As I've been updating this story, the other three chapters just needed a few tweaks. However, this one and part five just didn't flow right, so I changed part four's ending to better fit the established personalities of the characters.
Jamie dialed home on his cell phone to ask permission to go with the girls to Denny's. His dad answered the phone and was thrilled to get the call. "Of course you can go to dinner with your girlfriend, son. What kind of father would I be to say no?" Jamie thought that he should end the girlfriend talk then and there and tell his dad that Karen was just a friend. He thought better of it though, since his dad seemed prouder of him now than Jamie could ever remember him being.
He didn't want to hurt his relationship with his father, so he changed the subject. "Why are you home so early, dad?" His father was an elementary school teacher, so he normally doesn't get home until Jamie gets home, or slightly later. "We had a half-day. I don't get the whole half-day off like the kids do, since we have work to do. But I still like half-days since we still get to go home earlier than normal." Jamie found himself wishing he could get a half-day. He missed his old school, where his dad worked now. They were right next to a creek bed, so half days were always called if the water rose too high.
His father broke his train of thought. "I've got to go son, have fun. I have a special night planned for your mother, but she knows nothing about it. I've got a lot of work to do before she gets here."
"OK dad, have a nice time with mom." "I will son, you have a nice time with your girlfriend." His dad's voice seemed to get louder as he got to the last part of that sentence. Jamie could imagine his dad's face beaming with pride at his son, the "chip off the old block". Jamie sighed. "If he only knew who I really am", he thought.
Luckily, Jamie had no time to wallow in self-pity, since his friends arrived at that moment. Susan asked, "Are you ready, Jamie? My mom's picking us up out front."
Jamie was nervous about meeting Susan's mom but tried to put any fear aside. "Yeah. I just called my dad. He said it was OK for me to go." Karen smiled. "Good! There's your mom now, Susan!"
They all piled into the back of the van. Mrs. Thomas was a little surprised to see a boy in the group since her daughter had a very close-knit circle of friends. "Who is your new friend, Susan?" "This is Jamie Jameson. He's become a part of our group at lunch." Susan smiled at Jamie. Mrs. Jameson became even more surprised at this revelation since her daughter's group didn't expand too often. And, she never once saw a boy join the group. She didn't say anything, since she figured the girls were growing up. But she decided she would keep an eye on him though, just in case his hormones got the best of him. She just hoped that too many more boys wouldn't join the group. She didn't think she could handle that.
Mrs. Thomas was pulled out of her trance by a bunch of girlish laughter coming from the back seat. She looked in her rearview mirror and was surprised to see Jamie giggling right along with the girls. They burst into "Fly with Me" by the Jonas brothers, and Jamie was singing right along. She knew then that this wasn't your typical 13-year old boy. He looked the part when he first got in the van, but looking in her rearview mirror, she couldn't help but see five giggling girls. Even if one of them was about six feet tall with short hair. She stopped her thought process there. She can't let first impressions cloud her judgment, either for the good of her daughter or for Jamie. This was a boy after all. She had to think of him as such. She looked back again, just as Jamie was singing "tonight.. I.. can see the world through your eyes" and broke into a girlish giggle fit. She smiled to herself and thought, "it's not going to be easy".
Jamie and the girls were still giggling when they got into the restaurant. They had just sat down at a table and ordered grand slams when Jamie's worst nightmare came true. Out of nowhere, Jim Cleary pulled Jamie hard out of his seat. While Jamie was on the ground, and before anyone could react, he kicked Jamie repeatedly in the ribs and twice on his head. The jocks were laughing, but the rest of the restaurant wasn't. A large man pushed Jim down hard and looked down at the crying boy. "Are you alright, young man?" Jamie grabbed his midsection and tried to get up. It hurt so badly that Jamie ended up falling back to the ground, screaming in agony. Jamie had never felt pain like this before. The girls were all on their knees, teary-eyed as they hugged their friend. Jamie, feeling his consciousness failing on him, whispered what he feared might be his last words to his friends. "Thank you for letting me feel like a real girl." He barely got the words out as the darkness enveloped him.
An ambulance showed up five minutes later and took Jamie directly to the hospital, however, the wait for the other girls' ride to get there was excruciating. Once they finally got into Susan's mother's van, the girls were all silent as they rode to the hospital. They knew Jamie was effeminate, but his revelation before he passed out hit them hard. Emily, a brunette who had joined the group a year ago, and one of the two girls who talked to Jamie the least spoke up. "I feel so bad. I never talked to Jamie since I thought Karen was just being nice to him to get him to stop acting so weird." As she said that, she started crying. "It's no wonder he acts so weird. God, it's got to be so hard for him feeling like that." Mary, the short red-haired girl who shared Emily's previous views on Jamie put her arms around Emily. "I know exactly what you mean. I always tried to avoid him and never really accepted him into our group. But, now... can you imagine how hard it must be being a boy who feels like a girl?" As Mrs. Thomas heard this, she now knew her assumption about Jamie was correct. She wondered if his parents knew, and feared what they might say if they did find out. The last thing Jamie needs now is more trauma, but she knew his parents had a right to know what she knew. She'd have to find a way to break it to them before someone slipped it out, possibly making things worse.
