Oscar's work-in-progress satire for english class. To be continued.
“Oh, Lawrence, do you have to wear makeup to school?” Mrs. King asks her son hesitantly. She takes a slow inhale and reminds herself that she is trying to support her son no matter who he is.
“Yes, Mom, it makes me look pretty, and I like it.” Lawrence sighs at his mother and opens the refrigerator in search of his brown paper bag lunch.
“Well, then,” Mrs. King exhales, “come here, let me fix your eyeliner.” She reaches over and hugs him; flashing an encouraging smile to her son, and herself.
“Maa, stop it, I’m trying to get ready!” Lawrence pulls away and runs off.
“Sorry hunny. You know that I love you, right?” Mrs. King pleads from Lawrence.
“Yeah, Mom. And I love you too and all that.” Lawrence answers correctly and turns to put his shoes on.
Across town, another morning ritual was playing out.
“Brandon, did you take your meds yet this morning?” Mr. McInerney, Brandon’s dad questions.
“Yeah, Dad. Don’t you think I’m old enough to remember to take my own drugs? God, I’m not a baby.” Brandon’s pill box lay on the counter with that morning’s medication still enclosed.
“I know, I know, but you don’t have to treat me like I’m some terrible father, I provide for you, you know!” Mr. McInerney begins to raise his voice.
“Whatever, Dad. Just drop it, alright? You are ruining my ‘oh-so-perfect’ morning,” Brandon shoots back sarcastically. “Besides, I got shit to do before I leave.” Shit that included taking his father’s gun out of his dresser drawer and concealing it in his backpack. Brandon slams the door as he walks out several minutes later, leaving his pill box untouched on the counter.
On this particular day at school, Lawrence’s classmate, Brandon McInerney will shoot this 8th grade (eunuch) (boy) in their English class. Why? Because Lawrence is gay; wears makeup and even sometimes dresses. And David doesn’t think that is right. It’s a good thing we have people like Brandon in our world to cleanse us of the people who are different. Come on now, boys wearing makeup?-- he deserves to be shot. Gay should be defined in the dictionary as “A direct request to be put on life support.”
They will end up donating Lawrence’s intact organs to some needy candidate. Gay organs? What if they were to put those gay organs into a straight person? If I were a straight person, I would rather die than know that my heart was gay. I wonder if organ receivers are told the name of their donator. For gratitude purposes. Perhaps than in two years when that kidney fails because they never stopped drinking like they promised they did, they can return to their donor for revenge.
So, think back with me now to that morning. To Brandon’s untouched pill box. Unfortunately for Brandon, he was diagnosed with congenital heart failure at the age of ten. He is required to take four pills every morning, five at various times of the day, and four more at night, to keep his heart beating and to fight off infection. They gave Lawrence’s organs to needy people on the transplant waiting list. Brandon just happened to be the next poor little kid waiting for a new heart. The day he has been waiting for since that day in the hospital that changed everything. Let’s have a look at that day:
(creepy flashback music inserted here)
“Dad? Dad?” The panic rises as ten year-old Brandon pleads for his father. “Where are you Dad?”
“Open your eyes, I’m right here.” Mr. McInerney clutches his son’s hand in fear, trying to emote strong energies for the fight that Brandon was fighting alone. At that moment, Doctor Paul Kipfer, Brandon’s physician enters the scene, carrying a burdened look.
“So Brandon, you know that you had a heart attack, right?” Brandon scowls and looks away. “Mr. McInerney, I’m sorry. He had a heart attack, because his heart is trying to warn us of an upcoming failure. He will need a heart transplant. It’s called congenital heart failure.” Mr. McInerney closes up. He knew this was coming. It took his wife three years ago.
“We are putting him on the transplant list,” Dr. Kipfer continues. “As soon as there is a heart and a match, you’ll have it, how’s that sound Brandon?” Brandon shutters and thinks about how he doesn’t want to die like his mommy did.