him. Of all the people who I’d heard say f**k in my life, Thomas said it the best. He said it with a bout of intelligence and strength. When other people say f**k, they threw the word around without any meaning.
“Love is about empathy,” Thomas said. “Showing compassion for another person. Where you feel a unique bond, a connection that you don’t feel with other people. Love can be found with a beautiful woman. A friend. The love of parents...”
From the back of the room, a boisterous sound erupted from the darkness. “Parents? Are you kidding me?” Tom said.
“I never kid,” Thomas retorted.
“Do you really believe that nonsense?”
“It’s not nonsense.”
“Parents and love. It’s all lies.”
“That’s not true.”
“Oh really? Then explain to me why we were deserted. Why our parents left us.”
“Sometimes you can’t explain why certain things happen.”
“Oh, is that it? Should we just accept it?”
“It’s all about how you look at it. Maybe this was meant to happen. Perhaps things happen for a reason, maybe because were meant to meet others who will love us.”
“I got news for you, mate.” Tom laughed. “Nobody loves us. We’re outcasts. A bunch of good for nothings that nobody cares about. And when we leave this place, nobody is going to be waiting for us in front of those gates.”
“Well, you sure as hell know how to brighten the mood,” Felix said as he took a swig of vodka.
“I’m just telling the truth is all.”
“Oh, the truth. What the hell is the truth anyway? Just a reminder of how bad things are? Lies, splendid lies. We can create a whole world out of lies,” Felix said.
“So, I speak the truth?” Tom asked.
“You are a prophet, my dear boy. A true prophet,” Felix said.
“Are you being smart with me?”
“Oh, calm your temper. Here, have a drink.” Felix handed the vodka to Tom.
Tom smacked it away. The glass crashed and splintered on the floor. “You people are pathetic! Look at you. Sitting there with your vodka, talking about love, women, and all sorts of nonsense.”
“You don’t like women?” Owen asked.
Tom was taken aback suddenly, confused, stuttering at his words on what to say. “Why…. I…. sure I do.”
“Why is it nonsense then?” Owen asked.
“Because women are nothing but trouble.”
“Why that’s what’s fun about them my boy,” Felix said.
“Why, haven’t you ever done it?” I asked Tom.
“Done it?” Tom asked.
“Yea, with a girl?” I asked.
Tom became agitated by the questions, especially when they made him feel small despite his size. You could tell he was clueless on how to talk to a girl, even if his life depended on it. To compensate for his ignorance, he used his brute strength to bully his way through life. “I’ve been with plenty.”
I could tell he was a liar. He reminded me of my old roommate, William. He talked a good game, but was full of shit. I could spot a bullshitter from a mile away. Tom wasn’t even a good bullshitter.
“Why, I used to go steady with two girls at the same time.” You could hear a pin drop before the boys digested what Tom said. The boys erupted in laughter with a jubilant outburst. “What’s so funny?” Tom asked.
“Tom, you are a treat. You really are,” Owen said.
I sort of felt embarrassed for the kid. An overgrown child who couldn’t defend himself intellectually. “What the hell do you know?” Tom yelled.
“Hey take it easy there, chief,” I said.
“We’re just having a little fun with you,” Charles said.
“Why don’t you shut your face, fat boy,” Tom said to Charles.
“Hey, that’s uncalled for,” Thomas said.
“Uncalled for?”
“Yes. There is no need for insults.”
“Oh but you can insult me?”
“Nobody is insulting you.”
“Liars, all of you. Tom speaks speak the truth.” Felix said so himself.
“What truth is that?” Owen asked.
“That nobody loves us,” Felix said. “Parents, what parents? They
“Love is about empathy,” Thomas said. “Showing compassion for another person. Where you feel a unique bond, a connection that you don’t feel with other people. Love can be found with a beautiful woman. A friend. The love of parents...”
From the back of the room, a boisterous sound erupted from the darkness. “Parents? Are you kidding me?” Tom said.
“I never kid,” Thomas retorted.
“Do you really believe that nonsense?”
“It’s not nonsense.”
“Parents and love. It’s all lies.”
“That’s not true.”
“Oh really? Then explain to me why we were deserted. Why our parents left us.”
“Sometimes you can’t explain why certain things happen.”
“Oh, is that it? Should we just accept it?”
“It’s all about how you look at it. Maybe this was meant to happen. Perhaps things happen for a reason, maybe because were meant to meet others who will love us.”
“I got news for you, mate.” Tom laughed. “Nobody loves us. We’re outcasts. A bunch of good for nothings that nobody cares about. And when we leave this place, nobody is going to be waiting for us in front of those gates.”
“Well, you sure as hell know how to brighten the mood,” Felix said as he took a swig of vodka.
“I’m just telling the truth is all.”
“Oh, the truth. What the hell is the truth anyway? Just a reminder of how bad things are? Lies, splendid lies. We can create a whole world out of lies,” Felix said.
“So, I speak the truth?” Tom asked.
“You are a prophet, my dear boy. A true prophet,” Felix said.
“Are you being smart with me?”
“Oh, calm your temper. Here, have a drink.” Felix handed the vodka to Tom.
Tom smacked it away. The glass crashed and splintered on the floor. “You people are pathetic! Look at you. Sitting there with your vodka, talking about love, women, and all sorts of nonsense.”
“You don’t like women?” Owen asked.
Tom was taken aback suddenly, confused, stuttering at his words on what to say. “Why…. I…. sure I do.”
“Why is it nonsense then?” Owen asked.
“Because women are nothing but trouble.”
“Why that’s what’s fun about them my boy,” Felix said.
“Why, haven’t you ever done it?” I asked Tom.
“Done it?” Tom asked.
“Yea, with a girl?” I asked.
Tom became agitated by the questions, especially when they made him feel small despite his size. You could tell he was clueless on how to talk to a girl, even if his life depended on it. To compensate for his ignorance, he used his brute strength to bully his way through life. “I’ve been with plenty.”
I could tell he was a liar. He reminded me of my old roommate, William. He talked a good game, but was full of shit. I could spot a bullshitter from a mile away. Tom wasn’t even a good bullshitter.
“Why, I used to go steady with two girls at the same time.” You could hear a pin drop before the boys digested what Tom said. The boys erupted in laughter with a jubilant outburst. “What’s so funny?” Tom asked.
“Tom, you are a treat. You really are,” Owen said.
I sort of felt embarrassed for the kid. An overgrown child who couldn’t defend himself intellectually. “What the hell do you know?” Tom yelled.
“Hey take it easy there, chief,” I said.
“We’re just having a little fun with you,” Charles said.
“Why don’t you shut your face, fat boy,” Tom said to Charles.
“Hey, that’s uncalled for,” Thomas said.
“Uncalled for?”
“Yes. There is no need for insults.”
“Oh but you can insult me?”
“Nobody is insulting you.”
“Liars, all of you. Tom speaks speak the truth.” Felix said so himself.
“What truth is that?” Owen asked.
“That nobody loves us,” Felix said. “Parents, what parents? They
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