Odyssey of the Outcast

By Shaun J. Fisher

Being a teenager is tough, especially when you're a freak. Born with a deformity that causes his entire body to be covered in thick hair, Leo is teased and bullied to his breaking point. With no one to turn to, he runs away and finds himself on a path that will test him, push him, and change his life forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shaun J. Fisher
• Release date: Jan 20, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301355129

Shaun J. Fisher

I'm a traveler at heart, but I'm often too poor to do it. I love being with my family, watching movies, writing (of course!), and eating (yes, even skinny kids enjoy food!). Although I'm going to school to become a teacher, my dream is to someday make enough money as a writer so that I can make that my only profession. Perhaps someday I'll have enough money to see the world!

Book preview

Odyssey of the Outcast

By Shaun J. Fisher

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2013 Shaun J. Fisher

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Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Preface

I grew up surrounded by very choice people. No, I’m not just talking about teachers or parents, but the freaks of the world. I use that term lightly and with the utmost respect. In my eyes, they weren’t freaks at all, but real people with real emotions and more humanity than anyone else could ever dream of attaining. I’m talking about the outsiders, the mentally handicapped, the socially awkward, and those that simply didn’t fit into the mold of normal.

I grew up with two very special members of my family; both of them aunts. One of them, Susan, had Down syndrome and the other, Sharon, was severely mentally retarded and completely incapable of movement, speech, or progression. While some people reminisce of their times with aunts and uncles, I must add that my memories are quite different. As a child I was at first frightened by their behaviors and appearances. Of course, over time, I grew to love them and I quickly began to see them in the eyes that only a child could have. I cherish my memories and times with those sweet ladies and I miss them greatly. Anyone privileged enough to spend time with people like that can’t help but walk away feeling an indescribable joy and peace.

Of course, going out with them meant stares, whispers, pointing, and laughing. However, it was their loss, because they didn’t know what those special people could have taught them. They taught me to accept, love, and withhold judgment. I’ll admit, I struggle to this day to abide by the golden rule, but I sure try my best.

We’re surrounded by freaks, but there’s no need to fear them. Talk to them, get to know them. Be friendly, and in return, you might just earn a friend. I hope we can come to a day in which we find more in common with each other rather than nitpick over small differences.

I hope you enjoy the book!

Shaun Fisher

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Chapter 1

Life is harder for some than it is for others. Some people are blessed with fantastic athletic abilities, incredible health, outstanding artistic skills, good looks, great bodies, and magnetic personalities. Some, however, don’t have it as easy. There are those that simply don’t fit in, and it’s usually due to no fault of their own. Some have physical deformities, others have rare disorders. Some are just plain weird. Others are just plain unfortunate. Whatever the case may be, we live in a world of great variation. Some variations are just more readily accepted than others.

When Abigail found out that she was pregnant, she thought that all of her problems would be solved. It was a happy time for her and her husband, Hank. Friends and relatives eagerly awaited the child of a couple that many called, the perfect couple. Hank and Abigail had it all, and now they were going to be proud parents of a very special child. Abigail smiled more than ever, and Hank couldn’t have been happier. It seemed as if their child’s birth was going be the glue that would bond the family together. Instead, everything fell apart when they first saw him.

Leonard, or Leo as he was called, was born with hypertrichosis, a rare genetic disorder that can cause the entire body to be covered in hair. From the crown of his head to the tips of his toes, Leo looked more like a puppy than a newborn child. Upon first seeing him, the dreams of a normal family life were seemingly sucked from the souls of Hank and Abigail. Somehow, motherly and fatherly compassion were overcome by disgust and disappointment. They felt betrayed by their maker and angry at their innocent child for getting in the way of their dreams. Little did they know, or even care, that he would do extraordinary things in his life. He was meant for greatness.

That’s not my son. That’s not even human. said Hank as he looked over the sleeping baby.

Abigail bit her bottom lip, trying to hold back her tears. What happened? What did we do wrong? Hank, like Abigail, was dumbfounded and angry.

Hank coldly replied, We didn’t do anything wrong. These things just happen. I just never thought that it would happen to us. I can’t deal with it. I can’t be the father of this... thing.

