Rhett William Myers

Rhett Myers was awakened by a swift kick to his backside. The 15 year old crocodile turned in his bed to see his older brother George Myers standing above him. Rhett swatted at his brother and made an angry groaning noise. Rhett was tired, he hadn’t slept well last night and being woke up so roughly wasn’t helping anything. George was dressed in his work clothes; a pair of boots, blues jeans, and a shirt that had the Chevrolet logo on it.

“It’s time for school. You need to get up.” George said.

George and Rhett looked similar, as brothers often do. George was taller, with broader shoulders. He was built like an athlete, because he used to be one. George Myers used to be a promising football player until a head injury made playing too dangerous for him. His dreams of playing football professionally were done for. Now he worked at Home Depot, mostly helping people get wood or tools down from high places and loading them into vehicles.

Rhett was shorter, a little on the stocky side. George stood at 6’ 2” and Rhett was only 5’ 11”. His interests weren’t as active as George’s so he was a little on the bigger side. Their faces held the most similarities but also held Rhett’s defining feature; his permanent scowl. Rhett Myers was always looking like he was mad about something. Most of the time he was. Like for instance: right now he was pissed about being kicked awake by his brother.

“Fine!” Rhett barked, pulling the blankets over his head. “Get out so I can get dressed. Don’t be watchin’ me like a queer.”

“You ain’t got to worry about that, dumbass.” George scoffed.

“Mama make breakfast?” Rhett asked as his brother headed for the door.

“Mama’s missin’ Ozzy this mornin’. We’ll get food on the way if ya want.” George offered.

George left Rhett’s room and closed the door behind him. Rhett got up and stretched his body. He didn’t feel like showering so he pulled his boxers off and tossed them on the floor before slipping into a fresh pair. Shirts were a different story. Most of what was in the closet didn’t belong to him. They belonged to his brother Ozzy who wasn’t around anymore. They used to share a room. He picked up a few shirts on the floor, smelling them. He picked up a wrinkled camouflage shirt and put it on, along with a pair of blue jeans. He reached for his nightstand and picked up his wood carving knife and tucked it into his pocket. Then he topped himself with his trusty hat that usually was resting on his nightstand, a camouflage cap with the confederate flag on the front.

Rhett sat on his bed and snatched up his boots. He pushed his left foot into the shoe and when his foot his the inside of the boot a loud “riiiiiip!!” erupted from his foot. The bottom of his boot had ripped off and was dangling by the sewn threads. “Red Hot” Rhett Myers stared at his ruined boot for a second before angrily yanking it off his foot and proclaiming “Got’ damn it!!” then throwing it at the floor. He begrudgingly put on a pair of sneakers.


The Myers boys were driving down the road in the family truck with biscuits in hand. They didn’t talk much. George and Rhett weren’t always the closest of brothers and recent developments exasperated that. Rhett had been brought home by the police one night for getting drunk and causing a bunch of ruckus, including pulling his knife on an officer. Rhett shouted at their mom and George didn’t like that.

“Mama goin’ to work today?” Rhett asked, his mouth full of sausage and eggs.

“Pretty sure she is.” George said.

“She can’t keep skippin’ work. It’s not like Oswald’s dead.” Rhett grumbled.

“Don’t be talkin’ about that around her. She feels bad enough as is.” George said.

Rhett scoffed instead of really responding. Two years ago their youngest brother Ozzy was taken by child protective services. Their father, Benjamin, beat all of them while they were growing up but Ozzy got it the worst. One night Be. Beat Ozzy so bad he was knocked unconscious and had to be taken to the hospital. Ever since then Ozzy has been living with their father’s cousin Ingrid Cassel in New York. Ever since then it was like their mother was half a person. She wouldn’t admit it but Ozzy was her favorite.

Their father was arrested and in prison serving a two years sentence that was almost up. This would be cause for celebration but Scarlett, their mother, seemed apprehensive about even letting Ben back in the house. That also put a strain between her and Rhett. Rhett loved his dad. Rhett knew his dad could be rough but he did that to make them strong. Ozzy was just a pussy who couldn’t handle it.

