Chapter 11
Rebecca and Jeff Kaplan were happy. Their baby boy was released after a night over with a clean bill of health. They didn’t see Rick after he had scurried out of their room but it didn’t matter. William “Billy” Kaplan was more than they could ever hope for. He was a quiet child that was weary yet eager to explore the world. The moment he was able to maneuver his limbs, he was searching every nook and cranny he could find. Life was perfect, until their son was in school.
Billy walked through the hall of his school. He could feel the beating eyes of his classmates on his back which only prompted him to walk faster. Most people parted for him while others intentionally got in his way forcing him to stumble. He was lucky enough to make it to his first period without any trouble.
“Today we are going to talk about mutants,” Mr. Jackson said, turning on the board.
A slight smile crept across his face as he felt his inner geek spark with joy. Cyclopes, the leader of the X-Men with concussive blasts that were omitted from his eyes, Beast was a hairy blue mutant with super strength, speed, and senses, and the brains of the team, Angel, his name was self explanatory, had beautiful white wings that had since been replaced by a pair that shot razor-sharp feather projectiles, Iceman, the youngest, with cryokinesis, and the most powerful, Marvel Girl with telekinesis and telepathy. The group surrounded the famed Professor Charles Xavier who was the founder of the School for the Gifted and the most prominent mutant rights activist.
“They were first discovered in the twenty first century and have since been becoming more common with the current estimate of up to twelve percent of the world's population carrying the mutant x gene” Mr. Jackson lectured, “The mutant x gene is responsible for the development of the mutants’ signature abnormalities which is manifest during puberty. It is my job as your health teacher to prepare you guys for the possibility of you or a peer for the plausible chance of the manifestation of mutant abilities.”
The slideshow switched to a number.
“This is the phone number of Xavier’s School for the Gifted, if you or someone you know is a mutant call this number”
A picture of a mansion came across the screen.
“This school is dedicated to help mutants harness their powers and keep them and the people around them safe”
Billy felt a wad of paper hit him in the back of the head.
“Yo, Kaplan” he heard John Kesler smirk, “It’s your future home.”
“Thank you” Billy smiled, “I always knew I was special.”
The thought of being a mutant was never unappealing to Billy. He had already been an outcast the minute he was born (though not everyone knew), why not get superpowers out of the deal.
“Though, I’m not sure they accept your type of freak” Jack taunted, “After all, who’d what you?”
Billy felt his face flush red and embarrassment rush over him. He put his head down trying to ignore the snickers of Jack and his gang for the rest of class. Once the bell rang, he bolted out of his room and practically ran to his next class. It too was not much better.
“Mutant rights have been one of the most debated topics in the past century” Mrs. Lieber the history teacher said, “Since their discovery in the last century, mutant rights activists have been fighting to get legal protection. The most prolific activists are Dr. Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr. Now, who can tell me how each of them contributed to the Mutant Rights Movement?”
The class was dead silent.
“Dr. Charles Xavier opened the Xavier School for the Gifted and currently serves as ambassador at the U.N. Erik Lehnsherr, better known as Magneto, had been a part of a radical mutant cult that strove to protect other mutants by whatever means necessary” the teacher said.
“But, Mrs. Lieber,” a person next to Billy raised her hand. “Wasn’t he the one who tried to kill the president?”
There was a rise in commotion which Mrs. Lieber put down with a loud piercing whistle.
“Indeed,” she said, “Which brings us to the next major part of the Mutant Rights Movement. As you may know, during the State of the Union about twenty years ago, Magneto and his Brotherhood made an attempt on the president's life which was fortunately halted.”
“Why have they been allowed to be accepted into society?” a boy asked.
“Magneto could lift a stadium with his mind” Mrs. Lieber’s eyes darkened. “Wouldn’t that be enough for you?”
A mutter of fear turned to a roar as the other kids disgust amongst each other.
“Anyway, currently there is another bill that has been introduced” Mrs. Lieber attempted to regain control over the class. “The Mutant Registration Act would require mutants to join a national registry to ensure national security.”
“Mrs. Lieber” Billy raised his hand sheepishly.
She let out a sigh, “Yes, Mr. Kaplan?”
“Wouldn’t that be a direct violation of their right to privacy?” he asked.
“When you are a danger to yourself or others, confidentiality is negated”
“Then why isn’t Billy on one?” someone snickered.
