To all the people who have pushed me to keep going. And to my dreams, without which this story would not be possible.
Even though I knew that I needed to be here, hell, even though I wanted to be here, it was all too fresh. I needed some time. It didn't help that the small concrete room was about forty degrees. I was freezing, and I couldn't wait to get out of the interrogation room. I was becoming impatient and the smell of sweat from decades of suspects and witnesses was starting to make me sick; the voices on the other side of the mirror were becoming louder.
There was a loud sigh, then a large sounding man asked, "Can we get this over with, already? He isn't guilty; why should we keep him waiting?"
There was a gruff chuckle, and then a voice retorted, "He's a fucking faggot! I'm not going in there until I'm ready."
"God! You are such a bastard sometimes! Fine, have it your way, give me the goddamn recorder."
I heard a door squeak open, footsteps in the hall, and seconds later the door behind me ground against the floor as the larger of the two detectives came plodding in. He stopped suddenly and looked down at me. I must have been a sight. I had collapsed onto the steel table. I looked up into his eyes, tears blurring my vision. He put a hand on my shoulder and gave me a gentle squeeze, set the recorder on the table, pushed record, and began to talk.
"Detective Davidson, questioning Anders Harmon, Male, Sixteen." He turned and scowled at the mirror, and continued. "Anders,....I know this is hard for you, but we need your side of the story. Please, answer my questions honestly and try not to leave anything out. Are you ready to begin?"
I nodded, trying to keep myself from falling to pieces.
He took a seat in front of me, and gave me an apologetic smile. "Ok, will you please start by telling me what happened? Tell me what started all of this."
It was the second day that I hadn't heard from Jessie. I was starting to worry that he was very angry, more so than he normally gets. I didn't think that he was angry with me, but still, when he gets mad, he shuts everyone off.
The only thing I could think of that may have pissed him off so badly was his dad. His dad is a devout Christian, and is very conservative. Jess knew that of course, but he still felt that he needed to tell his parents. The last time I had talked to him, was after dinner when he was leaving. He told my mother and me that he was coming out to his parents. I walked him home and begged him to think hard about what he was doing. I didn't want his dad to forbid us from seeing each other. We live right next to each other, but his dad could still keep us from visiting, or going on dates. Jess wouldn't change his mind. He said that if he kept his secret, he would be no better than his dad.
"That was the last time I saw him."
The round man nodded. "And when did you try to find Jessie, and when was it that you decided something was wrong?"
"Well, the next day..."
The next day, I woke later than normal. I lay in bed thinking of the dream I had been dreaming: Jessie and I on a beach. We were sitting on a beach towel, watching the sunset, and holding hands. It was perfect, until it began to rain and we got separated as we ran for cover.
I finally found the strength to roll out of bed and get dressed; I brushed my teeth, tamed my hair, and checked for a message from Jessie on my cell. Nothing. Maybe he was downstairs. I crossed my fingers as I tiptoed down the stairs. To my surprise, Jessie wasn't asleep on the couch, like he normally was. Normally when I wake up, he had already come by, had coffee with my mom, and laid back down for a nap 'till I got up.
The rest of the day, I checked my online messages and cell phone every two seconds. I wasn't going to miss it, if Jessie decided to talk. When I wasn't checking for messages, I was leaving them. I called everyone I could think of: friends and family, everyone except Jessie's dad...If he had pissed Jessie off, and then he had pissed me off as well. I tried his cell, and left him messages online, but after about twenty, I finally accepted he wasn't going to answer, so I tried his mom's cell, but she didn't answer either. The next day started very much like the previous day, but instead of laying in bed thinking about Jessie, I was going to go talk to him and try to figure out why he had abandoned me. Well, at least I felt like he had abandoned me, even if it wasn't true.
When I got to my cell, I had a text from Jessie.
"My mom and I left last night. Sorry for not coming to see you. Time to get over me. Sorry, Babe."
I began to cry as I read the last sentence. Just as I feared, his dad must have reacted really badly for them to leave...and Jessie would never call me, "babe". He says it is so shallow. I needed to find out where he was. I needed to see him. My fingers moved quickly over the numbers as I keyed my reply: "Where are you? And what do you mean time to get over you? I need some answers! Please, Jessie. I love you and will never get over you. I need to see you." I hit send and watched the message fold into an envelope that flew off the screen.
I need to talk to Mom. I ran down the stairs and into the kitchen. Mom was standing at the sink pouring a cup of tea. She looked at me and smiled.
