Fresh Start

Chapter 2
Meeting Their Fates

Dinner felt awkward at Matt’s house. He could feel that his parents were unsettled. His dad kept glancing at the door, as though expecting a visitor, though he denied it when Matt asked him. Mum kept checking her watch whenever she thought Matt wasn’t looking. It made it very hard for him to finish his meal. The whole time he was sitting on the edge of his seat, replaying in his head the ‘camp’ conversation he’d overheard.

Knock-knock-knock

The whole family leapt in their seats at the banging on the front door. Matt watched his dad hastily throw down his napkin and leap from his chair. “I’ll get it!” he called, already out of the room.

Matt heard the door open and voices conferring. Mum was staring at him now, smiling and were those tears in her eyes?

Two large men walked into the dining room with his dad. They stared right at Matt and he knew instantly that this was it. In fact he’d known for a long time now, but for some reason he hadn’t let himself believe it, hadn’t acted. Now it was too late, they’d come for him.

“Matt honey, we’ve signed you up for a special summer camp,” his mum explained.

“One that picks you up without warning and in the evening eh?” he quipped.

“Please don’t fight it Matt. We only want what’s best for you,” she assured him.

“Come on buddy, I promise this’ll be okay,” Dad added.

Matt sighed and put down his fork. “Can I get dressed first at least?” he asked, looking over his t-shirt and boxers.

“The camp provides clothing, no need to bring your own,” one of the strange men asserted.

Matt shrugged and got up, a feeling of utter despair and defeat coming over him. One of the men took his elbow, guiding him to the door. He managed to stop and slip on his jandals at least before they pulled him outside. The second man followed him closely in case he tried to escape. Mum and dad just stood on the doorstep watching and waving goodbye. Then Matt was shoved into a waiting van and sat down in the middle row. There were several other teens in the van, all looking quite shocked. Some just stared vacantly ahead, but one young man said to him, “They got you too, huh?”

“Guess so,” Matt shrugged, and the door slammed shut.

**

Ryan was in his room lying back on his bed admiring an old copy of Hustler he’d managed to wrangle. His mum was pretty good at tracking his internet porn viewing but she’d forgotten about the old classics. Loud alternative music blasted at a nearly deafening level as he relaxed. This was just the way to spend an evening, lying on piles of dirty clothes in his dark, messy room with rock and porn.

The loud knocking on the door disturbed his thoughts and he threw the porn under his pillow before yelling, “Fuck off! I’m busy mum!”

The knocking continued, but louder. “Jesus, can’t I have some privacy in here!” he roared.

With a heavy kick the door swung open, nearly broken off its hinges. Ryan sat bolt upright, wondering if this was a robbery of some kind. But the burly man who entered was no robber. He wore a t-shirt for Camp Fresh Start. He stared coldly at Ryan and said, “Cut the music.”

Ryan turned the stereo off, leaving them in deafening silence. “Who are you?” he asked.

“I’m from the camp, your mother signed you up for a week’s stay. You need to come now,” he explained, no emotion in his voice.

Ryan knew the jig was up. He acted like a tough kid, but that was exactly what it was, an act. The façade of rebelliousness was gone in an instant. He nodded meekly and pulled on some black socks and his clunky skateboard sneakers. “Can I pack?” he asked.

“You need nothing. We provide everything. Let’s go,” he ordered, taking Ryan’s elbow.

Walking out of the house Ryan saw his mum standing by the door, smiling. “This is all for the best sweetie. You’ll be so much happier soon. You were a very sweet little boy when you were younger,” she told him.

Ryan couldn’t even begin to think of what to say to her. He just stared as he too was led to a van and shoved into his new life.

**

When they came for Chris it came as quite a shock to him. After all his years of careful behaviour, it all came to nothing. Mum and dad told him over dinner that he was going to camp for a week. They said the people who ran it would be picking him up any minute. Chris was left shaking his head in disbelief.

“How young?” he finally asked, finding his voice.

Mum stared at him a long moment before she answered. “Two and a half,” she finally admitted.

Chris couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “But I’ve been perfect!” he screamed, talking back for the first time. After all he had nothing to lose now.

“Yes you have,” Mum agreed. “And this way you’ll stay perfect.”

“That’s younger than him!” Chris exclaimed, gesturing to Natie, naked with a cowboy hat this time, galloping around the living room pretending to be riding a horsy.

“Yes and that way you can be his little brother again,” mum explained.

“Forever?” Chris asked, afraid of the answer.

“We’ll see,” Mum replied vaguely.

He couldn’t hear anymore. Chris raced up to his room leaving mum and dad crying after him. He was hyperventilating up there, pacing back and forth, filled with rage. He broke things, punched his pillows and bed. Then he heard a car door open and shut nearby. They were here. Abandoning his cute image Chris looked for something mature to wear, but nothing in his wardrobe fit. Finally he donned the most mature outfit he had, his school uniform. He pulled on the pale blue polo shirt and knee-length grey shorts. Then he slid on his wool knee-socks and his polished black leather shoes.

Without so much as a knock the door to his room swung open, a large man in a camp t-shirt beckoning him forward. Chris stood straight and nodded, facing his fate like a man.