Rolex Ruby

Chapter 2 - Part 2

Callum staggered through the door, banging it against the wall which shook disconcertingly, “Olright, olright, Dad, I’m in. Ouch! Friggin’ ‘ell Dad that ‘urt!”

“You bloody well deserve it! Get in that room! Not upstairs! Living room. Now!” Peter’s face was red with frustration. The stressful exertion of finding his son obvious in his fuming features as he pointed angrily with his arms; shoving and kicking his son in the direction he ordered.

Anya rushed into the room from the adjoining kitchen, rubbing her hands fiercely on a towel. Her eyes red with tears and lines deepening with worry, “Where did you find him?” she addressed Peter, her voice surprisingly calm in contradiction to her anxious features.

“Sat on a bench drinking God knows what,” he replied through gritted teeth, “God knows how he got it,” he growled in Callum’s direction.

Callum remained silent, shrugging as he picked up the Xbox control, slumping back on to the sofa.

“I don’t think so,” bellowed his father snatching back the plastic control, “We’re selling this.” He unplugged the console roughly, piling it into the middle of the floor. Rushing over to the cabinet he began to haul the numerous green boxes onto the dirty carpet, “Bet we’ll get the next years rent out of this lot!”

Callum stared in disbelief; he’d never witnessed his dad like this before. He watched the crazed arms demolish his prized Xbox collection; his father’s glaring, black eyes almost haunting in their appearance. He could barely draw his eyes away. Eventually his head turned in astonishment to his mother, Peter’s fuming mumbling erased from his mind.

Anya stood, motionless, her mouth grasping at words. Her big, brown eyes transfixed with fear as her husband mechanically pulled apart their possessions. She’d never seen him like this; this was not the man she had married. Who was this man she saw, beast-like and haunting, in her living-room? Her heart felt the pain she saw in his actions, the pain he felt for losing his job, for putting his family in this position. The shame. The fear. He couldn’t cope; there seemed like nothing he could do. She knew how he felt, but she was helpless to prevent it. But she had to do something now... Hesitantly reaching forward, she found Peter’s shoulder.

“Pete, love, calm down, calm down please,” she pleaded, her voice shaking.

He turned to face her, his breath coming in hollow rasps.

“Please, Pete,” her hand was strong on his shoulder, the long purple nails beginning to dig into the flesh.

He sighed, stepping out of her grasp, “Sorry,” his face crumpled as he fell into his wife’s grasp, sobs ripping through his already exhausted chest.

Ruby watched in horror, her sister standing protectively behind, a gentle hand placed on her shoulder, “Let’s go, Rubes, you start school tomorrow.”

***

Ruby’s nerves racked through her as she lay in the dark. The soft breathing of Lindsey’s slumber the only melody in the claustrophobic room. Her thoughts were constant antagonists; her heart beating hard against her chest, she had never seen her father so angry. His face was terrible in her memory. Her mother’s pleading running through her threatened ears. Thoughts of starting school. New people. Different people! Would she make friends? Bu-dum, bu-dum, budum, budum, dum, dum, dum. Her heart burst in fear, scorching her insides as burning, silent tears streamed down her face. The retches being squeezed as her body contracted into a shaking ball. Too much was changing – and Ruby couldn’t handle it.

***

She awoke the next morning to the annoying sound of her alarm blaring in her ears. Rubbing the crusted tears from her eyes she searched the cramped room. Lindsey lay still, seeming to be asleep on the other bed, her slender form wrapped warmly in the duvet. How Ruby envied her. Her eyes narrowed to slits as she tore away the blankets, the cool autumn temperature raising goose-bumps everywhere.