It's Billy's Favorite

Chapter II

   | Warning: Topics such as child abuse, addiction, drinking, and verbal abuse are used in this chapter. Viewer discretion is advised. |

  Everything that happened that night became dark and silent. My mother screaming in her room as I heard her wailing. It was also the few times my baby brother cried I didn't know what to do except try to calm him down. The screaming and crying went on for hours that I was worried cops would crash down the door because of a disturbance. Once I calmed down Billy I began cleaning the house while my sister drew beaches on thin paper.
   "Robbie?" Jane asked. "Yes is everything ok?" "Is dad coming back?"
  I didn't know what to say in that moment I looked at my sister trying not to cry. I felt like she had an idea he wouldn't be coming back but she needed me to confirm it. Even as I looked at her I saw no emotion.
  "No, dad isn't coming back."
She looked away from me for a moment before standing up and walking over to me.
  "Is mommy going to be ok?" "I don't know. I think it's best we just wait it out until she's ready to speak." "I get it."
  My fucking sister was three years old and she tried her best to hide every emotion. But I knew that it wouldn't last. I knew she would wait until she was in her room alone. I checked on her in the middle of night, her pillow was covered in semi dry tears. I wish I could get my sister to talk to me, but she never would.
After a few months everything seemed to be getting easier, despite my mother locking herself in her room for an hour everyday. I would get home and make my sister her favorite: Chocolate chip pancakes with cinnamon. She always was happy when I made her food even if I had to steal it from the store. Ever since dad died I didn't make enough money from mowing the neighbors yard to pay for enough food. Some things I payed for was small vendors on the side of the road. I always made sure to pay them and sometimes pay for the groceries. Most of the time I would take my grandmother's huge winter coat. It was big enough to hold ten cans of soup, butter, chocolate, and small microwave dinners. My mom got benefits from my dad's death and used it to pay for the bills and pay for diapers and blankets for Billy. She was also big of getting him new clothes while I had to steal from Walmart. My grandmother offered to pay for new clothes but my mother always refused. She hated her and wouldn't accept her golden parachute, no matter how strapped for cash we were. It became so bad that the phone would ring five times a day and my mother actually tried to burn the phone. I'm not fucking joking, she tried to burn the fucking phone. I was honestly surprised my mother wasn't arrested for starting a small fire in our backyard, but no one in this town cared. After a full month of no communication with my grandmother she came into the house when my mother went off to get a job. It was so awkward when she came in.
"Hey honey." "Hi grandma." I said. "Where is your mom?" "She's at an interview." "Ok. What about Billy and Jane?" "Well Billy is asleep and Jane is out in the backyard." "Alright. I wanted to give you and your siblings a little treat." "Mom said to not accept your golden parachute." "Is that so? Well your mother isn't here and I can't sit in my house watching my grandchildren look like bums in this little cottage which by the way I bought. Get your siblings and get in my fucking car Robert."
  Robert, grandma never played around when she said my real name. I always got used to being called Robbie, or Rob. But when I was called my legal birth name, it always scared me.
  "Yes grandma." "You call me Evelyn today." "Yes Evelyn." "Good boy, now go get them. I'll be in the car."
   I didn't know what to do except listen to my grandmother. I gently put Billy in his little carrier and walked my sister to my grandma's car. A 1960 Cadillac that was dark grey. I went in the front seat while Jane and Billy were put in the back. Grandma drove us to American Eagle, Walmart, and some thrift shop where they had the strangest shirts known to man. For the first time ever I felt that I could wear something normal. That I wouldn't go to school anymore with dirty old shirts and jeans that were too big for me. I got my own pair of jeans and a few tops as well as new shoes. Jane didn't want dresses even though grandma wanted her to wear them. Instead she grabbed cut off jean shorts, thank tops, and shirts with logos she thought were cool. Billy got more clothes and blankets plus a better carrier instead of that old thing where the handle was almost ready to come off. She spoiled us for those five hours, and when we got home. I felt my throat drop to my stomach.... mom was home.
   When I walked in I saw my mother have an ash tray on the ground filled with cigarettes and two empty bottles of wine. Her mascara was smudged and her hair was in a messy pony tail. She gave Evelyn a nasty look but her look towards me and Jane was even scarier.
   "Jane." Rose said. "Yes mom?" "Take Billy to your room right now. Stay there until I come get you."
   Jane looked at me with concern but I nodded for her to leave. She grabbed Billy and ran to her room quickly. My mom put her last cigarette out and it barely fit in the ash tray. She stood and looked Evelyn in the eye.
  "You took my kids to go shopping?" "Your kids looked like shit. If I didn't get them something nicer the school or neighbors might call the police for child neglect. I was doing you a favor."
   My mother's eyes went black as she looked at me before looking back at Evelyn.
  "Get out of my house right now, Evelyn." "You mean the house I bought-." "Get the fuck out of my house!!!!"
   Her yell was painful and angry I almost ran to the kitchen to hide behind the counter. My grandmother didn't say a word and just smiled.
   "I'm gonna pray for you Rose." "Oh yeah thank you so fucking much. Enjoy the ride home you cunt!"
  My mother slammed the door and turned to me. She was obviously drunk but I was scared to tell her that worried she might strike me.
   "I told you not to talk to that woman." "She came here-."
   My mother backhanded me and I fell towards the side of the couch.
   "Did you not hear me? I said not to speak with her! If she calls you hang up, she knocks on our door you keep it locked, she comes in you call the cops saying she's trespassing. I don't want that woman in my house I'm fucking done with this shit. If I see you do anything like this again. I'll send your ass to the hospital. Do you hear me?!"
  I nodded my head rapidly making her grab another bottle of wine before going into her room. I turned around and saw Jane looking at me from the corner.
  "Shit!" "Are you ok?" "I'm fine. Just go back and be with Billy."
   Jane went back in her room and I sat in the living room for a few hours hoping my life could go back in time. Wishing that maybe I should've not gotten into the car with my grandmother. But I don't think I deserved that, and I know Jane didn't deserve to see it.