Did you catch Monday's feature of this month's Classic story, Someday Out of the Blue by LittleBuddhaTW? We shared the ad and a graphic you can add to your signature, plus a glowing review from a fan. If that didn't convince you to read the story, how about this excerpt below? 

I picked this excerpt because I wanted to point out all the drama this poor guy is going through. And, while most teenagers think they have a lot to shoulder under or face burdens that feel super dramatic and heavy, Connor really does. But, like so many other teens, he thinks he has life under control. He can handle it. He knows what's best... or does he? 

Quote

 

Now I was really starting to get pissed. I hated it when other people thought they knew what was best for me. I'd been taking care of myself and making decisions for myself for the past several years, and I thought I'd done just fine. Sure, it was a really crappy life, but it was my life, and I wasn't about to have someone else going and making decisions for me, especially when it came to taking me out of my home and sending me who knows where. I could even end up someplace worse. And for whatever odd reason, I didn't want my mother to get into trouble either. She may have been a druggie and beat on me from time to time, but since my grandmother died, she was all I really had left. She certainly wasn't a pleasant woman, but at least she was familiar.

So I wasn't going to stand for these kind of threats from Maggie, and I was going to let her know.

"I said my life was fine," I retorted. "There's no reason to call Social Services. I just wish people would leave me alone. I've been doing fine for the past six years. You don't understand anything about me or my life, so please just butt the hell out of it."

My voice was growing steadily angrier, and the look that came across Maggie's face was a mixture of shock and anger. Well, that was just tough, because I had to set her straight about a few things. I hadn't asked Ryan to bring me back to their house, and I certainly didn't ask him to take Maggie to my house. This was absolutely none of their business. My "family problems" were just that, my problems. Case closed.

"Does your mother hit you?" she asked me pointedly, continuing her interrogation.

"No, she doesn't," I lied. I knew that was a sure fire way to have me taken away.

She apparently didn't believe me, so she turned to Ryan and asked, "Ryan, have you ever seen any signs of abuse on Connor?"

Ryan looked over at me sheepishly, then back to his mother.

"No, ma'am," he said.

I wasn't sure if he'd seen me with the black eye that one time, but if it really was one of his friends who ended up taking it out on Trent Lomax, then he had to have heard about it. Was he trying to cover for me? Probably not, I figured. He was in on this with his mother anyway, and after the way he'd been treating me for the past six weeks or so, I didn't think he would suddenly try being a "friend" to me. He just mustn't have noticed it, or assumed it was Trent's doing.

"See," I jumped in, "I'm not an abused kid. There's no reason to take me out of there. So she doesn't care about me that much. That's not a reason to take me out of my home if I don't want to go. It's not a crime."

"What about drugs, Connor? Does she use drugs?" she asked.

"No, she doesn't use drugs either," I lied, again. That was the number two reason they could take me away from my mother's home. I'd been through this little charade before, and always managed to talk my way out of it. I could do it again this time.

Just as Maggie looked like she was going to continue her interrogation, I started coughing loudly again. It must have sounded pretty awful, because Maggie's expression changed quickly from anger to concern. It must have been the doctor side of her.

"Connor, are you okay? Ryan said you were sick. That cough doesn't sound very good."

"I'm fine. I didn't ask Ryan to bring me here. It's just a little cold, and I don't need or want you all taking pity on me or trying to take care of me or anything. I can take care of myself!" I spat.

With that said, and still unable to stop coughing, I got out of bed, grabbed my clothes off the floor, and made a beeline for the bedroom door. Before I could get out, though, Toby stopped me, grabbing me in a bear hug.

"Please, Connor," he whispered into my ear. "Please don't go again. I'll make her leave you alone, just please don't go, please!"

I struggled to get away, but he just held me tighter, and with the fact that my cold had sapped nearly all the strength out of my body, I could hardly struggle much anyway.

"Just let me go!" I pleaded. "I don't want to be here. I'm fine. I just wanna go home!"

Those were the words that were coming out of my mouth, but part of me didn't want Toby to let go of me either.

"Please, Connor, don't do this," Toby continued to beg. "I love you, please don't go. I know you can't love me the way I love you, but please just do this one thing for me and stay, just for now. Please."

SHIT!!! He just had to pull that one on me. Not fair. Not fair at all.

 

Want to read more? Click here.