revenge=asylum

ch 2

 The night is cool in me and my sister's room. Beth is curled up by me; she always sleeps like this because she knows I will protect her. My other sisters sleep on the bottom bunk together.

Dad is at the other end of the house yelling at mom, for heaven knows what. She always just takes it. He drinks and hits her. She says it is her fault. She says she should be a better wife, even when he hits her, when he bruises her. I cannot do anything about it because she loves him and it would hurt her. So I tell her if her makeup does not hide the bruises. If he hit Beth, or Jessie, or May, or Jace, or Josh, I would tell and he knows that.

That does not stop him from hitting me. Mom does not know that. I wear just as much makeup as her.

I hear a thump, I figure mom will have a new bruise on her tomorrow...

* * *

I wish I could sleep. The yelling stopped a while ago. I hear a thump and some struggling, probably more fighting. Beth is awake she curls up closer to me.

"Sissy awe you gonna run away. Cuz' I wanna come with you," I hear Beth say.

"No sweaty, I'm going to stay here with you..."I pause"... Why would you think that?"

"I saw Daddy hit Mama," Beth says. Her words leave a ring in my ears. She is not supposed to know about that. I always knew she did but she never said anything.

"Honey..." I begin,"... they're things you can't understand, this being one of them. It is complicate- "she cuts me off.

"Oh, I understand aw wright, I'm five years old, and I know that that brown stuff Daddy drinks makes him scary, and mean." she says raising her voice.

"Alright, but be quiet. I don't want dad to wake up. Just go to sleep. I will not run away. Point blank period. I love you, goodnight." I kiss the top of her head and she cuddled up to me again.

I hear a thud and a scream coming from my father. Maybe mom finale hit back. If she did serves him right.

That's when I heard it," No not you, you got put away, crazy crazy, NO!!!" my father screamed and I new it wasn't mama.

I crawled down and got Beth, I hid us under the bottom bunk, Jessie and may joined us. They held each other and, and May started whimpering into Jessie's shoulder.

I watched a shadow pass under the door. Then when it left, Jace and Josh came down from the hole in our ceiling, right above Beth's and my beds. They scurried down, and came to me and the girls.

I didn't like Josh, or Jessie or May, they didn't care about Beth, or me, but Jace tried to be compassionate. I hate that, no matter what the three wanted to be the center of attention, cheerleaders, football star.

I'm 17, I'm a Junior, the girls are sophomores. 15, and 15. twins, blonde, and red head. Cute little freckles.

The boys are 16, they are twins too. Josh is the quarter back, he has broad shoulders and freckles just like the girls do. Jace is smaller, skinny yet built like a linebacker. He has auburn hair, and he is pale. He is in the righting club with me. He is still, a bad egg. He knows he is adorable. Breaking girl after girls heart.

Beth is mine. My baby. She loves me just as much as I need her. I protect her. She looks like me, dark hair, blue eyes.

I remember when she was born. The night was cold and dark, dad was at a bar or with a girl. Mom was in the living room with me and Jace. Jace was playing with a old car, that use to be mine. Me and mom were finishing up crocheting the outfit the baby would were, it was a wight onesy. Mom was making the hat, ant I was finishing the booties. I made them with yellow trim, and a button. It was blue. I made it from, old worn out baby clothes that could be no use.

Dad came in drunk and madder than hell. He turned to mom and spat some slurred insults, at her.

"Josh can you go clean up for bed?" I had said.

"ya sis." and he scurried off. Dad grabbed him by the collar and and said, something like goodnight, and shoved him on.

"Welcome home honey, I hope you had a wonderful day" mom said pleasantly but on guard.

"What-ver, itdch," he slurred. Then he stumbled into their room.

She just looked down, then leaned back in her seat. "I'm done, do you want me to go to bed now,"I said.

"OK baby girl." she whispered.

I went to brush my teeth, and I hear a thump. I sneak a peek around the corner. Dad has mom pressed against a wall, and his hand is on her through. I come up behind him and full out punch him in the side. He stumbles a little, then goes down in the chair.

I notice mom has blood running down her pants. I had just learned how to drive the old four wheeler so I grab her arm and pull her out. I speed down the road to the hospital. As we near town her screams ,from the baby, start to come every minute.

I half carry, half led her to the doors. The nurse takes her immediately, but I stay with them.

Beth was taken out in thirty minutes, and mama.. mom just passed out. They cleaned her and I held her. 4 pounds exactly. Mom woke up and told me to name it, as she held her.

I thought about Shakespeare. Macbeth. Beth.

"Beth" I said.

"That's perfect." mama said. About an hour later dad walked in, half sober.