Chapter 4

Shivering, Ted got to his feet and stretched. He looked around, then went to the side of the clearing and pissed. He glanced down. Something caught his eye. It was a used condom. Ted felt panic run through him. He was reminded of the locker room rumors of gay men who looked for sex in the parks after dark. Then he remembered what Harold had said, loudly and often, about the gay perverts that preyed on children and teenage boys. What if they had come last night and found him sleeping there?

This is nuts, he thought, reminding himself that not all gay men were predators, just like not all straight guys would be classed that way. Why would I even consider what that homophobe stepfather of mine thinks or says?