FicWad

As I walked home, it started to rain a little. I paused three blocks from my house to stand in the rain. It was refreshing to feel the cold drops of water hitting my face. I lifted my head to the sky as the rain washed my face. My hair was sticking to my face as the rain fell harder.

“It can’t shine every day.” I mumbled to myself as I kept on my journey.

Cars quickly rushed by and mud puddles found their way to my lap. It seemed the more I grew up, the harder life got. I was 14 and realizing that life wasn’t exactly everything it was made out to be in the movies, but I kept on my way.

“Hey ma. I got the milk.” I yelled as I closed the front door.

“Jeffrey, can you please come to the kitchen.” My mom’s voice was shaky with uncertainty.

I pull off my shoes and hurry over to the kitchen. I walked in to see my dad, who I haven’t seen in a bit, sitting at the kitchen table. The carton of milk slipped from my hands and landed right on the floor; trickling on the newly washed hardwood.

“Can you take your siblings upstairs please?” My mom’s eyes were red and pleading.

I understood that she didn’t want us there. I left the kitchen and went into the living room where the kids were.

“Come on guys. Upstairs. Now.”

*

I kept the kids upstairs in my room until I heard my mom raise her voice. I knew something was wrong, so I quickly closed the door behind me, warning them not to move, and then made my way downstairs. The stairs creaked beneath my sock-feet.

“We need to talk about this you know!” My dad’s voice called out, a bit enraged.

“I don’t want to see you right now and you know that!” That was my mom.

“Well you’re going to talk if I say you’re going to.” Bill wasn’t the only one with family issues. My parents divorced long ago and they still fought like they were married.

My dad supposedly left Lafayette though. He wasn’t supposed to be here, or at least that’s what I’m told. I didn’t tell Ace or Bill the whole story, since I didn’t want to stress them out with my complicated problems when they had their own demons.

“Don’t touch me!” My mom cried out, clearly in pain. I decided that I had to do something, so I left the stairs and went into the kitchen.

“Don’t touch my mother like that.” I stood in the archway as I watched my dad tower over my poor innocent mother.

My dad turned around to look at me. His hands were wrapped tightly around my mom’s arms. I could tell by the painful expression on her face, that he was hurting her.

“Jeff. I thought your mother told you to go upstairs.”

“I’m not going to go upstairs and let you hurt her like that. It’s disgusting.” My fists were clenched and I was ready to fucking punch the bastard.

“You listen here--”

“No. Let go of my mom first.”

He lets go of her arm and she immediately starts to nurse it. I could see a bright purple bruise, where he had held her, in the midst of forming.

“Jeffrey, please. Go back upstairs.” My mom’s voice cracked full of desperation.

I couldn’t stand seeing her this way. No man ever had a right to hit a lady, especially a mother. My mother.

“Get out now, or I’m calling the cops dad.” I tried to stand my ground.

He gave me an expression of twisted anger before he pushed me out of his way. He slammed the front door on his way out. At least he was gone…

“Mom? Are you okay?” I quickly went over to her side.

Her eyes were bright red and bloodshot. I could tell she was crying. She just nodded her head gently. I didn’t know what else to do, so I grabbed her and hugged her tight.

“It’s okay ma. He’s gone.” All she did was sob as she held me tight.

I could feel a pressure fill in my eyes as my mom cried into my shoulder. She didn’t deserve this. She was and is a great god damn mom. Nobody deserves to be treated unfairly, especially by someone who was supposed to fucking love you. Then Alyce’s face appeared in my head. I had to stop thinking about her. She had no place in my mind right now…There were bigger problems at hand.

Supper was unusually quiet that night. Everybody just ate and didn’t bring up anything. I was no exception. I couldn’t even begin to think about everything that had happened today. First, what Ace and I did left a bad taste in my mouth. We were friends and my best friend liked her so I should just back off. Second, I feel like I actually do love her, but she just thinks I’m cool. Third, my family is messed up.

I couldn’t eat. Food just wasn’t my main priority right now. The others finished way before I could. My younger siblings left the table to go play around, oblivious to what had happened, while I shifted my potatoes from side to side on the plate.

“Jeffrey. Are you okay?” My mom sat down beside me as I stared at my plate.

“Yeah ma. I’ll be fine.”

She feels my head for my temperature and then cups my chin. I glance away from her eyes, afraid I’d get pissed again after what happened today with my dad.

“Jeffrey, look at me.” I quickly glance at her and then look away again.

“I’m okay. Seriously ma.” I give her a weak smile before I put my fork down.

“You can tell me anything you want to. I’m here to listen.”

“Okay.”

“I’m not kidding Jeffrey Dean.” I flinch and look away.

“What happened today between your father and I—“ She pauses and then glances down to the floor in shame.

She began playing with her fingers. I look at her face and realize how tired she looked. Poor woman…

“Please don’t tell anyone… And thank you. If you weren’t there, I’d probably have more than just a silly bruise.” I notice that she had changed her shirt to a much longer sleeved one, most likely to cover up the evidence.

“I won’t…” I mumbled before I got up from the table.

“Jeffrey?” I hear her call out as I dump my food into the garbage can.

“Yeah?”

“Please stay home from school tomorrow. I’m scared he’ll come back while you kids are away…”

“I will ma. I will.”

Note: I've been really busy with school work, but I promise to try and upload as often as possible! :3