Date: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:21:09 -0800 From: Scott Stevens Subject: JUNIOR GOLF PRO CHAPTER 7 ADULT/YOUTH JUNIOR GOLF PRO Chapter 7 Friday December 23 1977 I was in the kitchen with my parents. Dinner was going to be ready in the next few minutes. My sister that was 3 years older than me came down the stairs and into the kitchen. She asked if she could go to a Christmas party at one of her friends. Her boyfriend would pick her up and drop her off so my parents did not have to drive. Our parents had some rules about parties. One of these rules was the parents must be home. Another rule was she had to be home by curfew which was midnight. Both my parents agreed that she could go. My mother asked my sister for the name and phone number of the parents of her friend, as she was going to call to make sure that they would be home. My sister said " don't bother calling because no parents were going to be home". Our father said you know the rules no parents, no party. The argument began. My sister was in a rage. Screaming about how unfair it was that all her friends were going but she could not. She continued to rant making our parents angry. Then it happened. "How come Scott dosen't have the same rules? He is 3 years younger than me and comes home most Saturday's after 1:00 am in the morning" My mother "Thats different he is out playing hockey, not at a party, or on a date where we don't what he is doing" My sister "You are both so stupid. Why do you think a University guy hangs with Scott. Just like that other creepy guy from the golf club, who use to be here all the time. There his boyfriends. Scott's a little fag who has you fooled" I felt the eyes of my parents on me. I yelled back at my sister to shut her mouth, you have know idea what your talking about. My sister " I saw you fag boy in the pool, then you kissed him in the driveway. You got to go away with your boyfriend for almost a week to some golf tournament, and I can't go to one shitty party with my boyfriend" My mother "Scott tell me this isn't true" By this time I was starting to cry. All I could say was its not true, she's lying, why are you doing this? My sister "Mom, Dad, think! Scott never talks about girls, never dates girls, he doesn't even have posters of girls in his room, why? Because he is a fag boy. He has been doing this for months right under your nose, your so stupid." I never saw the first punch as it plowed into my face. Bent over against the kitchen cupboards the kick to my stomach lifted me off my feet. From here things were a little fuzzy. My father screamed at my sister "Get to your room I will deal with you later" My father hit and kicked me as I tried to get up. My mother's voice sounded very distant "stop your going to kill him" The screaming of my parents continued. I recognized the slamming of our front door. I stumbled up the stairs to my room and locked my door. Shortly after my mother was knocking at the door wanting me to let here in. I remember telling her to just leave me alone. Knowing my father, when he came back I was going to get beaten again. My winter jacket and boots were in the front hall closet and I had no way to get them. I put on the warmest cloths I could find. Pulled on a hooded sweatshirt to cover my face. Stuffed some cloths into the small gym bag I had in my room. The only shoes I had in my room were trainers (not great for snow). I broke open my piggy bank and stuffed all the bills into my wallet. My bedroom was on the 2nd floor. I opened my window, through out the gym bag. I then turned off the lights leaving the door locked and backed my way out the window. Hanging by my fingers I dropped the rest of the way to the ground. I found the gym bag and headed for the mall, which was about 2 miles away. With every car that I heard coming I hide. It seemed to take me a long time to get to the mall. By the time I got there my feet were soaked and freezing. During my walk I had lots of time to think about what I was going to do. Gord was out of the question being in Eastern Canada. Keith was a thought but if I went there he would have to explain me and my face to his parents. Any of my friends from hockey or school would not work as they would call my parents. That left me with Alan. I had Alan's card in my wallet with his phone number, but I had no idea where he lived. I found an outside phone booth at the mall and looked up Alan's address. I decided to just get a taxi and go there as I had no other choice. I walked over to where the taxi's waited for shoppers and hopped into the first one. Taxi driver "Where to?" as turned to look at me. "Shit kid you need a hospital?" I told him no and gave him the address where I wanted to go . He asked "where's that" The only thing I could say was that I wasn't to sure where it was and asked if he could find out. He looked back at me as he picked up a Perlys street guide. After a few minutes he said. "kid that's the other side of the city, it will be at least a $30.00 cab ride!. Have you got that kind of money?" I pulled out my wallet and gave him 2 twenty dollar bills and just said "please take me there". He looked back at me and said "ok kid here we go". Outside of Alan's house there were alot of cars. All the lights were on and I could see people in the front windows. Taxi driver "looks like a Christmas party kid." I knew that I could not walk in looking like I did. It would be to hard on Alan, all the guests would be asking questions. I had to ask the taxi driver for help. "please can you go to the front door and ask for Alan.