Metal Kingdom

66. Am I Evil?

Am I Evil?-Metallica

Three weeks passed since Hunter's mom, Holly, returned home. He received a handful of texts and phone calls from her, trying to berate him or manipulate him to come back home. Going on and on about how his mind is being poisoned and clouded in judgement for some girl. Explaining how she thought he was throwing his life away over her.

 He silenced every one of them. Eventually blocking her number. Not having enough mind space to read any more of them or listen to her demeaning voicemails.

He was trying to live his life as normally as possible with ignoring her existence. He and Frankie were doing well in school. Skullflower was using the Sullivan's basement for their band practices. Thanksgiving and a small school break were just around the corner. All was well for now. But he couldn't help feel like there was some impending doom heading their way.

The Sullivan's and Hunter were having Clay over for dinner, since his parents were out of town on another trip for the holiday. They spent the couple days leading up to it together as well. Frankie was counting her blessing for not growing up with any brothers in the house. Hunter and Clay were starting to test her patience.

The boys bickered and play fought like a couple of 10 year old's. Clearly feeling comfortable enough with each other to do so. As much as they were annoying her, it did warm her heart to see. 

Hunter fell into her family so effortlessly. She never expected to see him be close friends with her favorite cousin. Or watch him help her father prepare the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. Let alone see him spending it inside their family home together.

She was finishing taking the pies out of the oven as she looked on at the three around the dinning table. Laughing at her dad as he was torturing the poor boys.

"Either of you boys cut a bird before?" Morgan asked as he looked at his nephew and daughter's boyfriend's blank faces. Chuckling at the pair as they looked terrified at the giant knife in his hand. "Next one we cook, we'll have to hunt ourselves."

Hunter and Clay's eyes went even wider as they snapped their heads to look at each other. Oblivious to Morgan fighting back more laughter at the pair. He was joking of course but it was too easy as always. 

"Stop messing with them dad. Last time you scared Clay bad enough, Aunt Peggy didn't let him stay the night for 6 months." Frankie scolded as she stole a piece of cut turkey to taste test. 

"That's because he dressed up like Freddy Kruger as I was asleep on the couch and chased me around the block!" Clay squealed out. Still terrified over the memory from years ago. 

"It was Halloween." Morgan shrugged out to Hunter.

"It was the middle of summer!" Clay corrected in a high pitch.

Morgan thought to himself for a moment. Recounting the memory as he now remembered. "Oh yeah." He chuckled back out to himself.

Hunter didn't know whether to laugh or hide in fear. Reminding himself to never get caught off guard to a prank of Morgan's.

The four set the dinner table together. Filling it with enough food for a small army. Thankfully they were all starving at this point. Digging into the feast as they sat around and shared in more stories and laughter.