Under the Gun

Being 16 and a freshman already makes me feel out of place with the rest of my class.

It doesn't help that this past summer, my father set the schoolyard on fire.

This was due to his religious beliefs; he was having his own little protest of some of the books in the school's library.

Here I am, a varsity football player, dating Linda Thomas, a beautiful and popular Honey Bear cheerleader, and looking forward to a great school year.

Crushingly, my father's religious antics that day outweighs all my successes as a jock.

Trying to cope with the constant embarrassment, pushes me to be a class clown.

Everybody knows I'm always good for a laugh, but inside I wish that I was taken seriously.

The only time I feel in control is when I'm playing sports.

But how do I deal with the rest of my time?