Distorted

Horace Mahoney grew into an awkward lonely little boy with oversized feet and hands, a hideous face reminiscent of the Hunchback of Notre Dame crossed with The Phantom of the Opera, greasy messy straw colored hair and bloodshot grey eyes. At ten years old all he wanted to do was go outside and play with the other children, but his father would never let him.

“Horace, the other children will only make fun of you because you are so ugly and you would only be an embarrassment to me if I let you out of the junkyard. You just go make yourself useful and smash up some of those cars out there.” He said, waving out to the inner area of the junkyard. “And if you even think of going and playing with those other kids, you’re in a world of trouble, boy.”

Horace sighed, kicking an empty beer can in front of him as he walked off towards the crusher. His grey eyes filled with tears of sadness and rage. He couldn’t believe it. His own father could be so cruel and make him feel so bad about himself, but he still cared about him. How could someone who was supposed to love him call him ugly and an embarrassment? Poor Horace had never felt so alone and confused in his ten year old life as he did today. From the moment he was found, his father would tell him these things, but for some reason today it hurt much worse than it ever had before.

“Horace, can’t you see? I’m only doing this to protect you, everything I do is for you, son. You were dumped on my doorstep so to speak because your mother could never handle what a hideous ugly little monster you were and since I’ve been forced to take care of you and never have a single moment to myself, I’m giving up the life a man like me could have to make sure that you’re safe and comfortable.” Skip said condescendingly, still standing a good two feet away from Horace. Skip never hugged or kissed Horace, he never took him any place, never treated him like a real son. Horace knew this painfully well, he was a burden, a thorn in his father’s side, an irritating little beast who deserved no better than to be put to sleep like a dog. That was just the way things were for him and the way they’d always be.

Horace’s father would bring home prostitutes every Friday and Horace was forced to go outside and wait for them to finish. One Friday, he decided to go and see if the other children were out playing so he could see for himself how they would treat him. He wandered out of the junkyard and into the trailer park where he smiled and waved to all the children his age. But Horace’s kind heart and politeness did not impress them. He was ugly and so instead of playing with him like he was one of them, they all picked up rocks, cans and broken bottles and began throwing them at him. He begged them to stop, but they just kept throwing things at him, he was cut and bleeding, crying like a baby, begging for help when suddenly like a ray of sunlight breaking through the clouds, a black haired boy on a bicycle rode up and put himself and the bike between Horace and the other kids.

“Whoa, guys, this ugly guy can’t help how he looks, let’s show a little kindness, hm? You redneck folk learn that type of thing in church, right?.” The kid was a rude jerk and probably wasn’t from around here, but he was Horace’s savior. He leaned down to help Horace up. “You okay kid?” He asked, he was probably only eight years old, but he still called Horace kid, that made Horace feel a bit safer.

“Yeah, I think so.” Horace answered sheepishly, standing up with the kid’s help.

“Good. Now let’s get you to a doctor before those cuts get infected. My dads always tell me be careful of infections.

“You have more than one dad?” Horace asked.

“Well sure, don’t you?” The boy asked.

“Nope, only one and no mom.” Horace replied.

“I see. Well, my name is Leo…It’s short for Leonard….But don’t call me that, please.” Okay, so maybe he wasn’t that rude, maybe Leo was kind of nice. Horace smiled at Leo, who was certainly his only friend if not the only one who cared about him. The two went off to the hospital and a nurse was glad to bandage Horace’s cuts and give him ice for his bruises for free. She even gave Leo and Horace each a lollipop and told them to be safe. Nurse Ellie was her name, Leo told Horace as the two headed back to the junkyard.

“See you later, Horace.” Leo waved, riding off on his bike.
Horace waved to Leo and smiled happily, turning to walk back into the junkyard but walking right into his father instead. “Uh-oh…” Horace winced.