As the girls got to the hospital, they saw Mr. and Mrs. Jameson were already at the hospital, their faces looking ravaged from crying so hard. Mrs. Thomas introduced herself. "I'm Mrs. Thomas, I'm Susan's mom." The girls looked sheepishly at his parents. Susan spoke up. "We've never actually met. I'm Susan Thomas, this is Emily Thompson, Mary Martin, and Karen Clemens. We're Jamie's friends." The two looked at Karen. Mrs. Jameson spoke up. "Hello Karen, we've heard so much about you. It's too bad we couldn't meet under better circumstances. You must be a wreck." Karen sniffed and nodded. Mr. Jameson added, "Don't worry, the doctors say Jamie's going to be alright. He's got a fractured rib and a concussion, but luckily he doesn't have anything too serious. He's a strong boy, he'll pull through."
Emily broke down at that and uncharacteristically shouted as her emotions were running high. Emily shouted at him, "She's not a strong boy. She's not even a boy! She told us she felt like she was a real girl when she was with us! I thought she was just a weird boy too, but after she told us her deepest secret we can't help but see her for what she really is!" She started crying. "And you should too!"
Mrs. Thomas covered her mouth, looked at her husband, and braced for the worst. However, Mr. Jameson simply stood up and calmly stated "I've got to go out and get some fresh air". With that, he walked past the girls and then walked out of the hospital.
In his hospital room, Jamie was conscious now, but the pain medication he was on made him woozy. He saw his mother come in, however, his father was nowhere to be seen. His mother sat by his bed and kissed his forehead. "Oh, my poor angel. I'm so sorry. I wish I hadn't been so blind to how you really felt."
Comments
Violence in American Schools?
Please, can someone, anyone, please tell me that there is not REALLY that much violence in American schools?
We used to have it almost as bad in British ones, 60 years or more ago, but our whole country had even bigger problems back then as we were all fighting for our very lives, most of us were evacuated from our real homes, many were dumped on other adults to be minded, our dads had all been dragged away and forced into the army, navy or air force, most proper teachers were in the military and we were looked after by old retired ones dragged out of their dotage to mind us until we were old enough to be sent for new cannon-fodder or used to breed the next generation of soldiery.
But our schools these days do not have fights and bullying gets jumped on very fast. Please promise me this is all exaggerated here.
Briar
Briar
Sadly no, it really isn't
Sadly no, it really isn't that exaggerated.... a lot of schools have serious violence and bullying problems. Kids are growing up thinking it's normal, that being different is wrong and there must be something wrong with you if you don't fit in the same mold as everyone else.
Our country has made 10 steps forward and 6 back in the last 40 years for tollerence. Now you can't punish kids, so they know they can get away with anything, and do.
They don't have anything to fear, getting yelled at... oh boy that is such a strong deterrant for being a bully. =P
And the worst of it is...
Even though that was a deliberate assault that would almost certainly count as ABH (Actual Bodily Harm) if perpetrated by an adult; because Jim is a child I expect the worst that could happen legally is a caution. And as it took place outside school, they almost certainly wouldn't be able to take action against him.
Is it any wonder that crimes committed by those below the age of criminal responsibility are on the increase, when it's widely known they can do pretty much whatever they want and get away with it?
-oOo-
Hopefully things will start looking up once Jamie is discharged from hospital. Although the jocks will still be a problem, he's now got protection in the form of the group of girls. I expect he'll still have to attend school as a boy for the rest of the school year and while the necessary psychiatric evaluations are taken, but hopefully he'll now have more freedom to be himself (or should I say herself?) outside school.
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
SAD TO SAY
ALISON
'we have the same problems in Australian schools.I saw a documentary only last
night on bullying and the story of a lovely 16 year old boy who jumped from a
bridge to his death.It was not until it was too late that his distraught parents
found the text messages on his phone and the e-mails on his computer.This was
Cyber bullying and another boy has been charged,so it is going to be very interesting
when it gets to court.Unfortunately,the Civil Libertarians seem to think that this is part of "growing up" and teachers don't want to interfere but it was obvious on this program that a lot of parents want something done to stop it and are lobbying their politicians.
Apart from that,I loved the story and the belated acceptance of his father.Thank you.
