First Rain

III

   Wally West. No. Of course they didn't want him. Why would they? Who plans to have a kid when they're sixteen? That wasn't his fault.
   His dad sure fucking acted like it was.
    Oh, his mom? She was dead. Wally had the theory that his dad killed her. They got in a fight one night and she died some time after. That's the last memory Wally has of his parents together. Fighting.
    The last memory of his mom? When she took him to the circus and she pointed up to the boy flying in the sky. It was the best night ever. Dad didn't go. He had work. It was 'its just us kiddo' kind of night.

    This is the story of Wally's last week with his Dad.

                           Monday.

  School. Home. Fight. Shower. Bed. He didn't eat. He didn't sleep. He didn't do anything.

                          Tuesday.

   Wally went to school, like normal. He went home on his bike, like normal. He went home and Dad wasn't there.
   He made himself Mac and Cheese for dinner. He drank one of Dad's beers with it. He took his shower then went to bed.

                       Wednesday.

   Four AM. His dad stumbled into his bedroom and ripped off his blankets.
    "You ate my dinner." He slurred in his face, alcohol literally dripping off his tongue into Wally's face. "The fuck do you think you are? The Pope?"
   "Is the Pope allowed to eat dinner in his own house?" Wally grumbled tiredly.
   "The fuck did you say? Are you talking back young man? You know I didn't want you, right?"
    "I know Dad."
     "What? You know?"
      "Yes. I know you don't want me. I know my mom didn't want me. I know I was a fuck up, now go to bed drunk-ass." Wally said and pushed his Dad away from him, he scrambled for his blankets and curled back up in bed.

     His dad slept on Wally's floor. In the morning for school Wally stepped over him and went on as usual.
      When he came home his dad was there and didn't say anything to him while he did his homework. He didn't say anything while he made his own dinner. He didn't say anything while he ate.
      It wasn't until Wally was washing the dishes that he said anything to him.
       "When are you gonna move out?" His dad asked.
        "When I can." Wally replied simply.
         "I moved out at sixteen."
          "Papaw kicked you out cause you knocked up Mom." Wally sighed.
           "Shut up slut." His dad spat.
            "I'm so not the slut here."
            "Are you calling me a slut?"
             "You had sex at mom's funeral."
             "Call me a slut to my face."
              "I'm not going out there to just call you a name. Too much effort."
    With that his dad strode in and smacked the wet dish out of his hand. Wally dropped it and shattered into his bare foot. He gasped as the glass cut into him. He hopped away to sit and pull it out, his dad hit him in the head as he sat— knocking him to the ground.
      His dad beat and beat and beat him until Wally couldn't speak or even move.

                          Thursday.

   Wally didn't go to school. He skipped and stayed home to clean his wounds. He never went when they were fresh. People stared then.
    Wally spent the day running around town. Literally. He ran and ran and ran. He was faster than anything else on earth. It made him calm down and get his mind straight.
    He stopped while in town. Posters were everywhere. The circus was tonight and tomorrow, tomorrow they leave. Cool. Maybe he'd fuck with the elephants. Did it charge admission? Dumb.
    He walked through town and stopped in different stores. He bought a candy bar and a hoodie from the goodwill-like store they had here in town.
    He made his way then to the circus set up and simply walked around, looking at it all. He'd so join the circus.
    Well, he could get away from his abusive dad that way. That idea stuck. Like, really stuck. He wanted to do it. He wanted to join the circus.

                             Friday.

   He was doing it. He was going to join the circus. That morning he put on his mother's only necklace and went to school like it was a normal day. He went in town and said bye to the adults who were kind to him.
   He was given a chocolate bar and he ate as he walked to the circus. The show was halfway over. He snuck in and watched. His favorite was the aerobatic boy. Danger Dan. He was so good.
   He noticed Dan watch the rest of the show from the side. He didn't know why he was sneaking to watch. Why did he need to sneak?
   After the show he watched everyone leave and then snuck around to the back. He searched for the ring leader. He was in charge.
    There. Found him. Fat guy in the too tight suit.
   Wally walked up to him and gently tapped his shoulder.
     "Excuse me, sir, I don't mean to be a bother but I was wondering if I could join y'all in the circus."
     "Young man," Jack sighed. "I'd love to let you, but I can't just let anyone join."
      Wally started to cry. "Please. Please. Let me join."
   "We can't just take anyone kid." Jack huffed.
   "But I'm talented! I'm really, really fast!" The redhead defended.
    "Just because you're fast doesn't mean—"
     "Watch me! Really!"
  And with that, the kid was gone in a flash. He ran to the end of the train, tossed in four boxes, and then right back in two seconds.
    "You can join." Jack sighed. "I'll have you shown a bed. What's your name kid?"
   "Wally West." He replied. Sheepishly.
    "Dan, come show Wally where he can stay."