:Ticci Toby:{A Rewrite}

28

Toby finally left his room, the lights in the house compared to his dark room really took a toll on his sensitive eyes.

It so happened to be just in time for dinner. Connie was still slaving her ass off for this horrible excuse of a husband, of a man.

"Well look who finally decided to join us, mister anti-social." The man joked, a hideous cackle leaving his stained mouth.
"Give him a break, Jacob." The soft voice of his mom rang out, setting a plate of spaghetti out on the table for Toby. "Please come eat hun, you look horrible..really."

Toby's gaze was slightly hidden by the bridge of the hat. His mom noticed it, already knowing the reason.

Toby sat down slowly, staring at the plate in front of him. Spaghetti…
Usually he loved pasta, but his appetite perished after that night. His gaze kept shifting to the one empty chair at the table where she used to sit. Where she would tell jokes in the morning, where she opened and spilled a giant bag of jelly beans on easter.
Where her smile lit up the room even when she was in pain.

The light above the kitchen table flickered. The family was really struggling to stay afloat financially, especially since his dad just blew money on addictions.

"I see you're….wearing her old work hat." Connie stated, though didn't face him, like she was distraught to see it.

"No hats at the table, take it off." Jacob remarked, his gaze looming over Toby, was he trying to start a fight?
Toby kept his eyes glued on the table, ignoring the man who obviously wasn't having it, getting an attitude out of absolutely nowhere.

"Don't ignore me, do what I said you little twat."

"What? Don't like be-being reminded? Do you even care–"
Toby was cut off by his mother shouting a little. "Can we not just have a peaceful family dinner?! You guys like time bombs! Please just behave!"

"He clearly doesn't seem ph-phased! How can I just sit here and watch him li-live his life like she isn't gone!"

"That is it, young man! I am so sick of being disrespected like this, all I do is give, give, give and you treat me like this! And all i get is that stupid look of anger and evil all the time!"
She huffed. "Look, Lyra is dead! And I can't do anything about it! None of us can so please let's just give up on trying!"

Toby flinched at her words, hiding his grimaces.
"Why do you say these th-things to me…like I don't know, I'm sorry that I am just a disappointment." Toby stormed back off to his room, leaving his food untouched.

Connie groaned, "Don't just walk off like that Tobias!"
She immediately felt bad for raising her voice. The irrational anger was getting to her.

"Get that boy a fuckin' therapist or I'm going to knock his teeth out."
Jacob rudely commented while stuffing his mouth with spaghetti.

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