Chapter 4

We must have frolicked in the sunshine all summer long. Harry and I spoke and hung out, but not much. I probably only saw him a total of six times over the whole summer.

The thing was, I was perfectly okay with it. I hate to say it, but if I had to choose between Harry and Oswald, I’d choose Oswald.

We just clicked better. Harry was nice, but he and I were just too different. It made our friendship based on unsteady ground, which I didn’t like.

Oswald and I did have a great time on my birthday.

We went to a midnight showing of a cult classic. It was so much fun. He slept over afterwards and we stayed up all night. It was like we were in sixth grade again.

Of course Oswald would be going to Madison High, the one high school in town. We got our schedules and we’d be in the same classes, all AP and Honors.

I had checked out “Hills of Sorrow” again. I was addicted. Oswald preferred fantasy, science fiction, type stuff. I preferred more realistic tales.

I sat down after changing for P.E and tucked my legs into my chest. First day back and hell had begun. Oswald looked really hot in the gym uniform. I had to stop thinking that way.

I stood up and walked over to him. He may have had a belly, but damn he looked strong. He could easily pass as one of Mike Flower’s cronies.

Dodgeball was the most evil game invented…ever! I couldn’t catch, I couldn’t throw, hell, I could hardly dodge. Team Captains Mike Flowers and June McGuffey had begun to pick. I was fine with being called last, but I was shocked when Mike picked Oswald.

“What’s your name new guy?” He asked, like he was nothing but friendly.

“Oswald.” He said. Mike laughed, as if Oswald wasn’t serious about his name being Oswald. Oswald looked at me and I shrugged my shoulders. I think Mike could tell he was serious after a while.

“Hmm, that’s lame. How about Ozzie.” He hadn’t asked. He had told Oswald he was to be called Ozzie. “Yeah, Ozzie is cool.” He said. I nearly gagged.

Well, “Ozzie” got Mike to pick me to be on their team and I was grateful not to be separated from Oswald. He was really good at dodgeball. You’d think bigger guys would have a hard time with the whole “be as small as possible” concept, but they threw the balls so hard I was glad to be on their team.

At lunch I sat with Harry. He was still a bit upset and I had to apologize for the hundredth time. He forgave me and we started talking. Oswald walked towards our table and Mike Flowers cut him off. They were literally right in front of me and Harry.

“You don’t want to sit with the fags.” He said. “You wouldn’t want people getting the wrong idea.” Oswald looked at me. I hadn’t told him I was gay. I had skipped that grueling section in our “So, what has your life been like for the past five years?” conversation.

“What?” Oswald asked in his goofy way. He hadn’t taken what Mike said seriously. Mike steered him away. Harry laughed.

“Shut it, Harry.” I said, my ears burning with embarrassment. I almost cried. I kind of wish I would have told him instead of Mike. It made things look bad. I, however, was not about to walk up to Mike’s table and discuss my homosexuality.

I left Harry and went to go and read “Hills of Sorrow” in the library. As sad as I was, my life still couldn’t compare to the sadness of “Hills of Sorrow.”

I think it might even be a means of cheering me up, because after I read a few chapters I felt a little bit better.