Round Here

Chapter Twenty One

March '84

6 MONTHS LATER

These past six months haven't been the easiest, but we've made it through. Dad's been in and out of the hospital, Vinny is still doing drugs, and C has decided beating his daughter while we were away was a fun thing to do. Even though he knew she'd tell us. Freddie's on tour again, so Junior has had a tough time adjusting to that. I just told him he'd be home soon. Which I felt bad for lying to him, but you had to give him an idea of when he'd be home. We celebrated Romeo's birthday and mama's anniversary in the hospital because dad got pneumonia. It was a scary thing. I've never seen him so sick before. I've seen him in worse conditions, but this one was pretty bad. There were points in the last few months where I thought he was going to die. Somehow he pulled through after being sick for two months. I was glad he did. I couldn't lose him. Not now. I needed him just like Romeo did. Sonny and I have been struggling to keep our son from doing drugs, but he doesn't care. He has changed. We don't even know what he's doing which is the worst part about it. He's almost thirteen and addicted to some mysterious substance. All we know is he is getting from Carlo or a friend. Since his friend is into drugs too. The only positive thing about the drug use is that he's more focused in school. Mrs. Lambert said he has shown more interest in his work. He still has the occasional slip up but he's doing well. 

Today Sonny and I were on our way home from the grocery store. Well we just got home. We had to pick up a few things. Marlon and Sonny had a day off but the other kids didn't. We walked into our home to hear Little Sonny screaming in terror. Tom was coming down the stairs when he met us. "If that's my son beating her I'm going to kill him." Sonny said as he took his shoes off. We listened for a moment. "Dad please leave me alone." From that sentence right there I knew it was Calogero yelling at her. I pushed passed my husband to see them arguing in the kitchen. He had her cornered. I listened in. "What did I fucking tell you about doing that kinda shit? You wanna end up like your mother? Do you?" "No dad I don't wanna. I didn't do anything bad. I swear. You got the wrong idea." He didn't seem very happy. I mean he never was since he's been addicted to the alcohol. Recently he's been more aggressive with her. "Let me refresh your memory of what happened yesterday." She grabbed onto his shoulder. "Dad! That's not what..." I couldn't tell what he was doing. Sonny and Tom walked in. "Stop it your hurting me! You're not supposed to do that." Then she smacked him. He stopped doing whatever he was doing for a moment. He turned her around and pinned her to the wall. "You're just like your mother. So feisty." I had enough of this. "Calogero! Not in my kitchen and not at all." Sonny went over to him. She turned back around and smacked her father. Then she punched him. Sonny stood in between them. "We're not gonna fight today. Sit down at the table." He then turned to face C as she went to the table. "Who the hell do you think you are? You think you can come in here and touch your daughter like that?" "I didn't touch her." She seemed angry. "You stuck your hand up my dress! Don't be telling them that bullshit." Sonny was more enraged. "Oh you are one sick bastard. Wanna join Carlo in the 'I like to touch my own kids' club? Cause I don't think Grandpa Sonny will like that. So get your drunk ass over to the table and sit down!" Sonny was angry. I was, but I had to ignore my thoughts as they were very angry ones. I needed to stay calm. My heart was doing good, so I didn't need to mess this up. C decided sitting down was the best option. 

I heard the door open. It was time for the kids to come home. Marlon offered to pick them up since he had an errand to run. "Oh cannoli." C went to get up. "Sit!" Sonny said as I put the rest of the groceries away. Dad came into the kitchen with three of our children attached to his hip. Romeo came into the kitchen as well. He gave me a hug like always. "Uncle Tom!" Sophia said as she went over to him. He picked her up. "How's my favourite little Sophie bug?" She smiled at him. "I got an A on my test today. How are you today?" "I'm good, and that's very good. I'm proud of you." Lucy went over to her father who was near C. Dad had Rafi in his arms. He looked tired. "Daddy some boy hurt me today. He threw rocks at me." He hugged her. "Where was Junior?" "He beat him up for me. I missed you at school today." He picked her up as well. "I missed you too my love." She seemed a bit upset now. "So what's going on here?" Dad asked. "A whole lot of teenage father daughter drama." Little Sonny got up. Sonny didn't mind. "Did I say you could get up?" C yelled at her. She went to sit down. Dad looked at me. "Come here baby." Dad said to her. She went over to him. He hugged her. I watched as my other three children came in. "Hi mama. Guess what I got at school today?" Caroline said to me with this big smile. "What did you get at school today my love?" She showed me an award. "Oh that's so pretty. What's it for?" "Can't you read it?" I couldn't. "Not really it's too hard." "That's okay I had some trouble reading it too. It is a Citizenship Award mama." "Oh fancy that. Good job. I'll hang it up in the living room. Vinny you okay?" He looked at me. He was high. I just left it be. "Yeah, I got an award too. Well two. Science and Geography. Larry beat me out for the Gym one." I smiled. "Good job to the both of you. Come here Vinny." He came over to me. Dad sat down with Sonny and Rafi. Romeo went over there too. "Ma I gotta go pee. Can I come back after?" "Sure go on now." C got up and went over to the direction of the fridge. Sonny watched him carefully. Marlon seemed off. Marlon went over there as well to get something. "Could you move so I can grab my drink?" C looked at him. I saw that stupid smirk. I knew he was up to no good.