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The good old days

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I trudged through the crowds, my hands stuffed with fruit and bread and cheese and all sorts. I was nearly home, I could faintly see mum and Rosemary waving from the garden. I could tell they had been planting vegetables again- they were all muddy and wet. I liked seeing them smiling and having fun, even so.

Little Evelyn gasped at the weight I was carrying and rushed out of the front door to help, but the poor thing couldn't even handle a baguette without it scraping against the floor! I asked her to help me get inside and she opened the door for me instead.

As soon as I got inside I insisted on making dinner, but i could already smell something delicious. It was a meat- chicken, maybe? Was it stew? I could practically taste the creamy soup and the tender chunks and crunchy carrots and cabbage! I had to cover my mouth when I realised I was about to dribble.
It was even better than I imagined! Beef stew with crusty bread and carrots and peas! It was the biggest meal we'd had in a long time- 2 years minimum! It was great. Me and mum got closer than ever- the whole family did! Evelyn and Rosemary ate up their food and played with the tatted dolls I had made them. I wasn't sure what happened exactly, but I heard 'princess' and 'dragon slayer' a few times.
Well..almost the whole family. Dad was out, most likely at the pub. He can't even afford to be there. You may think we are richer than most, but these were things grown and prepared for over a month. God knows how much that beef costed!

He's been less open lately, telling us he was busy when we said hello and giving us a not-so-friendly warning when we asked for something. We wanted to help but not even mum was brave enough to ask what happened. He's always shut away in his office with a quill in hand. We hardly see him now.
When I started thinking about him, I decided to bring him some food. I knocked on his door and waited for a response.

"...mmwhat?"

It sounded like he had just woken up. I opened the door and he told me to go away...but ruder. I placed the bowl on his desk and the small plate of bread beside it. I smiled at him but he just stared blankly, head in hands. My smile faded and I sat on the armchair in the corner of the room. He sighed and carried on writing.
"Work is stressing you out, Dad. You need a break."
"I can't take a break, you idiot! I'm on the verge of being fired, you think I can take a break?!"
I shuffled to the back of the chair and looked away in panic. I looked at the little table beside me. There was a smashed beer glass and a half-empty bottle. Was he drunk?
I looked back at him. He was staring at me with clenched fists. I wasn't safe in that room.
"Well, enjoy your food." And I dashed out the door.
I ran for it. I didn't know if I was safe. I heard him shouting down the corridor to get back. I ran past the kitchen and saw mum stand up with a worried expression. Skidding across the floor, I ran in. I slammed the door and scanned the room for things to block it with. Chairs? No, they could be pushed easily. The table was too heavy for me.
The door flew open and I took a hard blow to the head. I was shocked.. this wasn't dad. He was definitely drunk. Why wouldn't he tell us what was wrong? We could have helped him. If we had, he wouldnt have repeatedly kicked me in the stomach as soon as I fell to the floor.
Mum dashed over and shoved him away. I shut my eyes and heard a bang and a glass breaking. I didn't see it, but that was definitely enough to make me flinch. I didn't open them. Did I really want to?
I waited until I heard the door SLAM again. I slowly opened them up. The light hurt my eyes a bit, but i widened them nonetheless. I heard the soft weeping of Rosemary. I got up and whimpered in pain from the kicks and the dizziness. I saw mum's arm on the floor, the rest of her was cut off by the table. I tripped, but eventually scrambled up and ran over to her.

Mum?