The Perfect Baby
The nurse walked in and placed him into his mother’s arms, and as his dad huddled over her and planted a kiss on her forehead, his mother could not take her eyes off her beautiful baby boy. He was less than an hour old, but as soon as he was born, the doctor handed him to a nurse who whisked him away. This was the first time his parents got to see him, and they could not be any more proud.
As they continued to stare at their baby boy, they looked up as they heard the footsteps of Dr. Williams, Helen’s OBGYN and a personal friend of Bob. Soon their faces of joy turned to that of concern as they quickly saw the look on Dr. Williams’ face. Mr. Acer, a very blunt man, said, “Spit it out, Dr. What’s wrong?”
With a stern look, Dr. Williams relayed to the parents that their son, whom they had named Gaylord Acer III, after his grandfather, was born without legs. As his mother slowly unwrapped his blanket and they both looked, Dr. Williams was in shock as both Helen and Bob just smiled and said, “Dr., he’s perfect.”
For years, Helen and Bob had tried to have a child, enduring miscarriage after miscarriage. But now, Gaylord, their son, was finally here. The fact that he was born without legs meant nothing to his parents, who were simply overjoyed to hold their long-awaited baby.
Childhood and the Gift of Innovation
Born to wealthy parents—both a rocket scientist and an astrophysicist—Gaylord grew up surrounded by ingenuity. Together, Helen and Bob owned Astro Rocket Corp., a company building gadgets and rockets for civilians and the military.
Whizzing through their home on a rocket-propelled skateboard custom-made by his parents, young Gaylord mastered his craft. His brilliance mirrored his parents’ intellect, and he thrived under their nurturing care. After being homeschooled for 12 years, Bob finally convinced Helen to let Gaylord attend private school so he could interact with other children.
On his 13th birthday, Helen and Bob presented Gaylord with a gift they had been working on for years. The long, slender box revealed prosthetic legs perfectly suited for his body. With soft, skin-matching tones and advanced features, the legs were a marvel of engineering.
Helen and Bob reassured their son that these were not ordinary prosthetics. They explained the legs were designed to protect him and even had special features activated by his thumbprint. Gaylord trusted his parents as they helped him put them on. The legs adapted to his body instantly, becoming a seamless part of him.
When his father demonstrated how the legs could transform into a skateboard for emergencies, Gaylord was thrilled. Helen, with her perfectionist streak, had designed them to ensure her son would always be safe.
A Prodigy’s Journey
Gaylord thrived in private school, excelling far beyond his peers. By the time he was 17, he graduated high school and simultaneously earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology. At 19, his parents proudly watched him receive his master’s degree in neurophysiology.
As Gaylord walked across the stage to accept his diploma, one of his legs malfunctioned. He stumbled, and just as he was about to fall, a handsome blue-eyed man sprang from the audience and caught him. Their eyes met, and Gaylord felt something he had never experienced before—a spark that consumed him. Bashfully, he looked away, thanked the stranger, and regained his footing.
A New Kind of First Date
Days later, Gaylord was packing in his dorm room when the blue-eyed man appeared. Introducing himself as Justin, the man admitted how hard it was to find Gaylord. Boldly, Justin asked Gaylord on a date.
Though Gaylord always knew he was gay, he had been so focused on school that he had never pursued that part of his life. Excited yet nervous, Gaylord accepted. After their date began with a candlelit dinner in Justin’s father’s warehouse, Gaylord felt overwhelmed with happiness.
The Betrayal
As they sat at the table, Gaylord heard a snicker in the distance. Turning to Justin for reassurance, he asked, “Is someone else here with us?” Before Justin could respond, shadowy figures emerged from the darkness, robed in red. They began to chant, “Time to kill the GAY LORD! Time to kill the GAY LORD!”
Gaylord realized he was the target of a cruel fraternity prank. His heart sank further when he saw Justin join the group, donning a robe and chanting along with the others.
The Call to Action
Tears filled Gaylord’s eyes as fear gripped him. He wanted to collapse, but his mother’s design wouldn’t allow his legs to bow. Suddenly, the room filled with rainbow-colored smoke, disorienting everyone. A voice whispered to Gaylord, “Follow the rainbow to safety. You have been chosen!”
Remembering the secret feature of his legs, Gaylord applied his thumbprint with the correct pressure, activating their transformation into a jet-propelled skateboard. Guided by the rainbow path, he sped through the smoke, escaping his tormentors.
At the end of the path stood Rainbow Man, who welcomed Gaylord with a smile.
Joining the Rainbow League
Rainbow Man spoke: “Your tears called, and your spirit cried out. You have been chosen to be part of a league of protectors of the LGBTQ+ community, to protect those of us from those who might hate us because they do not understand how we LOVE.”
Hovering on his skateboard, Gaylord felt a profound sense of purpose. At last, he had found where he belonged and knew he was destined to be part of something greater than himself.
© AF 2019
No Comments