The Abomination

The Abomination By Elton Camp “Abomination! Abomination!” the preacher stormed “A child of hell is all such a one will ever be! It’s a choice one makes to serve the evil Satan.” “Amens” rang out from the congregation Young Jody dropped his head and diverted his eyes Could it be that they somehow knew, he wondered Was the sermon written and delivered just for him? The horrible secret was too much for him to bear It wasn’t something he had asked for or wanted And why it had to be him he couldn’t understand Life had been happy and he had fit right in Raging hormones had awakened his deep shame He began to feel desires he never knew existed The boys’ bawdy talk held, for him, no allure They must be concealed no matter what it took Jody could never share his feelings with anyone Inexplicably, the other youngsters seemed to know “What makes you want to be a ***?” they demanded Angry denials were the only course open to him How much he detested their sneers and words! Jody was in the seventh grade, but his life was over Those who had once been friends shunned him now He found his father’s pistol in the desk drawer A searing pain and his disgrace existed no more (This is not an endorsement of homosexuality, but a call for understanding for those in a dilemma not of their making.)