Page 8 of Social Sinners

“I’m not your son. We may share the same DNA, but you’re no father to me.” My teeth were clenched so tightly the muscle in my jaw twitched.

“Repent sinners,” he preached, his deep voice carried across the sea of staring faces and the crowd surrounding us quieted. “Repent and beg God for His forgiveness.”

“I denounced your so-called God a long time ago. There’s no room in my life for any God who would treat their people with the amount of disrespect and abuse you and your mindless followers put me through.” The silence encasing us as my words were heard loud and clear was eerie.

“These men have corrupted you, turned you. You’re not one of the gay's son, they’re going to hell. Is that what you really want in the afterlife? To burn in the fiery pits of hell for all eternity?” The media was hanging on our every word, their microphones going back and forth between the two of us as their heads bobbed along with it. Pens furiously struck the papers in their hands as they absorbed every word like human sponges. This was like Christmas for them. My pain, my heartache was the fuel that drove them. The blood-sucking leeches made their living from broadcasting others turmoil. No care for anyone’s thoughts or feelings, only for fattening their wallets and reputations.

“No, Dad,” Jeremiah said, emerging from the crowd. “Ethan’s right, this ends now.”

Without a second thought, I ran down the stairs and straight through the barrier, embracing my brother. I’d not heard from him in months. Calls went unanswered, texts were ignored. I didn’t know what to think. Yet here he was in the flesh, standing up to our father.

“Get back behind me, now son,” my father commanded, reaching for Jeremiah as I pushed him behind me and out of my father’s grasp. Right then, I realized I towered over my father, no longer the small boy he could push around, and he saw that realization cross my face at the same time I saw the fear in his eyes.

“You need to leave and take your brainwashed congregation with you,” I told him.

“We have a right to be here.” He attempted to sound defiant, but the shakiness in his voice was heard loud and clear.

“Yes, you do,” Stoli said from beside me. I’d not heard him walk up but should’ve known he’d be right there beside me. “Just as we have a right to leave.”

“Jeremiah, come, son,” my father told him.

“No, Dad, I’m done. I’m of legal age now, and I’m going with Ethan. You’re not keeping us apart any longer.”

“If you go with him now you’ll never be allowed to come home again,” our father threatened him.

“You call that a home? That house was never a home, more like an eighteen-year prison sentence I’d done nothing to warrant having to serve. You took my phone, you took my computer, you took what little freedom I ever had.”Way to go, little bro!I was so fucking proud of him for finally standing up to our dad, and now I knew that he wasn’t ignoring my attempts at communication. Our worthless father had been the mastermind behind it.

I threw my arm around him. “Come on, Jay.” It seemed like forever since I’d used the nickname I’d had for him when we were kids, “you’re coming home with me.” Sal had security escort them off the premises, their sermon could be heard all the way down the driveway. The media got more than they’d come for today so they were set loose to pen their front page stories for tomorrow’s editions. “Come meet my…ourfamily.”

After making the introductions, I left Jay with Easton while Stoli, Mickey, Joey, and myself filed into the rooms with our respective groups of students. I asked East to get Jay set up with a phone and order whatever else he needed, then have it all delivered to the house. Instructing him to put everything on my credit card.

I found it kind of ironic that I of all people was going to teach others how to play and channel their energy, whether positive or negative, into an acceptable outlet. Especially considering a few minutes ago, I was ready to punch my father in front of everyone. Problem was I knew once I started, I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself before beating him to a bloody pulp.

The run-in with my dad should’ve brought me down, but in fact, it ended up doing the very opposite. Instead, it gave me back my brother, who I’d missed like mad. Nearly ten years separated us in age, but not a day went by since I left home that I didn’t think about him. I hated leaving him behind, but I’d escaped with nothing more than a duffle bag I’d filled with random shit. Every time I did hear from him, he’d assured me things were fine, and I’d foolishly believed him. Now, I knew differently and also had the means to make a better life for both of us.

The group I had were already assembled and waiting in the room when I walked in. We were instructed to use today as a time to get to know them and that for the next session they’d have instruments brought in for us to use. I autographed and donated one of my old kits to the program as well.

“All right, welcome everyone,” I began, wanting to keep it light and not come across as intimidating to them. “I’m Diamond.” They laughed. “What’s so funny?”

“We know who you are,” a kid in the back row said, grinning wide.

“Okay, well since you all know me how about we go around the room, and you tell me who you are and something about you.” Might as well keep things fair. “Let’s start with you,” I pointed to the kid who’d spoken up.

“I’m Randy. I’m seventeen, and my parents started volunteering here when I came out to them. I was thirteen and was one of the lucky ones,” he answered before glancing at the boy beside him.

“Go ahead,” I urged his friend, feeling there was a story there but not wanting to push. This must be one of the kids they mentioned could possibly benefit as I had.

“I’m Nathan,” he said, scratching at the tabletop with his fingernail but said nothing more.

“Hey Nathan,” I returned, hoping he’d continue, but when he didn’t, I moved on, nodding to the next kid. As the last kid finished, I spotted Jay sitting at the back of the room.

“How about you in the back,” I said to him. “Tell us a little bit about yourself.”

“Alright,” he started, “I’m Jay, Eth -- err, Diamond’s brother.” The heads in the room spun around, checking him out. I was smiling like a dork, but this was his moment, and I wanted to see where he was gonna take it. “I’m eighteen. I came out to my dad about a month ago, and he beat my ass, took away all lines of communication I had with my brother before dragging me to church to repent for my sins because his son wasn’t going to be one of those, and I quote,gays.” He finger quoted the wordgays. My face heated as the rage boiled inside. Had my father been here right now there wasn’t a doubt in my mind I’d be in jail for assault. “What’s worse is he’s the pastor at the church. So, in their eyes, he does no wrong.”

I had to shut down that fucking church. How could I in good conscience and being who I am, allow this to continue? Had I known it had gotten this bad, I’d have shut it down a long time ago. Like Easton said, I was now a role model whether I wanted to be or not. So, it was time for me to start acting like one.

“Hey bro,” Jay said, snapping me to, “this isn’t your fault, and really if you think about it, it’s kind of funny.”

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