Day After Day

Arguments through closed doors

I was about to drift of to sleep, when I heard a knock at the door. I tiptoed to the banister, and looked down, to see my mum walk calmly down the hall, and open the door.

My heart skipped a beat. It was him. The man. He was here, and my mum was smiling, and then her face soured.

I couldn't hear what they were saying, but soon enough, she was leading him down the hall into the kitchen. I snuck down the stairs, and listened intently.

'What the hell do you think you're doing here?' My mum demanded.

'I needed to see you, and Rod. I miss you, and I love you.' He said.

'What? Seriously? Come on Frank, you're pathetic. You were the one who left us alone. I had no money, no job, and a four year old son to care for, and where were you?'

'I know I messed up, but-'

'Messed up!?' She exclaimed, disbelief etched onto every word. 'Yeah, you sure did mess up. Big time. You left me, and I missed you, but we have done fine on our own, and can survive without you. You mean nothing to me, and Rod? He doesn't even know you. He told me you watched him at the park, and he thought it might be his dad, but not because he remembered you, but because you looked alike.'

I could feel the hurt in her voice, and the words laced with venom. I felt the sting.

'Rosie, please, let's talk, I just-' He tried.

'What? We are talking, and I have told you. Don't come near us again. Rod is fine without a father.' She said angrily.

My dad was shocked, and so was I. I found myself storming down the stairs. Tears were streaming down my face.

'WHAT? HOW DARE YOU! I AM NOT FINE WITHOUT A FATHER! WHAT ABOUT WHEN AL, MY FRIENDS WENT ON THE FATHER AND SON BARBECUE? OR WHEN YOU SAID HE WOULD COME BACK?!' I screamed.

'Darling please, he left us with nothing, you have to understand that.

'What?' I said quietly, the coldness of my voice shocking me. 'How dare you even suggest I don't get that. My own dad left, and suddenly I had one parent, and you never told me what happened to my father.'

Suddenly, I ran towards my dad, and he flinched, until I wrapped my thin arms around him, all my strength gone now. I sobbed into his chest.

'Dad. I missed you.'

'I missed you too Roddie.'