Halfway Through the Scale

Just a Little Impaired

Chapter 18

I've been in awkward situations before countless times that it's as though I am a part of them. It's as if my only purpose in life is to endure as much of the silence in the ozone with eyes staring off at one another. After being situated with the ozone of awkwardness, I settle with the gaze at my hands on my lap. The sensation of realism comes into question about anything of everything humans cannot know of or out of our reach. My brain gets frazzled after a while, going in circles with no stop or other shape.

Small sounds pop my ears, like the doctor clicking her pen, mom sipping her cup of coffee, and dad turning the page of his newspaper on his lap.

"Why don't you say something honey?" My mother asks leaning in from behind me.

"I have nothing to say,"

Another sound pops into my ear, a small distant snicker from my left.

"Is there something you'd like to say Mr. Johnson ?" Dr. hides a cheerful smile behind her porcelain skin because the distilled silence has finally been broken.

"Nothing, simply that he had a lot to say before all of this happened."

My father is cynical, plain and simple up until you're involved with his affairs. People are drawn to him because of his prestige manner of presenting himself as a professional business man but as a venomous snake as well. They way he sits comfortably with one leg crossing another and entertainment on his lap as if he were home eating breakfast.

"Would you stop? Be an asshole elsewhere, you've done enough damage." My mother hisses in a whisper to my father. I cannot see her, but I can imagine she's reaching over his leg to get his attention.

"Me? I'm not responsible for the fact that this boy is a little bitch."

And so, it begins.

I hear grunts from behind, and suddenly a hard knock coming at my father. I see on the floor my mother stiletto.

"Don't you dare, this is all your fault you fucken asshole!" My mother's voice is screeching for help to not crack in the middle of her fury against my father.

"Okay," Dr. interrupts by standing from her chair like a god. "We do not throw shoes at each other, nor insult one another. Based on this evaluation, I think it best to continue these therapy sessions alone with Calvin.

"Fine by me." My father doesn't hesitate, he immediately releases himself from the room and walks out the door with the newspaper in his hands.

"I'm sorry sir, but,"

"Just leave him be." Mom's voice is dragging, carrying a load of weight. She slowly walks over to pick up her stilettos and puts it back on. Before she walks out the door, she reaches for my shoulder and gently squeezes it. I hear a whimper from behind, but before I can turn around, mom is gone out the door.