A Story for the Ages

I guess it was a brave thing to do. Everyone had to try give an inspirational speech for a contest, and the school was really hoping one of its students would win this contest. Half were rather weak, and every student was made to at least attempt. Most students came up with unbearable drivel that didn't even come close.

The announcement came over the speakers. Five students were through to the live speech making. Most of the schools involved were sending 30 students.
"Our winners, going through to the next round, are Mylene from Mrs Roslyn's class, Lupe and Kyle from Mr Mufflin's class and Capriccia and Otis from Mr King's class."
There was an eerie silence as people in the respective classes turned to look at the winners. Lupe looked overjoyed, but Kyle was hiding his face. He didn't want to read out the speech again to new people. It was too much. It was personal. He asked to not have to go, but the school insisted he went, so reluctantly, he went and read his speech out again.

It would be the end of it after they saw how nervous he was and how uncomfortable he was with it all. At least the sooner he did it, the sooner he could have it over and done with and just burn the damned thing. The judges would only choose one student per school, and he doubted it would be him.

One month later, he got a letter. It was his speech being returned to him, with a letter.

Kyle Bloodworth-Thomason

In regards to your entry to the state-wide school 'Inspire The Students' competition, we have selected one student per entrant school and are delighted to inform you that you have been chosen as the representative for Galaxy Hills Middleschool.

He stopped reading there, screwing the paper into a ball and throwing it away. He put the speech aside, hoping this time there would just be one person who would have no impact.

Upon rereading the letter to get the details, he found it said minor additions could be made for show, as this speech was to have a large audience and big impact. Well, that was the point where the panic set in, because no amount of acting would make him seem okay with this. The entire school was coming to see, and his parents had been told. At least there was no way they would be there, he thought as the whole school was driven to the venue where he would have to pour his heart out to millions of strangers.

Only there they were, ready to greet their son and wish him luck. He watched the other students go before him and then he was called up. "Our next contestant is student Kyle Bloodworth-Thomason of Galaxy Hills Middleschool with his speech 'Every Lock on the Closet Door'." There were claps and cheers as he went onto the stage and stepped up to the microphone.
"I'm Kyle, and my speech...I..." He looked up, looking out at the audience and found the faces of his parents. "I can't do this!" He ran backstage again, pushing past everyone. A few people laughed, and in the audience, two boys got up and hurried to find their way outside again, because that was where Kyle was going.

He was leaning heavily against the wall, crossed arms, eyes closed. He was getting his breath back, and then he heard someone approaching. He opened his eyes, and only saw Fanboy, which was a relief...or maybe a curse. The last thing he needed right now was that fool messing with him.
"Kyle? Are you okay?"
He looked away. "I can't do that."
"What's so bad about it?"
He was ready to shout, but stopped himself. Fanboy knew nothing about it. "It's a sensitive subject. If I go on stage and say this in front of my parents I might as well pitch myself off a cliff."
Fanboy snatched the speech from his hands and read it, keeping Kyle away with a hand on his face as he tried to stop him.
"Woah...I didn't know you were like that."
"Shut up."
"But if you said you shouldn't let anyone rule your life with their thoughts, why're you so scared?"
"Because it's all nonsense."
"What is?"
"That you can just block it out and confidently-"
"It's about exactly the guy you are now compared to something totally different..."
He snatched the papers back. "What would you know?"
"Who's the guy you like then?"
"None of your business."
Fanboy came to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Want to know a secret? I'm gay too, and I've always had a crush on a guy I wasn't sure about, but now I know he's gay too. You know what? It's almost the best feeling in the world." He gave Kyle a quick kiss on the cheek. "Hurry back or you won't be able to say anything at all." He hurried back inside and Kyle stood there for the longest time before going in himself. Fanboy was talking to Scrivener elf, and they gave him encouraging looks. It would be mentioned in passing later that the Scrivener Elf, having known Kyle so long and knowing Kyle's secrets, had held Chum Chum back and asked Fanboy to go talk to him. It seemed he knew what he was doing.

Kyle was allowed back on the stage. Swallowing his nerves, he spoke.
"I've got a new introduction to this. I just have to say being part of the school I attend has been great for me, with the friends I've made I've really built the confidence I needed, and if it wasn't for them I would not be here, preaching to you about self-image. And that is what my speech is about.

A few years ago, I lived in England, attending a school at which I was ridiculed for being too frightened to be myself. I'd been taught that certain things were wrong beyond the pail as I grew up. My parents often did their best to hammer ideals into my head and mould me into the perfect boy, but they were disappointed when I was unceremoniously kicked out from a school they had worked very hard to get me into. I didn't care that much that so many people disliked me, as I thought that that was where I belonged, but I was wrong.

When I was eleven, my parents found they were no longer able to homeschool me due to extenuating circumstances, and they found somewhere to send me in the United States. I don't like being alone, but past experiences made me wary of other people. Without my parents there, controlling the order of my life, I was able to discover myself instead of force myself into this shape of the boy they wanted me to be. I felt I could relax, and the one thing that struck me was how friendly the people in Galaxy Hills were. Even the one person who punched me in the face on my first day of school, for the rest of the week she apologised profusely.  I remember one thing my parents believed quite strongly was that gay was not okay, and when I was by myself and learning who I was, I discovered a lot, including my own sexuality.  I've never been quite sure how I would react should I see my parents again, as one of the main things that stuck in my mind was gay is not okay, so I was not okay...

One thing I learnt here, however, is that I should never have let these thoughts hold me back. Now I am myself, now I've brought myself out of that mould, I am living a happier life. I have friends, and since I first wrote this speech I may have even found love. People who accept you for who you are are the only people who really matter. You should never ever let the thoughts of someone else rule the order of your life, because if someone else pulls the strings, that is not life, that is slavery. It is your life and it should be your choice how you live it, and as such you should do what feels right to you, not to everyone else. And you know what? To everyone who has ever seen fit to ridicule me, ever seen fit to tell me who I am is wrong, I am Kyle Bloodworth-Thomason! I am gay and I don't care what you think! You are all your own person. Love yourself and love each other, because the people who judge you aren't worth your time. It took me a very long time to learn that, to learn who is and isn't worth it, and I know who my friends are, and I know who to turn to...when I need them the most...even when I feel like being alone, those who truly care, who are clearly worth it, will still be there...but believe me, what I have learnt the most is it is best to be yourself rather than what people want you to be." He bowed, taking a deep breath. "As everyone before me gave a little show, I looked up a little song that could fit my speech." Another deep breath, a nervous swallow and then he started singing 'Let It Go' from Frozen. His voice wavered and was quiet, and as he reached the chorus another voice joined in, a very good voice, and when he looked, Fanboy was beside him, singing.