Minds In Reverse

It all began in a small town far away from the fast pace and the trying ways of the cities. Where a young man introduces the life he was taught to live in a town called Bridge-way Texas .
Jay moved to this town during the summer months. His parents big party givers, and any money left over from bills went to their enjoyment never thinking of the needs of their son. He watched their behavior all his life and disliked most of their friends for they smelled of alcohol. At times scared him with their little games that just never felt right. But when he brought it up to his parents they would side with the friend leaving Jay out side the circle like a stranger.
Days passed and Jay began to walk the streets to find out about the small town. His first connection from the people there were long looks and whispered conversations of him.
They never thought this might be a young man looking for a few good people that he could befriend and feel wanted for he never felt that way in his own home. Now he doesn't feel wanted here either. 1

Now being a teenager he felt from experience that he had to get a foot hold as a tough guy before they started in on him like always.
He kept to himself and when other kids were rude he would face them and ask them ,what do you know about me?
It was very long lonesome days.2

When Bobby saw that no one was welcoming him,he took it upon himself to show Jay he was welcome there even though most of the kids were just afraid of him. You see Jay the parents saw you walking about this summer alone most of the time and you made them nervous so they told their kids to stay clear of you. It's a normal thing in a small town for we are very protective of our community. 3

Jay looked over his way and asked what did they think I was going to do? Oh it's just they are that way it takes time to warm up to a small town and believe me they are the biggest screen scrapers in the world on getting into other peoples business. Don't pay them any mind it's just a habit they have cause in a small town like this without gossip they have nothing.Ha!4

Say what things do you like to do? I myself like fishing and football and of course the girls. How about you? Oh I don't have many interests I do like to write and draw but there is not much excitement for others there just for myself.
Bobby replied how about we start checking the fish out right now I have a couple of poles stashed down at the river hows about we give it a try.5

Jay looked around and said why not lets go but what about our books? We can put them where I stash the poles don't worry and they headed for the river.
In Jays mind he thought it might not be so bad here after-all and they caught a couple of fish and then Bobby stripped down and jumped into the river to cool down. Jay just sat there for where he came from you just didn't go swimming with another guy with no clothes. He excused himself and picked up his books and was gone.6

When Bobby came back up he didn't understand why he took off that way, so he swam for a bit more then dressed and headed back to town .
The next day at school Bobby came up to Jay and asked him, say why did you run off yesterday the water was great? Oh he replied I'm not into that stuff. What do you mean that stuff, I was just swimming we do it all the time around here it doesn't mean anything. Oh man you don't think that oh hell no. 7

You have got to be kidding me! We don't have any of those around here and it really ticks me off that you would even consider it.
Jay looked at him for a bit then told him well from the city you never know and I wasn't going to take the chance of being labeled as such.
They headed on to their class and Bobby told him say I will see you later and I would like to read some of your work and see your art. I think it would be interesting to see something different for here we are in such a rut. Gotcha Jay replied yes I will catch you later. 8

One of the kids happened to over hear just part of the conversation, the part where Bobby told him he just wasn't that way. The rumors began that ultimately set the boys demise for his future in motion. That afternoon after school three of the town boys began to yell little things in his direction and one of them was we don't need your kind in our town.9

Jay was confused for he didn't have a clue to what they were referring to. He joined up with Bobby and as they walked off the school ground they even yelled out at him. You better get
the hell away from here cause we will make your life pure hell.10

Bobby yelled back what's your problem we haven't done anything why don't you go find somebody in your own family to do your gossiping about. The boy threw down his books and Bobby threw his and the fight was on. 11

Jay had a little more experience with this kind of stuff so he stepped in and cleaned house. We don't know what's going on in your small brain but your wrong we are just friends so whatever you are thinking then stop cause you are wrong.
Sure we are but wait until our parents finds out what you are! What do you mean by that what we are just two boys being friends and fishing and talking. Unlike you kids that have nothing better
to do than gossip and not know what the hell you're even gossiping about.
That night Mom got several calls on the phone threatening calls about their sons activities in town. When Jay got home his Mom and Dad lit into him with a vengeance. What is this I hear from parents in town. Jay felt a sting across his face as his Moms hand came down on him.
You can't be that way I just wont have it. He tried to get a word in but with all the yelling and the abuse to his body so violently conflicted on him he knew there was no convincing them of anything. The crowd that had already gathered there for their regular night parties were all laughing and watching this boys parents shroud their embarrassment with their form of discipline. 12

Jay sat quietly and when they moved on to their friends he slipped back into his room for hours of silent tears.
He fell asleep on top of his bed and after about an hour into the party one of the friends slipped into his room. Jay woke by these hands on him and he jumped up and began to yell out for the man to get lost your a sick bastard and don't ever come back to this house again.
Well the others heard and that brought the whole house of drunks to his room. As they came in the guy turned and he replied I just came up to see if he was OK and he is accusing me of obscene things. Well here we go again and his Mom and Dad asked them all to go back down stairs and they would handle it right now. Just as the door closed his Dad stripped off his belt and his Mom began her ritual slapping and yelling. Just as you did when you were younger always accusing our friends as being perverts well we just wont have it anymore. 13

Then his Dad in full rage hammered on the boy it seemed like for 30 minutes. When they left the room Jay lay with blood running down his back and knowing he had been punished twice for people
lie-ing about him.14

Jay slowly rose up and went into the bathroom to clean up a bit then packed himself some clothes and left .
The next day at school he remained quiet and tried to avoid Bobby
for he just couldn't take any more confrontations that day. He stayed off to himself in the shadows in deep thought. Bobby after school did spot him walking in a different direction than his house and ran to catch up. As he reached him Jay turned on him like a mad dog. Go home Bobby if you stay with me they will hurt you so go home!15