ALISON
Bailey Summers It's as bad
Bailey Summers
It's as bad here in Canada too. The thing is the legal BS and the civil crap. I grew up in a smaller town. We had our share of problems there too but bullying wasn't tolerated by my group of peers. We were those rough looking guys over in the smoking area that did drugs and partied but we partied with everyone and really didn't hate anyone that didn't start the hate with us. The rough kids who were smart but blue collar, worked all summers and all that but even as rough as we were we read books, could play chess ect.
Well anyway we used to see a lot of bullying, especially as we got a lot of it from the older grades classmen, once we got there if somebody was acting like a bully or being a douchebag to people we had a talk to them, and if it didn't stop we stopped it physically. Yes I know violence only lends to most violence but in our case it worked. It's hard for the four or five women abusing varsity idiots to pull crap when there's like 30 some peacekeepers...If the parents said something in those days all of our parents would show at PTA or School Board meetings and it'd be dealt with if not done over the phone. Many parents got 2nd thoughts of their evil spawn when like 10+ parents told them what a problem the kid was being.
Sadly as others have posted the laws have turned against this. Kids who do this because the courts can't touch them and the parents of these little monsters will sue now anyone who put the little arserags in check.
It scares people from standing up to these idiots.
And did you ever notice how it's those ones in social power positions a lot of the time. Well off spoiled kids, jocks, preppies...
My only resolve for this is to find a lawyer willing to file a class action lawsuit by the student body against known social bullies, the courts of law are powerless so we should try their tactics to end them at their powerbases. I've yet to here of this working or being attempted yet.
Sorry for the rant, It's a hot button topic for me.
Bailey Summers
Finally Finding Myself Part 4
I hope that that cad Jim Cleary is made to pay for what he did! There is now physical evidence and eye witnesses to his actions. If not made to pay in some way, he'll continue his actions until others takee care of him, away from prying eyes. And I was pleasently surprised by Jamie's Dad.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
Sadly, it still goes on and gets worse
This is an oh, so clear view of the reality of many kids' lives.
It was bad enough in the late 50's/early 60's when I was bullied for wearing glasses and not being interested in girls when I should have been ( knew I wasn't gay; I was a 'nothing'). If you're a swot, you are bullied, so you keep your head below the parapet and do a mediocre effort to look and behave 'average' to try and dissipate the heat.
Now, with cyber and cellphone bullying, teachers leaving the profession in droves (or, like many pupils, committing suicide), totally ineffective 'zero tolerance' policies, stretched educational budgets and the 'rights' of bullies and control freaks to persue any victim they chose, whenever they chose, things will only get worse.
I'm glad I don't have to re-live the hell that was my teenage years.
Susie
Yes, there is Violence in American Schools!
I teach in an Elementary School (Grades Kindergarten through 5th) and there is bullying at all grade levels! There is a school rule against it but it does happen anyway. Being TG I'm sensitive to kids who exhibit signs of other than macho behavior. Kids can be really cruel towards someone who is "different". We try to get the message of tolerance across to them, but we only see them for 6 hours a day. There has been a few cases of violent behavior in our High School. Gays and TG students have been beat up. The perpetrators have been disciplined, but it still continues. I don't know the answer to the problem. I don't think anyone does.
Diane
Compared to all these reports
My school life was immensely better. I was bullied for a grand total of less than ten (10) times, each time it was a one-time act and it was never toxic. The times I got in fights with someone? Like, seriously? Counting my 3.5 year older brother - about five or six times - and it never escalated in a serious conflict, we are alright with each other. Fights in school? One or two, and the only time I got in fight with someone who really disliked me - it was my classmate of the same age, we were thirteen or fourteen, I never got hurt and he was mostly being tossed around without doing any actual harm. I never even considered it something serious.
And it makes me ask now - why aren't all schools like mine?! I've read numerous accounts on violence that just doesn't make sense... I can only assume that it's because children are grouping or are being grouped into units that are inherently exclusive rather than inclusive. See for yourself - some of the commonly portraited as violent/abusive of peers are jocks (or, people who play sports and are exclusive based on physical prowess), cheerleaders (physical prowess, poise...), in other groupings it's preppies (mental prowess).
Faraway
Big Closet Top Shelf
Where you can fool around like you want to and most you get is some bemused good ribbing!
Faraway
Big Closet Top Shelf
Where you can fool around like you want to and most you get is some bemused good ribbing!
Sadly, the violence does happen
I'm using my writing as an outlet to get some of the grief of my school years out. The names have been changed, and the situations are changed, but all the violence that happens to Jamie happened to me in my school years (in the mid to late 90's) in one form or other.
I'm not going to hurt Jamie as much as I was hurt though. I'll save some of that pain for other stories.