Chapter Three
Samuel trembled as he surveyed the streets, dusk approaching. The sky was an ominous gray, and rumbling could be heard in the distance. Samuel snuck a glance at Charles, who was currently beating a tin can into the ground with his baseball bat.
Samuel walked closer to the window of an antique clock shop and read the time. It was nearly six. He swallowed a lump. If he didn't start heading home now, he would miss curfew.
"I-I have to go," Samuel said, turning back to Chares.
"What? Why?" Charles asked, relenting his pounding of the can.
"I have to go home, it's getting dark."
"What about your father?" Charles said.
"What do you mean?" Samuel said.
"You fucking skipped that church thing you were supposed to do today. Don't you think he might be a little mad?"
"Oh, please," Samuel said, rolling his eyes. "You're acting like he's never been mad at me before. I'll be fine. I can handle him."
"Samuel, I don't think that's a good idea," Charles said, kicking the can with his shoe. It skittered across the dusty ground and ricocheted with a hollow clang against a stone wall of a shop.
"Look, I appreciate your concern, really, but I'm fine." Samuel said, starting to feel exasperated. What was Charles trying to suggest? He didn't have anywhere to go, after all.
Charles looked at him with wide eyes.
"Stay with me for tonight," he blurted.
"What? No!" Samuel spluttered. "I-I can't!"
"Why not?" Charles asked.
"M-my father and my brother will be worried about me. I can't just run off without telling them!" Samuel exclaimed. "Really Charles, how impractical!"
Charles's face flushed an angry shade of red. "Oh, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me for trying to help your miserable ass!"
"Look, Charles-" Samuel began.
"No, you look, Sam! I'm trying to do you a fucking favor, and all you do is just show me how fucking ungrateful you can be, and how much you fucking hate me! What the fuck?"
"Why is every other word you seem to say a cuss word?"
"FUCKING BECAUSE IT FUCKING CAN, DIPSHIT!"
"Okay, alright!" Samuel exclaimed coldly, turning away.
Charles huffed and Samuel heard the swish of fabric as he too turned away.
Feeling mutinous and angry, Samuel shot one look of hatred over his shoulder before walking swiftly away. It wasn't long before he broke into a run.
The image of Charles standing there, facing the storm clouds burned itself into his brain. Samuel felt tears of frustration well up in his eyes.
Why do I always ruin everything?
"Sammy! I was so worried about you!"
David pulled Samuel into a bone-crushing hug on the threshold of their home. Samuel could see his father standing in the doorframe of the kitchen.
Samuel broke apart and reluctantly headed towards his father.
"Father…" he began, his voice dwindling.
"Son," Samuel Seabury Sr. said, disappointment swimming in his cloudy blue eyes, "I thought I knew you to be better than that. I never expected you to lie to me and skip service today, especially when I asked you personally to come."
"I'm sorry. It won't happen again," Samuel said.
Samuel's father couldn't seem to say anything else, and he just shook his head sadly and sighed. Samuel looked down at the floor. He was expecting an angry father, not a sad and disappointed one.
"I regret skipping," Samuel mumbled truthfully. "Could I perhaps make it up somehow?"
Samuel snuck a look at his father's face. It seemed a fraction happier than before.
"Of course you may. There's another service taking place three days from now. It's a special service, actually. I was debating sending you there today, actually. However, because you want compensation, I will most certainly send you!"
"Oh, what kind of special service is it?" Samuel asked, intrigued.
"It's a very important one, but I'll tell you later. It's getting late, and I want you - both of you - off to bed."
David nodded and grabbed Samuel's hand.
"Goodnight, father," David said.
"See you in the morning!" Samuel echoed.
Samuel noticed that David's hand seemed a little clammy in his own. David pulled Samuel into their shared bedroom and closed and locked the door.
"Samuel, you must listen to me," David hissed.
Samuel look at his brother in surprise. "What is it?"
"You know that 'special church program' thing is actually a… camp."
"A what? What type of ca…" Samuel's voice trailed away as the realization of what his father was doing dawned on him.
"Rehab camp," David said.
"Damn!" Samuel cussed.
David looked at him in surprise, his mouth a perfect "o."
"Samuel!" David scolded. "No cussing!"
"I-I'm sorry," Samuel said, lowering his voice. "It's just that… why would he…?"
"He wants to pray the gay away. He can't stand that his only children are… well, gay. He wants us to marry fussy rich and prissy ladies," David said.
"But you can't just force yourself to become straight! That doesn't work that way!" Samuel exclaimed.
David looked away. "Believe me, I know. He's sending me too. I overheard him talking to Mister James Reynolds, the overseer."
"Damn," Samuel breathed again, and this time David did not bother to correct his older brother.
"Damn father," David said. "When we go to Hell, I hope to see him there."
A/N: Haha, sorry for the shorter chapter! But I actually managed to get something out! Idk I have no uploading schedule, I just upload when I have time. Yo I got through my three tests and a quiz and actually managed to get A's on all three. *gasp* Thank yalls for reading this shit, and don't foget to leave a review! I love it when you guys comment on my stuff! XD