Billy bit his lip until it bled. The metallic taste and searing pain was enough to distract him from the giggles everyone around him. He looked helplessly at Mrs. Lieber who just ignored him like she usually did and turned back to teaching the lesson.
“I miss the day when we sent your kind to a mental hospital,” someone whispered. “It really isn’t normal.”
Whack! The sound of something hitting skin sounded behind him and Billy turned around with surprise. The kid who was sitting behind him, a member of Jack’s gang, laid with his head back and blood running down his forehead.
“Mr. Kaplan,” Mrs. Lieber yelled, “What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything,” Billy said, getting up and looking at the boy.
In the center of his forehead, an eraser was stuck. The boy groaned in pain and everyone looked at him with horror.
“Kevin, take Robby to the office” Mrs. Lieber ordered, “And Mr. Kaplan, you’re coming with me.”
She tightly gripped his arm, leaving behind bruises, and marched to the principal’s office. Billy tried to explain that he had nothing to do with what happened and was just as surprised as she was but she didn’t listen.
“I always knew you were trouble” she dismissed his protests, “Your kind always are.”
Billy felt a sting of shame and stopped resisting. Mrs. Leiber dropped him off after giving the principal’s secretary a less than flattering explanation of the sudden arrival. Billy waited for what felt like eternity before the secretary took him to the cramped office.
“I’m disappointed in you, Mr. Kaplan” he said, looking Billy over. “You’re a smart kid with a good family. I don’t understand why you're acting out.”
“I didn’t do anything. I heard a noise, turned around, and Ryan was bleeding”
“Look, son” the man shifted, “You're just confused and I promise you that this is just a phase.”
Billy held back the urge to roll his eyes.
“Try to ignore it and it’ll go away, okay?”
“I’m not doing anything,” Billy grumbled, “They’re…”
“Just being teenage boys reacting to something strange”
“In a world with shapeshifters, gods, wizards, and superhumans, I’m the ‘strange’ one?”
“Look, I know this is hard to understand and since you are such a good student, I’m going to let you off easy” the principal turned and began to shuffle through some files. “You're going to have a week's suspension to work through this and you can come back without all that.”
Billy flinched at the man’s disdain and nodded. He was escorted out of the school where his mom was sitting in the car. She looked at him with a concerned expression as the principal explained everything. He handed her something that Billy couldn’t see. His mother’s face dropped, which quickly became fury, before she looked back at her son with pity.
“What’s going on?” she asked, putting a hand on his shoulder when he got into the passenger’s seat. “Is everything okay?”
Billy sighed and looked at his feet, “What’s wrong with me, Mom?”
“What?”
“Why am I like this?” he gestured to himself, “Is there something wrong with me? I don’t think there is but everyone else…”
He didn’t know how to explain it. He wanted to say it but something always stopped him.
“Billy, there is nothing wrong with you,” his mom assured him, “You're perfect just the way you are.”
“All mothers say that” he grumbled.
“I know but are all mothers psychologists?”
Billy snorted as his mother let out a light laugh.
“Why am I like this?” he asked, bringing the heavy atmosphere back. “I wish I was different.”
“I don't,” his mother said, “And I promise you, you don’t want to be different, you want to be accepted.”
She pulled out and turned on the radio. J Jonah Jameson was once again ranting on how Spider-Man was a “Masked Menace” and needed to be stopped. He would have liked to listen to something that wasn’t so negative but the Daily Bugle was the only news company that had any legitimate reporting of the hero.
“On a different note, the Mutant Registration Act has narrowly survived the House with a vote of 250:185. It is scheduled to enter the senate floor in three months.”
“Sad, isn’t it?” his mother shook her head, “This is just going to make things worse.”
“What do you mean?” Billy asked, “Besides the gross breach of privacy.”
“You remember how scary it was to tell your father and I that you were…”
She looked at Billy who’s clenched his jaw.
“You know, there’s nothing wrong with saying it” she assured him, “In fact, I think it would be healthy.”
“No else does” he muttered.
“Anyways, you remember how scary it is and you got the choice,” his mother continued, “These poor people won’t.”
“Not at school”
For the first time, his mother had no response. They sat there with nothing but the radio explaining the language and authority of the bill as they made their way to the upper west side of the city. When they entered their apartment, his father was waiting.
“Hello, Honey” he kissed his wife.
