Off to the Races

1

"Empty days and Sleeples nights. Welcome home"

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Off in the distance, a gun goes off. The sound of the bullet being fired is so close that my mother almost drops her tea and my little sister grips onto my leg.

We sit in silence, my father breathing heavily on the couch.

"It's gone Anna. You can come out now" I whisper, my little sister pops her head out from behind me and sighs. Her blond pigtails have come out and her blue eyes are full of nothing but fear.

"Was that a gun Alice? Who died? I hope it wasn't Jen she went out with her mother that way just a while ago" she says her fingers trembling. I pick her up and prop her onto my hip, kissing her forhead. I dont know if I can give her the answer she wants.

My father snorts, almost laughing,"They're a bunch of idiots if they think they can walk home after curfew. My guess is they're lying on the gravel with bullet holes through their forheads."

"Damian" my mother finally speaks, shooting a glare at my father. She then turns back and continues to pour tea into the cups.

Anna, sniffles a bit, then rests her head on my shoulder. I feel tears roll onto me.

"Its okay Anna, she'll be fine. They would never kill a child and her mother.I promise"

The same time Anna nods, my father snorts.

I lie Anna down on the warm blanket. Theres only one blanket for my mother, Anna, and I; but we'll have to compromise tonight.

I get up after lying Anna onto the ground. Theres no bed in our "house". Only a couch where my father refuses to move from. My mother, Anna and I sleep on the ground. Our home is more of a room. One room built of concrete shaped in a cube. Theres one picture taped to the wall, of Anna and I laughing. The kitchen consists of one stove, rusted from every edge and a couple of pots and pans.

"Anna, come give the tea to your father"

Every night before we sleep, my mother makes tea for my father, we dont have enough for dinner but we always put enough aside for my father. He controls my family even though he doesnt work and sits on the couch all day. He controls us with fear.

"I dont want that shit you call tea." he says pouring himself another glass of liqour. Other empty bottles lay underneath the couch.

"Damian, I bargained for an hour for those tea leaves, the least you could do is put the bottle down and have it."

She hands me the glass and I hand it over to him, not making eye contact. He takes it, sniffs it and throws into the ground. The steel cup makes a lound sound as it smashes against the dirt floor.

"I said I didnt want it"

I stare at the tea, the one my mother works for, splattered across the floor.

My mother doesnt say anything. She grabs a cloth and stars cleaning up the mess as my father lies down to sleep. I reach down to help her but she shakes her head.

"Go to sleep" her voice almost cracks.

I nod, knowing not to disobey her. My mothers features are strong and beautiful. Its what I suppose caught my fathers eyes. Shes still young, far far younger than my father, but thats how it works in my village.

When a girl turns 18 shes given to an older man as a wife. The man can pick any wife he wants and as many as he wants. And in return the girls family receives money to run their home. It's like a game of lives and dreams and old men with beer bottles are controlling it.

I shiver as I lay down next to Anna. Her little hands are in fists. More gun shots go off in the distnace as my mother cleans the mess from the floor.

In two days,I turn 18.