Calgary Johnson

Calgary Michael Johnson grew up in what some people would consider perfect circumstances. His family is wealthy, rich, white and involved in their children's lives. There are pit falls to this idyllic life, however. Hidden beneath the veneer of a happy 1950's household are far too many less than ideal 1950's ideals. Racism. Homophobia. Narcissism. All of it bubbling just below the surface.

The Johnson's have always been an exceedingly religious family and are known throughout their community for their activeness in the church, volunteer work and charity donations. On top of this all three of their children are so well behaved! Cal's eldest brother, Luke, drank his parent's cool aid long ago. Knowing no better he accepted all the shit they were shoveling about 'others' (Blacks, Gays, Jews, Foreigners, etc) and has started shoveling it himself. He was quite the bully in high school, though charming enough to wiggle his way out of most punishments. These days he works as a mechanic in a family friend's shop, ripping off every woman and person of color that comes through with their car for maintenance.

Cal's sister, Mary, has figured out how to tow the line and keep her head down. While she may not be an asshole like her older brother, she won't be found walking in any pride parades any time soon either. Her motto is 'Don't rock the boat' and she sticks with it. Mary married an older man she'd met at church right out of high school and has been a stay at home wife and mother ever since. So long as her husband is at work, Mary's house is one of the few places Cal considers it safe to be himself though. His sister may not completely accept or understand everything he's going through, but she loves her little brother and is willing to respect his wishes and guard his secrets.

As for Cal, he figured out at a young age that he wasn't like other kids. It wasn't long before his mother figured it out herself and set about 'fixing' what was 'wrong' with her 'sinful' child. Cal wasn't allowed to have male friends. No sleep overs. No girly toys. She dressed him how she wanted him to dress, instructed him to say what she wanted him to say and to do what she wanted him to do. The woman lived in perpetual fear that someone would find out that their little family had a 'defect' and became obsessed with making sure Cal always looked and acted the part she needed him to play in order to maintain their illusion of perfection.

Cal, small and anxious and uncertain, languished under his mother's constant control and his father's occasional attempts to 'beat the gay out of him.' He stopped speaking almost entirely, only answering when spoken to directly. His social skills withered and his confidence tanked. It wasn't all bad though. He found respite in books and especially music. More often than not when Cal was alone he could be found with head phones or ear buds in, letting the words and sonic vibrations soothe his shriveled soul.

Finally his senior year of high school was coming to an end. The time had come to pick a college. His parents were all for him going to school nearby of course, but Cal couldn't take living under their shadow for the rest of his life. His grades were exemplary. His references outstanding. Cal knew what he had to do. He knew his mother's weakness. After an exhaustive search Cal applied to the most prestigious college he could find that he could reasonably get into and was also several states away from where his family lived. When his acceptance letter arrived, Cal shrieked with laughter and triumph for the first time in...well, since he could remember!

His mother was impressed enough to convince his father and by the end of the summer Cal was packed and finally moving out of his parents home and living on his own in the dorms. His parents are still paying for everything, of course, but so long as they don't find out what exactly he's up to so far from their reach he's relatively safe. The first thing he did when he arrived was take numerous selfies in every shirt he owns all over the campus. With a horde of 'evidence' built up, the second thing he did was dye his hair. Two days later sitting in the back of his first class he saw a really cute boy with ear gauges. That was the third thing he did. While he was there the woman even convinced him to get his lip pierced as well! He hasn't gotten a tattoo yet, but that's mostly because he hasn't found the right design. He's saving up for it though!