Hey! This is Wayne Philip Dunsmore, more commonly known as "Weed", 'count of I'm so skinny. Skinny as a pole, yeah, that's me!

I am looked upon as a "geek", a "loser" by most kids. Don't have many friends, except one, Hemphill ("Hemp") Rodgers, who saw me for who I really was: a kid who was lonely, in need of friends.

I really like Hemp. He's loud, gregarious, not afraid to take crazy chances. He has a very good heart, a caring spirit, a compassionate nature. He sees, feels emotions more powerfully than most kids, and he wouldn't harm a hair on your head--that is, unless people do others wrong, like when the kids tease me. Then he will get mad, threaten to beat the bullcrap outta' them!

Hemp doesn't like to see people get hurt; I guess that includes me. He's always telling the bullies to leave me alone, pick on someone their own size. With Hemp around I feel safe, secure, like I'm indominitable somehow (spelling??). He ain't scared of nobody!

Doesn't help that Hemp is built like a sumo wrestler. Powerful arms, upper chest. Guess it goes to understand why he's built like that. Born handicapped, has had to use his arms for his legs; his legs are bent and paralyzed. He walks with crutches or uses his wheelchair, depending on his mood. He doesn't let his disabilities get in  his way. In his mind, he's as abled as the rest  of us; nothing "handicapped" about  his attitude!

Guess people see all that muscle, and they get all scared. I don't, though: Hemp's my protector, my best friend in the world.

Hemp also happens to be a Christian, which is a rare thing in my school. At my school, Christianity is frowned upon, teachers don't want kids bringin' up religion in school, so he keeps quiet; yet you see the hurt in his eyes because he wants to share his faith, yet if he does he runs the risk of getting into trouble. It's really crazy!

I want to know more about Christianity (I'm an agnostic; I know something's Out There, I just don't believe), and my buddy's been telling me about Jesus Christ, how He died for our sins. It's really neat to think a guy did this so we could be free from sin; yet how can I believe in something (or someONE) whom I can't even see?? It's really confusing.

When we're not in school, that's when Hemp tells me about Christ. It's getting to the point to where I'm ready to commit my life to him; yet I'm scared that if I do my parents will disown me. They don't believe in God; they were raised as athiests. I am afraid that they will throw me on my ear if I tell them I want Christ in my life. So I just keep quiet and go about my business.

I am still fixin' computers, helping Pops with the car when it breaks down. Now that it's bone-chilling cold outside (temps in the single digits, feels like that anyhow!), we do our work on the car in the garage, hope it starts once we get done tinkering with it. So far it's managed to start every time Pops needs it, like when he goes to work. Moms needs it too, like when she has errands to run.

I do anything I can to keep busy, to think of the right time to "discuss religion" with my folks because I know that once I do, there's gonna be one ugly, huge fight on our hands.

I just hope I have a place to sleep tonight when I bring it up at the supper table!

Well, Moms is screaming at me to pick my clothes up off the floor, so I'd best go if I want to continue having a life. Hopefully the parental units won't get mad when I bring up my wanting to have Jesus in my life! I know this sounds funny coming from me, but please pray for me! I can really use 'em! Thanks!

~"Weed" (Wayne P. Dunsmore).