All about love : Part IV

Outside Lisa, the young lady who had talked to Jack, approached Robbie quietly. Her heart almost broke as she heard the poor kid sobbing as if his entire world was over. As her shadow fell over him, he glanced up with swollen eyes and a tear stained face. 

“Go ‘way,” he said rudely.
“Nope!” she said lightly as she sat down beside him.
He started to rise when she grabbed his arm and pulled him back gently.
He looked at her with hatred. “I t-told you t-to g-go away,” he said fiercly.
“Okay,” she said calmly. “So Todd Hamilton wrote something rude and disgusting on your locker. Why should someone like you care about what someone like him thinks?”

“Heh!” he replied bitterly. His tears had stopped but his head was still pounding and he felt miserable. “Why should someone like you care about someone like me?”
“You mean,” she pretended to be insulted. “I shouldn’t care about a fellow classmate and human being just because he’s gay? Mayhaps I’ll swoon!”
He looked at her with disbelief. Who the fuck was this girl? The (in spite of himself) he smiled slowly and broke into laughter. “Swoon? I thought I was the only one who used that word!”

They both laughed and then just sat there quietly.
“Look,” she said softly. “Todd Hamilton is the biggest asshole in the entire county and everyone at school knows it.”
“His friend Billy is just like him too.”
For a moment Lisa said nothing. “Before you jump to any conclusions about Billy you should know that he had nothing to do with this incident. However, that’s a different story and you’ll just have to trust me on this. Right now we have to concentrate on Jack.”
Damn! To wrapped up in his own misery, Robbie had forgotten completely about him. How selfish was he?

“I’ve got to go to him.” He started to rise when Lisa pulled him back down. The look on her face told him something was really wrong.
“Not now,” she said softly. He and Todd are at the principles office. Todd is facing expulsion and Jack is looking at three days suspension. When Jack saw his locker he was pretty upset.”
“What did his locker say?”
“Doesn’t matter sweetie. What happened after that was Todd started taunting him and then he confessed to writing that crap. Well, Jack lost it completely and (this next part was said with a laugh and a smile) beat the ever-luv’n-crap outta him! I think he broke the assholes nose.”
“Oh no,” Robbie hung his head and groaned. Why the fuck did he do that?”
“But, sweetie! No! You’re kidding right? He did it for you! You should have heard him. He was great! He said something like, “If you ever come near us again I’ll kill you! He also told him that he’d kick his fathers ass too!”
Robbies jaw dropped in surprise and he burst out laughing. When he had control of himself he looked at her quietly. “Why are you here? Really? Why do you have a special interest in all of this?”

“Before I answer that let me ask you a question. Do you know who Todd Hamiltons dad is?”
“I never really knew Todd before he beat me up the other night and…”
“Wait!” she cried. “He beat you up the other night?”
“Yeah,” he replied quietly. “Him and Billy and four other kids. That’s how I met Jack. You might say that was our first run in with Todd and he…well…he came to my rescue.”
“Yes,” she said quietly to herself. “That makes sense. That’s what all the whispering was about.” She looked at Robbie again. “Billy was involved too?”
“I just said he was.”
“I know…I just needed for you to confirm it.”
“What did you mean about ‘all the whispering’?”
“A different story,” she said firmly but gently. “So, go on.”

“Anyway,” he continued. “To answer your question…his last name is the same as the town sheriffs so I’m assuming their relationship is father and son.”
“You assume right. He’s probably the most crooked politician to hold that job in a long time. At least that’s what my father says. But, that’s what happens when an elected official turns corrupt. Look they’re probably looking for you inside now since your locker was written on too. I think you should go in. When you tell them your story it would be best to start with your first encounter with Todd (she hesitated), and Billy.”

She stood up, handed him his book bag and turned to leave.
“Wait! You didn’t tell me your name.”
“Why,” she smiled brightly. “I’m Lisa Osgood. Billy is my older brother and our dad is the Mayor of this town.”

****

True to his word, the teacher had Jack suspended for three days and the school board voted that morning to expell Todd from school. Since the board over saw all the schools in the county, it was safe to say that he would have to move to another county if he wanted to continue his education and graduate. His father was livid! They were standing in the kitchen and he was giving his son holy hell. 

