The New Kid in Town

The Promise

"Adem."
"Adem, do not fear, do not resort to violence, learn to forgive, seek the Kingdom promised by the Father. Seek Him, love Him, and trust in Him for He will always be with you forever no matter what comes.

Now, get up lad. Your papa will be angry again."

"Adem.. Adem wake up darling." This time the voice felt real. A gentle, and beautiful voice whispering to Adem. It was 6:15 in the morning and his mama was waking him up from a tight heavy sleep which he always had. He was always tired at an age of 10. He always wake up by the call and touch of his mom.

"Mama, I had that dream again." Adem said to his mother.

"Uncle Joshua? Again? Aren't you scared darling? He's been dead for 5 years now. He's been bugging you in your dreams since day one going with the same old bullshit he's saying about preaching, and being a good man, and church, and God? Really? Does that help you? How did he become a preacher and forget about me and for fuck's sake he left me when I was a kid to that fucking old hag in the orphanage." Sheila said.

"Mama.." Adem replied.

Sheila sighed.

"I'm sorry child. I know it was hard for you. You and your uncle were best pals. But son, it's time to face it. He's gone."

"He was the only one who cared for me." Adem replied.

"Well I'm here! Your mama is here. I will never leave you. No matter what comes. Promise."

"You promise that?"

"Yes, I do." Sheila said to his son with weary eyes.

"Sheila! Sheila! Where the fuck are you woman? Get down here and serve the fucking food!"

"Well, that's your father." His mother said with a nervous smile.

"Has he been drinking again this early?"

"What's new?"

The two of them went down the stairs from Adem's bedroom. It was still morning but the dining and living room reeks with the smell of gin and vodka. Bottles were scattered on the couch and on the table. Half of the familie's money went straight to the liquor section of the grocery. His dad was a soldier who served the country for 11 years and was deported back to his homeland because he lost an eye in Afghanistan due to a shrapnel from a frag grenade. Since he came back, he was very depressed due to the fact that he was half blind, wears a brown leather eyepatch, and has no job at all. Everyday he takes out his anger to Adem and his wife and blames his son for everything bad that happened to him. He was always blabbering that if not only for this child (reffering to Adem) he wouldn't have to go to the military, he wouldn't have been disabled and could've lived a happy life.

Dominic's experience in the battlefield made him violent and very aggressive. Even on a calm day, he would punch his wife in the face and beat the crap out of Adem until he was satisfied, which on some days, he's not.

Despite of being a battered wife, Shiela stayed for Adem to have a complete family and for her faith in her husband. She believed that Dom will change after a few years. She thought they just have to give him time to cooldown and relax, which was obviously stupid because all his husband did after he came back was drink, smoke, and watch baseball every single day.

"Well good morning my little prince, did you have a comfy sleep you son of a bitch. You think you're rich? Don't ever wake up early to help your mom prepare what needs to be prepared? You want me to beat the fuck out of you this early? Huh?"

"Dom.." Sheila said.

"Shut up, cunt. You tolerated this tiny fucker. Look at him now, a pea-brain with a body of a girl's doll. Doesn't even know how to fight."

"I'm sorry papa." Adem answered with an almost crying expression.

Everyday he wakes up from his temporary death, Adem wishes his sleep was permanent. He was tired and sick of this kind of life.

As he gets ready for school, his mama wraps him up a slice of sandwich with only a tiny spread of mayonnaise. That's all his mother can afford for his lunch.

"Mama, I should be going now."

"Okay take care. Have fun!" His mother said as he was walking out of the house.

Everyday his mom would send him out of the door with just a wave, but this time, she kissed and hugged him tight like she was gonna lose him tomorrow. That was a bit strange for Adem but he didn't mind.

They lived in a small county but his house was far from the center of
Townsville. It was a region of mountains and forest lands. He grew up here in this very town but he never wandered in the forests nor the mountains.

As he was on his way to a bus stop, he saw a bunch of people gathering around the old Carson's house. Police officers with scrub suits and masks were there too with an ambulance waiting on the side of the road.

"Sheriff Lucas? What's happening?" Adem asked the town's sheriff.

Sheriff Lucas was a friend to all. Especially kids. He's a strong built man, 6 feet'two, and has a mustache. He always had a cigar in his mouth.

"Another murder sir? Is it the cults again?" Adem asked.

"You should be going kid. You gonn' be late. Still not safe 'round these places. And by the way, how's your mom holdin' up?" The sheriff asked.

"Still alive sir." Adem replied.

"And your jerk-ass pops?"

"Unfortunately, also alive."

Both of them laughed.

Adem got on a bus to school as usual. His favorite spot was the third on the right beside the window. It's a five-minute ride from the stop to his school. On the way, he stares at the moist building up on the glass window, then halfway, on the steel bridge, he saw the thick fog above Devil's River. A long river stretched from east to west beside the mountains. The view on the bus was good but the fear of the 40ft fall was horrible. He wonders if the fall would kill him instantly or will crush his bones to pieces hitting the surface like a hard cement.