Introduction
The members of The Devil Wants Peace and the members of New Religion were hanging out together. John said, "I think we've heard everyone's life stories except for Carl's." Peter said, "Yeah, I think so." Allen said, "I think you should tell us your story, Carl." Stan nodded in agreement. Carl held back tears. His story was rather painful, and he wasn't sure he wanted to share it with his newest friends. Paul said, "It's all right, Carl. You can tell them." Erin said, "You're safe with The Devil Wants Peace." Lola said, "Erin's right. You don't have to be afraid to tell them." Carl said, "All right. Here it goes."
The Unwanted Child
I was born on March 7, 1997. My parents always said that I was "an accident". I wasn't planned, after all. My parents never intended on having children, but they had me. My father was a church pastor. My mother was the secretary. "God is love," they'd always say. They never showed me what love is. My father would hit me with his bible when he got angry. My mother always said to me, "You ruined my life the day you were born!" As a result, I was reluctant to let anyone in. How could I trust them? Most of my classmates went to church with us. I was never really bullied, and good thing. I took enough abuse at home. This occurred for the first ten years of my life.
TO BE CONTINUED
The members of The Devil Wants Peace and the members of New Religion were hanging out together. John said, "I think we've heard everyone's life stories except for Carl's." Peter said, "Yeah, I think so." Allen said, "I think you should tell us your story, Carl." Stan nodded in agreement. Carl held back tears. His story was rather painful, and he wasn't sure he wanted to share it with his newest friends. Paul said, "It's all right, Carl. You can tell them." Erin said, "You're safe with The Devil Wants Peace." Lola said, "Erin's right. You don't have to be afraid to tell them." Carl said, "All right. Here it goes."
The Unwanted Child
I was born on March 7, 1997. My parents always said that I was "an accident". I wasn't planned, after all. My parents never intended on having children, but they had me. My father was a church pastor. My mother was the secretary. "God is love," they'd always say. They never showed me what love is. My father would hit me with his bible when he got angry. My mother always said to me, "You ruined my life the day you were born!" As a result, I was reluctant to let anyone in. How could I trust them? Most of my classmates went to church with us. I was never really bullied, and good thing. I took enough abuse at home. This occurred for the first ten years of my life.
TO BE CONTINUED
Some time later, Una and Everett were settled in a cozy small cafe eating sandwiches and sipping pumpkin spice lattes while foil cutouts of cute ghosts and pumpkins hung from the walls around them.
"Thanks again, Una," Everett said after a time. "I just... I don't like small spaces very much."
Una smiled at him and reached across the table to touch his hand. "Hey, you saved my life once. It's time I saved yours."
They sat in a comfortable silence for a bit, enjoying this much calmer stage of their Halloween celebrations. Una was first to break it.
"I can't believe we solved a real mystery! I can't wait to go home and tell Mother what the secret of the haunted house is."
"Yes," Everett smiled at her. "The secret is my talented actress and her ghost impression."
Una beamed.
"Thanks again, Una," Everett said after a time. "I just... I don't like small spaces very much."
Una smiled at him and reached across the table to touch his hand. "Hey, you saved my life once. It's time I saved yours."
They sat in a comfortable silence for a bit, enjoying this much calmer stage of their Halloween celebrations. Una was first to break it.
"I can't believe we solved a real mystery! I can't wait to go home and tell Mother what the secret of the haunted house is."
"Yes," Everett smiled at her. "The secret is my talented actress and her ghost impression."
Una beamed.
"What lead you to the club where you first saw us, Henry?" Les asked. Henry replied, "One of my neighbors told me that a rock band called A Wave Tossed in the Ocean was going to perform at the club that had opened the previous week. I thought that the name sounded interesting, so I asked him what kind of rock music, and he said, 'I think it's stuff from the sixties and seventies.' I was eager to hear the songs from my youth. When I saw you perform, I knew you were the right fit. Of course, you know how we met backstage." Jimmy said, "And the rest is history." Everyone laughed. "Yes," Henry said. "The rest is history." Just then, Felix looked at his cellphone and said, "It's 10:00, guys." Henry said, "We better go to bed. We've got a big day tomorrow." The boys all said, "Okay. Good night, Henry." Henry smiled and said, "Good night, boys. Pleasant dreams." With that, they retired to their beds for the night.
THE END
THE END