The Concealing by D.E.L. Connor

Author:D.E.L. Connor [Connor, D.E.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Booktrope Editions
Published: 2013-11-24T16:00:00+00:00

IT WAS AS IF that picture was an omen, and in the weeks to come, Charlie and Jack became inseparable. They finished each other’s sentences and Charlie even started talking with an Australian accent. Charlie worked with Jack, who had been an excellent soccer player before becoming a football receiver, and before long, Jack was the “it man” for Charlie as the quarterback.

I found their “bromance” irritating and frustrating. Charlie seemed to begrudge the rest of us any of his time, or so it felt to me. The others felt I was being jealous and petty, and they embraced Jack. He fit into our misfit, non-perfect group. Lilly once said that each of us was damaged by something. We belonged together because we saw the damage in each other and were able to recognize it and love each other in spite of it.

I had never really thought about it before, but she was right. Charlie had his seizures, I had my nightmares, Lilly had her fragility and messed-up family, Ollie had his innate ability to be an outcast, and Bets had her need for perfection. Jack was a misfit just like us. He had lost so much. He could never be a kid again. He had lost his father and his grandparents in horrific “now they are here and now they are gone” accidents, and had left his mother to live with an uncle he only remembered from childhood. We could understand his hurt, and he knew his imperfections were nothing different to the rest of us. We were not chickens pecking on the different one. What if all the chickens had imperfections? Who would they pick on and kill then?

One day at school, all of us were standing around outside before the bell rang for first period. Lizzie walked up to Jack and said hello. Jack turned to her and said hello back. Lizzie turned her back to us. “Jack, I just wanted you to know that you and I have a lot in common. You know our families were good friends and all.”

She placed her hand on his neck and started to rub the back of his neck and shoulders. Jack shrugged her off. She went on, “You and I have the same background and upbringing.”

Jack looked at her and said in a serious voice, “Your dad was a Baptist missionary? How cool! Let’s get together and you can tell me where you were and what you did.” Jack smiled at her and we all snickered.

Lizzie stamped her foot. “You know what I mean! I’m trying to save your reputation from these lowlifes and rednecks.” She swung her head in our direction.

Jack looked confused. “I’m not sure who you are talking about.” He looked at us. “All I see are my friends and you. I think I have a pretty good idea of who the lowlifes are and who my friends are.” He looked at Lizzie. “Thanks for the heads up.”

Lizzie stormed off and we all shook our heads.

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