I had never seen them like this before.
OMG it was Ira and Lowe, they were twins that lived down the street from me, both 17 or 18 and as always HOT as ever. I had never seen them like this before. Usually it was tossing ball in the front yard – now they were nude and on some unusual high.
Pissing off many rubbed down dudes I made my way to them as they snuck off into some back room – I followed. “Do a line and get naked” – was what one dude shouted. I had been to enough college parties that this country boy knew what this was about. Wow how Ira looked so glossy eyed. He hugged me and would not let go – I remember him saying, “Kole I am not like this – don’t tell my mother” and Lowe feeling my shorts up for some money in my pockets laughing all along. Without participating in the white ritual of that room I exited with Ira under arm. I remember he cried and cried that he wanted to stop using drugs and that Lowe talked him into this party.
A nice smooth tan, the whitest teeth and blue eyes that lit up a room he seemed to enjoy it when guys would pass by and slap is bubble butt – he went on to tell me that his parents were getting a divorce and that his father encouraged him. Appalled I began to hurt for him. He told me that his mother was addicted to heroin and could not stop. (amazing that one NEVER knows how hard drugs can hit any family – in the country or the upper middle class of Atlanta). Here were, what looked like 2 high school jocks, on the ball team, heavy hitters, going to crash with their family torn.
Men were sticking money in Ira’s swimming suit and Ira would let them see his dick for $20 or more. It was more than I was ready for – I remember thinking “this is my last pool party” – I gathered my roommate and left – but not before asking Ira and Lowe could I take them home. Both said they could not go home until they got enough for the rent. I had never even entertained the idea of anything like this happening close to me in my life… I had no “point of reference” no answers to help him or to know what to do for him and his brother. I just wanted to get OUT of that party so I did like a bolt of lightening.
Days turned into weeks – I went by their house it looked trashed. I stopped and knocked on the door – no one answered. I wondered many times “what should I do” – soon on the drive from work I saw the house empty – Ira and Lowe and their parents gone. Until this past June Graduation I saw another kid from the neighborhood who told me this; “Ira’s mom OD’d on heroin – they found her in the bedroom floor. Ira, Lowe, their sister and father moved into a “pay as you go hotel” – their father died of a heart attack just last week. Then Ira and Lowe went to the streets to make a living, “Did you know his father made him do that?. They lived on the street for about a year. They just found Ira dead last month – he died of a heroin overdose too”. No words here can describe my remorse...none.
This has been on my mind all summer. Ira was a good kid. He tried to protect his brother but couldn’t for Lowe was a hand full – Ira told me he was gay or rather that he himself liked men and wanted to “hook up” with me – I was so amazed at the pool party that I could not answer that statement. I really did not want any contact with them after that party. Yet I wanted to help.
I have wondered all summer. Where can boys go with problems like that instead of the streets? They are gay; the Salvation Army will not take them. I wish I was more prepared – I wish I would have responded different to what I saw. Perhaps more active.
I wish I would have known what to do... I wish.
My question here would be to gain insight from you. What can we do for these youngsters. Where can they go? If not the Salvation Army then where? Could we band together and make this a priority to point them in some direction?