The nurses and doctors were baffled at Hank’s and Abigail’s coldness. They had seen parents before them that had been faced with situations much worse than their own. Are you sure you two don’t want to hold the baby? Skin to skin contact is very important. The caring nurse was genuinely concerned for the welfare of the infant. When they failed to reply to her protests, she quietly said, Well, I’ll put him in the nursery then. She promptly picked up the baby and walked out without saying another word.

The nurse put the baby in the nursery, and gently caressed his soft, fine-haired face. She bundled him with love, and as she did so, little Leo looked up at her with his intense blue eyes and smiled. Her eyes swelled with tears. You’ve got a hard life ahead of you, little angel. I wish there was something more I could do for you. She bent over and kissed Leo’s forehead and Leo quickly drifted off to sleep.

The next day, the young family left the hospital. All of the parties were cancelled. The firstborn would get no formal welcome into the world. Leo spent much of his infancy crying uncradled in a cheap crib with an old blanket to warm his cold body. His parents took all of his baby items back to the store because they felt their child or it as they called him, didn’t deserve anything fancy. To them, he was an inconvenience and a burden. A mangy mutt would have been given better treatment than what poor Leo received.

Hank and Abigail grew apart as Hank’s drinking increased. Abigail let herself go; mentally and physically, she was no longer the sweet bride that Hank had fallen in love with. Their friends had lost interest in them due to their erratic behavior for they were indeed different people. All warmth and kindness died with Leo’s birth.

However, this didn’t stop young Leo from growing up with a warm heart and a kind soul. As if genetically wired to have a kind disposition, Leo was a light to all that met him. Though people often looked at him with disgust and misunderstanding, he would often beam back with a smile and a giggle. He was full of energy and love even though his world around him rarely reciprocated such positivity.

Leo was never abused physically, but he certainly was neglected. He became the forgotten child of the Hepner family. Meals were given to him, a place to sleep was prepared, but attention, compassion, and of course, love, were all but absent. Given the fact that Abigail and Hank had so fully distanced themselves from their respective families, Leo was truly on his own. As is often the case in many neglectful circumstances, those who were aware of the situation did their best to avoid it because any approach would mean getting involved. No one wanted that.

At an early age, Leo became aware of the fact that he was entirely different from those around him. Nobody pointed and stared at the other kids at the store. Nobody covered their mouths in disbelief and shock as they walked past other children. However, around him, shock and disbelief were a common thread. Crowds often stopped and murmured, pointing at him and staring at him. This added fuel to the Hepner’s raging disappointment in life. They resented it because his condition made them feel like freaks themselves. They hated the attention and in turn hated him.

When Leo was only four years old, Hank quietly slipped away from the house in the middle of the night and disappeared. Abigail’s world, or at least what was left of it, was dead. From that day on, she became a walking zombie with only a small desire to keep on living just because the thought of death scared her too much. She walked on without purpose and without a desire to change anything. She drifted from job to job just to keep herself, and Leo, afloat.

When Leo started school, he found out that life outside of the home was just as cruel, if not more so, than life within the home. Despite this, Leo was not a mean person. He wasn’t bitter and he never projected his negative feelings on others. He held onto a spark of optimism and ran with it. When people would make fun of him or put him down, his small flame of hope went on undeterred. He was an optimist of the highest degree.

Not everyone that Leo encountered in his young age was bad, but since his mom moved around so much, he never really had real opportunities to get close to anyone. Some people may have been greatly affected by this kind of lifestyle to the point of hatred and rebellion. However, somehow, Leo was always a decent person and avoided contention or negativity at all costs. He was honest, kind, caring, and noble.

Leo knew from an early age that he was meant for something great. He knew that life wouldn’t always be this way. Though he knew no different, he always felt as if life offered more than heartache and sadness. He believed that there were good people out there and that his life would get better. His source of optimism was unknown, for the world he knew was not warm and inviting, but rather cold and distant.

So, despite his circumstances, Leo grew up as an admirable and stalwart young man. He had great manners, was mindful of others, and tried his best to see the good in other people. Though he truly hated his appearance and wished he could change it, anyone that took the time to get to know him quickly realized that Leo was unique, and not just because he had hypertrichosis.