Sheriff Arnold Hamilton was a big man. He sported a huge barrel chest, a thick neck, huge muscles on both arms and he stood well over 6 feet. His steel blue eyes were boring holes into his son who stood cowering in the corner.

“Did you hear what I said to you? Huh you little shit? Why Todd? Why? This is a god damn election year and you have to go and get yourself expelled. NOW I WANT TO KNOW WHY?”
“Dad it was just a little harmless fun…that’s all,” Todd said fearfully. “These two boys…they’re a couple of faggots…’ya know? Th-They do un-natural stuff…the kind of stuff you say should be against the law.”

His father rose to his full height and his face turned a beet red. Spit sprayed from the corners of his mouth as he started yelling again. “YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT YOU GOT YOUR ASS WHIPPED BY A FUCKING FAGGOT? MY SON GOT LAID TO SHIT BY A COCKSUCKER?”
He grabbed Todd by the shirt, who raised his hands in front of his face to protect his bandaged nose but, his father tossed him across the kitchen floor like a rag doll. 
“Get up boy,” he snarled.
Todd whimpered pitifully and stood up. He was terrified of what his father would do next. 

“We are going to pay this pansy and his parents a visit. You are going to press formal charges and then I’m perosnally gonna run him in. Now get out to the car.”
He watched his son hurry out the kitchen, through the door and out to the driveway. He was damned if that kid was going to mess up his chances of becoming elected sheriff of this town again. He knew the mayor wanted him gone but he was damned if anyone was taking this job from him. It was a sweet gig. With the job came the house, the car and quite a few perks. He controlled the flow of the money the drug dealers made and looked the other way when business men and women did things against the law. They greased his palm and he protected them. This was his American way and nobody was gonna ruin it for him. Especially no cock loving kid. It was time to visit this Jack Parsons.

****

Natalie Burns, Jack Parsons, Robbie and Scott sat quietly in Natalies spacious living room. She sat next to her son whos eyes were still red from crying. Jack and Scott sat across from them. Jack looked just as miserable as Robbie did. Their parents looked furious. Lisa Osgood was also there at Jacks request. Currently she was in the kitchen fixing coffee for everyone.

“So Robbie,” Mrs. Burns said. “Tell me again how you came to be suspended for three days too.”
“Mom please.”
“Now young man.”
The tone in her voice told him to comply…or else.
“I went to the office to see about Jack. Todd was still giving him a hard time. When he saw me, he said how his dad was going to run me and all the other faggots out of town. I swore at him. A teacher told me to sit down and be quiet and I was so mad I swore at her too….twice.”
“You didn’t just swear at her,” she said stiffly. “You called her the worse possible name that can come out of anybody’s mouth. Is that what you think of women?”
“No mom! You know I don’t think like that. I was just so angry about everything that I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

By this time Lisa had returned with a tray full of steaming coffee cups. She set the tray down, took a cup and retreated to a dark corner in the room. Everyone reached for a cup and sat back.

“Natalie,” Scott started. “Obviously emotions were running pretty high at the school today. I wouldn’t punish your son for what came out of his mouth as I’m sure he would be the last person to start labeling people. What was said was said purely out of anger. He wasn’t thinking.”
“I know,” she sighed. “It just angers me that someone can move him to anger that much!”

The doorbell rang and she rose to answer it. “Be right back.”
They jumped to their feet when they heard a commotion coming from the front door. Robbie started to get up when his mom appeared followed closely by Todd and, his father, the sheriff.
“Evening everybody,” the sheriff said gruffly. “I’m Sheriff Hamilton. “My son Todd here was accosted by someone in this room and he’s here to point him out so he can press formal charges.”

For a few moments nobody said anything then everybody began to speak at once.
“Todd started it.”
“I was defending myself!”
“Your son is a trouble maker.”
“Everyone knows about….”
“Your son is going to…”
“My broken nose…”
“Just a couple of panty…”
“SHERIFF HAMILTON!”
All eyes turned to the loudest voice coming from the far corner of the room. Lisa Osgood rose gracefully from her seat and almost glided across the room. She stopped right in front of Todd and looked him in the eye but, she was addressing his father.

