I Fake That Smile

Chapter Six

Chapter 6

"Everyone take a seat at the table Dad will be home in a minute," Mom explained. Aaron, Melissa and myself took a seat at the table. I sat next to Aaron, Melissa across from me and then my parents would sit at the heads of the table. My dad walked through the door at that moment placing his briefcase on the shelf in the entry way.

"Good evening, Harry," my mother greeted him. He smiled at her but it wasn't warm and friendly instead it was cold-hearted as if she had done something wrong.

Across the table Melissa was giving my brother and I a look that told me Dad was in a bad mood and I'd better be on my best behavior. I nodded as if to say I understood, no screwing up, I couldn't put my life at risk like that.

"What's for supper?" my dad asked giving us the best smile he could muster up before taking a seat at the head of the table.

A smile grew on my mother's face. "Beef," she said looking at my father with kind eyes.

"Oh my favorite," Dad grinned. He reached his hands out and the rest of us did the same. I placed mine in my father's hand, it was ice cold and he squeezed it too hard. I didn't even listen to grace I could only focus on my hand that was being crushed in his grip. Tears came to my eyes but I forced them not to roll down my cheeks.

"Alright everyone dish up," Dad said. I grabbed the potatoes because they were closest to me. "So how was the first day of grade two?" Dad asked Aaron and me, I looked at Aaron silently asking him if he were going to speak or if I was.

He gave me a helpless look. "It was very good, our teacher is very nice," I nodded politely.

"And how about you Aaron?"

"It went well," was all he said. Under the table I grabbed his hand squeezing it. "We have words to practice tonight for a spelling test on Friday," he told him.

"And Melissa how is grade six?" Dad asked her.

"It was-" he cut her off before she could say any more.

"Who the fuck put the silverware out?" he screamed.

We all froze. I gulped. Aaron's grip on my hand tightened and Melissa looked as if she were about to cry. "Melissa, I do believe you did, didn't you?" Mom asked her waiting for Melissa to tell the truth.

"Y-y-yes," she stuttered.

"You have been alive eleven fucking years and you still don't know how to put the silverware out, are you fucking kidding me? You put the forks on the left hand side and the big spoon and little spoon on the right along with the knife," Dad screamed at her. Her face was turning red from fear and his from anger.

"I did that," she whispered.

Dad's chair scratched the floor as he pushed it back standing up to his feet. "Do you see how the sharp end of the knife is pointed towards the spoon? It should be pointed towards the plate and you didn't do that you stupid bitch," he yelled. His hand slammed down on the plate breaking it but he seemed to be immune from pain because he didn't even flinch. He grabbed Melissa by the wrist and pulling her roughly out of her chair before slapping her across the face. My brother and I watched him but we did nothing. This happened on a regular basis, we were used to it. Sometimes we were in Melissa position but tonight I was glad it wasn't me.

"What are you two little fuckers doing?" Dad turned to glare at us. Aaron and I stood up from our chairs taking a step away from him. "You don't fucking stare at people you little ignorant pricks, that's rude." He came right up to my face and I held my breath. "You're a little spoiled bitch," he punched me in the gut and I screamed in pain.