Frozen
“Where the hell is my scarf?”
Tommy rummaged through their meager pile of winter clothing.
“I just had it yesterday!” He remembered wearing it as he
went out dumpster-diving for food.
Shane wordlessly unwrapped his own scarf from around his
neck and held it out.
“I don’t want yours, Shane. I want mine - the red one. It’s
long and I can wrap it a bunch of times. Maybe I lost it outside somehow.” Tommy
stood, careful not to let his head touch the top of the tent. That spelled
disaster in the warmer months. Touching the tent when it rained caused water to
pour in, so they’d both learned early on not to let that happen. Stooping had
become a habit and even outside it was their normal stance, another feeble
defense against the cold.
He ducked out and zipped the tent closed behind him; more an
effort to keep the cold out than to keep any heat in. He rounded the tent and
stopped dead in his tracks when he reached the clearing.
“Uh, Shane?” Of
course, there was no answer from the tent. Shane stuttered badly and seldom spoke. “Shane,” he repeated.
“Come here please.”
He heard the familiar unzip-zip and the crunch of Shane’s
boots; the louder the crunch, the colder the temperature. It wasn’t as crunchy
today as it had been. The past few weeks
had been brutally cold. Neither man had dared to leave the tent until yesterday
when they were both so hungry Tommy had to go in search of food.
As Shane reached his side, Tommy gestured to the scene
before them and asked, “Shaney… What is this?”
Shane hung his head.
Tommy asked again. “Shane, why
would you do this? I mean…”
“It’s… it’s… a f-f-f-f-f-f-f-fam…”
“A family,” Tommy finished for him, as he was used to doing. Of course it was. Tears stung the back of his eyes as he gazed
at the three snowmen. The snow-woman and snow-child were seated in the only chairs
they owned – the green resin kind stacked by the hundreds behind Wal-Mart. Snow-dad
joined them at the broken table Tommy had scavenged from behind Messina’s
steakhouse. He proudly wore Tommy’s red scarf.
What only a moment ago had looked to Tommy like a life-threatening
waste of time and body heat now looked like the one thing Shane had never had –
a family. Shane had been passed from one foster family to another until he was
kicked out of the system when he turned eighteen.
Tommy watched as Shane began unwinding the scarf from
Snow-dad’s neck. Tommy walked up behind Shane and gathered him in a tight
embrace.
“Leave it,” he whispered.
“I… I… I’m s-s-s-sor…”
“Shh. Don’t be sorry, Shane.” He gazed over Shane’s shoulder at the happy
faces of the snow family.
“I kn-kn-know y-y-you m-m-m-m-m-miss y-y-y-your
f-f-f-f-fam…”
“My family? You
made this for me?”
Shane nodded.
Tommy clutched Shane to him. “My family kicked me out for being gay,
remember? They’re colder than these snowmen. You’re my family, Shane. And, God, I love you.”
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When this picture was posted, I couldn't for the life of me think of a single story. I decided not to 'play' this week. Later in the day I was working on a story that was inspired by a holiday flash fiction blog hop called Homeless For The Holiday. I may not have been able to think of anything for this picture, but Tommy and Shane had a story to tell. Funny how that works. One thing I've learned is when those characters start talking, you'd better listen. Oh, and I'm eleven words over. Sorry.
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There are real, live kids out there like Tommy & Shane that are fighting the elements every day. If you think 'surely someone will help them when it gets this cold' - give this video a watch:
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Don't miss all the other great Flash Fiction Monday stories! You can find them here.
You already know I love this story and Tommy and Shane. In fact I think you'll have to dedicate a full book to these two young men cause I won't be able to stop thinking about them until they find the place in the world they deserve.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Helena. I think you should consider a book. :)
ReplyDeleteNeither of you paid attention. I have been working on their story. ;o)
ReplyDelete*claps wildly amidst the sniffles* So glad you're keeping up with Tommy and Shane and will be giving us more.
ReplyDeleteThanks. That's a tough state of mind to stay in for any length of time, so I've been working on it in bits and pieces.
DeleteMORE! Please. I need to know their whole story. *wipes away tears while silently squeeing that there will be more*
ReplyDelete*hands you tissue* Working on it. ;o)
DeleteOhh! This is so good! More please! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sara! <3
DeleteAww Jaycee. I can't wait to read this in a book. I just love these boys. You have a gift in your writing and I look forward to reading to the day I have a Jaycee Edward book in my kindle. 5***** my friend.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carol. Coming from you that means a lot. <3
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