Closet Secrets

I’m not coming out of the closet. Someone else did. Actually it was 2 someones, about 20 years ago. Recently, Suzjones introduced the writing prompt, “Write about a secret that you kept from your parents.”

Instantly, my mind was racing with secrets I kept from my mother. Out of the many I could choose from, here is one which I’ll confess to.

At the age of 13, we lived outside of the city in a mobile home park. For all of you anti-trailer people, they’re not nearly as bad as they’re made out to be. Ours in particular was a few miles outside of the city, giving it that ‘small town’ appeal which I’ve always liked.

One summer day, while everyone else in my home was at work, I had two of my guy friends come over. This was not allowed by my parents. Boys were off limits, especially in our home without supervision. However, I felt fairly at ease sneaking the boys in, because I knew that it would be a few hours before my oldest step-brother got off work.

It was all very innocent. We talked, laughed and just hung out. At one point, we were kicking back in my room when I heard the front door open. Who could it be? No one should’ve been home that early.

With panic and wide eyes, I quickly ushered the guys into my closet. This was interesting, because my closet was full of clothes and one of the guys was a bit on the heavier side. But somehow they managed to fit. After stuffing them inside and sternly ordering them not to make a sound, I leisurely walked out of the room.

Walking through the living room, headed toward the hallway was my oldest step-brother. He had gotten off work early. I knew without a doubt, that he would rat me out if he saw the guys. He and I had a good relationship, but he was not one to stay quiet about things.

Trying to act normal, I stroke up a conversation with him about his day. Then, realizing that the guys would soon make a noise if I didn’t get them out, I shut my mouth and busied myself with something in the kitchen. My step-brother worked at a fast food restaurant at the time and his routine was to come home and jump in the shower.

As he eventually made his way down the hallway, I prepared myself for the mission of getting the guys out, unseen and unheard. My bedroom door was almost directly across from the bathroom door, so they were going to have to be very quiet.

The bad thing about mobile homes, is that if you run across the floor, the sound can be heard and the movement felt, in every room. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as my step-brother went into the bathroom and closed the door. Soon, I heard the shower come on. It was time.

With soft footsteps, I walked to my bedroom and quietly slid open the closet door. The guys were visibly irritated and hot from standing against each other, in the midst of my clothing. Whispering, I told them to be as quiet as a mouse when leaving my room and walking through the hallway.

One guy heard me say this, and the other forgot immediately once he exited my room. Of course, it was the largest of the two who decided to make a run for it. From my bedroom door all the way to the other end of the trailer, he ran. In a mobile home, when a big guy runs, it feels like an elephant is making its way across the floor. I stood there holding my breath, as I watched the guys flee out the front door. I was certain my step-brother heard them.

I went back to my room and waited for the inevitable. The shower turned off and a couple minutes later my step-brother emerged from the bathroom. Walking into his bedroom, he didn’t even glance my way. He was acting normal and it was evident that he was completely oblivious to what had just happened.

With a deep sigh of relief I made up in my mind, that never again would I sneak a guy into my house. However, as everyone knows, a teenager’s definition for “never again” is much different than the one in the dictionary.

The fun part about being a grown up, is that you can confess your secrets to your parents, without the fear of being grounded.