Acceptance: the skeletons in Lynn'c closet Chapter 2
Lynn was feeling a lot better about herself thanks to her sister. She knew that Lori would be upset with the thought of anyone interrupting her precious texting time with Bobbi. But she knew this had to be an exception, she needed to find an understanding, and she needed a confiding friend in Lori.
As Lynn approached and knocked on Lori's door she replied "I don't know who you are, but it better be good. I am texting Bobby boo-boo-bear". Lynn weakly and through slightly audible whimpers "Lori c-can we t-talk, please". Hearing Lynn talk almost immediately snapped Lynn back to reality, hearing her cry nearly broke her.
Lori said in an almost demanding tone "get in here, we need to talk". Lynn looked around and saw Lori, but Leni was missing. And she sure did not remember seeing her on the way up. Lynn simply asked "have you seen Leni, I swear I did not see her today". Lori informed her of the fact that she was turning in a fashion design into a really high maintenance fashion company"
Leni Loud was not stupid, she simply had ADHD and it made it really hard to concentrate; whenever Leni was concentrating on the subject she was talking about she always said the most thought provoking and intellectual things. The problem is that without her medication she has such trouble with concentration, she did things that would make her come across as well...dim. But it did not bother Leni because she knew better; in fact, Leni like to satirize the fact that people thought she was dumb; with humor. Eventually her family bought the story and treated her differently; everybody in her elementary school, started to carefully explain everything to her. Which was frankly insulting. Not because of them trying to help, but rather the way she was patronized and talked down to like she could not even count to four. Leni took it for a long time until the current election. Leni was and is not old enough to vote; but, she knew her stuff. She had friends all around the spectrum. From Republican to Democrat to Libertarian etc. and they were all very nice, but she did not like extremist politics at all. She hated the term basket of deplorable's, but she also despised the term SJW or special snowflake. They made every party look like a bunch of hypocritical jerks to her. And she had fun with her friends, because a lot of them knew the real Leni. And loved to do mock hearings,trials, debate etc. with her she. and two of her friends were judges. Leni being the left of center judge, her sister Lori, the only one who knew about her actual hobbies in her family was dead center, there was nobody that was more centrist than Lori Loud; in their neighborhood at least. and finally Sydney a friend Leni Loud went to school with, was the right of center judge. They all had fun and they were all good too, it was her thing. And Lori enjoyed herself as well. Sydney won a few, Leni won a few, and so did Lori. It was a great escape.
Lori thought of her good times with her sister. And decided she would try to get closer to another one.
Lori replied in a very kind and sympathetic manner "what is up, how are things" Lynn nodded that she was fine but the look of pure anxiety was burned and etched into her soul; along with the eyes of someone who has been through a lot.
Lori simply shrugged and said "okay, don't tell me. but I trust you, why can't you give me the same kindness" Lynn was extremely afraid of her situation becoming public knowledge so Lynn decided she would do the same thing she did with Lucy
Lynn replied; "what do I do if I am not like other people; and it makes me feel like i'll be hated if it gets out. I don't even know why because it does not seem wrong; at least not to me, but I hear people talk in a negative context"
Lori was trying to piece together what that would be and it made a lot of sense but it was like it was just out her mind; she need to pry a little more, she did not need to be told she could piece the jigsaw puzzle together. All Lori needed to do was gather all the pieces, she had to be smart about this "who says these things about this thing that makes you different"
Lynn decided to tell the truth because she was too tired to come up with a lie that did not scream the fact that Lynn was not being honest. "I usually hear it in church, but only by like two or three people. And I hear it in school by some bullies"
Lori thought for a few minutes and whispered one word "...church". Lori had enough to speculate so she decided to pry a little "Lynn, are you religious. Answer honestly; I swear I don't care. I am a theist. And Leni is an atheist, and Luan is a Christian, so be honest"
Lynn simply said "no, I don't have a problem with people who believe in god, I just never have."
Than Lori decided to continue "Lynn, first off thank you for telling me. Now let me ask you this, based on your previous statements I think I know what the issue is, do you have attractions to specific type of people. A type of people that would be considered taboo in some areas."
Lynn nodded, and Lori continued "do you ever wonder what it would be like if you were different, do you ever think your life would be easier if you were different; do you ever think of being like say for example ...a boy" Lori was unaware if she inevstigated too hard. But it nearly tore her apart to hear her cry and sob upon hearing my statement "Lynn" that was not loud enough so she got a little louder "Lynn". Lori was surprised to find that she could not hear because her sister Leni had made it back in time to hear yelling in her room. Worried Leni decided to check it out, through the creaked door Lori and the eyes of Leni locked gazes. Lori motioned Leni to stay put and stay quite. Lori knew if anyone would be accepting and kind enough to let her know that being gay was by no means a choice, and was by no way wrong. Lori walked up to Lynn and hugged her, That got Lynn's attention. She looked up to a kind smile from Lori.
Lori looked at Lynn and said " I think I know what this is. Lynn are you gay."
Lynn started to cry again at the thought of being found out. Lynn opened the floodgates right then and there " Yes, I am gay. I am in love with my best friend Margo. I am scared of being hated. because Last year, I did not know it was looked down on by some people. I had always thought it was just uncommon. I asked out another friend. A-And she stopped being my friend. She came to my school with a sharpie marking the line condemning gay people; she called me an abomination, but she told me if I stayed away from her she would not tell anybody. Luckily that promise was kept. I then came to the conclusion from knowing my religious parent's Christianity. and Clyde's parents Catholicism, that religion was not at fault, because of course it was not, almost every religious person I had ever met was nothing but kind to me. I just hated religious extremism past that point, but that was because I did not know religious extremism was a thing until then. I just wanted to clarify that I was instilled no venom or hatred from this incident. Just an understanding that something with good intentions; can have bad people in it". Lynn kept crying for a good ten minutes or so while Lori kept patting her back. Little did Lynn know that a smiling a and teary eyed Leni was watching the scene play out.