The Child Within

Chapter 1

The morning sun slowly engulfs the bedroom. A cool autumn breeze makes the white curtain methodically dance. A bluebird can be heard chirping a serene tune in the distance. The piercing sound of an alarm clock rings as a fist comes crashing down upon it! The clock reads 8:00 am and Max reaches for the aspirin, his hangover relief.

"Damn it, I have to stop drinking so much on Tuesdays," he mutters to himself.

Max drags his body out of bed and steps onto the cream colored carpet, which is in dire need of replacement. After a long stretch, he sluggishly heads for the bathroom to drain a nights worth of refreshments.

After exhausting his pipes, Max takes a long stare in the mirror. Peering at his slightly out of shape build, he does a couple of bodybuilding poses for his own amusement. He hops on the scale to a readout of a hundred ninety one pounds, not the worst for his six foot frame, but certainly not the fittest of people. He smiles as he looks down at his right upper arm to see a tattoo of a large red heart. The numbers 12-28-2002 are inscribed through it in black ink, his daughter's birthday. His left upper arm signifies the other end of the spectrum. It's a large cross with the date 1-11-2009 inscribed through it, also in black, the day of his mother's death. After a few moments of gazing, Max begins to ready for the day.

With a clean shaven face, empty bladder and a fresh blue suit on, Max descends down the stairs to the mouth-watering smell of fried bacon. He's met in the living room by his ten year old daughter Sarah.

"Rough night Dad?" she says with a snicker.

"You just concentrate on getting ready for school," Max replies in a grumpy tone. "Kid's a smart ass just like her dad" he mutters quietly.

It's a pretty nice living room in a pretty average house. Light blue carpeting underneath a burgundy sofa and love seat, oak end tables with a beautiful view through the bay window. A large family portrait of Mom, Dad and daughter hangs behind the couch. After turning off the television, which Sarah is always leaving on, Max reluctantly heads for the kitchen knowing what's in store. He enters to see three empty plates and a scornful look on the face of his wife Sandy.

"If you want your breakfast it's in the trash," she says in a fiery tone. "How can you continue to go out and get hammered during the week while I am left to take care of this house? Who the hell do you think you are anyway?"

"Just trying to relieve some stress," Max retorts with a shrug of the shoulders. "Work has been hectic lately and I just need to wind down sometimes."

"Well you can wind down here with your family! "You can help your daughter with her homework and pitch in around the house" Sandy says as her voice continues to escalate. "I am so sick of having to handle everything myself these days, you are seriously walking a thin line right now!"

"Uh, I've got to get to work, I'm running late," Max says as he scurries toward the door while grabbing a bagel. "We can talk more when I get home, love you!"

"Try to be home before midnight, jackass!" she screams, having chased him to the front door.

Offering no acknowledgement whatsoever to his wife's screams, Max hops in his car and darts out of the driveway like a man on a mission. He nearly cuts off a fellow neighbor in his urgency to leave, and offers nothing more than a quick wave to the other car as he speeds off down the road.

Max lights up a smoke as he cruises down the road in his blue Ford Taurus, heading for the office. Looking out at the colorful leaves on the trees, a calmness comes over him. He begins to ponder how hectic his life has become, and notes that he rarely takes time to simply enjoy the beauty of nature. As he stares through the glass Max is reminded of his childhood, a simpler time when he would play in those leaves for hours, only to head back out the next day and do it again.