Pine Ridge | 18+

1

The snow piled up on the windowsill as August sat at his desk, peering outside at his front yard. His parents were arguing again, nothing new. His Dad held a box in his hand this time, and his pickup truck was full of taped-up boxes.

"Maria, you don't understand! This is important, you know what my job is-" She stomped her foot, kicking up snow as she did. "You don't listen, Garret! All you do is run off, chasing these stupid... I don't even know!" She threw her arms up in anger. "You could be running off to see someone else, you could be cheating!"

"Are you serious, Maria? All I've ever done was care for you and August, and yet you think I'm doing this to hurt you?" He put the box in the back of the truck. "You know damn good and well that I wouldn't do anything to ruin your trust in me."

"And yet running off, leaving me and August here alone!" She grabbed a small journal out of his hands. "This fucking thing is ruining my life! You don't have time for me anymore, and I'm sick of it!" She threw it into the snow, causing Garret to quickly lean over and pick it up.

Garret looked into her eyes. "You know that's not true. I would do anything to give up time and work just to be with you." He tried to brush a strand of hair out of her face, but she backed away. "Just leave. I'm tired of you and this job."

August watched as his Dad loaded the last box onto the truck as his Mom stood there and watched. His Dad turned to her a final time, saying something before handing her the journal she had thrown. She scoffed and turned, heading back inside the house as the truck pulled out of the driveway and disappeared down the road.

He got up from his desk as he heard the front door open and slam shut, walking slowly through the hall before treading down the steps. "What happened this time?" He peaked over the railing at her. She was quiet momentarily, doing her own thing before speaking up. "The same thing as usual, August. Your father just wants to go on these... stupid expeditions. I'm sick of it, he's never home and if he wants to be a part of this family, he will stay home with us."

"He's gonna miss my 16 birthday, Mom..." August stood in the kitchen doorway, clearly upset by all this. "He'll be back, right?" She hesitated before answering. "I'm not sure, August." He sniffled slightly and looked away, facing the living room window. The snowfall had already begun to cover up the tire tracks like nobody ever left. "This always happens... You always make Dad leave." She looked up from the counter and faced him. "Your Dad is a deadbeat, August. All he does is run around like he's still a stupid teenager. He doesn't care about you, and he doesn't care about this family."

She grabbed her stuff, left the kitchen, and went upstairs to her bedroom. On the counter was a box of cake mix and a small wrapped-up present. August walked over and picked the box up, the gold wrapping gently glinting under the kitchen light. His Dad's initials were written in sharpie on the top. He looked towards the stairs and then back at the box, beginning to tear the paper away. Under it all was a small black jewelry box. He took the top off and looked inside.

Sitting on a velvet pillow was a necklace, a beautiful emerald held on the chain by a silver snake coiled around it. He picked it up and looked at the charm in his hand. "Thanks, Dad..." He put it on and moved the pillow, seeing a small note under it. "

"Happy birthday, son. You're getting to be so old now, I feel like time has slipped through my hands. I know I'm not always around, but I promise to make it up to you some time. Maybe we can stop at that diner you like downtown later? I love you, August."

A tear rolled down his cheek onto the note before we wiped it away. "Maybe sometime, Dad, maybe..." He put the box away and grabbed the box of cake mix, putting it back in the cabinet. He went back upstairs, passing his mom's room on the way. He heard muffled talking, causing him to quietly step towards the door and peek through the crack.