The Elephant in the Room
by Melanie Hemry
The cacophony created by seven children getting ready for church almost shook the windows. “You better stop stealing my clothes!” 13-year-old Janet Boynes shouted at her sister.
“You took mine!”
“I did not!”
The house was bustling with activity as everyone got ready for church that Sunday morning when, suddenly, there came a knock at the door. A woman asked to speak to Janet’s mother, then made a startling announcement: “Your son, Robert, is gay,” she said. “He’s also a cross-dresser. He goes by Robert during the day and Barbara at night.”
“So that’s where our clothes have been going!” Janet realized.
On top of all that, the night before, her stepfather had gotten drunk—again! The house had fallen silent, the kids stifling sobs as he beat their mother. Her screams had faded to whimpers and then to silence.
At 13, Janet knew the cycle. Her stepfather beat her mother. Her mother overdisciplined the kids—and then made them clean until the place shined.
The kids beat on each other.
The rage that ruled their home exploded in classroom brawls, schoolyard fights and neighborhood wars. Janet had lost count of how many times she had been kicked out of school for beating up other kids.
***** article continues on p. 20 *****
BVOV : 19
