My Anchor

1) Kyle Hunter

David/Striker POV

“Stand your ground my soldier; it’s going to be alright. She will be back son, she will be back.” I whispered softly to my wailing Son. I didn’t know how to handle things like this. I have never been forced to be something I’m not before. A father, a role model. But now, now I had to step up.

I picked up the baby and rocked him back and forth. Am I doing it right? Am I swinging him too hard? I’ve seen news reports on baby’s that die because of being shook. I placed my son back into his tiny cot and studied him. He had fine brown hair, green eyes and tanned skin. “You’re going to be a heartbreaker when he’s older.” I joked right before my son threw up. “As long as you’re not like that every time you’re drunk. That’s not cool.” I said, cleaning him up.

I took a second look at my son, instantly I saw Kayla in him. How could she do this to me? Why would she do this to me? She didn’t even give my son a name, she hasn’t even registered him. “Son, we’re going out today.” I smiled. Hiding the anger I actually felt. He just gurgled. That’s why I love babies. They just cruise through life, relaxed and get everything done for them. When you’re a single dad you don’t get everything done for you at all. You have to be the one doing things for everyone else.

I put my son in his pushchair and wrapped him up in a blanket. Questions were filling my head but I just had to trust my instincts and go with it. This was my first day out with my amazing son. What if someone sees me? I don’t care, he’s my son. I got 7 nappies and wipes and put them in a bag because when were out he will shit and piss everywhere, I also put in a change of clothes and 2 bottles of formula milk. That should be okay right?

I took a deep breath because I was a bit nervous about taking him outside in this area. I grabbed my pouch and hat and left my flat. “Son, we’re going to give you a name today. What name sounds good to you? Sam? Definitely not, what about Miles? Maybe, Myles Hunter? No, well you’re definitely aren’t having your mum’s last name. Kyle, Kyle Hunter? Yeah... I’m feeling it son. Kyle Hunter. Kyle David Hunter.” I said pushing him through the park.

I looked up and saw Maya sitting on the swing with Lizzie. My heart started beating really fast. I was shook, I felt like turning and going home. Then I heard Maya shouting my name, I just felt like dying. I didn’t know what to do. I’m known around these ends to be walking round this area. “Striker if you don’t get over here I swear I will kill you.” She joked. I fixed my cap and Kyle’s hat and went over. “Is that you’re baby?” She asked before she even said hello, she looked inside the pushchair and admired him. I opened my mouth to speak “Don’t even say no, or you don’t know ‘cause he looks just like you. Who’s his baby momma?” She asked “Aw, it don’t matter she ain’t around no more.” I panicked. “Anyway, you wouldn’t know her. She ain’t from ends.”

Maya stared into my eyes then looked at my son, trying to get every detail of us both as if she was going to paint a picture. “He’s so beautiful, just like his dad,” she winked at me. “Aw, imagine how much beautiful mine and your baby would be” I flirted, pulling her into my arms. Lizzie rolled her eyes. “Well, why don’t I come over tonight and we’ll find out.” Maya replied, kissing me. Her lips were so soft, I hadn’t had any kisses or sex for 2 weeks, I was lacking. I ran my fingers through her hair and carried her to the slide, I couldn’t control myself. “Tonight baby, tonight.” Maya moaned biting her lip. “Mmm, yeah come round about 11. Kyle should be sleeping by then. You’ve got me all to yourself.” I whispered. I kissed her once again before returning back to Kyle and walking away.

“See, son that’s how you do it. You make her want it. You don’t chase her, she chases you.” I whispered to my son. Kyle was asleep; he looked perfect even when he was sleeping. “Son, you’re out looking your daddy... How are you doing it?” I whispered. So many girls were looking at me with the pushchair, maybe Kyle was a godsend. He caught Maya’s attention.

