The [Freak] Show, vol. 4

(January Issue)



Before you read this tonight, I’d like to point out something, and apologize. This is different than the past
three things I have given you. This one is a little more serious, and very un-cynical, and could get sappy
at times, depending on your point of view. Sorry to disappoint, but I thought it might buy me some time
to write another one that should have been written a while ago. Hope you enjoy, it was tough to write.

[NB]: There have been some alterations to the facts of this story to protect the parties in question.


Tonight I bring to you a tragic story. This is the story of a little boy. We’ll call him "James" for the sake of
this story. Before he started kindergarten, parents and teachers alike warned his parents that he we not
be able to do well in school, as he was younger than the other children. The parents did not listen to the
cynics, and placed the boy in school. Right off the bat, he started showing signs of intellect above that
of the other kids in his class, proving the cynics wrong. In kindergarten and grade 1, he was able to do
things that kids two years his senior were having trouble with. Since he was "smarter" than the other
kids, he was more or less secluded, and he liked it that way. He would sit in the corner and learn to
read by himself, or play with the toys and construct complex structures from Lego. During class, he
attentively sat and listened, did all his work, and excelled. Eventually the school decided that enough
was enough; they wanted to transfer him up to the third grade after only a few weeks of grade two.
Once again, the cynics disapproved, but once again the parents refused to listen to the cynics. And
once again, the child proved the cynics wrong, excelling in everything that kids two years older were
doing. And since he was younger, all the other kids did what good little boys and girls should do, they
teased him. A lot. And the fact that his speech was sub-par due to missed lessons as a consequence
of advancing didn’t help much either. So he became even more secluded. Except now there was no
Lego. Dammit. So he sat at his desk and thought, schemed if you will. About what, not even I am sure.
All that is certain is that he had nothing but his brain, that is until two years from that point.

This particular point in time marked somewhat of a turning point in James’ life. At this time, a new
student arrived in class. But he, like James, kept to himself also due to a slight problem with speech
and a complete lack of PR skills. We’ll call him Gordon. About halfway through the school year, the two
bumped into each other while reading books. I won’t go into all of the details, as they are more or less
irrelevant. Needless to say, the two became friends. They read books together, helped each other with
tough words, and soon after became inseparable. Golden Books turned to Choose Your Own
Adventure, which turned to Road and Track. And through it all, they remained best friends. A few other
friends were made here and there, but nothing in comparison to the relationship that had solidified over
the past 7 years that they had known each other. But on September 6th, 1995, everything changed.
You know, it’s amazing how one single event can virtually destroy something that one has worked so
hard on. This catastrophic event has but one name: woman. It is my sincere belief that this one girl,
we’ll call her Helen, has changed the course of my life, your life, the lives of those around us, and most
certainly the two boys in question, although I suppose that is somewhat redundant. You'll understand
this later.

See, over the years, only one thing had changed besides the reading material. Gordon had become
more of an outgoing person, probably subconsciously to compensate for the utter shyness of James. It
was this distinct difference in their personalities that was an indirect cause of the demolishing of their
friendship. While James was sitting at home wondering if Helen even knew he was alive, Gordon was
already out getting the girl. When James arrived at school the next day, his world was shattered to see
Gordon and Helen holding hands in the hallway. So James did something he’d never done before, he
skipped school. He walked the 10 miles to his house, crying the entire way. As not expected, Gordon
and Helen broke up on good terms less than a week later. Gordon forgot about Helen, but James did
not. One day, all of James’ anger spewed out on Gordon. Two swollen eyes and broken finger later,
they lay 10 feet apart, sobbing. After that it was never the same. It took over a week for the two to even
acknowledge each other. Finally they talked to each other once in a while, but never again pulled
all-nighters at each other’s houses playing video games until there was no skin left of their thumbs.
After they graduated, James moved away to go to college while Gordon hung around to pursue a local
apprenticeship. They went their separate ways, but every once in a while, when they’re in the same
place, they get together to shoot some hoops like they did so many times during their youth. You know,
it’s amazing how many memories an old ball and ratty hoop can stir up. Nah, you don’t know.  You didn’t
have to live my life.