Picture Perfect

Chapter 2

"Donovan don't forget to clean your room after you play two more sonatas young man." Yelled Jennifer from the kitchen.
"Mom, I just practiced for two hours. Is it time for recess yet?" Donovan shot back. "It's really nice outside; I'm tired of being inside."
Jennifer shook her head at her son's response. "Not yet buddy, get playing!" She answered. Every since spring had sprung Donovan whined about going outside often. For some reason he figured now that he was home schooled, nice weather meant going outside whenever he wanted. Jennifer had been more lenient than she had planned but the next few days were important. They had a newspaper interview then several auditions for late summer workshops. On paper her son had been accepted to three different programs all he had to do was audition in person to finalize the process. Then Chris, Donovan's father, would decide where would be best for Donovan's playing future.
Donovan came strolling into the kitchen wearing the best pouting face he could muster, "C'mon mom. A half hour break won't make or break my future, ya know."
Jennifer just sighed then replied, "I know sweetheart but your father will be home in about ten minutes and he expects to hear you practicing when he walks through the door."
"Dad just needs to relax," he mumbled.
"I know that, you know that but the idea can't seem to penetrate your father's thick skull." Jennifer joked with her son. She treasured these moments with Donovan because the second Chris stepped into the house everything became very serious and intense.
"Why does he have to be so serious all the time? Did he forget that life is supposed to be fun too?"
"It's just hard for him right now to relax." Jennifer said sadly.
"But why do we all have to suffer his bad mood? So he lost the gym, big deal. Grandpa gave him a management job right away."
    "That's it though sweetheart; it was a big hit to his pride having to go to his father for a job. It'll get better, I promise." Jennifer assured her son and gave him a hug. She glanced up at the clock and broke the hug, "Now back to practicing, he'll be here any minute."
    "Alright mom, I'll do it for you." He smiled then gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before going back to his room. He decided to play his mom's favorite piece. As he poured over the notes he let all the anger and anxiety he felt about his father flow out of him. Donovan wasn't physically afraid of his father. Some people were convinced that Chris was physically abusive towards his wife and so though Donovan was unaware of any actual violence. The thing he was afraid of was disappointing his father.
    Chris was a hard working man who had built what he thought was a successful mixed martial arts gym from the ground up. Donovan learned at an early age that he wasn't cut out for martial arts which had disappointed his father. But Donovan quickly took an interest in music, specifically playing the violin. Chris believed if you are good at something you must be the best, which fueled Donovan's desire to master the violin and make his father proud.
    The last six months had turned disastrous for the family though. They made the decision to home school Donovan because Chris was going to become a professional MMA fighter. He'd fought in a big local competition and won a MMA contract. They planned to travel together as a family to all his fights and could easily relocate if he trained outside Milwaukee.
    Unfortunately Chris' first professional fight didn't go as planned. Two minutes into the fight Chris' opponent landed a strong kick to his right knee causing it to buckle. Sensing Chris' weakness his opponent grabbed his legs in a takedown which caused Chris' knee to turn in an unnatural way. The result of this was a completely blown knee.
    After costly surgery and physical therapy paired with a crook of an accountant Chris was left broke and broken, physically and emotionally. If possible Chris seemed to be more invested in his son's future than before. He used to insist on three hours a day of practice but since he returned from the hospital Chris made Donovan practice a minimum of five hours a day. When practice was done while he was at work he insisted the sessions to be taped so he knew his son had completed the required practice time.
    Half way through the piece Donovan heard his father come home so he doubled his efforts. He had disappointed his father once, he had no intention of allowing that to happen again.