All That Matters

13 | Cosey Field

"Damon, it is quite incredible to see how you've united the community in such a positive way. It is amazing to watch how Mr. Brown, Mr. LaCour, and yourself are committed to bettering Black children's lives in our city. What would you say moved you to give back to your community like this?" A reporter moved a thick black mic to his lips. They stood on the freshly planted grass of Cosey Field, just a day before the huge bash to celebrate.

He didn't remember his interviewer's name but his question stuck like two highly charged magnets.

Six-year-old Reyna's cries were the first thing he heard when he entered their small house. His heart sunk and anger hinted with fear knotted in his stomach as he kicked off his worn shoes. Reyna's wails only became louder as he continued down the hallway, and he felt sick to his core when he saw her curled up into a ball on the couch with their father hovering over her.

"I said shut the fuck up and take this shit elsewhere!" Sam's wide nostrils flared as he cracked open a fresh, cold can of beer. He had just gotten off of work, still dressed in overalls with oil splotted over him. Damon knew how much his father hated disarray when he came home from work so he steered clear of him more than ever. His little sister, however, was always a learner of the hardest way, though that was no excuse for Sam to scare her into the shaking mess she was on that red couch. Damon was only twelve, but he had to protect her.

"Rey, get up." He came in between them, never acknowledging the tall and useless and angry man behind him, only helping Reyna up from the sofa so that she could pick up the toys their father had thrown all over.

Sam's toxic aura nearly smothered him as he began to stand to his full height, still trying to avoid eye contact with the man he was supposed to call a father. Through Sam's genes, Damon was pretty tall for his age, so the aura swallowed him when he stood and Sam's hot breath blew down on him. Still refusing eye contact, Damon brushed past him with hard emphasis, enough to push Sam back and out of his way.

"You got something you want to say, boy?" He barked, taking another swig. Damon was nearly mute whenever he was around Sam, having no desire to but to tell him off, but never dared to. While alcohol was Sam's preferred liquid courage, Damon's was becoming the tears that were shed from his mother's and sister's eyes. He was so sick of his terrorist ways.

"Leave her alone." His voice was low but he managed to get it out. "Leave her alone." He spoke louder this time, his voice free of a tremble but his heart shattering with fear in his chest. Yet, he stood his ground.

Damon could only describe the emotion that flashed across Sam's face as red. His movements were in slow motion as he sat down his beer and started to lunge at him. It was like his socks melted into the carpet, and he felt paralyzed. He only managed to close his eyes, courage fleeting, and expecting whatever was coming his way.

"Samuel!" The sound of his mother's voice was aligned with the dropping of grocery bags and the door closing was relieving. She'd caught Sam with a trembling hand, ready to strike. "Damon, go to your room." Lauryn, clad in her waitress uniform, pulled him out of the fire before Sam could continue with his actions. "Now!" She insisted, pushing him towards the hallway, trying to ignore the horror painted on his face.

He hesitated before grabbing Reyna and her dimmed whines over a broken baby doll and dragged her to their bedroom, quietly shutting the door. His nerves were shot as he heard his father's fury redirect to her. He didn't understand what could make him so angry and how he could treat his family with such wrath. He only knew that he would never be like him. He'd be a resilient ray of sunshine compared to Sam's stormy cloud.

Lauryn joined them in the room after a few moments, thick curls dropping from her updo. Her movements were rapid as she dug through a random pile of Reyna's toys on the floor. Damon sat up on his bed, watching in confusion as she pulled out a stack of cash. Lauryn dug into the pocket of her black apron and pulled out a bunch of bills, not bothering to count any of it as she scrambled to find another hiding spot in Reyna's play area.