal closed his eyes, momentarily numbed at his powerlessness to take away his son’s wound. ‘I do. I really do. I want you to understand that for you it feels and sounds a hundred times worse than it does for anyone you know. In your mind it’s a monster – but to everyone else, it’s a mouse. You might be the butt of the jokes for a few days, weeks maybe, but like you say, you’ve done nothing wrong so why would you hide? What message does that give?’

      ‘These kids can be pretty sick, Dad. And it’s not you that would be facing them every day. You could probably do it because you’re older.’ He shook his head and shuffled backward. ‘I can’t.’

      Cal tried to sit up and not without bashing his head. ‘Ouch,’ he grumbled rubbing it.

      Jack pulled a face and guffawed.

      ‘Well, good to see your sense of humour hasn’t dissolved,’ Cal grinned. ‘OK. I think we should go and find some space in the house.’

      ‘Oh God, Dad. Mom will want to know what’s going on.’

      ‘I’ll tell her we want to come in and go straight to the first-floor snug. Naturally she’s concerned so I’ll tell her you only want to talk with me for now. I imagine your pop is back by now too.’

      Jack clenched his teeth and leant back with a protesting sigh. ‘Aww Dad, do we have to go in?’

      ‘No, but wouldn’t you rather be comfortable? And we’ve almost got through all these snacks.’

      ‘I don’t care if I starve to death at the moment and I don’t care if I don’t see my family again. Dad. They’re not to know.’

      ‘Sooner or later they will know. Someone is bound to say something to your mom. Wouldn’t you prefer she hear it from you rather than a distorted version from someone else?’

      Jack, again, dropped his head in his hands.

      Cal began to wish he had a magic wand because his boy looked like he could do with one right now. It was possible they would be here for some time.

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