Mom:Dinner's ready sweetie, go get Johnny.
I giver her a thumbs up and run to the bottom of the stairs.
Me(Tyler): *Knock, knock, knock*
Johnny: Coming!
I chuckle and turn around to go back to mom but hear Johnny scream from our room, before I get to take a step.
Johnny: TYLER! HURRY! OUR FORT FELL!!
I turn around as fast as I can and book it to the room, skipping 2 steps as I go, almost tripping on the wood.
Johnny: Mary-Ann is back from Ballet yet, so it couldn't have been her...MOM!?
We both turn to run down the stairs, but bump into each other from a violent stop at the top. There standing in the front door was Uncle John. He stalked his way to the kitchen, scratching his grayed-blond hair, looking down at the letter he held in his other hand. He looked almost too afraid to speak, knowing mom would kill him on the spot for not taking his mud-sicked combat boots off before coming in. Or even forgetting to hang his torn leather up on a hanger.
Uncle John: Si--
Johnny: Uncle! It's been ages since we've seen you around here! Where's dad? Is he still on his business trip?
Uncle John: Yeah, uh...somethin' like that kiddo...
He flashed an uneasy smile towards the both of us, trying to hide the guilt behind his teeth.
What I Want To Say(WIWTS): It's been a few months now. His trips have never been this long...Usually just a week or two...
I went to grab my notepad to ask him why dad isn't back,but mom stops me, and points to the bench.
Mom: Both of you sit down to eat. (looks at Uncle John) You too.
She walks past him snatching the letter from his rusty finger, then closes the front door behind him.
Uncle John: Uh...Listen Sia, Before you--
Before Uncle can get a word out Mom sticks her finger up in and threatening way towards him.
Mom: I can probably already guess what his is all about, so don't.
She sits down at the head of the table, irritation in her eyes as she practically shreds the envelope open with the steak knife from her plate.
Mom: (as she's slipping the paper out) I just don't understand what's so bad with calling more than once a month, or eve--
As she reads the letter from Uncle, the color drains from her face, while pools start to form in her eyes. Suddenly the front door swings open, and Mary-Ann runs to the table leaving her ballet bag by the staircase.
May-Ann: MOMMY! MOMMY! GUESS WHAT I... Mommy?
All 3 of us avert our gaze back to mom, drops of tears falling onto her plate.
Uncle John: Okay! *Clears throat* Why don't you kids go get your Pj's on, then come back to finish dinner later?
WIWTS: Mom? What did the letter say that made you so sad? Or is that not why you're crying?
I scooched closer to my mom until Johnny says something that makes me quickly pull back to face him.
Johnny: (whispers) It's probably dad.
Tyler: (draws letters on bench with index finger) W-H-A-T--D-O--Y-O-U--M-E-A-N
Johnny being 3 years older at the time seemed to know and understand more about adults than I did. Even though he was 11, hadn't even hit puberty yet.
Johnny: You know, dad's been gone since you lost your speech. Did you think that was some kind of coincidence or somethin'?
Tyler: W-E-L-L--Y-E-S--I--D-I-D-N-T--K-N-O-W--H-E--W-A-S-N-T--C-O-M-I-N-G--H-O-M-E
Johnny: You really are naive.
WIWTS: What does nieeve mean?
I didn't bother asking him what it meant, I was more curious by what he meant when he said "Dad's been gone since you lost your speech." Dad told me he was leaving to find good money for my new voice.
Tyler: H-E-S--C-O-M-I-N-G--B-A-C-K--R-I-G-H-T
Johnny stared at me for awhile. Before he flashed me a bitter smile and answered.
Johnny: You're joking right? If I were you I'd---
Uncle John: Go change Johnny, then I'll fill you in. Bring Tyler with you.
Mary-Ann: Uncle! Uncle *sobbing* What's wrong with Mommy?
Uncle John: Nothin' sweet pea!! Momma's just tired, that's all. Go up with the boys, okay?
The 3 of us shuffle awwardly up the stairs staring at mom as we go. We can hear Uncle trying to calm mom down from the hallway connecting all of our rooms.
Mary-Ann: *sobbing* Johnny! Why was mommy crying!?
Johnny: Because daddy doesn't want to be our daddy anymore.
He stared at the floor as he said it walking past her to get to his closet.
WIWTS: HEY!! WHAT ARE YA TELLIN' HER THAT FOR?!?!
I stare at him both angry and in shock. Mary-Ann's screams echo throughout the house loud enough to wake the whole neighborhood we find out the next morning when they tell us.
Mom: Annie, sweetie. Come to mommy. I have a story to tell you.
As johnny got dressed, I went halfway down the stairs to try and listen to mom's story. I poked my head out through the banister bars, just enough to see my mom stroking Mary-Ann's blonde curly- q's on the bottom of her baby ballerina bun. I slowly turn back up the stairs just in time to see Johnny writing something down. Before I have the chance to knock at him, he wipes his face with his sleeve. His eyes were a painful deep red, filled with regret and anguish.
Johnny: You said nothing changed. You said it didn't matter that he couldn't speak.
My body was cemented to the wood floor, my eyes glued to his tears dropping from his nose, soaking his sheets.
Johnny:(imitating father) "i'll be back with his cure. Don't worry bud." What a load of crap.
(Uncle starts up the stairs )
I stare at Johnny as he gets up to pick up a picture frame off of our desk.
Johnny: LIAR!
Trophies and glass frames dance around the room in an instant. Being victim to Johnny's anguish. The stillness of the air around me began o break as I heard uncle begging Johnny to listen, and understand what was happening. I can vaguely hear Mary-Ann wailing at this point, as my mind starts to wander.
Mom: Shhhh, sh, shhh...it's okay. You're okay, We'll be okay.
I tug on the skin surrounding my lungs.
WIWTS: Why after all this time, i didn't just lose my speech, but my dad too. What have I done?
Uncle John: Tyl...HE...! WHERE AR...ING!!
My blurred vision mixed with my spaced out mind made me barely able to hear reality as I ran from the house that night.
YOU ARE READING
Hello (COMPLETED)
General Fiction"Sitting in the waiting room is a girl, around my age, with brown hair and blue eyes. I stared at her as Julia and I waltzed through the office. She was staring out the window daydreaming I suppose, because the receptionist had to call her name a fe...
