A slow fall

Chapter 11 - Caleb

The next week was similar to every other, except after Saturday night's events my parents hovered around me more.

When we finally saw each other on Sunday I had received a lecture about how my actions reflect on the family. Regardless of what happened with the fire, rumours had been spread - stupid childish speculations - and now my parent felt threatened. The good reputations they had built was being questions and my mistakes were the cause.

They had a long debate on how to effectively reprimand me. I had already agreed to help at the Autumn fair, a yearly fundraiser for the Church held on the last Saturday in September. I was a late addition to the team and the majority of planning had already been done - with the event this weekend - but I was required to attend the week's meetings to receive a health & safety talk and be told what stall I would be running.

I was only expected to help out on Saturday, much to my parent's chagrin, with there already being enough volunteers signed up for Sunday. With Saturday being the most popular day of the event, I wasn't surprised.

Regardless, helping at this event wouldn't teach me what it needed to. I needed to learn how to properly behave. I was corrupt. A misguided soul that was damned and taking my family down with it.

I spent my nights in the dark.

Our house had a small cupboard under the stairs, large enough to use as a storage container but not much more. When I was younger my parents took to locking me in there as punishment. They would either sit outside and read me passages of the Bible or gave me time to reflect.

When they learnt I had a fear of the dark - I wonder where that came from - it became a form of punishment as well.

Still, it was used under the guise of a 'quiet place for self-reflection'. Never mind that I no longer comfortably fit in the space. Though I hadn't for years. Cue the claustrophobia... what a surprise.

When night came, I was taken to - more so dragged - into the cupboard.

I've taken to sleeping during lunch.

Thankfully come Saturday morning my parents assured that if I behaved, I would be allowed to sleep in my room again. I promised them I would.

The fair was partially set up by the time I arrived. It was half six and the cordoned off entrances to the square wouldn't open until nine. The next two hours saw to more than forty stalls being set up, all a variation of the same: tables placed under gazebos. There were food stalls, vendors selling homemade knickknacks and trinkets, and people running carnival games. I was one of the latter.

I was operating a games booth and had been given the run down on how to actually win, though the odd of that happening were just as bad as people expect. And yet there was still an almost endless flow of people intent on beating the game and wining one of the lucrative prizes.

The morning was a blur of fake smiles and forced small talk when all I really wanted was to sleep. But I had to be well behaved, I promised.

"Hey." A familiar voice spoke from behind me as I collected the balls left on the floor by the last participants failed attempt. A genuine smile appeared on my face as I looked at the boy before me, his dark brown eyes staring into my own.

"Hey there stranger."

"Fancy seeing you here."

"Small world, right? Would you like a go?" I asked. "You can win yourself one of these."

Lucas finally moved his eyes away from mine, following my hands as they gestured to the teddies hung up around me. His eyes narrowed while he analysed the booth as if he hadn't seen what it was when making his way over.