Jamie stood topless before his bathroom mirror, observing himself, his imperfections. His hand rose, fingertips gently smoothing along the dark circles that hung beneath his eyes. They appeared to be vanishingβslowly, but surelyβsince had gotten himself reacquainted with an old friend named Sleep. He traced the blemishes on his once smooth mocha-brown skin. He had read once that it was the result of a poor diet, but when you lived on the streets it couldn't be helped. Beggars can't afford a good diet, after all. With the way Olivia cooked, however, he was certain his skin would clear right up again. That is until he was back on the streets again, searching the ground for loose change, and hunting for scraps through garbage.
It doesn't have to be that way, a voice within him reasoned.
"But, I can't stay here," he replied to himself, quietly.
Why not? the voice asked, Because of their lifestyle?
"It's wrong...plain and simple."
Hypocrite...
"Jamie?"
Jamie started at the foreign voice, his heart damn-near leaping out of his chest. He opened the bathroom door to find Ryan standing outside, with bewilderment enveloping his chiseled face. Jamie let out a hard sigh, shaking his head.
"Y-You scared me," Jamie said.
"Ha, sorry about that, man," Ryan said, folding his arms. "Were you talking to yourself in there?"
Jamie blushed. "Uh...yeah. Sorry."
"Dude, you apologize too much. There's nothing wrong with talking to yourself from time to time." Ryan turned and started to make for the door. "I just came up to tell you that breakfast is hot and ready."
Jamie looked down a moment, and then a thought came to him, a thought that had been bothering him since yesterday morning. "Hey, Ryan?"
Ryan paused at the door, turning. "What's up, bro?"
"Uh...about what you said yesterday...about you having the same experience as me. What did you mean?"
"Hm." Ryan's eyes cast downward, his jaw working. He looked contemplative, as if he were trying to determine whether he wanted to stay and humor Jamie's question or get back downstairs to his breakfast.
"Well..." Ryan said. Closing the door, he approached Jamie's bed and plopped down on the edge of it. For several long moments he sat there in silence, his expression pensive, 'till finally he said, "Well, it sorta goes like this..."
β β β β β β
It was about two years ago when I was a freshman in college. All of my Friday classes were canceled, which meant that I could take my ass home early and enjoy myself a three day weekend. I had a friend drop me off at the house 'round noon, and I spotted a black Mercedes sitting pristinely behind my dad's giant pick-up truck in our driveway. Nana's Mercedes.
It wasn't abnormal for Nanaβmy mom's mom, by the wayβto drop by from time to time, it was abnormal, however, for my dad to be home in the middle of the day. I rationalized that he could have been home sick or something, and thought nothing else of the matter. Everyone had their days, right?
Anyway, since I hadn't seen my Nana in months, I thought I would surprise her by sneaking in through the back door and spring out on her and mom. The two would be chatting in the living room, more than likely. I'd get a good scare as well as a good laugh. Perfect plan.
So, I run around back and sneak in through the patio door real quiet-like, entering the kitchen. I started to sneak my way toward the living room when something stopped me... Something different, hanging in the air like a thundercloud. It wasn't danger, or anything like that. No, I sensed that it was a whole 'nother kind of 'fucked up.'
Stepping into the living room, I found no one. The TV was still on, blaring, too, but before I could grab the remote to turn it down, something caught my ear.
Moaning. Heavy breathing. The subtle thrump of working bodies atop of a mattress. I heard the sounds of love making, and it was coming from upstairs. I was overcome with confusion. Just who in the hell was doing the love making? It couldn't have been my parents, right? Not with Nana here, after all. And if they were doing it with Nana here, just where in the hell was Nana? I had come to a conclusion of what was going on, but I didn't want to believe it. I couldn't. I had to investigate, I had to see for myself. I headed for the stairs.
I climbed each step carefully, hitting all the spots I knew wouldn't betray my silence (you learn that sorta thing when you're a grounded teenager trying to sneak in and out of the house). The closer I get to the top, the louder the sounds become, and the faster my heart races.