Marie

My son went to great lengths to refuse anything that was given to him due to our wealth. He said that since he had done nothing to earn it he couldn't accept it. He didn't even accept my help when he moved out, the only furniture that he took was a dresser that he had bought the money he had saved from working at a coffee shop and a bed that was an heirloom from my father. He cut himself off then. He kept in touch with his sister and an uncle on his father’s side but that was it. He would come over on birthdays and holidays but only for dinner, then he would be gone. In and out of my life like a ghost, an ethereal being who would haunt my dreams for weeks at a time. His appearance changing slightly each time he came around; gauged ears or a new tattoo, long hair or a buzz cut, it seemed as if his skin was the only thing in his life that he wasn't content with. He called after each time that he would get another piercing or tattoo, But no matter how much I hated it; the fact that my gorgeous son, my one and only little boy was making himself out to be one of the dregs society; I loved to hear from him. Whether it was him calling to tell me that he went up a size in his ears, or to tell me that he was getting a tattoo of a diamond ring with the word mother engraved into it. It meant that my son was choosing to involve me in his life.

Thomas

Brian killed himself. No matter what anyone says that’s what happened. I wish that we could have convinced James of that though. He was the one that found him; he came home one day and found his car, running in the garage. James blamed himself for it happening. I don't know why he shouldered it all, five of us were living in that house, and none of us had a clue as to just how depressed Brian was. He kept it all inside, Brian was hard to read to begin with but he was always around laughing and smiling with the rest of us, never letting on. Maybe that’s why James took it so hard; he could always relate to everyone, he made it a goal in life to be the guy who everyone could rely on, the guy to whom they could go to any day of the week and just unload. But not Brian, James tried but Brian just kept on shirking it, he kept on avoiding him till James just gave up. It changed him, from then on James was a little different when Brian came around. It was almost as if he knew what Brian was planning and there was nothing that anyone could do to stop it; it just didn't hit James till he came home that day. He spoke at Brian’s wake, it was beautiful and from the heart, just like James.

Eric

I loved living with James. We started sharing an apartment the summer after our senior year. I was getting the boot and James wanted to get as far away from his family as possible. In all the years we lived together he never explained why that was. I knew that his family had money but James never really took advantage of it. Our place was a hole in the wall on the wrong side of town but James loved it. I don't think he left the house for anything but work for the first couple weeks we were in there. I don't know how he did it. We had nicknamed it the cave, it had these ugly brownish green walls and no matter how many lamps we had going, it always seemed like we were in candle light. It was barely big enough to bring more that one or two people over at a time. But it seemed like every night James was inviting a different person over to give them the tour, which pretty much could be done by standing in the middle of the living room/kitchen and turning around in a circle. James loved doing it though; I think that its cause that apartment was the first thing that he had ever got on his own. Everything his entire life had been given to him, but that apartment, that was his freedom. He no longer had to deal with a family that was pushing him to be something he wasn't. He could just sit on the couch and stare at the hole in the entertainment center that should have been filled with a TV and smile to himself. I don't think I've ever enjoyed living with anyone more than I did with James, even though it was only for a few short months before I went to college. James taught me more about being content with what life gives you than I ever thought possible.

Emily

James and I had a rough childhood. Dad was always away on business and Mom dealt with it by drinking away the lonely nights. At least she wasn't screwing the mailman... Anyways when Dad was home he would treat me like a princess and James like a soldier who refused to stay in line. Sometimes I'd catch him plotting out escape routes from the house, figuring out whose house he could stay at on what night. There would be weeks at a time where he would just go straight up to his room if Dad were home. That is until James turned 15, that’s when he hit back. Dad flipped, he and James went upstairs and I heard it start the usual way. Dad found something out of place and immediately would blame James; the shouting started and then stops with a thud. Not this time though, the shouting stopped but the thud sounded deeper, heavier almost. That’s when I heard the walls break and mirrors shatter, and then it was over for a moment. James had knocked out Dad and was standing over him his back to the stairs. Then he just turned around came downstairs and started eating dinner again. Dad left after that, I only saw him a couple times over the next few years, James never did.

The End

Emily:


Who are these people? I don't even know who half of them are. Do they even realize where they are? Shit. I knew something like this would happen. These two worlds can never mesh cohesively. James would make it work though. I wish he were here, he would just slide in smoothly making sure mom's friends and his friends were getting along and just to rile things up probably slip in a conversation that would be sure to make mom and dad shit themselves. God I love that kid.


Big Rob


Look at this crowd; I never thought I'd see this happen. High class people hangin out with gutter punks like us. Kinda makes me wish I had a suit, not really. Ha! Me in a suit, the simple fact that I'm in a tie should be good enough. Some of the guys could probably pull it off, but me? No way. Oh, well time to find everyone. Is that James' sister? I think I'll go introduce myself.


Rachel


God why am I here? James and I just met not two weeks ago, and he never could get my name right. Then again a lot can happen in one short week. Especially in a town like this, time seems to move slower here, maybe it’s the cliques. Everyone talking just to their circle, never really taking the opportunity to meet those below them. People like me.


Mom


How did James ever meet these people? I knew I should have sent him to college out of state. Somewhere Ivy League, where McCanny's truly belong. Too late now. I've lost him to the dregs, to the outcasts, how could I have ever have chased him away like this? How could I have been so foolish?


Clyde


Nice place. Too bad it’s full of pricks. Oh well at least I got to pull my suit out for the occasion. Man what I would give to be able to twist the sticks these old farts have up their asses. This isn't really the place to do that though, just not right considering. Now where could a man find a drink to ease the mingling process?


Father Pat


Oh buddy there's a lot of people here. I think it'd still be best to let everyone settle before I begin. James sure has been gone a long while now, and no one expected him to come back like this. But then again he did say that when he came back he'd be bringing friends home. I just don think he meant it like this. Well I guess I had better get things stated. "Friends, family, and loved ones, we are here today to celebrate the life, of young James McCanny..."

Clyde

I think the first time that I met James was when we were both in High school. He transferred from Van Buren High to American Legion halfway through our Junior year. It was weird. One day he wandered into my first period physics class and sat down like he belonged there. We all just looked at him like he was crazy the teacher included. He just looked back that stupid grin on his face disarming us with his charm. I don't think he was really even supposed to be in the class. That’s what we all love about him. James never cared whether or not he was accepted; he would keep coming around, showing the rest of us what it meant to live life to the fullest.