George pulled into the Crisp County High School parking lot and Rhett got out without much of a word. He knew George would pick him up when school let out on his way back to the house. Rhett sling his backpack over his shoulder and walked towards the school. Rhett didn’t like school. He wasn’t good at it. He mostly got Cs and the occasional B. That B was almost always in History. Hell, the only As Rhett ever got were in History.

The walk through the school parking lot was always a little perilous. Mostly it was due to some good ole boys driving their trucks like maniacs. As Rhett was waiting for one of said trucks to pass Rhett spied something on the ground. It was hunk of wood, most likely had fallen off the back of someone’s truck when they were hauling kindling. It had probably been kicked around for weeks given how ratty it looked. He walked over and picked it up.

He produced his knife and flicked the blade out. As he walked through the lot he raked his knife across it, clearing away the splinters and what little bark it had left. Rhett had taken up wood carving when he was young. He would use the crummy pocket knife his dad gave him and would file down pieces of wood into shivs, just because it was easy. Unfortunately he got caught in 6th grade. A teacher had seen a shiv he was working on sticking out of his pack and he got in trouble. He managed to avoid expulsion but he wasn’t allowed to carve any more shivs.

He didn’t know what he would use the hunk of wood for so he tucked it into his backpack and his knife into his pocket. He went in through the front entrance and instinctively scrunched up his shoulders as he moved through the densely packed school hall. Rhett heard the squeaking of rubber shoes hitting the floor, multiple conversations overlapping and turning into a minor dull roar. The further he got the more the students fanned out. Rhett’s locker was all the way at the other end of the hall. He put in his combination in and opened it up to switch out his books.

“Hey, Rhett.” A voice came from behind him accompanied by a pair of approaching footsteps.

“Hey.” Rhett greeted the voice without looking away from his locker.

Julian Michaels and Rick Hall were two of Rhett’s friends. Julian was the one who spoke up first. He tried to get his friend to call him “Jay” but it didn’t take. That just made his friends call him Julian even more. He was a possum, dressed similarly to Rhett, standard redneck clothes but no hat. Rick was a bone skinny coyote with gray fur. He was dressed even more hickish than his friends. He wore denim overalls and a shirt with a massive confederate flag on it. Julian went to his locker, but not Rick. Rick almost never brought his books, or paper, or pencils, or anything for that matter.

“Can I copy off you in Ms. Clark’s class?” Julian asked, stuffing his book into his bag.

“I don’t know why you always copy off Rhett. He’s barely passin’ it hisself.” Rick gave a dumb chuckle.

“Rick, I’m surprised you managed to stop fuckin’ your mom long enough to come to school today.” Rhett growled.

“Don’t you sit by that smart black guy?” Rick asked Julian, disregarding Rhett. “Copy off him.”

Rhett froze in place as his friends mentioned the “smart black guy”. He knew who they were referring to. Rick and Julian were solely focused on their dumbass conversation to notice.

“He sits behind me, numb-nuts.” Julian corrected him. “I hate that nigger anyway. He’s always rolling his eyes at me.”

“Better be careful then,” Rick laughed. “I heard he’s a queer too. I heard he was caught suckin’ somebody off behind a 7-11.”

“Would you two shut up!?” Rhett snapped, speaking up. “It is too Got’ dang early for you two be talkin, about people suckin’....stuff!”

Rhett angrily closed his locker and stormed off down the hall. Rhett’s hear was beating in his chest out of fear. He zig zagged through the student traffic, trying to get to his first period as fast as he could. His first class was on the first floor so at least he didn’t have to deal with stairs yet. He turned the corner and as he was approaching the door to his class he saw him.

He saw Rhett too. Approaching from the opposite end of the hall was the “smart black guy” Rick was talking about. Chance Washington. Chance was in the same grade class as Rhett.  Chance was a tall and thin weasel with black fur aside from a small patch of white atop his head. He was dressed well today, a white shirt and black tie with matching dress shoes. The two of the, walked forward until they were standing across from each other on either side of the door to their class.

“Good morning, Rhett.” Chance spoke up first.

