CHAPTER ONE:
James walked down the path to the beach, after a hard day of chores he was excited to just lounge on the warm sand. He lied on the sand and stretched out, releasing the stress and tension of that day. He spied a pile of small stones about a foot away, that he observed would be perfect for skipping. He rolled over and grabbed a handful, and made his way closer to the shore. The peaceful evening was perfect. The air was crisp, the sand warm, and the water was a perfect cool temperature. He skipped the first stone. Four times. He grinned, as he skipped the second, five times it skipped. The next, three. After awhile he got a bit bored of it, and sat with his feet in the water. He was looking at his feet that he was burrying in the sandy water, when he heard a noise. A nosie that sounded like... stones skipping. He looked up and saw a stone skipping at him, from the middle of the water! He didn't have enough time to move before it smacked him right in the forehead.
"Ough! What the heck?"he exclaimed, rubbing his wound. Again he saw another stone skipping towards him, and it stopped right at his feet. James was really confused at this point, so he began to scan the ocean for someone trying to be funny. No one was out there. James kept watching the water, and after about ten minutes, he gave up and decided he would have to go home sooner or later. He headed back to where his shoes lay on the sand, but again, he heard the skipping of a rock. He turned, and another one landed on the shore. He scanned the water one last time, but gave up. The sun was setting and it was time to go home. He could always come back tomorrow. James headed back up the path. He kept glancing back to the beach behind him, making sure no one would emerge from the ocean while he had his back turned. When the beach was out of his sight he gave a heavy sigh. The last thing he wanted to do was go home.
James was over-worked and abused by his alcoholic father, Craig. About six in the afternoon, almost everyday, Craig would pass out after the large quantity of alcohol he had drank that day. Thats when James (making sure his chores were done if his dad woke up) would head down to the beach. If James didn't do one thing exactly as is father wanted, Craig would beat the kid senseless. James had tried multiple times to go to an adult about his problem, but even when he found one that did care, Craig would always clean up his act right in time for Social Services to come. They would always think James was making it up for the attention, and after they left, needless to say, James got a serious beating.
Craig relied soley on Child Support that his ex-wife had to pay him, who had moved to California escaping the brutal relationship that Craig made her suffer through for 13 years. He didn't even use it the way he should, buying normally beer and junk food. Now don't get me wrong, James' mother fought hard for her son, but as usual Craig cleaned up just in time, and no one belived him.
James was thinking about the stones, when about twenty feet from his house he heard his fathers roar.
"JAMES CRAIG PASSLONE, YOU BETTER GET YOUR ASS UP HERE RIGHT NOW!"
"Coming father!" , James replied almost instantly, immediatly worried he would never be able to escape to the beach again.
"YOU BEST HUSTLE!" his dad screamed from the front porch.
James sprinted.
As soon as he appeared in his fathers field of vision, Craig snarled,
"Where on EARTH have you been. You didn't sweep under the couch. I swear, you're nothing but a good-for-nothing, useless pice of trash!"
"I am incredibly sorry, sir, I was throwing some big branches into the woods." James said as he ascended the front porch steps.
The boy wasn't moving fast enough for Craig, so he reached for his hair, intending to pull him up the stairs faster. Seeing that his father was reaching for him, he ducked his head, making Craig furious.
"YOU BASTARD!" James' dad slurred as he struck James across the face.
James reached for his cheek, comforting his wound, and didn't dare say anything more, as he headed into the house.
___________________________________
Authors notes:
Hey guys! This is chapter one to my first story ever, gahh im so excited, but its late and I have homework to finish.
Now, I really reallly, really super duper apologize for the language used so prematurely, its just so you can grasp the kind of character "craig" is supposed to be.
Again, i am super duper sorry for the language, especially if any of my chruch leaders are reading this o_o, it's just the characters, not me.
love you guys!
p.s sorry the chapter is so short... i figured i would leave you wanting more. ( i know its reaaaaaaaaaaaalllly short, but it seems longer to a writer... :P)
