Ten risks you've taken
1. When Leeann Troupe first held her newborn son in her hands, she knew he would be strong. As babies are wont to do, the tiny Jeffrey Stephen Wash reached upward, stretching for the sky. This was a new world to him, one that he didn't understand, and wouldn't even begin to grasp for a long while. Instead he took hold of the only thing he knew, wrapping his small fingers around his mother's pinkie and gripping tight. He would come to approach life the same way throughout his years, holding tightly onto the reigns and plunging headfirst into the unknown.
2. "Jeff, this is Mr. Sinclair."
The boy scowled, crossing his arms and looking up at the older man defiantly, jutting out his chin and narrowing his eyes the way he had seen on tv.
"He's going to be your new daddy."
Jeff knew who Mr. Sinclair was. He didn't need his mother to explain it to him. He didn't need anyone else in their lives for that matter. Shaking his head firmly, Jeff barked a quick "No!"
"Jeffrey, honey," Leeann knelt in front of him, placing her hands on his shoulders. "You don't have to like him, but I want you to give him a chance. Can you do that? I want you to say hi."
Looking over his mother's head, Jeff mumbled something that sounded like hello.
3. First day of kindergarten. Jeff had never seen so many children in one place before. While everyone gathered at the tables to eat, Jeff sat himself square in the middle of the center table. He stared into his tray, unsure of what to make of the cafeteria food or the lunchlady who served it.
A dark haired boy smacked his tray down loudly in front of Jeff. "I double dog dare you to mix the peas with your Hawaiian Punch and eat it."
Jeff beamed. "I eat weirder things than that for breakfast!"
His act of daring made him instantly popular with the harsh critics known as six year olds.
4. He knew that acting out would make him look like a sissy. Jeff was in junior high, his sister was in elementary school. What should he care what happened? The simple truth of the matter was that he did care. No one picked on Gretchen without answering for it. The day after an obviously upset Gretchen had told him about it, Jeff waited outside the elementary school for the Russo kid. The first punch thrown landed solidly into the younger boy's face and earned Jeff a month's worth of grounding and detention. It was worth it.
5. The picture had been sitting at the bottom of his underwear drawer for months. Oliver Sinclair was a nice guy and all, but after the incident, Jeff had to know. All he knew about his father at this point was that his name was Elliot Wash and he hadn't stayed with Leeann due to their relationship being nothing more than a fling. With hands shaking, Jeff approached his dresser, reaching forward with large hands to grab the handle and pull the drawer open. Fingers lowered themselves past the unfolded boxers and socks to touch the paper of the envelope. The teenager closed his eyes and slowly withdrew the envelope, bracing himself for what he was to see inside. After opening his eyes he took a deep breath and tore the seal.
6. He wanted to try it. Maybe it was for all the wrong reasons, but the time and place just seemed to be too perfect. The rest of his family was gone for the weekend. If his girlfriend of the moment stayed over, nobody would have to know. He fumbled with the palm sized box he's bought earlier, trying to look more confident than he was. Jeff Wash was always confident.
In less than ten minutes it was over. He'd be different now, but he wasn't sure that he liked it. With his clothes strewn next to the bed, Jeff stared at the ceiling, afraid to look at the girl beside him. He'd hoped to brag to his friends later, to tell them all the details that he was sure none had experienced yet. Instead he would go to school on Monday with a blank face and backpack slung over his shoulder. He'd attribute the mood to the breakup that he knew would happen within the hour.
7. College was for rich kids. For smart kids. Jeff was neither. The high school counselor told him that Atlanta was big, he would have no trouble finding a job. Factories were always hiring. In response he'd set his jaw and glared. He may not have had the talent to be an honors student, but he didn't need someone else to tell him that a city was big. That night he determinedly finished his application to Indiana University. He had to get out of the state, had to get away from those who both knew him and knew his secrets. Maybe he wasn't smart enough for college, but he was a damn good spokesman for himself. All he needed was a few people in the admissions office to like him.
8. It just slipped out. After a night of playing frisbee against the cool fall air, Jeff embraced Amanda from behind. She seemed to fit perfectly against him as he pulled her close, kissing her cheek in front of the few students who happened to pass by on a trip to the library. As he rested his chin against the top of her forehead he stared out into the stars, knowing she was doing the same. This was the first and only time he said "I love you" and meant it. She said it back.
9. His graduation present was a trip in a plane. With a parachute on his back and a smile on his face he jumped into the sky.
10. He wanted her to move in with him. Amanda was the one person he told everything, the one was never phased by his brash and uncompromising attitude. Instead he stared across from him, looking at the unoccupied chair seated at the kitchen table. He thought it would be easier to show her rather than tell her. How else do you explain the unbelievable? Under the last full moon Jeff transformed, throwing his head back and howling in pain as he felt bones break as a result of the rapid growth.
When his head snapped forward he no longer saw Amanda. The woman he had spent so much time with now registered as only a blip on the radar, as prey already in midflight. As a wolf he tore after her, closing the distance between them in a matter of seconds. The last thing he remembered was a crushing blow to the face.
Now he stared across the table built for two, holding the bridge of his broken nose. For years Jeff had been determined to hate his father, hate him for not staying, hate him for leaving him with a family that always seemed to be changing. He wouldn't admit it as much out loud, but he understood now. Jeff knew that he'd not become an animal, but a monster.
