The Not-So Perfect Life of Callum Mountford - Rachael Courtenay (the reading strategies book TXT) 📗

(Author's Note: Sorry about this little note here, but please remember that this isn't - hopefully - a true story. Any names used in it, sorry if they're yours but they were just randomly generated by two of my friends and I. The story is said in the role of Callum himself, but a lot of what happens in here hasn't happened to anyone I know in real life, just as a little reminder, though, this kind of stuff does happen. Warning, aswell, there are some parts of the book that you'll come across that some people might not appreciate, so I apologise in advance. On with the book!c; )
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This is the first time anyone will hear the full story.
I never thought anyone would understand - I knew no one who had gone through what I had. They never understood back then, why would they now? But I know it's about time people heard what really happened all those years ago. It's time to stop bowing down to defeat and stop living a lie. To admit to myself and everyone else the truth. Maybe some people would be sympathetic?
No.
I never wanted that, nor did I ever need it. No sympathy, no pity. I guess I should get all of this over with.

As guessed from the title of the book, I'm Callum Mountford. At the time I'm writing this, I'm eighteen years old, and been stuck in a foster care since the age of thirteen. Now I'm legally an adult, I can do basically anything I want, right? Within legal boundaries, of course.

The first thing I'll do as an adult? Write this book. Publish it, put it everywhere.
My story.
The truth.
Show everyone what really happened. Who they were really insulting all that time.

Let's start from the beginning, shall we?
How about we go, six years back, so a small, happier, twelve year old me.

My life used to be perfect. That day - that one day, that one day I now wish I had missed - started off wonderfully. No trouble at school, and I had gotten into the same classes as my two best friends: Ethan and Sarah. It may not seem much, but to an anti-social child, it was the world.
It was when I arrived back home that things changed.

I'd walked through the door, late again, to be welcomed by hushed whispers and then silence. Quickly, yet almost silently, I chucked my bag and coat to the floor, wandering into the living room. My younger sister, Sophie, gave me a huge grin, still on the sofa.
"Sorry I'm late," I mutter, taking a seat beside Sophie. My older brother, Kevin, stood silently in the doorway, nodding his head at me as his own form of a greeting.

My two siblings were complete opposites. If anyone who didn't know us saw us all together, they'd never come to the conclusion we were related in any way. Sophie was a giddy, smiley, blonde-haired seven year old. Kevin however, was a complete depressant compared to her. His long, dark brown hair swept over his eyes, and it had been years since I'd heard a non-sarcastic laugh leave his lips. At the time, he was sixteen - a good nine year difference between him and Sophie, for those who didn't realise.

"So, Call," my dad began. I watched as he mentally prepared his own little speech to give me. His forehead creased, and his frown-lines were more apparent. My mother was no better, if anything she looked mad - I've no idea how Sophie turned out so happy with parents like ours.

"Wow Dad, what is it?"I asked after minutes of silence, a hugely sarcastic tone in my voice. In honesty I was slightly worried and impatient by now, but I refused to show the worried side. I glanced at each of my parents in turn.

"For God's sake, spit it out and tell the boy,"my mother muttered, venom dripping from her voice, as she looked briefly in my dad's direction.
He rolled his eyes when she looked away before answering.

"We're going to Florida - only short-term, test it out, because... I've been offered a job there!" My father had not a hint of enthusiasm in his voice, or eyes, despite my mother's smile - which was extremely rare.

Although this would seem an amazing opportunity... For my family, it wasn't.

"Isn't this wonderful Callum?"-I flinched at that; she knew I hated being called Callum. It was always

'Call'.
"A fresh start, eh? Away from all those awful rumours of you - my son! - being gay!"she continued, scoffing the last part, and leaving me disgusted with her. But still, she carried on. "My son! Gay! They should know I raised you better than that!"
I was boiling with anger the moment she uttered those words.

"Really? They aren't rumours, mother. You fucking homophobic bitch - and that's all you are! How dare you judge me, and anyone else? How fucking dare you? You've not got a kind or loving bone in your body, how can you physically believe you could raise children? How is being gay bad anyway? You're nothing, and know nothing,"I spat. By this time I was stood up, screaming my heart out. "You heard me: nothing. Fuck Florida, and fuck you!"

I ran up the stairs, my heavy footsteps slamming hard against the wood, throwing everything in sight that I could. My family were still silent downstairs, probably in shock. I'd never acted like that before - though Kevin would probably be proud of me in his own weird way.

~

Before I knew it, I had trashed my room, and my mother was banging on my bedroom door, which was locked from the inside and blocked by desk.
"Callum James Mountford!" she screamed, fear and anger evident in her voice. "Get this fucking door open, and get out here!"

I was in that room for a total of eight hours.

Publication Date: 03-09-2013

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
To Shannon O'Dwyer and Abbey Gingell, who gave me the idea to start and finish this book.