Changing Seasons

Sixty-Nine

****

Rocco and Atira were playing a board game when Krist tuned to the 8 o'clock news. He sat down, cell phone in hand, to text Jeordie his reaction to whatever was so horrific that he couldn't tell him through text.

As soon as the story began and he saw the exterior of the trailer park, he knew exactly who the news was about.

"Breaking news tonight out of Longview, Washington. Authorities have raided a mobile home where a large meth lab was discovered. Police seized over a pound of methamphetamine, equipment used to manufacture the illegal drug, as well as nearly a dozen illegal firearms, and over ten grand in cash.

In addition to the drugs, authorities report that small children were discovered to be living in the back bedroom, where it appears they were not allowed to leave the room. The children are said to be severely underweight and were covered in feces with no access to food. Child Protective Services have taken custody of the children.

"Two people have been arrested in connection with the raid, 35-year-old Michael King and 19-year-old Savannah Rogers, and are currently being held without bail in Cowlitz County Jail."

The screen flashed to the mugshots of a man and a woman. Michael and his girlfriend. Michael's contempt-filled face had become nearly unrecognizable, gaunt, and almost ghoulish, covered in a bunch of shit tattoos.

"More details will be available as this investigation continues."

Atira glanced at Krist, visibly horrified, "Did you know them?"

"Yeah, I fucking do. I don't know the chick, but the dude lives next door to my dad," Krist rose to his feet, walking towards the sliding glass door.

"Did you know he was making meth?" Atira wanted to know.

"Not really. He and his parents sold it back in the day, but they weren't cooking it when I was around," Krist told her. "I'm gonna make a call. I'll be right back."

Krist sat down on the balcony, taking a deep breath. Except for possibly Karla, Michael had to be the biggest fucking piece of shit he'd ever met in his entire life.

Krist didn't want to believe that Michael could lock kids in a room like that, but at the same time, there wasn't much he could or would put past him. Getting taken by CPS was the best thing that could have happened to those kids. They stood no chance at a healthy life with Michael.

He FaceTimed Jeordie. "Bro, what the actual fuck, dude."

Jeordie nodded, his mouth in a straight line, "Right?"

"Man, why the hell do these chicks keep getting pregnant by him?" Krist asked. "I saw Athena a few weeks ago, and she has a kid by him too."

Jeordie winced, "I can't even blame those girls, bro. They have all been young as fuck. Michael basically groomed them."

"We can agree to disagree on that one, dawg. Yes, Michael is a fucking predatory who totally did groom young chicks. Still, the moment you lock freaking kids in a room because you're a cluck who cares more about fucking meth than being a parent, you lose any sort of sympathy points.

I don't give a fuck how shitty Michael is. His bitch could have fucking taken her kids and left. It ain't like Michael doesn't take off for days at a time," Krist became increasingly angry.

"Dude, you seen what he did to Athena, though. Michael didn't even have guns like that. That girl was probably hella scared," Jeordie countered. "You're kind of victim-blaming here. Dude was almost twice her age, bro."