YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME (8/11)

“Do you think you know who it was?”

“No I don’t think so but I’m sure it was somebody that I should have recognized.  His voice was kind of whiny and I think he was talking through something, probably a mask.  Why was I so stupid?  I should have remembered it was November.  I was just so horny and I liked Monty so much and I wanted him to be my first and I didn‘t think about it being November.  He's dead because of me wanting to have sex with him.”

“Gus you are not to blame for anything, the Strangler is to blame, so you wanted this boy and you did what you thought would work.  You are 17 that's a normal way for you to act but November is not a normal time in the community.  You have to quit blaming yourself and try to remember anything more you can so that the police can catch the bastard.”

“Thanks grandma but if it hadn’t been for me then Monty would be alive today.”

“You can’t think like that Gus, we all have situations in our past where if we had done something different the results would be different.  That isn’t how the world works though; what happens is what you have to deal with not what you wish had happened.

“Grandma I just can’t get over the fact that he's dead because of me.”

“Gus you aren’t alone, everyone in your family will help you.  We love you Gus.”

“Mom will you stay with Gus at the house after we take him home?”

“Sure Brian, where will you and Justin be?”

“We’ll be home later but I have some things I need to check out and I’m sure Justin won’t let me go out alone anymore than I would let him go out alone.”

“All right gang the Doctor tells me that Gus can go home.  Hospital security tells me that the media is congregating at the front door so Mom you go get your car and go around back.  You and Gus can go to your house, Justin and I'll pick you up later and go to the house.”

“Brian I’ll take Gus home with me, you and Justin do what you need to do.  Don’t worry about us I think we might make a trip to State College.”

“Brian what's up?”

“Sunshine I have an idea, I hate the idea but it's up to us to catch the Strangler, I just hope I’m wrong.  Will you help me?”

“Of course I’ll do what I have to do.”

TBC