Becoming a Farmboy

Chapter 1 : Home life

Chapter 1

Riker POV 

"Mom, please! Can't you call them and tell them I can't go! Please! I don't want to leave home!" I begged.

"Riker, this will be good for you. All you did during the school year was hide up in your bedroom. You never wanted to come out and be social or do anything."

"Yeah well I don't like to come out when you and dad fight. It makes me nervous."

"Riker..."

"What? I don't like it! And I can hear you guys shouting even when I put my pillow over my face."

"Riker, I'm not arguing about this. I want you to go back upstairs, and pack. You get on your flight tomorrow morning."

"But this isn't fair! You can't just ship me away!"

"Riker, first of all, I'm your mom. I can ship you away if I want to. Second of all, I'm not shipping you away. You'll be staying with my old best friend's family. We were best friends in high school. And maybe you and her daughter will become friends too. And third of all, this will be good for you. You can't always come running to me when you have problems. You need to learn how to handle them on your own. You're 16."

I sighed. Tears were forming in my eyes, but they weren't falling.

"Go pack."

My mom gave me a light push on my back, and I started walking towards the stairs. I've been stressing about this ever since April. That's when I found out I'd be getting shipped away. And now it's June.

My tears finally fell as I reached my bedroom. I pulled open the door, walked in, and then shut it. I collapsed on my bed in tears.

Being away from home is one of my fears. I don't like going anywhere without mom. When I have panic attacks, she helps comfort me and calm me down.

What am I going to do if I have a panic attack down south!? I don't even know what state I'm going to!

I realized my suitcase was probably in the attic. The attic scares me. It's dark, and there are spiders in there!

I wiped my cheeks off, and opened the door.

"H-hey mom?" I called downstairs.

"What, Riker?"

"Um... Do you think maybe you could get my suitcase for me please?"

"Get it yourself, Riker."

I sighed shakily, and bit my bottom lip. I walked down the hall, and pulled down the attic stairs. It looks dark up there...

I slowly started climbing up. When I got to the top, I pulled the cord that turned on the light bulb above me. But it didn't turn on. I guess it's broken...

I slowly walked forward. There was only a tiny bit of light coming in from downstairs.

I spotted my suitcase, and quickly walked over to it. I picked it up, and hurried back down the stairs. I put the stairs back up, and then went back to my bedroom.

I heard a knock on my door, and I jumped a little.

"Come in..."

The door opened, and mom was there.

"I just wanted to remind you to pack jeans."

"Why?"

"Because that's what you wear on a farm."

"I don't know how to be on a farm..."

"I know. You'll learn."

I sighed.

"Make sure you pack enough clothes."

"I will..."

Mom left. I unzipped my suitcase, and put it on my bed. Now to pack...

Later...

Riker POV

I'd finished packing a few hours ago. And I'd triple checked everything. I didn't want to forget something stupid like underwear.

I grabbed some pajamas, and headed to the bathroom down the hall to go take a shower.

Right before I turned on the water, I heard a door slam.

Dad's home.

I already know he's upset. When he left for work this morning, he'd yelled at mom. And he came home almost 2 hours late. That means he's mad. It's almost 8:00, and he missed dinner.

I quickly got undressed, and stepped into the hot water. I can hear them even though the shower's on. They're screaming at each other again. I hate this so much!

I quickly washed my hair and rinsed it out. I want to be in bed when dad comes to yell at me. Not in the shower. He yells at me after he yells at mom, and he doesn't care where I am or what I'm doing.

I quickly washed my body, and then got out. I got dressed as fast as I possibly could, and then ran down the hall to my bedroom. I jumped into bed, and dove under the covers.

Waiting is probably the worst part. I hate not knowing when it's coming.

I heard my door fly open and crash into the wall. I froze completely. All my muscles were tense.

The covers were ripped off of me. I saw a very angry dad. And then my tears started.

"Don't even start that crap with me, Riker Anthony! You're 16 years old for crying out loud! You need to man up!"

"I-I'm s-sorry!" I whimpered.

"And your stuttering needs to stop too! You sound ridiculous!"

I covered my face with my hands, but dad ripped my hands away from my face.

"I expect you to look at me when I'm talking to you."

I started shaking. I know what's coming.

"I expect you to be on your best behavior when you go to Oklahoma, do you understand me?"

I nodded.

"Use words!"

"Y-yes."

"I don't want you to give your mother any trouble about getting on that plane tomorrow. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes."

"What did I just say about the stuttering!?"

I got slapped on my cheek. That's one of the worst parts. And I couldn't touch it because then I'd get in trouble for hiding my face.

Dad stormed out of the room, and slammed the door. Every yelling match always ends with a slap in the face. Literally.

I pressed my hand to my cheek. It stung. Really badly.

I pulled the blankets up again, and snuggled down under them, trying to find some comfort. But my tears kept falling.

I heard angry footsteps down the stairs. Mom and dad started screaming at each other again. My heart wouldn't slow down, and I couldn't think straight. I can't stop crying, and I wish they would just be nice to each other for once!