Wolves Tale

Fathers Exit

I thought it would be over. If we moved away to aunties house up in Maine I thought she would leave me alone. I guess I was wrong.

I lay in my new bed surrounded by pillows and old stuffed animals from back in grandmother Prims childhood. Most of the dolls had porcelain faces either marked up or glued together. Either way, their staring at me and it's giving me the chills. I look out the window. Still rainy and dark as obsidian. I pull back my oily dirt brown hair into a loose ponytail. The hair bands almost had it and soon will need to be replaced. As I button up my jacket I hear father speaking with auntie Mary and cousin James.

"Does she need anything else?" I hear Auntie ask.
"No, I believe she will be alright. I'll be back before her birthday." He said nervously.

I hear auntie sigh.

"What does she want now?" James asks.
"What she's been wanting for the past few months. Half custody."
"But she doesn't deserve it. She left her all alone and barely breathing on the sidewalk. Diaper soiled and bottle empty. When she claimed to be "clean" she had her for one night and Fae had to be picked up at a hospital because she was bleeding from her head because her boyfriend thought he could do whatever he wanted." Auntie was irritated and angry.
"I know. That's why we're going to court and getting this settled now." Father said.
"Uncle Vern?"
"Hm?"
"Is Amanda diagnosed with any disorders?"
"I think she has anxiety and depression. Most likely PTSD from when she was little. But why do you ask?"
"Im just asking because are you going to use that in court?" James asked inquisitively.

His 17 year old mind marveling at the idea of court and mental cases. He wants to be a physiologist. Wants to study mental disabilities and disorders to better understand them and how to judge them.

"Well that will be used. I've asked her to get on medication but she says that there's nothing wrong so she doesn't need any medication." He sighs with that.

He really wanted her to be our lives. Unfortunately, she got into smoking and it turned the loving joyful mother I heard about into a cold, dark, and mentally unstable person I know now. She left father for a skinny drug smuggler named Jeremie. He used to beat her and hurt her bad. She stayed because she got into crack and he was the only one who's give it to her. The room is silent and I can hear the rain pound against the cabin. Charlie begins whining in the kitchen. Must be his lunch time if I recall.

"I should be on my way. Will you tell Fae that I love her and when she wakes up she can open this box?" I hear some ruffling of his coat.
"What is it?" I hear auntie ask.
"Come closer and I'll tell you." Father says.

I hear the creaky floorboards bend as their weight shifts on top of them. I hear faint whispers and surprised gasps.

"I had to whisper because I believe someone could be listening. I don't want her to know what it is till I have left and she can open it."

Auntie shuffles and I hear the boards creak as the weight shifts some more.

"Goodbye uncle Vern, you'll be back next Friday night?"
"Yes James, around 6 I believe."

I hear the boards creak and my father get some wind knocked out of him. James was bigger strong than most boys his age. A lot faster and quicker too. He can certainly beat anyone at tag. He also has a big appetite. I don't know how auntie keeps up with him. I notice a bug on the inside on the window. It looks like a ladybug but it should be much to cold for one to be alive right now. I watch it crawl up against the window frame. Suddenly the steps creak and I hear someone come down the hallway. I hurry and fall on the bed into a sleeping position and pretend to be asleep. I hear the doorknob jiggle as someone opens the door and walk in.

"I know your awake Fae" James smirks.

I pretend to shift in sleep, but I doubt he believes it. He's known me since I was in diapers. Has been like a brother to me. Always there for me as pain sometimes but a loyal brother who always looked out for me on our visits.

"Fae, you have thirty seconds to sit up or I'm going to smear this mud all over your face!" He steps closer and giggles.

I shot up right out of bed and looked at his hands. He was bluffing, and now I will never be able to wipe the smirk off his face. His curly brown hair was as crazy as always on top of his big head. His green eyes glowing from under the curly curtains.

"Your rude for disturbing my sleep." I stick my tongue out at him.
"Your rude for pretending to be asleep." He sticks his tongue out back.

Auntie comes through the door.

"So how was your nap?" Auntie walks over and sits on the end of the bed.

Her brown hair has some more grey to it. Undoubtedly due to her son James and his brother Maverick.

"She wasn't sleeping mum. She was pretending." He smirks and makes a goofy face.
"Well it doesn't matter. Fae your father just left and he told me to give this to you."

She pulls out a silver box and sets it nexts to me on the bed. Then she gestures James to follow her out of the room.

"When your done up here we'll be waiting for you in the kitchen. I'm finishing up lunch and James you need to set the table."
Yes ma'am!" James smiles and races to the kitchen.

Auntie walks to the door and smiles a warm smile at me before closing it softly. I hear her soft steps go down the stairs and disappear. She was so graceful and has a warm presence about her. She used to babysit me ever other weekend when father was away for business. Though this time was because of my mother and he's to go to a court hearing. I look at the silver box. It wasn't very small. As I examine it I see that there is a side hole with a engraved circle around it. I go to open it up and there was a little silver stick was laying overtop a note.

Fae,
I know we both know this court trip won't last me a full week. To be honest I have an appointment too. Except my appointment is for a serious matter I have been dealing with for a few months. I found out I have a tumor growing on the side of my brain and it is getting worse. I heard of a specialist in Washington that could help me. He's been practicing on this kind of tumor for quite some while and has found a way to shrink it. His name is doctor Pivot and he's from New York. I've heard many reviews and checked in with former patients. Now his former patients were caught and treated earlier. Unfortunately, I've just recently found out and it's been there for quite some time. He said it should not be a problem for him though. Anyway, I figured I'd give your birthday present early. I was going to wait for your birthday but I figured you'd probably love to have it now. The lever goes into the hole on the side and if you turn it counter clockwise it will play a song I wrote for you for when you were little and couldn't sleep. I love you dewdrop. I will be back soon, and don't give your auntie a hard time. See you Friday.

Love,
Dad

He made it to court, but he didn't return Friday. Or the next day, week, month, and sadly not the next year either.