“Why Miss Osgood,” the sheriff said almost to politely. “What are you doing here?”
“I figured you’d be headed this way,” she replied just as politely. “So I’m here to set things right. I don’t think your son is going to press charges…isn’t that right Todd?”
Todd licked his lips nervously and tried to look away from Lisa but he couldn’t.

“This young man broke my sons nose and caused him to get expelled from school! Of course he’s pressing charges.”
“Sheriff how would it look in the local papers that you arrested a teenager just because he’s gay? Because you and I know that’s what this is really all about. Plus the fact that your son accosted that young man over there (she nodded at Robbie) who also happens to be gay, a few nights ago with my brothers help.”
“The people of this town would love something like that,” he replied tightly. “This is the bible belt that we live in Miss Osgood and after all, right is right. Hell! If I had my way I’d arrest all gay people within a two mile radius of my house.”

Lisa was still looking Todd in the eye. “Well then,” she replied quietly. “Perhaps you’d better start with your son.”
Shocked silence filled the room as all eyes turned to Todd. His chest rose up and down and sweat beaded on his forehead. He shuffled his feet nervously and licked his lips but, he still could not look away from Lisa.

“Yes,” she continued softly. “Him and my brother Billy have been carrying on ‘nigh on two years now. And as for right being right; you’d have to arrest a large number of the school student body plus, at least three members of the Town Council and two people that work under you. Ain’t that right Todd?” 
His chin quivered as he tried to speak. “L-Lisa p-please,” he whispered nervously. “I-I….B-Billy…we…”
He nervously raised a hand to his bandaged nose and winced slightly as if forgetting that it was broken. He raised both hands as if in self-defense when his father spoke menacingly.

“Shut up,” his father said quietly. “I knew it! I knew it! I knew something was off about you boy. Listen and listen good. From here on in…you are dead to me. This means that you don’t even bother going home ‘cause you don’t have one anymore. Your ma and I…we don’t need ‘ya there messing up our good family name. Now go!”
Todd looked around the once. His eyes wild with fear then, he turned and rushed out the room. 

Sheriff Hamilton glared at Lisa. “Young lady if you think this is over think again. All of you in this room be on your best behaviour because I’m watching.” 
He took a step toward Jack and Robbie. Immediately Natalie and Scott went and stood in front of their children. 
“Especially you two,” he whispered dangerously.

He turned on his heel and left. A few seconds later they heard the front door slam shut.
“Well,” Scott said after a few moments of awkward silence. “I guess this means nobody wants to go out to dinner? Sorry…just trying to lighten the mood a bit. Lisa, where do you think Todd will go?”
“If I know Todd he’s seeking out my brother right now. Don’t worry about him Mr. Parsons; he’ll be just fine. My parents will probably take him in. Look…I’ve caused enough trouble for one night so I think I should be going.”

She turned to Robbie and Jack. “You two be real careful around Sheriff Hamilton. He’s a thundering loon…especially when he’s crossed.”
She smiled at them and said good night. Then she was gone.
“Um Scott,” Natalie said. “The boys look real exhausted. Why don’t we let them stay here and rest and you and I can go out for a drink or two. I know I could sure use one!”
“Um…sure,” he replied. “You guys okay with that?”

The two boys were still stunned by what they had just witnessed and what Lisa had revealed. It was Jack who shook himself back to reality first.
“Yeah dad,” he said with a lost look. “That’s fine with us. You guys go ahead. I think I need a couple of aspirin anyway.”
“I’ll show you where we keep ‘em.” Robbie murmured. 

He walked away stiffly with Jack following. Both Scott and Natalie watched them head upstairs with worried looks on their faces.
“I think I’ll set the alarm when we leave,” she said half to herself and half to Scott.
“Good idea. Come on Natalie…I’ll buy you that drink now.”
He followed her out of the house and waited for her in his car. When she finally got in, neither said a word as he sped away. At least, they both were thinking, their children were safe for the moment.