After years of drifting from one location to another, Leo and his mother settled in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Abigail was living mainly off of welfare and did little to contribute to society. Leo was elated to be in a real home because he had spent his entire life in condos and apartments. Most of his previous dwellings had been in and around California, but after a long night of drinking, Abigail had blindly put a pin in a map and let fate decide her future. Much to her displeasure, Cheyenne was just under her pin. Though she had hoped for something more exciting, she was not one to tempt fate, and immediately uprooted and made the move.

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Chapter 2

Hurry up, you're going to be late!

I'm a freshman now! School is next door! I won't be late!

Abigail coldly opened the door and pointed outside. Out the door! Now!

Leo's shoulders sunk. His sense of optimism and hope for the future was quickly fading day by day. He should have been used to his mother's cruel treatment, but with this being his first day of high school, Leo was already having a bad day. Leo hated first days, new settings, or new faces. It meant new stares, new jokes, and more explaining. He grabbed his backpack and hesitantly made his way out the door. His mother slammed the door behind him.

Have a good day, Mom. Leo knew she didn't hear him, but it was a polite habit of his nonetheless.

As was usual, the stares and dropped jaws came quickly. If anyone could stop a conversation, it was Leo. Whenever he would walk by, people couldn't help but look, stare, study, and whisper. He hated the whispering. Most of the time, it wasn't even quiet whispering. He heard it all.

What a freak! What is that? We go to school with a werewolf! Woof woof! That's disgusting! Though Leo's hair was thick, his skin was not. The words hurt each and every time they were uttered. There's no such thing as getting used to being abused and treated badly. Each negative comment was a stripe on his back which required a period of healing. Even the nice kids seemed like monsters to Leo. He was alone and out of place. High school isn't known for being the most accepting of places to begin with, but for Leo, it was hell.

When he was young, it was easy to pass off Leo's appearance as being baby hair. He was covered in fine peach fuzz from birth on. As Leo matured, his hair got thicker, and it soon became apparent that he wasn't like everyone else. He was quickly labeled as a freak by many, and lived most of his days as an outcast. Familial support could have alleviated his sadness, but since his alcoholic father had abandoned him and his mother at a young age, the only family he knew was his mother... and it's already been established that she was anything but motherly.

Leo's first period class was math. He was a bright kid and school came very easily for him... the academic part at least. When he entered the room, he saw a few familiar faces, which comforted him because they at least already knew about his condition. The other kids had never seen of the infamous Wolf Boy, so having him in their class was to be a real treat. After all, it was math class, and Leo gave the other students something to look at while being bored out of their minds.

Mr. Salmon, a sandals-wearing hippie of a teacher, entered the room with a big smile on his face. For Mr. Salmon, the first day of school meant another opportunity to save young souls from the corruption of the world. Or at least that's how he saw it. He felt like his mission in life was to not just teach math, but to preach peace and love. The only problem was, he was so out there that his sermons often went way over the tired heads of his unenthusiastic followers.

Welcome to the wonderful world of math! Mr. Salmon stood in front of his class as if he was a preacher of old with his arms extended. My name is Mr. Salmon, yes, just like the fish. Make all the jokes you want, I've heard them all! Nobody really laughed at this, so Mr. Salmon gave a slight cough and continued, We have a lot to do this year, and it's not going to be easy. But, if you're all the geniuses I think you are, you'll do just fine.

While the other students slouched in their chairs and rolled their eyes, Leo listened to every word of his instructor. Mr. Salmon caught eyes with Leo.

What a beautiful variety of faces our world has! How about we get to know each other a little better? Mr. Salmon walked over to his desk and sat down. Let's start right here in front, he pointed to the chunky girl sitting to his right, Would you please stand up and tell us your name? And, let's see, how about you tell us what you want to do when you're old like me?

The girl slowly stood up. My name is Stephanie O'Brien and, um, I want to be... Stephanie quickly turned red. I don't really know.

Mr. Salmon leaned forward. It's okay, Stephanie, I'm in my forties and I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up! Everyone laughed at this comment, making Stephanie feel a little more confident.

