Forgive me father, for I have sinned

chapter two

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It had been a wonderful day and Jeremiah could not believe that he had actually made a friend this day. Even though the way he had first spoken to him had been a bit weird, it turned out they were quite simular in ways. After Chemistry they had spent their break together, and for the first time in a while, Jeremiah hadn't felt alone. Right now they were walking towards their lockers to get their stuff and get going. Jeremiah really wanted to spent some more time talking to Daniel but it wouldn't be fair towards his mom, who would have to do all house chores herself if he stayed away for too long. 

"Hey Jeremiah, are you coming?"

Jeremiah was extremely tempted to say yes, but he decided against it.

"I'm sorry, Daniel, I'm afraid I can't spend more time with you for the day. Mother needs help with the chores and she will give me one of her long speeches if I won't come home right away."

"Oh, well, see you at school tomorrow!"

Jeremiah offered a small wave and then turned around to start walking home. Daniel really was something else. There was something different about him, a certain sense of freedom perhaps. Jeremiah knew one thing for sure; he was absolutely looking forward to school tomorrow. 

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Jeremiah opened the front door and carried in the groceries he got asked to get. He called out that he had come home and he heard his mother respond from out of the kitchen. His mother was a nice woman. She cared for her family and always made sure all her children were doing okay. She had helped Jeremiah countless of times when he had struggled at school or with just living his life properly. Jeremiah didn't think she fully understood him, but she cared enough to help him out where she could. If it weren't for his father, who always brought a sense of unsavety to their house, Jeremiah would have had the best childhood.

"Oh Jeremiah, you are the best sweetheart!" his mother said while kissing him on his cheek. Jeremiah smiled and muttered a "No problem". "I wish your father was this helpfull, but you know how he is.. Always too busy and tired to help at home. The man still believes I as a woman should do this all by myself, he has no idea how hard it is!" she proclaimed. Jeremiah understood where his father came from, but agreed with his mother. His father was stuck in old regimes and since people such as Aletta Jacobs came in and spoke up about womens rights he was now completely in the wrong about the matter. Luckily for his mother, himself and his brothers and sisters were more than able to help their mother out if necessary. It did come with the cost that he didn't have much spare time. Of course his mother understood when he really couldn't help out such as when he had schoolwork. That was the only time he got to himself. It hadn't ever been a problem, Jeremiah didn't really have people to go to in his spare time.

Well, now he had Daniel.

He actually really wanted to tell his mother about his newfound friendship, and so he decided he'd do just that. 

"Mother, I made a friend at school today" Jeremiah said in a bit of a shy tone. His mother looked up at him with surprise. 

"That's great Jeremiah! What's his, or hers of course, name?"

"It's a he, and his name is Daniel". Jeremiah couldn't help smiling. His mother reached out to him and softly patted his shoulder. "I'd love to meet this Daniel, you can bring him home for dinner some time if you'd like?" Jeremiah was nothing but happy to hear his mother saying this. It would be the very first time he would have someone over that wasn't related in some way to him. It was awfully exciting, really. 

His mother gave him another soft smile and then returned to her pans with mashed potatoes. Jeremiah started unpacking the groceries with a happy hum, storing them away in the cupboards. After he finished he helped his mother clear out the table and put all the plates and cutlery on there so they could soon start eating dinner. 

His father still hadn't come home. That is, untill they heard the loud bang of the front door closing. Jeremiah half jumped from where he was standing and stared at where the noise had come from. His father soon after entered the living room and greated him by a slight nod of his head. Jeremiah was trying to figure out if he was in a good mood or not. If he were to tell from the door slamming close, he wasn't but he hadn't yelled at him or his mother yet. Still, it was best to stay out of his fathers way, there was no telling if his mood would switch. It had in fact happened many times before.

After calling everyone for dinner they were sat around the table, his father at the head of it. Jeremiahs mother was quietly serving the mashed potatoes with some greens and jus, she too sensing she had to be carefull. Once everyone had a plate with a decent amount of food on it, they did their prayers and started eating.

His father turned to Jeremiah after a while. "Jeremiah, today was your first day of school, aren't I right" Jeremiah didn't want to speak with his mouth full of food so he had to chew in a fast pace to answer his father, who impatiently waited for him. 

"Yes father, it was"

"Well, how was it? Did you make any friends this time?"

One of his little brothers snorted but soon shut up as he got a cold stare from his mother.

"Yes I did, actually. His name is Daniel".

"Daniel? Hmm.. Haven't heard of that one. Who's son is he?"

"I believe he is new in town, father. I will ask him about it when I see him at school tomorrow".

The tension layed very thick in the air, and Jeremiah didn't quite now why. He just felt he had to be quick with finishing his dinner or the bubble would burst. He didn't really want to spoil his great day.

After a little while of silence his mother decided to speak up.

"Isn't it great darling! Our Jeremiah made a friend! I said he could take him to have dinner with us some time, what do you think?"

His mother was probably trying to loose it all up a bit. It didn't quite work that way, and she knew it too. Once the tension was there, it was very hard to get rid of it.

Father was just about to open his mouth when a loud sound of glass smashing onto the ground was heard. His little brother Percy had a shocked expression on his face and warily watched his father. When Jeremiah turned around to see his reaction he immediately regretted it. His father looked right at him and before he knew it he felt something hard hitting his face. 

"You did that on purpose didn't you!" Jeremiahs father screamed at him. He didn't want to rat out his little brother who was probably scared out of his mind right now. He opted for a different approach. 

"I'm sorry father, I didn't do it on purpose! Look, I'll clean it up for you please don't hit me again".

His father huffed and left the table. After a moment or two they heard the frontdoor once again smashing closed.