"I got these off the black market, so they should work. Just sprinkle a bit of this in his drink or food and his testosterone levels will skyrocket. Spent a pretty penny on these shits," Mr. Monihan explains as he places the brown paper bag on the counter next to the stove.
His wife shifts uncomfortably while stirring her pot. She doesn't make eye contact with her husband but he can sense her fear.
"I don't know if I feel comfortable drugging our son, William. What if these drugs hurt him? So what he's a little feminine, it isn't hurting anyone," she pleads.
"Isn't hurting anyone? Ros the boy is a danger to himself and the community! He's been this way since birth. We've put this off for far too long, I mean the boy is in high school now. Do you really want to send him off into the real world like this?" He replies angrily.
"Like what, Will? There is nothing wrong with Jett," she whispers firmly.
"Stop denying it, Ros and open your damn eyes. The boy is gay! He's gotten beat up for it in middle school and we got shunned so bad by the community that we had to move. Now ain't no one electro-shocking my son but good ole fashion drugs never hurt anybody. Now he's gonna cut that sissy shit out but he clearly can't do it on his own," He shouts as his wife listens with her eyes closed.
He softens his voice as he tries to get through to his wife.
"Honey, I know drugging him seems like the wrong choice but he won't take them willingly. He needs help and as his parents, it's our job to give it to him. You have to do what's best for him Ros. Do you want him to be a faggot or a functional member of society? He has a disease and those are cured with medicine. If you refuse or that doesn't work then we're gonna have to take drastic measures. Let's hope it doesn't come to that. It's up to you because the boy is a lost cause," He concludes before kissing his wife on the cheek.
He puts on his jacket as he heads out the door. Mrs. Monihan turns off her stove but stands motionless as she listens to the sound of her husband's truck leave the driveway. She fixes three plates, wrapping one up to place in the fridge. She opens the brown paper bag hesitantly to see 2 months worth of pills. They are in the conventional packaging but she knows they weren't supplied by a legitimate doctor. She sees the sloppily written instructions on a note card taped to the inside of the bag. She takes two of the small, white tables before crushing them on the table. She scoops the powder into her hand, but can't seem to bring herself to put them in his food. She sighs while clenching the substance inside her tiny fists.
"Jett, it's dinner time baby boy. Come get it while it's hot!" She yells to her teenaged son.
He skips down the stairs before doing a very coordinated twirl when he reaches the bottom. On the opposite side of the counter, she steps on the can as she prepares to throw out the drugs cupped inside her hand.
"You have no idea how hungry I am. Puberty is just so tedious dontcha think mommy?" Jett muses as he grabs a plate and pulls it towards him.
They look up and smile at each other but Ros' smile fades quickly. Her heart stops when she sees the fresh scar on his lip, even though it doesn't compare to the puffy blue space around his left eye. She removes her foot so that the lid of the trash can snaps closed. She furrows her brow as she stares at her beautiful injured son who didn't deserve to be hurt this way.
"Mama are you alright?" Jett questions while standing up.
"Go wash your hands, sweet pea," She replies after a moment.
"Oh, I already-"
"WELL DO IT AGAIN!" She shouts causing him to jump.
He mumbles something about her being a crazy old woman as he leaves the kitchen but she ignores it. She quickly leans over and empties the contents of her palm into his mash. She gives it a good stir so he can't see it. She sits back down and pushes his plate back as soon as she hears the water stop. He retakes his seat across from his mother as he reaches over to grab her hands. He winces as he closes his eyes to say grace, but she never takes her eyes off of her son. He says amen before picking up his fork. He scoops a hearty helping of potatoes on his fork because those are his favorite food so they're always the first to go.
"WAIT!" She cries out suddenly as he pauses with his fork in midair.
He looks at her while waiting to hear what she has to say. She hesitates while thinking about the talk she had with her husband before he went back to work. She contemplates the risk of giving her son a foreign drug. She takes a quick glance at her sons bruised face before making a mental adjustment to her moral compass.
"Blow it so you don't burn yourself," she sighs in a motherly tone.
Her stomach turns as she watches him eat his dinner. She slowly picks at hers while hoping she made the best decision.
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