Can't Change Nature

By H.D. Nels

Michael Ward was fifteen when his parents told him to leave. He's gay and told them about his boyfriend, Simon Brule. Michael's teacher took him under her wing and gave him a place to stay.

Simon joined a gang which ended badly for him leaving Michael with a broken heart. A co-worker at a gay bar, Barry Decker, helped Michael heal. Mike's landlord and teacher, Sharon Hall and her husband Garrett helped Mike's parents reconcile with their son. It was his parents who were the driving force in helping Barry's parents reunite with their son.

Can Michael move beyond his first love and give his entire heart over to Barry?

• Language: English
• Publisher: H.D. Nels
• Release date: Jan 26, 2019
• ISBN: 9780995895508

H.D. Nels

H.D. Nels was born and raised near the ocean but now live in another type of paradise, with the Rockies just west, prairie to the east, the world’s largest assortment of dinosaur fossils only an hour away, and cowboys all around. This provides plenty of inspiration for stories. For more information, visit twitter.com/hdnels.

Book preview

This is a second edition. The story was originally self-published in June 2017.

Dedicated to youth at risk and those who rejected from family for being LGBT, which is the way they were born. Someone wrote on Twitter that being gay isn’t a choice; being homophobic is.

Can’t Change Nature

H.D. Nels

Chapter One

My name is Michael Ward. My parents conceived me, delivered me, named me, circumcised me, baptized me, and taught me their moral beliefs. Right until I announced, when I was fifteen, that I was gay and had a perfect boyfriend. Then, as soon as something they couldn’t control came along, they kicked me to the curb. I had no idea that being gay was contrary to those beliefs. I guess I ceased to exist in their eyes.

Michael re-read his Facebook entry once again before he pressed ‘send’. He wasn’t sure how he felt; scared and most definitely sad. Yesterday evening was the last time he was at home and after what happened it didn’t seem possible to go back. It had been difficult there during the past year since his father quit drinking. Mike’s parents had joined a new church that claimed to give support and guidance to recovering people. They were so caught up in the new religion they had spent little time with their son. With a heavy sigh, the young man packed his notepad and books into his backpack and considered getting in touch with his boyfriend.

Mike had been best friends with Simon Brule since as far back as he could remember. When Michael realized he was gay, Simon admitted that he was too. He’d told his parents, and they didn’t have a problem with it. Mike’s mom and dad always liked Simon, so he figured when he told them Simon was his boyfriend, they’d be happy for them. That didn’t go so well. His mother threw a paper, that she got from the church, in front of Mike and told him to read it. It said things such as homosexuals were child molesters and vile human beings who went against the teachings of everything holy. She said his father’s recovery was too fragile for them to handle someone such as him and told him he had to leave.

Mike figured that after dealing with their reaction he was ready to face anything the world could throw his way. He wasn’t mad, having stopped being angry with his father’s drunken ways a long time ago. If he’d ever spoken out, things could turn from gentle to bitter real quick. Few people knew of how hard things were when his father had always been drunk. It made him sad to think he would make the man go back to that. Mike would miss them but figured if they didn’t want him he had to move on. He took stock of the situation and realized he’d have to figure out a few things quick. His most pressing need was to find a job which he could do, and also a place to live. Being young he wasn’t sure how he could do that. He wanted to keep going to school but figured perhaps he should transfer somewhere people didn’t know him. He’d stuffed some clothes in a backpack and his school things into a tote bag before the door closed behind him for the last time.

There was one person at school he trusted enough to ask for help with all this. Mrs. Hall, the Geometry teacher, always seemed to like Mike. She had often told the class they could call on her whenever anyone needed help, even with anything beyond math. When he left the internet café, Mike made his way back to the Y youth hostel for the night. He’d checked online and saw it was a place he could afford. The room was a dorm style but looked comfortable and there was a place he could shower. He ate in the cafeteria and read for a while before crawling into bed. Sleep didn’t come easy with so many things running through his mind.

The hostel rate included breakfast. He missed his mother’s cooking, but he enjoyed a hot breakfast before getting showered and ready for his second full day on his own. Michael walked to the transit station and boarded the bus that would take him to school. He got there early with all his gear which he left in his locker. Taking a deep breath, Michael rubbed his sweaty palms on his pants and proceeded to his teacher’s classroom.

* * *

Sharon Hall was a young and enthusiastic educator who’d long dreamed about making a positive difference in the lives of young people. She learned to recognize those kids who were vulnerable or disadvantaged. A few years into her chosen profession now, she still carried that zeal. It had been part of her routine to have breakfast with her husband before they each went off to their jobs. Since Garrett always started work early, she’d often gotten to school well before the first class. Today she was having her coffee and reading over some notes. She glanced up and knew something was wrong when one of her favourite students knocked on the door.

Hi, Mrs. Hall, do you have a few minutes? I need some advice please. Michael appeared nervous.

Good morning, Michael, come in and take a seat. What’s on your mind? Are you okay?

I’m fine I guess. I need to figure out how I can find a place to live. I think I can get a job, no problem. Also, how do I transfer schools? What would it take for me to live on my own?

Her eyebrows raised in surprise. Easy, Michael, slow down. How about starting by telling me why you need to do these things? This is a lot to consider so having background may help with answers.

My parents don’t want me living there anymore. I don’t have anywhere else to go. I have no relatives living in the area. He shrugged. They probably wouldn’t take me, anyway. I worked before so I’m sure I can get a job. I have money saved, too. I guess if I changed schools people won’t know me and ask lots of dumb questions all the time.

She sat back in her chair and thought for a few minutes before saying anything. Michael, you’re only fifteen—legally a minor—and because of that I’m required by law to contact Social Services, but...

Mike got up. Sharon saw panic run through him. I have to go. I didn’t know. I thought you could help. I’m not a minor, I’m fifteen.

He’d almost made it to the door when Sharon spoke. You didn’t let me finish. I said it legally bound me to contact Social Services, not that I was going to. Please, come back and sit. Why did your parents ask you to leave?

Michael sighed and went back to the desk. "They didn’t ask. They kicked me out because I’m gay. I didn’t choose to be this way but I don’t know how to not be. My Dad