“Mornin’.” Rhett nodded. “What are you all dressed up for?”

“I have a presentation later. Mr. Allen makes us get all dressed up for them.” Chance explained, fussing with his tie a little.

Rhett, feeling more than a little uncomfortable attempted to walk into class but was stopped by Chance. “Could we have lunch together?” Chance asked. “I think we need to talk.” Rhett’s scowl Claire’s up and his face got red. He had the gall to ask him this in public?! Rhett angrily pushes Chance’s hand away.

“Where the fuck do you get off askin’ me that in public?” Rhett seethed, clenching his teeth.

Chance took his hand away cautiously, not wanting to offend Rhett further. “Sorry. I just think we should talk about...whatever is on your mind.” Chance said, trying to have some tact. “We can walk off campus and I’ll buy you some food. Sound good?”

Rhett’s face was still burning. “Fine.” He said. “Just don’t talk to me until lunch.”

“Not hard. This is the only class we have together before lunch after all.” Chance snarked.

“Shut it.”


Chance’s proposition had made class almost impossible to pay attention to. Every single one of them. It was like receiving a text that said only “We need to talk”. The ominous dread weighed him down until the fourth period bell rang. He got up from his desk after spilling his supplies into his bag. Rhett saw his lump of log that he had stashed in there. He stared at it for a moment and took it out before walking back to his locker to toss his bag in.

Rhett tucked himself away outside the cafeteria as he waited for Chance. He killed his time whittling away at the lump of log. He still had no idea what he was going to carve it into. When he didn’t know he always shaved off wood until it was in an egg shape. Then he would stare at it until he had an idea. He turned it around in his hand, run his thumbs up and down it, and even placed it against his forehead. He groaned as he strained his mind. Few things frustrated him like wanting to create something and not having any ideas.

“What’s with the egg?” Chance asked, peeking around the corner.

“It’s nothin’!” Rhett said holding the wood egg out of sight. “I....I just...I like to make wood carvins’.”

“Oh! That’s really cool, Rhett.” Chance said, genuinely. Smiling nicely. “Maybe you could show me some of them?”

“I don’t like doin’ that...” Rhett sulked, blushing again.

“Oh. Well, that’s fine.” Chance said, disappointed a little. “You wanna get going?”

Rhett nodded and they were on their way. There was a Burger King a few yards from the school so they decided that would be the best place to go. The cafeteria food at their school was nothing to write home about. They walked in relative silence. Chance occasionally tried to speak up and say what he needed to say but Rhett would always deflect or say “Can it until after we eat?” Chance’s ear flattened to his head. He wanted so badly to talk to him. Really talk to him, not just make small talk.

They got their food. Rhett only a drink and small cheeseburger off the dollar menu. He wasn’t about to sap a man’s wallet. Chance got a bag of chicken nuggets and a drink as well. They sat on the side of the road as they ate. Rhett stared ahead, not even looking at Chance. Chance was looking at him though.

“Rhett...” Chance spoke up. “Why won’t you talk to me?”

Rhett noticeably tensed up. He aggressively bit into his burger and chewed. He turned his head away from Chance.

“Rhett.” Chance said, sounding hurt. “Is this about what happened at-“

“Shut up.” Rhett said sternly, with food in his mouth. “You know people are talkin’ about you.”

“I’m black, gay and I live in Georgia. People are always talking about me so you’re going to have to be more specific.” Chance said but was cut off as soon as he said “gay”.

“Don’t say that shit out loud, Chance!” Rhett objected as soon as the word Gay came out of Chance’s mouth.the two ended up talking over each other. “People are sayin’ you were.....usin’ your mouth on people.”

“.....what?” Chance asked, dumbfounded at what’ve was hearing. “Rhett, what does that have to do with-“

“Because if people are talkin’ about you then it’s not too long before they talk about me!” Rhett cut him off again.

“Rhett!”  Chance said through gritted teeth, getting frustrated. “Do I really need to explain why that’s not true? Rhett, you were there. You know that’s not-“

“Don’t say that out loud! I do not want people thinkin’-“

“It was a hug, Rhett!” Chance yelled over him. “I hugged you. That’s all that happened. Nothing inappropriate of any sort happened that night. You know that.”