( I passed the driver his business card) tell him Scott Stevens is with you and needs him to come outside" The taxi driver agreed to help me. I waited at the bottom stair of Alan's front porch as the taxi driver rang the door bell. I heard Alans voice and looked up as he came down the stairs. "Jesus Christ Scott what happened" was what Alan said when he saw me. " Alan my dad beat the crap out of me, can I please sneak into your basement and hang out until your party is over" Alan "Scott you need a doctor." as he looked over my face. "I can't go to the hospital. They will call my parents and the police and that will only make things worse" The taxi driver was still standing there and said "kid I have to go, are you staying here." Alan turned to him and said "Yes he is staying here! How much do I owe you" Taxi driver as he began to walk away "the kid paid already. good luck kid" Alan "Shit Scott lets get you inside, go down the side of the house to the door. I will open it for you in a minute. Once I got downstairs Alan had a good look at my face. He told me I needed stitches above my left eye. He could see I was frezzing cold and wet. Alan got me some towels and told me to take off my wet cloths. I do have some dry cloths in my gym bag I told Alan. When I peeled off my last shirt I heard a gasp from Alan. Where I had been kicked and punched in the mid section, bruises and marks were beginning to show. We talked for a few minutes, I told him as much as I could. Then Alan said he had better return to the party before everybody started asking questions. He told me that one of the guests who was not there yet is a doctor. He would ask him to take a look at me when he arrived. Alan then told me Keith was also coming but not until a little later. I thanked Alan and told him I would be fine. I would just watch tv and stay quite. Alan gave me a hug, (which hurt) and went back upstairs to his guests. I finished getting out of my wet cloths and into dry ones. Next I went to the bathroom, I finally saw what a mess my face was. The flood of emotions, terror of what I was going to do next, and all that had happened took over. I sat in Alan's basement alone quietly crying. Some time later Alan returned with another man. Alan introduced me to Dr. Attwell. He took one look at me and said "this boy needs to be at a hospital". Alan and Dr. Attwell continued to talk, with Alan explaining why I could not go to the hospital. Dr Attwell looked at me again. Then said to Alan. "I could lose my license if I don't report this. You two are putting me in a very tough spot". Alan assured him that neither of us would ever say anything. Dr Attwell said to Alan. "Get my wife. I need to take Scott to my office to stitch his face." Alan thanking him, looked at me and said "Take your shirt off let Dr. Attwell see your ribs and stomach". Alan left to get the doctors wife. I pulled my shirt up over my head (which hurt like hell) and dropped it to the floor. Dr Attwell said "my god son you are a mess" I heard that familiar gasp again as Mrs Attwell walked into the room. Dr. Attwell told his wife to get the car and he would take me out the side door. Dr Attwell explained to his wife that they were going to take me to his office and fix me up as best they could and then come back to the party. I saw the look on her face. Dr. Attwell said "honey I know what I'm doing and will explain it to you in the car, just please get the car". After my visit to Dr. Attwells office. I went back in the side door of Alan's and down to the basement. I was not alone long as Dr Attwell, Alan and Keith came down stairs. Keith had the same reaction as everybody else. Then just wrapped his arms around me, kissing the top of my head. Dr. Attwell said to Alan and Keith. " Scott has a concussion. Do not let him sleep for more than 2 hours at a time without waking him for the next 24 hours. He has 22 stiches above his left eye. A mild break to his nose that I re-set. I think his lower left 2 ribs may have small cracks but until the swelling goes down I can't be sure. I have given him some pain killers to help him rest. There is nothing else we can do, he needs lots of rest and he will be fine in a few days. We all thanked him for taking care of me. Dr. Attwell said "I have no idea what your talking about this never happened. Alan get me a drink, I need one." He turned and went upstairs with Alan right behind him, leaving Keith and I alone. Keith had heard the majority of the story from Alan. Keith shocked me with the news that he had already spoken with my parents. They were told I was at a friends where my father could not find me. My parents were told that Scott will decide what he is going to do and when. If they go to the police about anything, photos of the beating my father gave me, would be given to the police and my father would be charged with child abuse. I felt a sense of relief that Keith and Gord were not going to get in trouble with the police. ( I would find out years later that my father had told Keith "keep the little fagot, I dont't care what happens to him"). Keith spent most of the night down stairs with me. He sat on the couch with my head in his lap as I dozed in and out of sleep. Before long Keith softly kissed my lips and said he would see me on boxing day (December 26 for all my American friends). Alan and Keith had already cleaned up from the party. Keith was heading home as it was already well past midnight. Alan took me upstairs and told me "Scott the only way I can wake you every 2 hours as Dr Attwell said is to have sleep in the guest room. I will change the alarm clock every 2 hours to make sure I come in and wake you" I asked Alan " If it's ok with you I would rather sleep in your bed, I don't want to be alone right now." Alan agreed to let me sleep in his bed. With some help from Alan I got undressed, my body was sore and swollen making it almost impossible for me to get my shirt and socks off by myself. Alan laughed out loud when my jeans came off and he saw me wearing bright red tightes. Alan covered me with the blanket. Then took of his cloths except for his boxers and slide in to bed. I curled into his side and said "Alan thanks for taking care of me" I never heard his answer as I feel asleep.