Race With a Heart
Chapter 118: The Story of a Boy

Chapter 118: The Story of a Boy

Throughout the conversation Dave had with Martin, Sid couldn’t help feeling that there was something wrong with Dave.

The boys knew each other and were friends forever. Dave was the only man Sid trusted enough to confide his problems with his father. He knew that his colleague, who was a year older, would not turn him away, even knowing this ugly, humiliating secret. So why was he so stubbornly fighting with Martin’s orientation and with Steve himself?

Dave was very intelligent. At a time when his family was doing better, Dave was one of the best students in the school. In the early years of education, teachers believed that Dave was the only one in whole school who could truly achieve anything in life. But it wasn’t that good in high school. It’s not because the material was harder. Dave started dropping out of school and worked instead. He wasn’t a dilettante who spends his time wandering around the malls, Dave really worked honestly to help the family, although he kept it a secret from them. His mother and father would never let him give up on his future, so he didn’t tell them. Father working two jobs and the mother who is constantly in hospital did not have time to ask why his son’s grades deteriorated? Maybe they didn’t even know they did.

But Sid knew, and Dave grew into a real hero in his eyes. Probably few people would be able to sacrifice their future for the good of the family. Dave could do it.

It was just cool. Dave was cool.

When Sid told Dave that his father was beating him, Dave looked for solutions to change that. Both, however, were only kids and did not know an adult whom they could trust, and examples from their friends’ lives said that in fact adults were of little use. So Sid would sometimes sleep in Dave when they expected Sid to be just a punching bag again tonight. When they failed to anticipate the situation and prevent it, Dave treated his younger friend’s wounds.

Dave never complained that his future was becoming less and less bright due to his difficult financial situation. He was always open and talkative, as if making up for the fact that Sid, abused by his father, withdraws into himself. Sid always felt good in the company of Dave and considered his older friend a really great man, open, noble and full of dedication. It’s just totally cool.

So Dave’s vehement reaction to the news that Martin was dating a man came as a surprise to Sid. Surprise is an understatement. Dave’s reaction was downright shocking. He was acting just like was not himself. But why?

Sid never bothered with the question of whether homosexuality is bad or good? He didn’t even understand where and why people had such questions? Has being gay or not, had anything to do with being a good person or not? Sid never thought about it because he had never encountered this problem. Classmates occasionally made obscene gestures and comments, but these were just jokes, just as you joke about having sex with a girl (although all or almost all had no experience with intimate intercourse).

So when Sid found out that Martin was gay, he didn’t feel very disturbed. He was more surprised to find Martin dating someone as famous as Steve Paxton. This, it was actually something. Sid didn’t know anyone dating a celebrity or anything like that. As for Sid he and Martin were from different planets, someone like Paxton belonged to a completely different galaxy. It was just huge, enormous, gigantic WOW !!! If Martin said he was dating some famous girl, such as a model or actress, Sid’s reaction would be exactly the same.

But Dave’s reaction was definitely puzzling.

And then it was also ...

Sid shook his head.

Dave, who was always full of energy and never judged anyone unfounded, suddenly announced that he hated gays. He stated that all gays are bad.

Something at that moment hurt Sid’s heart. Something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. That hurts. Dave should never say such harsh words. Not Dave. Because for Sid Dave he is ...

When Martin talked about himself and Steve, Sid thought it was even a beautiful story. The moment Martin talked about when he saw Steve leaning against the wall was a bit like that evening when Sid sat alone by the river, staring blankly at the water with stinging, dry eyes because he had run out of tears. Then Dave appeared and draped his jacket over Sid’s shoulders. At that moment something moved in Sid’s heart. It was the first gesture of tenderness he remembered in his life. That moment and that feeling, Sid will never forget. So he understood that there are moments in life that will stay forever in the heart. And they are always special. If Martin and Steve have gotten closer to each other after this point, that is fine, right? I guess it’s good to have someone in your life who gives us warmth, a sense of security and the awareness that we are not completely alone in the world?

