[Paused for now](Octonauts) The life of a failure

I hate my dad!

(Pearls pov:) 

We were eating at the table, full family this time. We decided to be nice to Shellington and have crab meat tonight. It had been 2 weeks since school had cut out for all the children and our family's stress levels had decreased significantly since. Mum and I could stop worrying about Shelly, Shelly could stop worrying in general, and Dad...didn't really care. 

"So... Why are we eating crab? We have a cave full of urchins to get through." Our dad asked from the head of the table. He didn't understand why things were the way they were, and always needed to have an explanation given to him. 

Mum looked up from her plate. "Did you forget? It's your son's birthday next week."

"So?"

"You won't be here for it, so we're going celebrate it today."

"I still don't understand why you need this to involve me?" He looked across the table at Shellington and I. "You know he's not worth my time." 

(Shellingtons pov:) 

Silence. God forsaken silence. I wanted the floral print cloth on the kelp (for dignity) to turn into a fly trap and eat me like a fly. I looked down, bowing my head in shame. I didn't have all my food finished, but I picked up my plate at swam away from the table. 

"T-thank you mum, for the thought of doing this as a family, but I would really rether just do it without dad in the house." I whispered into her ear as I passed. I felt so bad, but I just couldn't do this anymore. 

-9:45pm- 

(Mum's pov:)

My husband was in his office, doing who knows what. I decided it would be a good time to go check on Shelly. He just disappeared after dinner. His father was very disrespectful of his problems, but he also had this notion that he was making it up. Pearl was Shellingtons main source of comfort, being his big sister, but she wasn't always the best either. 

I walked up to the strands of kelp that the two kits (baby otter) had tied together to make a doorway. I knew what he was gonna say, but I wanted to help so bad.

"Shelly? Are you OK?" I asked pulling back the kelp. 

No response 

"Shell?" I looked around until I saw Pearl dive down to meet me. She didn't say anything anything, just patting my shoulder and pointing upwards. I was suddenly scared. Swimming up, I saw my son's leg hanging off the edge of the kelp bed.

I now knew what Pearl was trying to tell me: 'Be careful. He's not gonna take this lightly.' 

I popped my head up from under the water to see my son, lying on his chest, crying into his pillow. 

(Imagine him in this position, but on a bed:)

I swam over and touched my weeping son on the shoulder. I flinched at the contact, making a little sob as he jumped away.

"Shelly, it's just me, your mum. I'm not gonna hurt you." I tried to get him to settle down as I climbed up on the bed next to him. He excepted by curling up his legs to give me some space. I was hoping that he would feel safe enough to confide in me, but I wasn't gonna push him any further. 

"Is this about earlier?" I whispered

"Mhhhm..." he wimpered,  wiping away some tears with his sleave. 

We stayed silent for a moment before Shellington broke the silence. 

(Shellingtons pov:) 

"Why does he hate me so much!?" I cried out in pain. "What's his DAMN PROBLEM?!" I smashed my paw into the water next to me, causing it to splash everything in a 5 meter radius. "WHAT ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH DID I DO TO HIM!!??" I was screaming now, and I could feel my heart aching again, making me fall back into loud chokes and sobs as my mum pulled me into her chest. 

"I don't know what he thinks he's doing, but we can't stop him. I'm so sorry, Shelly." Her fur was thick and soft. It was as soft as a million feathers. She was warm too, her head resting on top of mine, her hand rubbing circles on my back. We sat there, in each other's comfortable presence, watching the sun set and the moon rise. I cried the whole time, letting out 10 years of bottled up emotions, all at once. 

"Mum" 

"Yeah Shelly?" 

"I really hate dad." 

"Me too Shelly, me too."