Surrounded by Death

Untitled Part 1

Mom called me down for dinner, following my steps jumping down the stairs. She smiled at me then at my dad, almost laughing. She brought over the pot of her home cooked meal as I sat down next to my dad. "Welcome home daddy!"

"Hello, son." He tousled my hair. "Are those boys still giving you trouble at school?"

I look down at my lap and lie, "no..." I then look back up at my dad, faking a smile for him. "It's all good. I told them to stop otherwise I'd tell the teacher. Then daddy, they went running as fast as they could all the way back to their classroom."

"Woah, you showed them, huh?" He reached over and put some shepherd's pie on my plate, my favorite.

"You bet I did daddy!" I look over at my mom who is smiling at me and give her a bigger smile. I then start to scoop up my food, starving.

"Well aren't you a hungry boy?" My mom said taking a bite herself.

"Mhmm" Still chewing my food. My family then sits in silence as we devour our food.

After dinner I help dad with dishes. I carry the dishes over to the sink while he cleans and washes them. Once the table is completely cleared, I cling to my dad's leg and giggle. "You're the best dad ever." I told him quietly. He looked down at me then leaned closer.

"And you're the best 7 year old son any dad could have." He rubbed my head and drained the sink of water. "Come on, lets go read a book. Shall we?"

"Yeah!" Still clinging to his leg, he walks us to my room upstairs. We arrive to my room and I let go of my dads leg to pick out my favorite book. One Fish, Two Fish, Blue Fish. I read a page, stumbling over most words, then my dad read a page, or two. So on and so forth.

"The End. Alright, lets get you to bed." He put the book back on the shelf then came over and picked me up. He then lifted me up high enough to touch the ceiling with my head. I giggled as he set me on my bed. I crawled under my blankets and my dad pulled them up to my shoulder. "Snug enough?" He rubbed my shoulder soothingly.

"Nice and snug, captain." He gave my head a light kiss and left, turning off the lights. I soon fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, my dad didn't wake me up like he usually did. It was my mom. She hovered over me, a plain look on her face as if she wanted to tell me something. "Good morning, baby. Sleep well?" She tried to smile.

I nod into the blankets, my brown curly hair covering my face. "What's for breakfast?" I croak, tired.

"How about some pancakes?"

I nod again and sit up, my mom walks out and goes to make breakfast. I pull my shirt over my head and drop my shorts to the ground. Put on a new shirt and pants then make my way to the table. "So.. where's daddy?" I say, half asleep still. Laying my head on the table, mom brings over my pancakes.

"He had to go into work early today, sweetie." Her eyes carried dark circles under them.

"Oh, okay." I begin to munch on my pancakes which are covered in syrup. Just the way I like it. Once I'm finished I do my morning routine for the bathroom. Pee, wash hands, brush teeth, then run a hand or two through my messy hair. Mom steers me out the door and slides my back back on. one arm, two arms. Done. My mom held my hand while we waited for the bus. I didn't want her to let go. I loved holding her hand while waiting for the bus. I've always hated school. Mom always told me that going to school was fun. But really, to me. It was a place where I was picked on. I had no friends. Never had, other than my dad, mom, and my grandma.

The bus soon squealed to a stop, the noise hurting my ears. Mom gave me a quick kiss on the head and I made my way up the steep steps of the bus. My bus driver gave me a grimacing look with his good eye, the other one had a scar going through it with an eye patch to cover it. I was always scared of that man, but not as scared as the bullies in my school. With each step I take, my heart beats twice. What will happen today? Will I get hurt, again? I find a seat that isn't taken in the back of the bus. I look out the window to see my mom one last time. She waves and fakes a smile.