Bobby stopped walking and yelled what did I do it's not me, hurting you I just want to be friends.
Jay stopped walking and slowly turned friends huh! Since I have been friends with you I have been labeled as a queer, and my Mom and Dad were called by the other parents and they beat me. So Bobby I don't think I can take any more of this friendship.16

Say bud it's not me causing all of these problems I have never said any such thing and I don't know where they got their information but it is so wrong.
Then let's do something about it right now! Lets talk to the ones that first accused us that day and see where they feel they are right and get this straightened out. They searched for those three boys and found them at the fountain in the center of town.
Just as they got eye to eye the boys instantly started their verbal slurs.17

Jay patiently walked up to them and replied you are so wrong I am not queer and never will be queer ,so where ever you all got that notion then forget it right now. How can we! Jimmy replied, Carol heard you tell Jay just the other day and Bobby told you he wasn't that way. Sure he did ,I am from the city not the country and you kids do things around here that we wouldn't dare do in the city. You go skinny dipping and think nothing of it! When Bobby and I were fishing he stripped down and jumped in and I left. He asked me at school why I left ,and I told him in the hall I wasn't that way. That's what Carol heard and you kids spread the rumor. I was ridiculed and beaten by my parents all from lies.18

Jimmy looked at the sincerity of his words and looked at the other boys and replied then you better be telling the truth or you
and your family will be run out of town. Bobby said you got a deal and for the moment the rumor was settled.19

Jay started walking once again away from where he lived and Bobby yelled say wait up. Where you headed? And Jay told him he didn't know just not home. Why don't you want to go home did something happen?
Oh yes I would say plenty happened I was beaten the other night Bobby once from the phone calls from this wonderful town.Then once after one of my parents drunk friends after I fell asleep came into my room and thought I was like him and started groping me and I yelled for him to get out. Pretty sick huh! When your parents believes their friends over their own kid. I wont go back so don't you dare tell them where I have gone. Well where are you going.
I would ask you to come stay with us but that's the first place they would look.
No don't worry about me I will find a place and take care of myself.
Say Jay would you let me help to find this place. I know this town pretty well and I am sure I could think of somewhere. Sure what do you have in mind. He thought for a bit then he smiled and replied I got it come on follow me. They went down along the river and stuck way back in some thicket there was this old shack that was abandoned by an old hermit, he use to know that had died . This would be great and you can draw and work on your writing in peace. I will bring you stuff to school you can bring back to eat and I will whistle like this any time I come out and you will know it's me.
Jay thought it was a smashing idea and he was safe for several weeks until his parents started asking around town if anyone had sen him. They finally came to the school and as he was in class they came in and made a scene. Alerting everyone that he had been living in a secret place around town. They grabbed him by the collar and rushed him out to their car and took him back home. Where have you been and what have you been doing. Who have you been seeing then smack tell me the truth Bobby we have the right to know.
He tried his best to defuse them from the thoughts that had been planted in their heads. I am innocent please don't hit me anymore,he cried .20

Innocent his Dad replied, if you were innocent you would be living at home where you belong. At home you expect me to live where you are best friends with a pervert that fondles little boys. Oh his Dad unbuckled his belt and Bobby told him that's right Dad beat your son to death but it wont change the truth.
His Dad got dead silent and then he took the boy and through him out the door. Get out of my sight you are not welcome here anymore. He turned to look at them one last time and tears did fall and his Dad headed out the door almost in a run .21

Jay turned and ran away as fast as his legs would carry him .
Unknowing to Jay, Bobby had followed him so he could see where Jay lived and he was close enough that he heard every word. He turned and followed Jay without saying a word for at least a mile then he saw him duck back into the brush headed for the river cabin. He followed behind and just to make sure no one else was following and to see if he was going to be OK. As they reached the cabin he just dropped to the ground and weep-ed for yes they had found his secret place and they had ripped up all of his drawings and writing the only two things that kept his sanity.22

Bobby walked up slowly and in a whisper replied I will kill them all. They had no right to do this and I will make sure they pay Jay I will make sure of that . Jay looked up slowly and replied don't bother for I wont be here after today.
Bobby thought he meant he would be moving on and he replied where will you be going this time. He softly said where love began and never ends. I will be OK don't you worry about me you have been a good friend and I wont forget you. Bobby started to pick up the papers and Jay told him leave it Bobby I won't be needing those anymore. Bobby then turned and told him I hope I see you before you go and Jay replied sure.23

The next morning as they unlocked the school doors to ready for the day a scream riddled the entire place. The staff came running and to their shock found Jay hanging from the center hall rafter
with a note pinned to his pants cuff. As they read the letter they were shocked that such a talented young man could be tormented by a small town and his parents to the point of him losing all hope and taking his life. The note requested that in the second envelope was for Bobby only and as Bobby got to the school everyone was looking and whispering. 24

Bobby burst into tears and as he took the envelope he asked that the school be called into the auditorium for he wanted everyone to hear what it said. They all assembled there and as Bobby started to open the envelope he started talking and telling the story of Jay a good friend of his. The students were dead quiet as they listened and yes Jays parents were called in as well and heard what Jay had told him the day before his death.
To this little town that I had such hopes of meeting and calling it my home to I am truly sorry for what you have done to me you would do to anyone here from the start of a nasty rumor that had no truth whatsoever. You caused me pain and never asked me my name you caused me to be homeless then tore down the only shelter left you caused me my life for you see I had nothing left. And for parents that ever takes the word of their friends over the honesty of their child should have no rights for parenthood for those who know, I am speaking of you will see the vision of my body
stripped of life and love by their own hands.Goodbye