Well, I guess I want to be a dancer. A ballet dancer. She smiled and quickly sat down.

From the back, a faint voice was heard saying, Yeah right. Maybe she can get a job as a whale at SeaWorld.

The class erupted in laughter. Mr. Salmon looked directly at James Buckner, the typical jackass you would expect to find in a freshman class, and then quickly stood up. And what was your name?

James turned red, then spoke up, James, James Buckner.

Well, James Buckner, I believe you just insulted Stephanie. In this class, there will be a no tolerance policy for any kind of bullying, whether it be verbal or physical. Let's just all get along, okay?

James nodded his head, clearly embarrassed. Yes, sir.

The rest of the class filed through and introduced themselves. Some wanted to be teachers, others wanted to be doctors. Before long, it was Leo's turn. It was no surprise that the entire class was most anxious to hear his story above all others. It's not every day that you share the room with such a spectacle. Leo knew that his time had come, and he dreaded moments like this. He wished school could simply be a place in which one could obtain knowledge. He would have loved going to school if he could have thrown out the social part altogether. Regardless, he stood up, took a deep breath, and introduced himself.

My name is Leonard Hepner. You can call me Leo. When I grow up, I want to be normal. Leo quickly sat down, although the eyes of his peers did not leave him.

Mr. Salmon nodded his head. Welcome to class, Leo.

The next few class periods went as Leo had expected. He felt as if he had a mask super glued to his face that he could never take off. He never looked in the mirror, because he hated what he saw. His reflection was a testament that he was a freak and a good-for-nothing monster. These feelings of insecurity were cemented by his thoughtless peers. Whether they intended to hurt him or not, getting stared at and pointed at never feels good.

During lunch, Leo sat alone as usual. His lunch had been thrown together by himself and was very sparse. His mother had never made his lunches for him, and now that he was in high school, she thought he was old enough to do just about anything on his own. Leo looked around the cafeteria with sadness in his heart. He saw beautiful girls that he knew he could never talk to as a normal guy. He saw the popular kids that he knew he could never approach without being the butt of their jokes. He yearned to be normal, but realized that normal was next to impossible. With a sigh, Leo finished his lunch and went to the bathroom.

The bathroom stalls were a refuge for him. Where else would he go? Leo was an amazing artist, and he took these brief moments of solace to doodle in his notebook. On this day, Leo worked particularly hard on a drawing of a family on a beach. He wished he could get away and do something more than be where he was. How could he live a normal life if the rest of the world has already labeled him as abnormal?

When the bell rang, Leo found himself sitting in the only open seat left: front and center in Mrs. Lovely’s class. Her name said much about her, for she was kind, beautiful, caring, and warm. Upon first glance of her, Leo knew that he could trust her.

Mrs. Lovely quickly introduced herself and welcomed everyone to English class. She explained that she was not interested in starting class like the rest of the teachers by wasting an entire day on the syllabus and meaningless introductions. The students were there to learn, not play name games.

You will get to know each other on your own accord. We have a whole year together, and a lot of work to do, she cheerfully exclaimed as she pulled out Love You Forever, a children’s book about a loving mother growing old and comforting her child as he grew into adulthood. The story repeats the line, I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be.

Some of the class members didn’t appreciate the intended sentimentality of this sweet message. Their hard hearts were instead set on looking tough or uninterested. Mrs. Lovely finished the book with tears in her eyes and quietly put it down on her desk. Suddenly, the room was quiet. With a long, drawn-out breath, Mrs. Lovely’s radiant eyes looked up and surveyed her class. You’re probably wondering why your silly teacher is up here reading a children’s book and crying like a baby. The reason I read this book to you is because, well, each and every one of you are someone’s baby. You are loved and people care about you.

Leo had never in his entire life experienced this kind of behavior from a teacher. Sure, there were a few that tried to extend the hand kindness throughout his life through kind words and gestures, but this was the first time that a teacher had ever cried. He was moved and felt compassion for this kind woman. Maybe this year wouldn’t be as bad as he thought.

Mrs. Lovely stood up, quickly wiped away her tears, and smiled. "Enough of that! We have a world of literature