What Lies Behind the Door

Part 4 ~ Freddy Barker; a thief of necessity

TW: Implied homophobia, illusions to a minor doing sex work 

Freddy never liked being put in boxes. They were told that they were a boy, that they were poor, and that they had to stay like that for their whole life. They hated being told because they were poor they were a thief, that they were worthless. 

Freddy cant remember a time before they were poor. They knew that their was a period where their family had been moderately comfortable. The photo albums their mom insisted on lugging around everywhere were proof. What freddy did know was that the reason they are like they are now is because of the Winsors. It wasn't something their parents liked to talk about, but freddy caught the weighty glances. Heard the stressed whispers when they thought they were asleep. Saw the small box their dad kept of the event, full of newspaper clippings, bulging envelopes, and bills stamped in red. 

Freddy could only guess as to the meaning of it. Freddy remembered one thing from all of it though.

They remember looking that rich kid prick Elliot right in the eyes as he stood by the hulking mass of their father, sitting in a recliner in their living room as if they owned it. Remember their dad kicking both of them out of the room. The muffled yelling coming through the door, asking him for help, Elliot, a kid only a few days older than him just looked away. Freddy and their family were kicked out of the house shortly thereafter. Just 4 at the time, holding their little sisters hand, following their dad to a place they can no longer remember. 

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Freddy grew up in over-stuffed apartments, with 3 kids to a room in a 3 bedroom apartment. They bounced around from one family member to another, and there was always a reason they couldn't stay. Freddy will be the first to admit that they weren't blameless in the entire thing. Once they got kicked out because Freddy punched their uncle square in the jaw. It was texas independence day. The family gathered at their grandparents house to celebrate. Uncle jeff couldn't keep his trap shut. Freddy wasn't sorry about that time. 

Once they got kicked out because Freddy got caught by the police for shoplifting. They had stolen enough to make a sizable dent in the grocery store's revenue and Freddy almost went to juvie if not for the fact that the store owner was a serial shoplifter in his youth and decided not to press charges. Freddy had to complete 120 hours of community service, and they got kicked out because the aunt they were staying with didn't want dirty thief's under her roof. Freddy was sorry about that one. 

Freddy didn't like stealing, but they had to. Had to keep their siblings bellies full. They got good at coning people after that, whether it was stealing from a store, pick pocketing, or hustling cards down at the corner, they knew all the tricks. Freddy's parents turned a blind eye to most of it, they knew they needed the food and the money Freddy brought home. Their jobs only covered rent for wherever they were staying. So long as Freddy didn't draw too much attention, they were fine with it. 

This started the general neglect of Freddy. They had bigger fish to fry, and didn't ever have enough time for them. Time for emotions when the two year old was running around naked through the apartment complex. Time to go to their school events. Time enough for their academics. Fredrick Barker the solid C student learned to blend in with the noise. 

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This last time the Barker family got kicked out was after Freddy's little brother had smeared his shit all over the bathroom for the second time, no one was particularly surprised but it meant having to stay at a motel till they could find something else again. When they got to the hotel, they weren't there, not really, just going through the motions of it all. Checking in and trying to keep their little siblings out of trouble. Eating take out in an over-stuffed room, then tucking in their siblings before heading off to sit by the pool, absentmindedly picking up and putting back down the pool furniture in their void. rolling up their jean cuffs and dipping their feet into the lukewarm water until they had trouble keeping their eyes open. Freddy had done it a million times before, and they figured they would do it another million till they moved out.