“Hey, Sweetie” she sighed with exhaustion.
Billy tried to sneak out but his mother grabbed his wrist and he let out a sharp breath.
“Billy, are you okay?” she asked, rolling up his sleeve and revealing the hand shaped bruise around his arm.
“Who did this to you?” his father glared angrily at the mark.
“It doesn’t matter” Billy pulled away from both of them.
“Billy, if there is someone hurting you we would like to know” he said.
“You know we’ll always be there for you” his mother promised, kissing the mark softly and leaving behind a berry colored imprint of her lips.
“I know,” he nodded.
His room was tidy and fairly spacious for an apartment. He had a twin bed with red sheets, a walk-in closet, and posters of the Avengers and X-Men and other superheroes that practically wallpapered the walls. Put his backpack down at his desk and fell backwards into his.
“Jeff, I think we need to get him out of there” he could hear his mom say, “They’re awful to him.”
“I know but where would we send him? The next school is nearly an hour away. You and I both know that waking up that early is not healthy.”
“Being in a hostile environment isn’t healthy either”
“We can’t guarantee they would be anymore accepting of him there either”
“What about the one near Greenwich?”
“After the attack last year? Rebecca, he’s going to have to learn that he’s not going to be accepted by everyone in the world and this is a real hardship he’ll have to endure.”
“Jeff, he’s ten!” his mother hissed, “Do you know what the school gave me?”
He could hear as some kind of paper was shoved into his dad’s arms and a gasp came from his mouth.
“You see,” his mother said angrily, “I get that his life is going to be hard but he is not safe there.”
“I’ll look into finding a different place for him,” his father conceded.
“Good, I need to run back to the clinic”
Billy heard as his mom left the apartment and his dad went into his room to work on something. He quietly made his way out of his room and into the kitchen where his parents had left whatever his mother was so mad about. He went to grab it when he heard the door open.
“Son,” his father said, with a pained expression. “What are you doing?”
“I heard you and mom,” he admitted, “She seemed angry.”
His father sighed and sat down at the table and took the pamphlet in his hands. Billy sat beside him and observed as his father internally debated with himself.
“What did she mean by it not being safe?” he asked.
“Billy, your school wants us to send you to a place for people like you”
There was a leap of hope in his heart before a sudden realization hit him.
“A bad place” he muttered.
His father nodded.
Billy began to cry and his father pulled him into a hug and whispered comforts to him.
“Dad, what is wrong with me?”
“Nothing,” his father said, “These people are just closed-minded assholes.”
“Mom would be disappointed” Billy tried to lighten the mood but couldn’t find it within himself to feel anything but disgust.
“She would,” his father agreed.
For a while, neither of them said a word.
“You’re not, are you?” Billy asked nervously.
“What? No? Billy, do you really feel that we’d hurt you like that?”
Billy shocked his head but it did little to ease the fear that was gnawing at him. If there was nothing wrong with him, why were there places like that? Why were there people who preach love calling for his ostracization? Why was he not allowed to live?
“I promise you that you will never go to a place like that” his father whispered, “Your mother and I would never let it.”
Billy let the tears he was holding back fall down his face as he sniffled into his father’s dress shirt. His father gave a soft kiss on his son’s face and rocked him back and forth just like had done when he first saw his son. He had grown so much. Still had the black hair of Rebecca’s aunt, his chocolate iris, Rebecca’s almond eyes, and a weary curiosity.
“Dad,” his baby boy murmured.
“Yes,” he choked.
“Thank you”
It had been fourteen years since Steven Howell had found the infant in the closet. He had taken the baby to the police station and after a month-long search returned to the group home with the child after no one came forward to claim him. He named the boy Thomas, after his late older brother, and watched as the boy grew. He was certain that Thomas better known as Tommy would have been adopted, infants were always easy to find a home for, but days turned to weeks turned to months turned to years and no one seemed interested in the silver haired boy. Steven would be the first to admit that Tommy was odd, a bit rambunctious, and free-spirited but he was a good boy.
