A Broken Boy

Chapter one, fathers home

~Michael~

I was only 4 years old when my life changed for the worst, it all went by so fast, and nothing could prepare me for what was about to happen. I grew up in the mountains of Virginia USA, I lived a quiet, peaceful life in a small town with my mom, dad, 2 sisters, and older brother who worked with my dad on the farm we owned. We provided for food, the horse's for travel, dairy, and other things the townspeople needed, and one day I would work alongside them, and when that day came... It changed me forever. Everyone knew each other, and everyone was happy, kids went to play, the elderly would spread the gossip, men worked in the fields and the mines and people fell in love... we were happy, and we didn't want change, we were a people of ways, a people who kept traditions and customs and that's how we stayed... well... except for me... My dad was in the army, and I remember it like it was yesterday, the day he came back home after a few years at war. It was early in the morning before sunrise, and everyone was fast asleep and I was too till I heard the old rusty trucks tires carve into the pathway and the dimly lighted headlights shine on my window lighting the dark room I shared with my sisters, they we're still resting up, the day before that was a long day for them, Abby, age 5... started first grade and it didn't go so well for her, and not only that but she was also picked on by some of the boys in the area coming back from school. Shelly, age 8, recently started working in the bakery with my mom who made the best biscuits I've ever had and the whole town would gather at her bakery for breakfast on Sunday morning after church, just like many other things we did it was tradition to have the town gather Sunday morning for breakfast. It was a busy day for both the girls and my mom, Camron, loves all of us so much and works so hard to care for us and I'm confident she would die for us, I've seen it... a near-death experience regarding Abby and a bear that got to close for comfort. We all had long days of work, school, and some other stuff and I was overjoyed when I saw that old truck because I knew who was inside. I ran quietly, trying to get downstairs as quickly as I could but also quietly as I could but the old wooden panels weren't being very helpful when it came to stealth. Creak after creak and step after step I reached the rails on the stairs, I was stopped by the sounds of my mom's muffled cries and wailing. I walked slowly down the stairs, laying my hands on the rails to the side, I saw my dad holding my mom, his arms around her, hands in up and down motion comforting her. Every possible scenario ran through my head as I cautiously walked toward my parents.

~To be continued~