RIVERS END

CHAPTER THREE

The front door burst open,then slammed like a gunshot..his son raced out,a compact bullet with shaggy brown hair,bruised knees and holey snickers.
Hey dad we just got back from protesting whale hunting.mom's got these records with whale singing on them,sounds like alien invaders.

Frank winced knowing he'd be listening to whale songs for the next couple of days.i dont suppose we've got dinner?
We picked up the colonel on the way back,i talked her into it...man all that health food lately,a guy could starve.

Frank stopped,laid a hand on his sons shoulder,''you are telling me we have fried chicken in the house?dont toy with me singto.
Singto laughed his dark eyes dancing.a whole bucket.minus the piece i swiped on the way home.mom said we'de go for it coz you needed some comfort food.

Yeah.''it was good to have a woman who loved you enough to know you...frank sat down on the front stoop,loosened his tie and draped an arm around singto's shoulder when the boy sat beside him'',i guese i do.

We saw you and tracy go into that big house and showed pictures of the other house,the bigger one where she got killed from the tv..and just now right before you got home?there was a little boy the son.he came running out of the house he looked really scared.

Singto hadnt been able to tear his eyes from the image.even when those huge terrified eyes seemed to stare right into his and plead with him for help..
Gee dad...they got up right into his face and he was crying and screaming and holding his hands over his ears until somebody came and took him back inside

Oh christ,frank braced his elbows on his knees,put his face into his hands.poor kid..

What are they going to do with him if his mother is dead and his father going to jail and all.?

Frank blew out a breath...singto always wanted to know the whats and the whys..they didnt censor him that was celia's stand and frank had come around believing her right.their boy was bright,curious and knew right from wrong...he's a cops son frank thought and had to learn that there were bad guys and they didnt always pay.

I dont know for sure..he has family who loves him.they will do the best they can....on the tv they said she was in the house when all this happened is it true?
   Yes,.
Wow..singto scratched at a scob on his knees..frowened.he really looked scared he murmured...singto understood bad guys existed..and that being a child didnt mean you were safe from them...but he didnt understand what it would be like to be afraid of your own father.

Why did he do it dad?singto looked up into his fathers face.he almost found the answers there..
We may never know for certain.some will say he loved her too much,othets will say he was crazy.that it was drugs,rage or jelousy the only one who will ever know is sam..i'm not sure he understands it himself.

Frank gave singto a squeeze on his  shoulder...son lets go and eat some chicken...
And mashed potatoes..
Son you might just see a grown man cry.
Singto laughed again and trooped inside with his father.but he too loved enough to understand and he was sure he would hear his father pacing the floor as he did when his job troubled him most