The Unloved Child

Bear-y Careful Thomas

     After two weeks of knowing what babies consist of, mom was stressed having to deal with two children. The man would come home with baby food, and a meal for two. Mom would get angry because I lacked food, and he would slap her and tell her to shut up and eat. I would go watch tv with a cup filled with water, and  my favorite stuffed bear. Since Thomas was only a baby who only would eat, poop, and sleep, I had my bear to keep me company when my mom was too busy with the world. That bear was there for everything. Always in the room for all I did, that bear gave me joy.

     For three years, everything seemed fine, all was routined. We'd wake up have breakfast, the man would take Thomas somewhere fun, mom would clean and go buy stuff. Then we'd eat lunch, they would all talk (I wasn't allowed to talk while eating in the table with them), then go watch TV, they would all go out, come back and we'd sleep. Through all those times, my bear was by my side. For he knew the pain of not having the ability to speak, or even leave the house.

     One day Thomas was with me in the living room. I had my bear next to me, mommy was in the kitchen cleaning, and the man was in the dining room using his phone. Mom didn't have a well view of what was happening. But the man was just a couple steps away from us. Thomas spotted my bear at some point and reached towards him. I, being loyal to my friend protected him. And pushed Thomas to the side to avoid him having contact with my bear.  Thomas started to cry and the man was angry. He pulled my arm and took me to their room. Then threw me on the floor and I stared at the redness from my arms.

"Don't you dare touch my boy again. I don't have to deal with your dumbass problems. Neither does he. He's actually wanted in this house. Unlike you of coarse. You lay one more finger in my boy and you'll see what happens. I should have got rid of you when I had the chance."

     The words echoed through my head. The look in his face was the scary part. The anger, the hate, the passion. It was like seeing the devil himself, right in front of my eyes. I was upset because I felt like what I did was right. I felt attacked. So I stood up and threw a pencil at the man, and when the tip of the pencil hit the back of his leg, he was beyond done with me. Quick as lighting, he turned around and pushed me to the wall. That's when he promised me that I will be punished.

     He said that I would be locked up - alone - in my room with nothing. Goodbye bear. Goodbye TV. Goodbye living room. Goodbye kitchen. But Thomas was too kind to stick with the rules. Just the day after, sitting in the left top corner of the plain white room, I heard the door open, and came Thomas with a chocolate bar and a red bouncy ball. Everyday for two weeks in a row, he'd sneak in and bring me snacks, then we'd play a game of catch right after.

     Soon, he started bringing me meals, that mother had made for me, without the man knowing. Thomas would feel so guilty at all times, and he always ask what do I need. I'd say my bear, but we both knew it was locked away. The man hid the bear in his chamber of secrets, his closet. Thomas couldn't stand seeing me so sad, and asked mom to help him get my bear. He called it, "Mission Bear In The Closet."

     That night as my mom was in bed, wearing thin clothing, red, almost all see-through. The man jumped in right next to her and kissed her in the neck. Mom did her magic and touched his skin, lightly and soothing, until he fell asleep. She went off the bed, and opened the closet carefully. After moving a pile of dirty shorts and jeans, mom found my bear. The man started moving, and the bed screeching like a bug, and mom panicked and threw my bear under the bed. She jumped back in bed and tried to fall asleep, and soon she did.

     The next day she told Thomas the good news, and handed her the bear, but told him to give me the bear once lunch time was over. The three of them sat down for lunch, and were there a good 55 minutes. I was laying in the cold hard floor tile, waiting for human interaction within my sight. But nothing. I couldn't even hear them laughing and enjoying their food. They were gone.