He stood up stiffly to make his way to the rolodex sitting on the counter. He flipped to the tab labeled "Wash, Elliot" and picked up the phone seated on the charger. The line on the opposite end rang.
2. "Jeff, this is Mr. Sinclair."
The boy scowled, crossing his arms and looking up at the older man defiantly, jutting out his chin and narrowing his eyes the way he had seen on tv.
"He's going to be your new daddy."
Jeff knew who Mr. Sinclair was. He didn't need his mother to explain it to him. He didn't need anyone else in their lives for that matter. Shaking his head firmly, Jeff barked a quick "No!"
"Jeffrey, honey," Leeann knelt in front of him, placing her hands on his shoulders. "You don't have to like him, but I want you to give him a chance. Can you do that? I want you to say hi."
Looking over his mother's head, Jeff mumbled something that sounded like hello.
3. First day of kindergarten. Jeff had never seen so many children in one place before. While everyone gathered at the tables to eat, Jeff sat himself square in the middle of the center table. He stared into his tray, unsure of what to make of the cafeteria food or the lunchlady who served it.
A dark haired boy smacked his tray down loudly in front of Jeff. "I double dog dare you to mix the peas with your Hawaiian Punch and eat it."
Jeff beamed. "I eat weirder things than that for breakfast!"
His act of daring made him instantly popular with the harsh critics known as six year olds.
4. He knew that acting out would make him look like a sissy. Jeff was in junior high, his sister was in elementary school. What should he care what happened? The simple truth of the matter was that he did care. No one picked on Gretchen without answering for it. The day after an obviously upset Gretchen had told him about it, Jeff waited outside the elementary school for the Russo kid. The first punch thrown landed solidly into the younger boy's face and earned Jeff a month's worth of grounding and detention. It was worth it.
5. The picture had been sitting at the bottom of his underwear drawer for months. Oliver Sinclair was a nice guy and all, but after the incident, Jeff had to know. All he knew about his father at this point was that his name was Elliot Wash and he hadn't stayed with Leeann due to their relationship being nothing more than a fling. With hands shaking, Jeff approached his dresser, reaching forward with large hands to grab the handle and pull the drawer open. Fingers lowered themselves past the unfolded boxers and socks to touch the paper of the envelope. The teenager closed his eyes and slowly withdrew the envelope, bracing himself for what he was to see inside. After opening his eyes he took a deep breath and tore the seal.
6. He wanted to try it. Maybe it was for all the wrong reasons, but the time and place just seemed to be too perfect. The rest of his family was gone for the weekend. If his girlfriend of the moment stayed over, nobody would have to know. He fumbled with the palm sized box he's bought earlier, trying to look more confident than he was. Jeff Wash was always confident.
In less than ten minutes it was over. He'd be different now, but he wasn't sure that he liked it. With his clothes strewn next to the bed, Jeff stared at the ceiling, afraid to look at the girl beside him. He'd hoped to brag to his friends later, to tell them all the details that he was sure none had experienced yet. Instead he would go to school on Monday with a blank face and backpack slung over his shoulder. He'd attribute the mood to the breakup that he knew would happen within the hour.
7. College was for rich kids. For smart kids. Jeff was neither. The high school counselor told him that Atlanta was big, he would have no trouble finding a job. Factories were always hiring. In response he'd set his jaw and glared. He may not have had the talent to be an honors student, but he didn't need someone else to tell him that a city was big. That night he determinedly finished his application to Indiana University. He had to get out of the state, had to get away from those who both knew him and knew his secrets. Maybe he wasn't smart enough for college, but he was a damn good spokesman for himself. All he needed was a few people in the admissions office to like him.
8. It just slipped out. After a night of playing frisbee against the cool fall air, Jeff embraced Amanda from behind. She seemed to fit perfectly against him as he pulled her close, kissing her cheek in front of the few students who happened to pass by on a trip to the library. As he rested his chin against the top of her forehead he stared out into the stars, knowing she was doing the same. This was the first and only time he said "I love you" and meant it. She said it back.
9. His graduation present was a trip in a plane. With a parachute on his back and a smile on his face he jumped into the sky.
10. He wanted her to move in with him. Amanda was the one person he told everything, the one was never phased by his brash and uncompromising attitude. Instead he stared across from him, looking at the unoccupied chair seated at the kitchen table. He thought it would be easier to show her rather than tell her. How else do you explain the unbelievable? Under the last full moon Jeff transformed, throwing his head back and howling in pain as he felt bones break as a result of the rapid growth.
When his head snapped forward he no longer saw Amanda. The woman he had spent so much time with now registered as only a blip on the radar, as prey already in midflight. As a wolf he tore after her, closing the distance between them in a matter of seconds. The last thing he remembered was a crushing blow to the face.
Now he stared across the table built for two, holding the bridge of his broken nose. For years Jeff had been determined to hate his father, hate him for not staying, hate him for leaving him with a family that always seemed to be changing. He wouldn't admit it as much out loud, but he understood now. Jeff knew that he'd not become an animal, but a monster.
He stood up stiffly to make his way to the rolodex sitting on the counter. He flipped to the tab labeled "Wash, Elliot" and picked up the phone seated on the charger. The line on the opposite end rang.