“Well why the hell did you have to go and do that, huh?” Rhett asked, starting to get mean. “Guys aren’t supposed to be huggin’ each other unless they’re family and we sure as shit ain’t related!”

Chance was hurt. He angrily balled up his trash and threw it at Rhett, hitting him in the side of the head. Rhett wasn’t phased by the piece of paper hitting him. He didn’t even yell at him.

“I hugged you because you were crying, Rhett. You were crying and drunk and I wanted to make you feel better!” Chance said, his voice cracking.

“Would you stop bein’ such a-“ Rhett stopped him and groaned, putting his face in his hands.

“A what?” Chance asked angrily. “Stop being such a faggot? Or were you going to call me a nigger like your shitty little friends?”

“Now you listen here!” Rhett objected. “I don’t say shit like that!”

“No, you just hang out with people who do.” Chance countered.

“I....now you just...” Rhett rubbed the side of his head and screamed. “Why are you makin’ such a big deal out of all this?!”

“Because I like you!” Chance shouted. “I like you a lot, Rhett. And it fucking kills me how you can’t see that. Maybe you don’t want to see it. I don’t know, Rhett. I just know I’m done.”

Chance began to walk down the street, walking back to school. Rhett felt panic well up from inside him. He got up and wanted to walk to Chance but his legs wouldn’t move. He just watched as the weasel got further and further away from him. He suddenly felt sick. Why couldn’t he speak up? It was too late. Chance was took far away to hear. Rhett sat down on the side of the road again. He felt so shitty. Dear god, what did he do?


George came by to pick Rhett up as soon as class was over. The two brothers rode home in silence, even with George asking his younger brother questions about his day. His shell was on tight tonight. Scarlett wasn’t home when they arrived at their abode as she was at work. Rhett made a beeline for his room and close the door.

Being alone. Being secluded like this. It’s like all the feelings that had been building up throughout the day just flushed out of him.  Rhett was crying like someone had turned a faucet on in his head. He dropped his bag to the floor and buried his face in his pillow to keep quiet. He felt so humiliated. He was crying like a little girl. His dad would be so ashamed. Rhett almost never cried, even when he broke his wrist when he was twelve he managed to choke back tears. Why did this hurt so much more?

Hurt. So much hurt. In his chest. In his stomach. He felt like he was going to throw up. Why did he care so much about what Chance had said to him? Why did he feel so weird around him? Why couldn’t he just understand? Rhett shut these questions out of his mind. He couldn’t face them yet. He rubbed his face into the pillow, drying his tears with it.

Rhett couldn’t remember the last time he cried. He felt a kind of clarity when the worst of it was over. He looked around his room and his eyes fell upon the wooden egg he had spent all day carving and mulling over. He blinked a few times and reached over for it. He took it in his hand and looked it over again. Rhett’s eyes went wide when an idea struck him. He sat up in bed and flicked his knife out. He began to feverishly cut chunks of the wood off.


The next day came along eventually. Rhett was up and dressed before George even came in to wake him up. The drive was quiet. George could tell something was on his brother’s mind but he decided to let it lie for right now. Rhett didn’t feel like talking yesterday so he probably wasn’t any different today. George dropped him off without a word and Rhett made a beeline for his locker.

“Mornin’.” Julian said, walking up to Rhett as he was changing out his books. “Hey, what the hell were you doin’ with Chance at lunch yesterday?”

“He was tellin’ me your sister is havin’ a discount this week.” Rhett said closing his locker and walking off.

“Discount....” Julian said, not quite understanding but then his eyes got wide. “Hey!”

Rhett had to run into Chance before class started. If he didn’t then he would have to wait until lunch to give it to him. He weaved through the students while his heart beat in his chest. He felt engaged in a way he hadn’t ever since his dad left. Rhett had trouble caring about this these last few years but he cared today. He had stakes again.  He turned the corner.