Just when he was about to give up and accept that the boy was doomed to stay at the group home, a couple by the names of Frank and Mary Shepherd showed up. They were young but had suffered several miscarriages. Their only child was killed in a bus accident earlier that year and the couple were looking for a way to revitalize their marriage. Steven was opposed to signing the papers for the five year old; but just hours before was going to have the meeting with them to tell them that he was going to decline their application, Tommy got into a fight. Steven wasn’t exactly sure of what happened. Several of the younger kids said that Tommy was trying to protect them but whatever it was, it didn’t end well for him. They had to rush the little boy to the hospital with five broken ribs, a bruised pelvic, and a fractured right arm. Seeing the vibrant kid wrapped in bandages and unable to move without wincing pain, Steven knew that the kid couldn’t return to the group home. When Mary and Frank arrived, he gave them custody over Tommy and they took him home after he was released.
For Tommy, life sucked. No, wait, that was an understatement. For Tommy, being in hell would probably be favorable to the trash fire that was his life. Spoiler, adopting a kid is not a good way to mend a broken marriage. Adopting a kid that attracted trouble like Tommy made a marriage deteriorate at recorded breaking speeds. He had only been at the Shepherds for a month and the couple's relationship went from being cautionary to a down right disaster.
“I don’t understand why you can’t be like the other boys,” Mary yelled, glaring down at him.
It had been nearly six years since they had adopted him and he was in no way glad. Once again he had been sent home from the school, that was just one security measure away from being a detention center, early with a five day suspension.
“I am like the other boys” Tommy snapped back, rubbing an ugly bruise on his cheek. “What you mean is why couldn’t I be the Christ All-Mighty Savior that you wanted!”
Smack! Mary slapped Tommy across the face adding what was no doubt a similar shaped bruise on his other cheek.
“What is it now?” Frank grunted from the kitchen.
“Your son just got suspended, again”
“My son? It was your idea to get him after Jack!”
“It was you who wanted a son”
“Well, it isn’t my fault you couldn’t get fucking pregnant”
“Oh, is that why you slept with Joan?”
Tommy tried to sneak away but Mary was able to catch his wrist. Her long nails pierced through his skin but he didn’t make a sound. He learned that showing any signs of weakness will just make it worse.
“Where do you think you’re going?” she asked, with rageful eyes.
“Away from you” he retorted, “You clearly don’t want me here.”
“Don’t speak to your mother like that!” Frank roared, stomping into the room.
Tommy rolled his eyes. Frank and Mary could not agree on anything except how much of a disappointment he was.
“Why don’t you and your buddies go buy another keg?”
Wack! Frank hit him over where Mary’s hand had made a mark. It was harder than his wife’s strike. Tommy could taste the coppery flavor of blood and no doubt had red stained teeth.
“You know, most kids like you end up working the corners” he growled, taking Tommy’s hair in his fists and forcing the boy to look him in the eyes. “You could stand to be more grateful that you have a roof over your head and food on the table.”
“I had that before, you moron”
Smack!
“Your mother certainly knew what she was doing when she left you at that place” Frank growled, walking away and taking some of the strands that he had with him. “We should have seen the warnings. Go to your room and don’t come down for supper.”
Mary just huffed and dragged Tommy through their rat infested house and through him in his bedroom.
His room was small but not too small that it was uncomfortable. The paint was peeling and the roof leaked but overall it was tolerable. Since it was fall, the temperature wasn’t bad but during the summers and winters it turned to an oven or froze real quickly. There were no windows and the light was bad but compared to sharing a room with seven or eight other boys, the privacy was nice. He could hear the click of the lock and the sound of Mary walking away. Once he was certain she was out of earshot, he fell back on his bed.
He yelled into his pillow which left a mildewy flavor in his mouth. Life wasn’t fair, it never had been, but he had been hoping that maybe one day or at least one time it would lean in his favor. Everytime he tries to do better, to be better, it always backfires. This time, it wasn’t even his fault. Some asshole at school decided that it would be fun to try and push one of the display cases onto him. He didn’t exactly know what happened but there was a loud crash and somehow with a stroke of luck, it had broken before it touched him. Of course, the miracle was turned to a curse when the principal decided that Tommy was the one responsible for the damage.
“Your mother certainly knew what she was doing when she left you at that place” Frank’s words echoed in the back of Tommy’s head.
It had been a long time since he thought of his birth parents. In the group home, most of the kids had parents and had been taken away whether by their actions or their own. Steven had always hoped that Tommy’s parents would come back for him and claimed that he had found him in mysterious circumstances; but alas there was no one. He remembered being a hopeful little boy practically jumping whenever anyone entered the group home with hopes that they were his parents looking for him but alas no one ever came for him.