Apocrypha

Chapter 16

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
1 Peter 5:7

ON A WARM SUMMER DAY, Cassio walked down the street after finishing his job at the big box grocery store. He could already taste the roasted turkey his mom specialized in making. But as he walked up to his parent's driveway, he knew that he should've listened to his gut when it told him something wrong was going to happen.

As soon as he stepped inside, he could feel the tense tension in the air. In the living room was his mother, father, and Mr. and Mrs. Walter, his bosses over at his workplace.

"What's going on?" Cassio asked. His voice caused everyone to glance at him. Mr. Walter had an angry expression. He marched over to Cassio and proceeded to punch him in the face.

"You!" Mr. Walter angrily sneered.

"Stop!" A woman yelled. The house went into pandemonium as Mr. Walter, in his irate state, was pulled away. Cassio's mother placed herself in front of her son to protect him.

Cassio held his face, feeling blood trickle from a cut due to Mr. Walter's rings.

"Mom?" Cassio asked. He glanced at his sweet mother. She pushed his now messy hair back and looked into his eyes.

"It's okay, Cassio. I'm here." She said. Cassio's father walked over. He had a stern face and grabbed his son by the arm and forcefully lifted him up.

"Cassio. Tell me the truth." He said.

"About what?" Cassio asked. He saw Mrs. Walter crying behind her husband.

"Did you or did you not have an affair with Mr. Walter's wife?" His father said.

Cassio was confused. "No! I've never done such a thing! I swear! The only time I ever talk to Mrs. Walter is when she says goodbye to me after my shifts!" He pleaded.

"Liar!" Mr. Walter said. "I caught her on camera sneaking a man out! When I confronted her, she told me it was you!"

"Mom! Dad! I would never do such a thing! You have to believe me."

"I believe you," Cassio's mother said. "My son would never do such a thing. It's clear that whore is just wanting to blame my son because he's young."

"What did you call my wife?" Mr. Walter angrily said. The house went into more arguments. Cassio pleaded his innocence but only his mother was on his side. The rest were certain that Cassio had an affair with Mrs. Walter.

"Bide your time, boy! Trust that the Lord will punish ne'er do wells who dare to destroy the credible families that he deems worthy." Mr. Walter said.

He and his wife both walked out of the house. Mrs. Walter muttered a sorry to Cassio before she exited the home.

When they left, Cassio once again pleaded to his parents.

"They'll be coming for you soon, Cassio." His father said. "It's best to stay put and just hope that they'll see that a 16-year-old boy was taken advantage of by a 45-year-old woman."

"Dad..." Cassio said. His father walked out of the living room. His mother hugged him and allowed him to cry. "I swear! I never did such a thing! You have to believe me."

"Shush, my dear boy. I know you would never do such a thing. Go to your room and we'll fix this."

Cassio ran to his room and cried on his bed. He pleaded for God to allow for his innocence to be seen. But as night came, there was a knock on the door. It was his mother.

"Mom?" Cassio asked. She handed her son a backpack.

"You shouldn't stay here, Cassio. They'll cut off your privates and torture your mind as punishment for adultery. You have to run. I cannot see my baby being hurt." she sorrowfully said.