There he was. Rhett had moved much faster than yesterday so he caught Chance as soon as he entered the building. Chance caught Rhett in his view and stopped. Rhett stopped too, suddenly feeling very anxious. He worried that what happened yesterday would happen again, where he wouldn’t be able to move even though he wanted to. His legs felt like they were made of lead by he took a step, and then another. He was walking toward Chance.

“Chance.” Rhett said, approaching him.

“What?” Chance said, clearly still upset with him. Rhett didn’t blame him.

“I have something I want to give you. Is that okay?” Rhett asked.

“You...want to give me something?” He asked, cocking his head to the side.

“Follow me.” Rhett requested.

Rhett and Chance slipped into a staircase. Most people were in class right now so the two of them were alone. Rhett opened up his backpack and reached inside. “I was bein’ an ass yesterday.” Rhett said as he dug around for it. “I’m real sorry. I wanna give you this.”

Rhett produced a wood carving that was narrow enough to fit in the hand and was a little bit taller than a PEZ dispenser. It seemed to be of a person’s head and shoulders. The rest of the carving was just a rustic wooden base. Chance stared at it, confused. Narrow face, rounded ears, a spot on the head. Then it hit him. Rhett’s carving was of Chance.

“I’m not too good at people.” Rhett said, blushing. “I tried my best.”

Chance reached out and received the sculpture. The basic shape of his head was there, the shape of the spot of his head, the ears. It wasn’t bad at all. The sculpture didn’t have any expression, no mouth to speak of. Chance tightened his grip around the statue.

“Rhett.....that’s really sweet of you.” Chance said, making Rhett’s face even redder.

“Shut up!” Rhett barked at him without thinking. “I mean....ugh. Thanks.”

“I should be thanking you. Rhett, this really means a lot.” Chance said. He then put the sculpture in his pocket so he wouldn’t lose it. Chance and Rhett looked at each other. Awkwardly. “Can I give you something?”

Every single muscles in Rhett’s body tensed up so hard he thought he was going to pop a blood vessel or pass out. His face was burning hot. Rhett would never admit this in a million years but he was scared. He felt like he wasn’t in his own body, like he was disassociating. Rhett nodded with even really thinking. Chance looked around for any prying eyes. There were none.

Chance was nervous too. He wasn’t made of Stone. He leaned in but pulled away. He reached for Rhett but thought the physical contact would make him panic. Chance sighed and walked over to Rhett’s right side. He leaned in and kissed Rhett on the cheek. It didn’t last very long, not second a second, but Rhett felt like someone had hit him with a baseball bat. He reached toward his face, his first instinct being to wipe his face. He freaked out and twisted his hand down away from his head, making this awkward body motion that would be burned into Rhett’s Head forever. Chance backed away, not wanting to cause anymore anxiety.

“Was that Okay?” Chance asked.

“I don’t know.” Rhett said with a shaky voice, feeling like he had done something wrong.

“It’s okay, Rhett. It’s okay not to know right away. I didn’t know right away either.” Chance assured him.

Chance felt awful. Not because he didn’t enjoy it, he did, but Rhett clearly wasn’t ready for that. He picked up his bag and started to leave. “I’m sorry. I’ll just leave you alone for a-“

“Why me?” Rhett asked. “Why do you....like me?”

Chance stopped. The look on Rhett’s face made him hurt inside, Rhett seemed honestly confused why anyone would be interested in him. Chance set down his bag and said “I like the way you look, Rhett. And I think there’s a lot more to you than people think.” Chance reached into his pocket and produced the sculpture. “This is proof.” Rhett’s face had softened a bit. For once his scowl disappeared from his face. Rhett didn’t look happy but he had listened to what Chance had to say.

“Do you want to be alone?” Chance asked.

Rhett nodded.

“Okay. No problem at all. You know where to find me, Rhett. Again, thank you.” Chance said before leaving the staircase.

The bell rang. Rhett was late for class. He sat down on the tile floor and placed his hand on his right cheek. He didn’t wipe it off but he rubbed it a little. That was the first time anyone but his mom or his aunt kissed him. Rhett Myers’ first kiss was from a boy. He put his face in his hands and took deep breaths, trying to calm himself down.

“What the fuck am I gonna do?” He asked no one.