Chapter 1
Standing in the door frame getting the mail, not listening to Mom’s voice, having faraway thoughts about leaving.
“Hey! You’re acting like you were born outside; close the damn door.”
The heat from inside didn’t warm the outside of her words towards me, making me depressed.
His lips motioned these words, “Why should you think that way about me?” The hardness of my heart was whaling up inside.
With one hand, she held her drink, hitting me whith every low blow of insult.
“You darn kids, my trust fund doesn’t pay me enough to deal with this mess,” She said, taking a sip from the can. “Dumb kid,
bring me another drink; this one is almost gone.” The aroma from her can send familiar thoughts throughout the room. Her
eluding words hurt, putting me on autopilot.
“I’m your child, not your servant boy.” Lip-syncing the words while turning out her forgetful love. She dropped her can to
the floor along with his passion for her affection; he felt deflated. He walked toward the kitchen, miserable and hurting,
wanting his old life back, ducking when she released a shoe through the air at him. It felt like the longest walk-a-thon in
his present life. His heart was hurting, looking over his shoulder for more flying objects; he felt safe this time.
Cracking the door, his brother and sister are peeking out. “Shhhh, don’t say anything thata makes her furious at us.
Closed the door; I’ll come back later with you guys’ snack, ok!” He motioned with his hand for them to close the door
“and be quite.” He knew they didn’t want to let him stay out here without them.
“Slowpoke, what’s taken you so long? Did you have to go to Milwaukee for that drink?” He wasn’t moving, standing with his
forehead pression against the refrigerator. Looking down at the floor with the can in his had.