This short story from Martin also affected Dave’s heart, but for some reason she didn’t do it for long. Apparently, there was something else in Dave’s heart already, something stronger than their friend’s words. What could it be?

So, before their day was over, Sid sent Dave’s stealthy glances a thousand times, wondering what was going on in his friend’s head and heart. Dave also glanced at him from time to time, which made Sid believe they could still come to an agreement. Dave had reasons to think as he thought, to believe what he believed. Sid wanted to know them very much, and he had the impression that Dave wanted to tell him about them. So before they finished work, Sid asked if Dave would have a moment for him today. Dave agreed without hesitating.

Autumn was making itself felt more and more clearly, but it was still quite warm. Dave bought them canned drinks, and the boys sat down on the grass.

"Are you trying to convince me that what’s between Martin and Steve is good?" Dave asked grimly. "Do not even try. You will never convince me. "

"I won’t," said Sid. "But I would like to know why you hate gays so much?"

Dave took a sip.

"If you knew how evil they were, you would hate them too," he said.

"So why don’t you tell me about this?"

"I’ll tell you" Dave reacted quite vehemently. "So that you would know that I know. Yes, I will tell!"

But he was silent, as if he had no intention of talking about it. It was disturbing and strange, and Sid had the impression that for Dave, the homosexuality issue was not just a prank by his classmates. There was more to his thoughts, and perhaps his experiences. Sid wasn’t sure he wanted to know what anymore.

But he had to know. They used to sit in the exact same spot - it was their favorite spot by the river - and Sid told Dave about what his father was doing to him. It was hard for him to talk, to relive those moments, but also to meet the eyes of a friend to whom he revealed his shame. But now he was glad he did. Dave was, and still is, a huge support for Sid. Sid will be one for Dave too.

"Probably for the best," said Dave, still glum, "if I tell you my friend’s story. You don’t know him, he went to a different school than you. I also didn’t know him very well and that’s probably why he told me his story ... "

***

The boy was thirteen and one of the most quiet, calm, and polite children in the neighborhood. His family was completely normal, that is, everyone went about their own affairs. It’s not like the boy was neglected. His clothes were clean and new. He never was hungry. He had all the school supplies and even got a little pocket money so he could buy an extra treat from time to time. The boy was a quiet but happy child who enjoyed a great deal of freedom because he was very smart for his age.

The neighborhood where he lived was quite quiet, so the children could walk down the street without fear, for example to the store, to buy a packet of candy or a bottle of drink. This boy even made small home purchases like oil, yak or bread. Everyone knew him. Everyone knew whose child he was, because practically everyone knew each other here. He, too, recognized almost all adults by face and name. Since he was a polite, well-mannered boy, he would say hello to everyone. Everyone in the neighborhood knew that he was a good student, a nice child, but he also had a pretty face with very wise, bright eyes.

He was just a sweet, polite kid next door.

That day, as every few days, he came to a small neighborhood store to do some home shopping. The saleswoman served him with a smile. Another customer was smiling as well, a neighbor of a boy who was maybe fifty years old, maybe less.

The neighbor was a friend of his parents, so the boy knew he had to be good to him. He didn’t want people to complain to his parents. Mom wasn’t quite healthy, so the boy had to keep himself from causing her any trouble.

The saleswoman and the neighbor, smiling, told him that he was a very nice and wise boy. He thanked them politely, but did not feel like chatting with them. A neighbor offered to buy the boy some sweets. The saleswoman thought it was a good idea. The boy did not want to. He politely declined. It was not because of the reason that children were not allowed to accept gifts from strangers, especially since the neighbor was a neighbor and acquaintance of their parents. The boy, however, felt very awkward and refused to accept any gift. He said goodbye politely and left the store.

He had just walked a few yards away when he heard a call behind him. The boy knew it was rude not to wait when someone older asked for it. After all, the older ones deserve respect. So he stopped, even though he really didn’t want to talk to his neighbor ...