Unseen Wounds

By Teresa D. Patterson

Fifteen year old LaVontae Bryant has a wall up. He doesn’t let anyone get close to him for fear they’ll read what’s written on his soul. He can’t communicate with his father, and he resents his mother because she deserted him.

Clayton Anderson has been deemed the class comedian. His home life isn’t anything to laugh about. He daydreams about the day he’ll turn sixteen because he plans to change things. He struggles to forgive his alcoholic mother for abusing him every time she’s drunk. One day, he decides he’s had enough.

LaVontae and Clayton attend the same school, but they are anything but friends. LaVontae wishes Clayton would drop off the face of the earth. Clayton thinks LaVontae is just plain weird. When the two discover they’re both helping Mr. Thatcher, an elderly neighbor, they decide to call a truce. Both boys have unseen wounds that need to be healed. Will they be able to help one another?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Teresa D. Patterson
• Release date: Aug 24, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476160023

Teresa D. Patterson

Teresa D. Patterson came onto the literary scene with her debut novel, Project Queen, which was published by a small independent publishing company. It wasn't long before she realized having complete control over the creation and distribution of her books suited her better, compelling her to publish her own future works.Her first independent published novel was Ex-boyfriend. She went on to write several novels in multiple genres, which includes contemporary fiction, erotica, inspirational fiction, juvenile fiction, romance, and urban lit. She has written twenty-eight novels and co-authored one.

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Unseen Wounds

Teresa D. Patterson

Copyright 2012 by Teresa D. Patterson

Published by Edit Again Publications at Smashwords

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means including electronic, mechanical or photocopying or stored in a retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages to be included in a review.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, character, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

CHAPTER ONE

Life Changes

As I look upon the horizon,

I can feel the first beginning of change.

Suddenly, I am afraid.

My childhood is being snatched away.

I awake and I hear those birds singing.

I tremble as I think of a new day.

Damn! Why can’t things stay the same?

Why does life always have to change?

What are you writing? The teacher’s voice startled LaVontae Bryant. He quickly shoved the piece of paper with the poem on it under his folder.

Um- nothing, he replied, evasively, avoiding her gaze.

Are you sure? Nothing, sure resembled poetry to me, she said and offered him a smile. I’d really like to read it. I love reading poetry.

Maybe when I finish it, he said, clearly lying.

Well, okay, she finally relented. Did you get a chance to watch the after school special yesterday evening? she asked, changing the subject.

Yes, he replied. He started to feel uncomfortable. Mrs. Nolan was paying too much attention to him and he wondered why.

I’d like to hear some output from you today, LaVontae. You do such excellent work and your writings are so expressive, but you never share your thoughts with the rest of the class. We want to know what you think, LaVontae. You count. Your opinion matters. She smiled again and walked away. Once at the front of the classroom, she began to write on the chalkboard.

Yeah, I count all right, LaVontae muttered under his breath. Tell my parents that. He grabbed another sheet of paper and began writing again. He pressed down on the pencil so hard that the lead broke. He felt the anger rising up inside of him, which only made him write more.

Twenty minutes passed and LaVontae still wrote. Other students laughed and talked amongst themselves, but he seemed oblivious to the noise of the classroom. He never interacted with them, nor did they bother him.

Mrs. Nolan called the class to order. LaVontae finally stopped writing and watched the teacher as she spoke.

Okay class. Let’s begin today’s discussion. A few groans could be heard. Who wants to start? LaVontae Bryant, how about you?

LaVontae frowned. I don’t have anything to say, he said lowly and glared at Mrs. Nolan for putting him on the spot.

Sure you do, she persisted, ignoring the look of outrage on his face. Share your opinion. She began walking down an aisle. I’ll start with help from someone else, then we’ll get back to you, LaVontae. As she passed by him, he stared at the back of her head. She wore her hair in a tight, neat bun, which seemed customary for all female teachers that he’d encountered during his school years. Well, who would like to help LaVontae out? Ryan Dodson, she called.

Aw man! Ryan groaned.

Ryan, how did you feel about the after school special? It was the homework assignment. Did you watch it? she questioned.

"Well, yes I watched it and it made me feel. I mean really feel," he said and the class laughed.

Mrs. Nolan stopped in front of Ryan’s desk. Frowning, she stared down her glasses at him.

What I mean is, he continued quickly, that I felt all kinds of different emotions, he added.

Such as? she pressed.

Sadness, anger, maybe pity, he told her, being serious for a change.

Pity? Why pity? she questioned.

I felt sorry for the guy. I mean he contracted AIDS. Everyone treated him like dirt-even his own family, he blurted out.

What made you the most angry? Mrs. Nolan asked.

The way that everybody acted towards him. His family, his friends, even his lover turned his back, he explained and Mrs. Nolan nodded.

Very good Ryan. Tim Whitmore. What did you think? she continued.

"I think he deserved to get AIDS. I mean, he was gay," Tim said cockily. Everyone turned to stare at him.

You mean, because someone is different, they deserve to die? Mrs. Nolan asked.

No, not everybody. Just queers- gays, I mean. It’s sickening. Everyone knows that AIDS is a gay disease!

What about all of the innocent babies born with AIDS, and the ones who got it through blood transfusions? Do they deserve to die? Do they deserve AIDS? Mrs. Nolan stared at him with her lips pursed in derision.

No, Mrs. Nolan! You’re taking everything I say and you’re twisting it, Tim complained.

"Tim, you’re twisted!" a girl named Tracy said. Most of the class agreed.

LaVontae, Mrs. Nolan’s eyes rested on him. He realized that she wasn’t going to give up and sighed in frustration. What do you think?

I, well, I agree with Tim, he said. Everyone grew silent again.

Why? she pressed.

"AIDS is a