The Devil You Know

Chapter 3: Oh, Ma

I was walking my little sister home. I knew why she didn't want to go home. I didn't want to either. I knew pop would be drunk. I held my sister close to me as we walked in the rain. It was cold and wet.

We stopped in front of the house and looked at each other. We could hear pop and ma yelling at each other. It seemed like it was getting worse everyday. It seemed like he would get more drunk every night and they would yell at each other more and more. I walked in the house and made Jade stay behind me.

There he was, a bottle of half empty whiskey bottle in his hand, passed out on the chair. Empty beer bottles around the room. Jade ran upstairs to her room. I looked at ma, her face all beat up. It made me angry that he'd do this to her. I picked her up and carried her to her room, layed her down on the bed. "I love you, Tommy" She spoke, her voice shakey. I clenched my fists, "I love you too, Ma." I say calmly walking to my and Brendan's room. He wasn't home yet.

I layed down on my bed and sighed heavily. Jade came in and sat on the floor next to my bed. I knew she saw it. Her hands were shaking. "Come here, you're okay" I say sitting next to her and holding her. "Ma isn't" She said quietly.