I got to the register office and they were asking me all these questions about Kyle, things I didn’t know. But they said that it’s okay because of the situation we were in. They said that they will support me with benefits and milk tokens and shit until he’s a certain age and I will have to have the social visit me every so often to make sure I’m a good dad. Of fucking course I’m a good dad otherwise he wouldn’t be with me and he would smell like shit and not have milk and all this. Why are they accusing me of being a shit dad? Tell you who’s a shit parent. His mum. The parent that gave birth to him and then fucked off. I tried to explain that to them and all they were saying is “we understand that and that’s why we’re to give you the best kind of support we can” and all this. I felt violated like I was with the police or something.

I spent the whole journey home with Kyle crying. He must have been pissed off with what the woman said also because I fed him, changed him, burped him, rocked him, chatted to him and he just wouldn’t stop. I just felt like going back and smacking them all and saying “look what you’ve done to my son.”

On the other hand, his full name is Kyle David Hunter, born on the 9th November at Central Hospital at 2:34am. Mother: Kayla Parker (she doesn’t deserve to be on his birth certificate but she has to) Father: David Hunter. My son. MINE. I had to get him home.

I walked around the park this time because I didn’t feel in the mood to see anyone after the register office and I can’t be dealing with their questions. So I walked for 10 minutes until I got back to my flat. The block stank of weed. I wasn’t in the mood for having my son inhale that. I walked over to the stairs where they all were. “Striker!” They shouted “Were you been? Want some?” They asked. Although I was always tempted by weed, I had responsibilities. “Listen yeah bro, I can’t tonight but you guys mind doing it elsewhere ‘cause my son don’t want to inhale that shit.” I said politely. “Listen bruv, its cold out there” H argued “well go into one of your yards then.” I snapped, rolling my fists into a ball ready to punch him. “Yo, H lets just go to my yard man its cool... Respect Striker. I wouldn’t let no one smoke round my daughter either” TJ said, sternly. TJ was like my little brother he knew what I was capable that’s why he rounded up his crew and left the building.

I got into my flat and straight away it looked a mess. There were shoes, clothes, pots and pans and dirty dishes anywhere. Imagine if the social came now? I’d get Kyle taken off me at that point. I tidied Kyle’s cot and put him in there to sleep, I folded the pushchair and got to work on the tidying. Starting with the hall where all my trainers were kept. From air maxes to converse, trainers were my life before Kyle was born. I sorted my clothes, my wardrobe, my bedroom, Kyle’s bedroom, the living room, then the kitchen, then the bathroom and finally the toilet and I was absolutely knackered. I was ready for bed. I don’t have a clue how ladies do it so effortlessly.

My flat was really nicely decorated – my mum chose everything for it. The colours, the floors, the decorations. She’s sick at that kind of stuff, but she wasn’t going to come down from Devon everyday to tidy it for me. I had to look after it myself but it’s hard when you have a newborn. Anyway, after tidying I fed Kyle, changed and bathed him and sang him to sleep.

10:30pm.

“Hi baby, I’m looking forward to having you inside me in 30 mins. Maya texted me. Shit, I had forgotten all about her. I was ready for bed. I was knackered after the day I had. I jumped in the shower and then got out two bottles of Smirnoff ice before I heard banging on the door. Maya was here already, I opened the door and she instantly kissed me. I closed the door kissing her neck and pulled her into the living room and kissed her on the sofa. We hadn’t even touched our drinks yet. She was wild, we couldn’t stop ourselves. She was wearing some kind of perfumed that was making me melt.

I stripped her and I took my trousers off. We were fully naked and both ready for it. Maya sucked and I moaned she was in full control and I loved it. She then sat on me and rode me... I was so close and then....

“WAHHHH, WAHHHHH!” Kyle was bawling.

I jumped up and Maya pulled me back down “stay here baby” she said kissing me and playing with my dick. I wanted to stay but my responsibilities lay with Kyle. I kissed her. “I will be back in 5” I put my trousers on and went into Kyle’s room. 5 minutes turned into half an hour and half an hour turned to 2 hours.

I heard the front door slam. Maya was gone.