"Want a cup?"
"No, Mom. I got a message from Jessie. Here, I'll read it to you."
I scrolled through my phone until I found the message that I was looking for. Then read it aloud.
"My mom and I left last night. Sorry for not coming to see you. Time to get over me. Sorry Babe."
She looked as hurt as I felt. She set the mug of tea on the white tiled counter as she walk around it to my side. She hugged me and whispered into my ear. "It's hard, I know, but maybe its for the best."
Just then my phone began to chime off a happy tune, and we both jumped apart. I looked down at the cell.
"NEW MESSAGE FROM: JESS"
I flipped open the phone and pushed "Read".
"Look," it read, "I don't want to hear from you again. You're a faggot; I do not want to have anything to do with your kind."
"It was at that point that I was sure that there was something wrong with Jessie, and that he wasn't the one text messaging my phone. He never talked like that, even about the people he hated most. He had never said anything like it before.
The detective pulled a note pad from his pocket and scribbled a few notes.
"I see. And do you still have these messages on your phone?"
"No, That night I deleted them right before I went to bed. But our cell phone company should have them on record."
He scribbled another note down.
"Ok, will you now tell me the events of today?"
I had decide that today, I was going to confront Jessie's father. I got dressed in my best clothes and told my mom were I was going. She was hesitant to say ok, but after I pleaded, she agreed. Of course, she made sure I had my cell phone.
Mom and I left the house at the same time. She locked the door behind us, and handed me the spare key. I kissed her on the cheek then stood back as she backed out of the drive.
"Have a good day at work. See you later."
"I will. Be careful, Hon." ________________________________________________________________
"I need to call her. I told her that I would call if there was any trouble. Please. Can I call?"
He stood and paced the room, stopped in front of the mirrored glass and sighed.
"Actually, we called her already. We assured her that you were fine, and that we would be talking to you, she wants you to call when you're done here. Please continue." ________________________________________________________________
I started across the lawn to Jessie's house. I pushed to doorbell button, and listened for footsteps. There was no answer. I pushed it again. Still no answer. I shook my head and started back to head back home, when our neighbor Crista caught my attention.
Crista is a ten year old, and despite her autism, she is quite smart, and always fun to be around. She always looks on the bright side of things. Today she was out side playing in the front lawn of their house with Jessie's little brother, Michael, who was the same age as Crista. I watched them from across the street as they laughed and played. They had blankets out on the lawn, and were wrapping themselves up in them.
I headed across the street to say hello and to ask Michael about Jessie.
"Hey Michael. Hi Crista."
They both gave me a hug and we all laughed
"What are you doing?"
Crista threw the blanket off of herself.
"Making cocoons!"
She held out the "oo" sound. I laughed and so did she.
"Were did you learn that?
"Jessie did it in the dark place."
"What do you mean?
She pointed to a small square in the crawlspace under the porch by which she stood. Then she pointed across the street to Jessie's house. I turned to Michael who started to shake.
"Michael, are you ok?
"I have to go!"
Michael turned and ran across the street, barely avoiding several cars as he ran without caution back to his house.
I rang the door bell again , but to my surprise, this time Jessie's dad answered.
"Sir, I was wondering if you could tell me where Jessie went. He sent me a text message saying that he and his mom had left. I was hoping that he wasn't...ahh...wrapped up somewhere."
"Yeah, he sent you one this morning. They left last night."
"Sir, you said he sent it this morning, as if you knew. But you say he left last night."
"Look, let's discuss this inside. Come in; it won't kill you."
I glared at him, but followed.
"What on the earth are you talking about?" He replied over his sholder as he entered the kitchen. "Are you feeling ok? Let me make some tea."
He went into the kitchen and I heard the stove click on and the kettle clank on the grate. From the living room where I sat with Michael, I could see his dad reflected on the glass of a picture frame. I watched as he made the tea, and just before he poured it into cups, he pulled a blue bottle from the cupboard above the stove and place a tablet into my cup. I knew what he had put into the cup been deadly. I had to get out of here and call the police, but not before I got to look under the house. That was one on my priorities. Horrible thoughts filled my head. Without waiting for him to return, I told Michael to come with me, and we left very quietly.
