The Façade of Quad in Nimrod ✓ | Satire, family drama, dark society

V

While most of Nimrod enjoyed a normal Friday night drinking and having fun with friends, over at the Quad mansion was tension-filled silence after a slap rang out in Mordecai's study. 

It was déjà vu as Mordecai punished Henry to kneel. Henry tried to justify himself, but his father would not have it. Still, in the back of his mind Mordecai was thinking that maybe working at any place was better than nothing, but his ego prevented him from giving Henry any leeway.

Henry wailed. "Please, Father, Mr. Boren likes me a lot and he's going to pay me good money. He said so." Which was a lie, because Gilbert Boren actually hated any of the upper crust and cream and made it clear to Henry. He was prepared to belittle Henry every chance he got, but Henry only saw the ideal in front of him, refusing to see the reality.

Another reality yelled at him now for getting a job at 'a peasant's pit' but Henry tried not to see this one, too. It was hard to block out Mordecai though. He was beet red from anger, yelling at his son until his voice became hoarse.

Then, the hand came out again. Mordecai was always more about physical than verbal punishment. Henry's cheeks burned as a heavy blow landed smack on his face and then he was on the floor, struggling to get up. 

His father was taking off his belt, readying to do some corporal punishment as if Henry was five and not a man of twenty.

"Please, father, I promise you, I'll bring home money. I'll work hard. Please not the belt." Henry sobbed and shivered hugging his father's feet not knowing what else to do.

Seeing this brought heavy boulders of exhaustion onto Mordecai's shoulders. Henry was being stubborn, and Mordecai had a feeling the boy would not give this one up as it was his first hire. Henry had tried other jobs but not one would hire him. His father believed Henry just wasn't trying hard enough, but the real reason no one wanted him was because of Henry's manic little smile and the fact that he talked to 'Beagley'.

"A measly bookstore," Mordecai muttered under his breath. He dubbed it as good enough for now. Besides, his throat hurt, and he was emotionally exhausted. He put his belt back on, not wanting to waste anymore energy. 

"Fine then. Bring home some money from that pathetic job. Warren! Make certain to give him the tea in the morning."

"Yes, Master Quad."

"Tea?"

"To fix your idleness, Henry. A great gift from Fernando who is a great, great man. Better than you. Are you going to lose to him?"

"No, Father." Henry quivered on the floor in his father's study. "I promise Father, I won't let you down, I promise, I won't—"

"You still must kneel for twenty minutes. I'll be back, and I better see those knees sore and red!"

"I hate you," Henry blubbered through tears.

Mordecai jolted around. He could not believe his son had the nerve in him to say that to his own father when Henry continued, "Beagley, I hate you I do."

With a growl of frustration, Mordecai huffed out of the study. He was livid. He was breathing heavily, and all he wanted now was to get rid of his son. He wondered if sending him out into the world would do him good. Anger fueled him, making him pace up and down the hall. Henry flinched every time his father's heavy footsteps passed by the door.

He knelt obediently and bowed his head, but not out of shame. This sorry son of the Quad family was just happy his father gave him a chance although he should have known that it was more of giving up rather than giving in. Mordecai would have never allowed a Quad to work in a middle-class bookstore.