Under The Surface

6

"Hey Mallory! What have you been up to son!" I stood there almost about to breakdown. How was this possible? It made no sense... "Earth to Mallory! Gosh Dolores, I think our boy blew a fuse!" I wanted to cry so bad, I was scared and didn't know how to approach the situation. "Uh um sorry dad." Was all the murmured out of my mouth. "Aren't you gonna give your pop a hug?" He asked with a little hint of worry in his tone. I reached over to him and hugged him. I was hugging him, but he was dead? How did this make sense I was baffled. But then I decided... maybe I got a second chance... a second chance to being a family again. A second chance to happiness. "Son, we need to talk..." Dad said in a serious voice. "Sure Dad whats up?" I said in a very optimistic voice. "Well we got your report card..." Aww fuck. My happiness was short lived. Please don't tell me, that after all these years the first thing my Dad does in years is kick my ass over my bad grades. Great. Just great. "We are very pleased with your progress! You managed to bring up that grade in math and Spanish!" Wait what? Was I hearing that correctly? I had two Fs. If I gotten one more, Mother threatened to send me to a military school. "Oh well um... you know me right dad?" I played along. "Yes son yes. That is why we got you a very special gift." Just when he said a beautiful golden retriever came running in from another room. Jumping up and down showering me in unwanted kisses. "Dad! I'm allergic to dogs remember!" I cried out but I couldn't help it. I succumbed to the wet and putrid kisses of this beautiful beast. "Since when? This isn't the first dog you had!" He sounded a bit suspicious but didn't care afterwards. "What's his name?" I questioned. "HER name is Akuji. Or at least that's what her previous owners named her. I stopped at the pound and saw they were going to put this beauty down so I figured I should save her." "I stopped listening. Akuji just did not want to stop the love. She kept kissing me I thought her tongue would fall off. "Alright, alright Mallory sweetie don't you think it's time for bed?" Mother looked over at us innocently. "Ugh mom it's only 6!" "Mallory it's actually 1 in the morning!" My mother cried out. Oh shit I was having so much fun with my family time passes! Usually it is the opposite. Time will stop when it's just me and Mother. I would eat or sleep to pass time but even then time would still stop for me. Though this probably accounted for my trouble sleeping but even when I didn't nap I still had a hard time sleeping. "Mallory!" My Mother snapped me out of my little dream. "Please off to bed. It's late and your father and I have something planned for you." "Oh my god really?!" I exclaimed. "Yes And please don't use gods name in vain." Well at least that was normal. "Ok sport off to bed." Dad said bashfully...

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My parents walked me to my bedroom. Akuji followed behind naturally. When I got into bed, mother tucked me in and gave me a kiss on the forehead. "Good night sweet heart. Sweet dreams." She walked to the door and waited for my father. He sat on my bed. "Good night son. Sweet dreams and sleep tight slugger." I didn't mind that he was talking to me like a child. It brought peace to my demons of the night. "Good night Dad sleep tight." I said weary. "Always remember son; The sky may be black and the clouds may rain, but they stars will always shine for you and I..." He trailed off and kissed my forehead. They both looked down and smiled and walked out. Something didn't seem right. But I decided not to ruin my happiness by investigating. I finally was happy again. It's been awhile since I felt this good. I dozed off waiting for tomorrow's surprise. That night I didn't have any nightmares or Sleep paralysis. I was safe once again know my Dad would come by and rescue me out of my misery...