Outside, I walked around a few bushes to where the crawlspace was. I knelt down on the hard stone and peered into the darkness. The cool damp musk swam through the air. I couldn't see far though, so I took out my cell phone, flipped it open, and let the light shine into the abyss. The floor of the space was dirt and rats and bugs scurried here and there. I shown the light to the left. I found nothing. Then to the right, again nothing. I was about to crawl out of the space when something caught my eye. The red stone of Jessie's class ring. I placed it into my pocket and, looked farther into the darkness. On the far wall lay two blue tarps wrapped into "cocoons". I was then convinced that one was Jessie and the other had to be his mom.
At that moment I called the police, and told them what had happened and what I had seen and they said that there were no units in the area at the moment, but to stay calm that someone would be there in less than five minutes.
The detective had now lit a giant cigar that was filling the room with a rank smoke. My tears had begun to flow freely now. I held nothing back and tried to remember every detail.
"Sir, the last part happened so quickly, I..."
"Just tell me what you can remember" ________________________________________________________________
I had just finished the call to the police when I heard Michael's scream come from the house. I had thought he was right behind me. He must have stayed. Either way, I had to save him. I pulled the mace from my pocket and headed back into hell.
Michael was on his knees grasping and clawing at his fathers' hand. His father had taken a handful of hair and lifted Michael several inches from the floor. The knife was dancing on his neck.
"What the hell did you say? How did he find out? I told you what I would do to you!"
Michael gasped and cried out his innocence, but his father wasn't convinced. He raised the kitchen knife. Time stood still as I made my move. I shoved the man from the boy and as he fell, I let the mace rain down on him.
The woman on the phone asked me if I was ok.
"Yes, you could say that."
"I want you to get into a closet, and lock the door"
I could here sirens several blocks away.
I turned grabbed Michael's wrist and ran back to my house. I took Michael to the hall closet and told him to stay there and to be very quiet. I then remembered the small handgun mom kept in the house. She had always told me not to touch it unless someone was trying to break into the house, but I didn't think this was too far from an emergency. I took it out of the small leather case. I could only hope that it was loaded. I made my way back to the hall just as the door flew open.
I turned and pointed the gun at the man standing in front of me..
"I know want you did. I know that you killed him!"
He move toward me. "Stop! Don't come any closer! I SWEAR! I'LL SHOOT!
My threat must not have been too convincing as he continued closer. I aimed for his leg, and pulled the trigger. I guess the years of setting untouched had caused some wear on the gun, because it was difficult to pull the trigger all the way back, but after the split second delay, the gun fired.
"You bastard child! You shot me! I should have killed you when I had the chance!"
He stood and started toward me again. he raised the knife and lunged for me. The trigger pulled easier the second time and soon I felt the blood running down my chest as he collapsed, falling onto me. I heaved the body off of me and it fell to the floor with a thud.
"And that's one for Jessie."
I reached down to pick up the squawking phone from the floor.
"Are you ok? I heard gun shots! Please talk to me. Several units are on their way!"
Words poured from the earpiece of my cell phone. I walked to the closet door and opened it. Michael sat in the far corner hugging his knees, crying. I could only imagine how hard it must be for him. He had lost everyone. I reached out and he took my hand and I pulled him into an embrace.
"I shot him. He almost killed us!"
"The officers should be there any second"
Actually, they were walking into the house as she spoke the words; guns pointed in every direction. I heard one of them shout.
"Drop the gun! Slowly lay it on the floor and put your hands on the back of your head." ________________________________________________________________
"I guess you know the rest, Detective."
"Yes, I guess we do. Look, Anders, I like I said before. This must be a very heavy burden, but I have to ask. Will you testify this in the Court of Law?"
"I will. And I will do anything else that is needed to be done to put this man away for good. But, I also have a question. What will happen to Michael?"
He shrugged, then grinned.
"Apparently, his father had some sense. He signed legal guardian ship over to your mother today."
A PA system switched on.
"Mr. Harmon's mother is here."
I stood and Detective Davidson shook my hand. He smiled and looked me in the eye.
"Its people like you who make this job worth it. You may go."
He walked me out to the main doors, but told me that he would call my mom in the morning. I walked into the waiting room to find my mom with Michael curled up against her chest. No doubt, most likely sleeping. I sat next to them and took my mom's hand and kissed her on the cheek. I began to cry. I was grateful that Michael had survived and would be living with us. He was one of the only things that still linked his brother and I. I became aware of something in my pocket. I slid a hand into my pocket and pulled out Jessie's class ring. I kissed it, and slid it onto my finger. Mom was watching and smiled through here own tears.
"Let's go home."
THE END