Chapter 1
Scott Phoenix, 13, sat in an old, small room in his smelly, ramshackle apartment, staring at the old, faded photograph of his mother. Oh how he wished he could hug her one last time, to have her help with his problems one last time, to just have a mother to look after him. But, since her tragic accident, he didn't. Scott's mother had been hit by a car two years earlier, and nothing was going to change that fact. His eyes glistened with tears as he mourned for his mother, just like he had for every day since the fatal incident. He thought about all the great times he had experienced, how she had laughed at all of his jokes, how they had gone for picnics in the park occasionally. He was abruptly shaken out of this trance-like state by a gruff shout from the next room.
"Boy. Food." It was his alcohol-loving, abusive father.
"Coming," replied Scott with a sigh. With one last glance at his mothers faded features in the photograph he slowly stood up and left the room.
Scott and his father ate in silence. The food was bland and watery, tasteless to Scott. They had eaten quietly, not talking to each other, since "the incident" had happened. Shortly after his mother's decease his father had turned to alcohol as the answer to all of his ails. Unfortunately, it wasn't the answer to Scott's problems. His father often came home very late and drunk, angered by the fact that Scott was still awake. As a result of this he was often sporting bruises and grazes, punishments inflicted by his father. He often got beaten and kicked by his father whenever he put a foot out of line, whether it be a snide remark, a snappy comeback, a silly practical joke or any other excuse his father could find. Because of this Scott wasn't very happy with his father, but never dared to tell this to his face in fear of being injured.
After a long and painstaking dinner Scott went to take a shower while his father headed to a late-night bar. After a long and rejuvenating shower, Scott laid down on the couch to watch some late-night television and eventually lost his battle with fatigue.
