Versus

He followed at a distance behind his dad. Of course he did. He was a teenager who cringed at the thought of his dad lovingly putting an arm around him. “My boy,” was so embarrassing. He said it all the time. Why couldn’t he be like other dads? The ones who gave their kids space.

This time he insisted on them going together to the fair. Just because his dad didn’t have anyone to go with, didn’t mean he didn’t.

Everything that they did felt like he had two dads. The one who was overly trying to bond and the one who was always trying to help. And that meant helping everyone. That got old. Why didn’t anyone else want to help? Why did it have to be “his” dad?

“Fried turkey leg?” His dad eagerly asked.

“Sure.” He replied with little enthusiasm.

But even his bored attitude never stopped his dad’s commitment to a cause. If his dad wanted to hike, they hiked. If it was kayaking, they kayaked. And the never forgettable tour of TOO MANY states. That had been long and endless. But they went. EVERY SINGLE TIME. It didn’t matter what attitude he gave his dad; his dad never lost his excitement.

“What a joke.”

“Yeah…and he ain’t even funny.”

“Good one.”

“Got nothing to say loser?”

“What a wimp!”

“Did he say something to you?”

“Show him what he gets for talking to you.”

It was a hot September afternoon. He had been working out with some of his football friends and still had on his tank top. When his dad put an arm around his shoulder THIS time, he began to hear the cruelest insults coming from somewhere close by. He looked around shocked at how anybody could say something like that. Out loud! “Thinking it” was a testament to a person’s cruelty, but “saying it out loud” to someone was mind-blowing.

“Show him what he gets? He didn’t even say anything.” Axel spoke out loud in disgust.

Why hadn’t his dad jumped into action like he always did? There stood a kid just ignoring the punks, not saying a word. He wasn’t defending himself. It’s not like he could have. He was outnumbered five to one. So, why was his dad still here, with his arm around him?

Because his dad was looking at HIM instead. Intently! Shocked!

“Why is he looking at ME? I didn’t say it.” He defended himself.

“Dad?” He looked back at the group of boys. “I didn’t say it, Dad!”

“You heard, “Show him what he gets?” His dad asked with amazement.

His dad knew that the group of boys didn’t say all those cruel words. Well, not originally. They repeated something they heard. Words that “something” encouraged them to repeat. Something that he suspected his son could now hear because the last sentence that Axel repeated, the humans didn’t repeat.

Axel’s head was tilted down; his eyebrow raised with the snotty teen expression that clearly dripped of “Duh.”

All the cruel words seemed to instantly stop as his dad began walking briskly towards the group of instigators.

This time, instead of standing back, like usual, he jogged to catch up to his dad.

“Problem boys?” His dad spoke softly. No arrogance or anger in his tone.

“No problem ole man.” Said a kid who couldn’t figure out how to put on a shirt. Clearly, it was on inside out.

“Well, let’s keep it that way.” He said with an infamous dad stare that clearly said, “I can still take you. All of you.” “Leave him alone” his dad spoke, hovering over the group.

The boys rattled off lude comments to his dad, but not another word to the boy. That’s when he noticed that the boy was someone from school. A nice guy…but grew fairly quiet after coming out as gay his Sophomore year. He didn’t play football, so their paths hadn’t crossed outside of one class last year. But he looked embarrassed when he realized who came to his defense. A star football player’s dad. “Could it get any worse?” The boy thought to himself but managed an awkward “Thanks” to the two who came to his defense.

“No problem.” The dad replied and gave a knowing look for his son to say something.

“You getting a fried turkey leg too?” Axel asked.

“Yeah.”

“Us too. Who ya here with?”

“My little sister. Mom made me bring her.” He again looked embarrassed. Wishing he hadn’t said who he was with.

“Oh, ok….” He said looking around to where the boy’s sister could be.

“She’s over there.” He slowly pointed to his sister.

The older brother had sent his sister with a ten-dollar bill to a food truck further away to shield her when the bullies had walked up.

His dad placed his arm back around his son. “Ask him to join you.” His dad’s mouth didn’t move. But someone certainly spoke.

His dad heard it. He just looked at his son, hoping that he heard it too.

“Well”….Axel paused, looking up at his dad, confused, “it’s just me and dad. Do you guys want to hang out with us? We just got here. You two been here long?”

“Not long”…he paused for a second, looking at the two tall and oversized guys standing in front of him and wondered “What’s the catch?” But the two of them just looked nice. He heard “They came over here. It could be fun.” He listened to the voice in his head for once.

“Uh sure, we can hang out for a while.”

“Cool” was the final word that sealed a friendship that lasted through high school. The two boys had both lost their mothers. They had no idea of the bond they would form, talking, understanding the struggles that they both shared. The hurt that no one else understood.

And to think, the two boys may never have known each other had it not been for a simple effort made to look out for someone else. It seemed like the greatest of coincidences. But it really wasn’t at all. It was orchestrated behind the scenes. They just chose to listen. Their friendship was meant to be.

And, this wasn’t just the start of a new friendship. This was the day that his dad knew.