Peter looked up from the pamphlets he was reading, to his mother, her wide smile slightly unnerving. Minutes before, she had thrust a pile of computer printouts and pamphlets into his hands and sat him at the table to read them, sitting across from him and watching him as he did so. "You…" He looked back down at the papers, and back up to his mother again, speaking hesitantly. "You want to send me to Kansas?"

She nodded as if it were a brilliant idea. "To school!"

"…To Catholic school?" Was his mother having a break down? She hadn't gone to church in years, aside from Easter and Christmas. Peter still went with his father most Sundays, the only time he really saw his dad, but his mom was only religions when her most current 'group' was religious. She was always really big on groups. Book clubs, Tupperware parties, anything where she could find other people with similar interests, even if they weren't i her /i interests. Anything to stay in control just a little. Peter let out a heavy sigh, tossing all the papers onto the table. This stupid idea was probably all his fault any ways. He got along with his mother great, in spite of her over dramatic slightly controlling habits. He told her everything… too much probably. Certain… i feelings /i he had been having lately. Was she sending him away to get cleansed or something? He never knew his mother was like that.

But then again, nothing had ever happened in his little life that would prompt any sort of conversation on her homophobic feelings. It had just been another thing to tell her. He should have known at the time, how his mother's grip suddenly tightened around her glass, her lips pressing into a tight smile, telling Peter to go do his homework on a Saturday afternoon. He should have known that something was wrong.

But he never figured his mom would send him half a country away to get fixed. She would never say that was what it was for though. He knew that much.

"It has a really great curriculum. And a Theater program! You love theater. You'll like it there! You start next month." His mother was too busy putting the pamphlets into a nice neat pile that she didn't even notice her son's jaw drop.

"Wait… what?! You already signed me up?! We're not going to talk about this?!" He was so used to getting a choice in everything in his life, he had never figured his mother would just do this without telling him. "I don't get any say in this?!"

Claire remained perfectly composed, that unnerving smile on her face. "Peter, you know I like you to be involved in any choice that affects you, but I am the mother, and I think this is best for you right now."

Peter was speechless. "How…. How did you even find out about this?"

"A woman in my book club works as a nanny for this family on the other side of the city. They have two kids, twins, a boy and girl your age. They've been going to school here since middle school. She says it's a wonderful school. The kids like it too."

"That doesn't mean I will. What about my friends here? I have a life! You can't just pull me out of it."

"Honey, this is for your own good."

"Is this because I told you about my dreams? Cause I can-"

"Peter!" She cut him off sharply, that smile completely gone from her face. "This is not a topic of discussion. I've talked to your father about it, we've agreed on it, and you're enrolled. It's done. Now I'd appreciate it if you don't give me any trouble about this. Just be a good boy okay?" She looked almost desperate, like she would have a breakdown if he did give her any trouble.

Peter slouched back in his seat, arms crossed and glaring softly. "…Fine. I'll go, but I'm not going to like it. Just cause some spoiled rich kid with a nanny likes it doesn't mean I will."