'Pray' For This Dude

Chapter Eight

Ray-

I took a deep breath and cautiously opened my front door. I peaked my head in the house and my dad firmly called my name to the living room. I sighed and closed the door. The lights in the house were dim and this setting looked like something bad was going to happen. I didn't think my dad would be waiting for me by the window for my return. Now I'm going to get a lecture about how walking next to a gay person sends out a bad vibe or some s**t like that.

"Yes, dad?" He let out a breath of anger and frustration and walked closer to me. "Your school called, they said you never showed up today."

"They must have been mistaken because I was there."

"Oh really? The school called and said you tried to pretend you were me and say you were staying in because you were sick, also I texted Bethany and she said you missed breakfast and lunch with her today and she waited by one of your classes and you never showed up, now that's no way to treat your girlfriend, and look at your uniform, it's filthy, what on earth did you do today? Garden?"

"She's not my girlfriend dad and you shouldn't be texting a seventeen-year-old." His nose flared, "She should be your girlfriend, Rayan, I am very disappointed in you, you skip school, ruin your uniform which is very expensive to clean and then I see you walking home with Craig Crippen Jr? What is this madness? Is he," he lowered his voice, "Is he making you act out? Has he brained washed you into thinking being a rebel against God is the right thing to do?"

"No, dad he's my friend, I have a ton of guy friends and you never had a problem before."

"Well yeah, because they're straight men and they won't try and you know-."

"No, dad, I don't know, why don't you explain it."

"Uh, well, um- Rayan I am just getting tired of you misbehaving and you only started acting like this when you started hanging out with that fa-"

"Don't call him that! Don't you ever call anyone that, I can be friends and hang out with whoever I want."

"Rayan I am the adult here and I order you to never hang out with him again. You are on house arrest and if I see you go against my wishes I won't hesitate to send you back to boarding school."

"Man, f**k you Reverend." I stormed up the stairs to my room and slammed the door behind me. "Rayan Lucas Smith!" I heard him roar from downstairs. I grabbed my basketball from the floor and tossed it at the wall, shattering some picture frames. I went to the wall with my fist and punched holes left and right. I was so upset, I can't f*****g believe my dad sometimes. I feel so ashamed to even call him my father. He doesn't care about me, he never f*****g cared about me, whatever comes out of my mouth he doesn't listen, he only listens to things he wants to hear.

"Stop all that nonsense or I will give you a big ass whoopen, I will get the holy paddle!" I heard him say as his heavy feet walked up the stairs. "If you touch me, I'll-I'll f*****g kill you!"

"Rayan!" He busted through my door with an angry but worried expression on his face. "Don't say such devilish things, what has gotten into you?"

"You! You won't let me be me, you won't let me pick my own f*****g date, you won't let me have my own f*****g friends, I have to go to a preppy white school to make you look good, this is not the life I want!" I yelled. "You go to that school so you don't get the stereotype of being a thug gangster, boy. Look how well you speak, compared to, to Craig for example, he goes to a ghetto school and-"

"That's not the f*****g point, you control my life! I wish you would have died instead of mom."

"Son-"

"f**k you, dad, I hate you." I shoved him out of my room and slammed then locked the door. I slid down on the floor and began crying. My dad will never accept me, I will never be able to come out.

"Ray," The rev said through the door, "I'm sending you to your uncle's for a couple of days, maybe he can take the devil out of you."

"Whatever, at least I won't be here with you."

"Alright son, goodnight." I let out a sigh of relief and picked up my room a bit. My uncle is as 'Godly' as my father so I can expect a lecture from him the whole time I'm there. Maybe he'll even do an exorcism on me, that would be interesting.

The next day my dad knocked on my door and told me that my uncle was on the way and to get ready. I grabbed some clothes and underwear and folded it into my luggage. My dad demanded I give him my phone, he said it was because I was grounded, but really he doesn't want me talking to Craig. I need to tell him I'm leaving, I don't want him coming over and my dad telling him something hurtful or say that I said something hurtful about him. Maybe I can sneak over without my dad noticing.

"Ray, Theo is here." I dragged my luggage down the stairs and my uncle and aunt were standing there conversing with the rev. "Hey kiddo, how are you?" They greeted me. "Oh, you know, things could be better." They gave me a light smile and my uncle took my luggage from me.

"It will just be for a few days Theo, I will call and let you know when Ray is welcomed back. Have a good time son."

"Whatever."

"Boy, I will smack you in front of your family, don't test me." I rolled my eyes and he left from the front door. I looked over at Craig's house and thought this was my only chance. "Hey, uncle Theo, give me a minute I need to go tell my friend I'm leaving."

"Okay, make it quick," I started walking towards Craig's house but then my dad came back to the door and butted in, "Absolutely not, get back here right now. You will not be telling Craig anything and I have banned you from ever speaking to him, get your things and put it in the car Rayan!"

"You're unbelievable," I scowled at him. "I don't want my son around that, 'it's' a monster."

"Dad, you're the only monster." He shook his head. "I should have left him in Sunday school classes, he was such a good kid when he attended Sunday school." I rolled my eyes and got in the truck with my aunt and uncle.

I plugged my headphones in my ear and slumped down in the seat. My uncle tried making small talk with me but I gave short, boring answers and eventually he got the hint. They live on the countryside so this will be a long hot drive.