Understanding Oliver

How It All Began

Oliver was only five years old, everyday started as normal; his mother came into his room to wake him up for breakfast, his father was reading the newspaper and drinking his black bitter coffee, and the sun was shining bright through the window.

Oliver sluggishly walked into the kitchen and climbed up into a chair to eat breakfast. His mother set a plate full of bacon, eggs and pancakes in front of him as he rubbed his tired eyes.

"Eat up Oliver, today is a big and busy day" his father said as he continued to read his paper.

"Okay Daddy" five year old Oliver said and began to eat.

After Oliver had ate all his food, his mother took his plate and washed it as he raced back to his room to get dressed. He went into his closet and picked out a light pink shirt with some blue jeans and grabbed a random pair of tennis shoes. When he was dressed in his outfit, he grabbed his shoes and raced out to the living room where his father was sitting on the couch waiting to help him put on his shoes.

"Soon enough Ollie, you will be able to put your shoes on all by yourself" his father said as Oliver sat on the coffee table like he has done a hundred times before. "When you do, you will feel like a big boy like your daddy."

Oliver couldn't help but smile at his father's words because he really wanted to feel like he was a big boy. He wanted to be just like his father when he grew up; he wanted to be a firefighter to help save other lives just like his father did.

"Daddy, do you think I will be a good fireman?" Oliver asked watching his father's facial expressions.

"Well, Ollie" his father began and sat little Oliver on his lap, "I think you will make the greatest fireman to ever live."

When in reality, his father wanted nothing more to just get rid of Oliver. He found Oliver as a burden to him and his wife. He wondered why his wife didn't go through with their plan to abort Oliver when they found out they were having a child. Hell he wondered why they didn't give him up for adoption when he was born. He despised Oliver because he had to take care of him, he had to make sure he didn't get hurt because he was a clumsy child, he had to make sure he was fed, had a bed, a roof over his head. He had nothing to do with Oliver because he hated Oliver so much, he could probably kill him if it weren't for Oliver's grandparents that kept him from doing it. That's how much he couldn't stand his own son, poor little defenseless Oliver.

"You really think so daddy?" Oliver asked excitedly.

"Well of course Ollie Bear" his father said when in reality he wanted to say something to make the kid cry, but he held his tongue. "Alright, let's get in the car your mother is already out there waiting for us."

Oliver jumped up out of his father's lap and ran out the open door and to the car, where sure enough his mother was waiting by the car for him. 

"Mommy, Mommy" Oliver said excitedly, "Daddy said I would be greatest fireman to ever live!"

"Oh?" his mother said. "That's wonderful dear. Now come on or we are going to be late getting to the movies."

Oliver was excited to be going to his first movie. He was already planning what kind of candy he would have his mother get for him if he made his puppy eyes at her like he always does to get what he wants. 

Oliver climbed into the car and sat in his car seat, and his mother buckled his seat belt before getting in the passenger seat. Oliver's father soon joined them in the driver's seat and started the car before driving to the movie theater.

All the way to the movie theater, Oliver's mother was lost in her thoughts. She wondered why she didn't go through with the abortion, she wondered why she didn't give Oliver up for adoption. She looked back at Oliver in the rear view mirror and saw that he was playing with the little stuff bear that his grandmother had got him, the bear that he took everywhere with him. Oliver's mother wondered how he could be so carefree, but then she remembered he's only five years old and didn't know the cruel ways of the world just yet. She looked back out her window, and she wondered why she was so stressed and depressed all the time. She wondered when her husband would get their next fix of heroine as well. She also wondered how they were going to pay for their next fix because most of their money went into getting Oliver what he needed. 

After the movie was over, they were back in the car. Oliver's father had to carry Oliver out to the car because he had fallen asleep during the last ten minutes of the movie. After they were settled in the car, Oliver's father started driving toward their normal meeting spot with the city's most deadly gang The Creatures.

"Don't tell me we're meeting with The Creature, Norman" Oliver's mother said almost in shock.

"Janice, I told them we would meet them after the movie" Norman said while driving and making sure no one was following them.

"And what money are we going to pay them, huh?" Janice said, "we don't have any money to give them."

"Then we will give them the fucking kid" Norman said glancing at the sleeping Oliver in the rear view mirror. "We can't stand the bastard anyway and he's nothing to us."

"So we are just going to give our child to a bunch of criminals?" Janice asked almost liking the idea of not having to take care of a child anymore.

"That's the plan, and maybe they will kill him too" Norman said. "They will most probably get annoyed with him in the first twenty minutes anyway."

They pulled up to the usual meeting place, behind the local rundown pizza place, and parked. There was soon a tap on Norman's window and he rolled the window down.

"Got the money?" a gruff voice asked from inside a hood.

"No money" Norman said rather annoyed, "wanna take a kid as payment instead?"

The man in the hood looked taken back at the most absurd question he has ever heard come from a client, then collected himself. The man was about to pull out his phone to call his boss, but his boss stepped up behind him.

"If you're willing to give your kid away for drugs then you disgust me and don't deserve to be parents. I will take the kid but you will not be getting your heroine." the man said in pure anger. "Find another bastard to get your drugs from."

One of his men opened the door to Oliver's side and unbuckled him and picked up the sleeping kid. The man then walked over to his boss and his boss took Oliver from him and held him while looking at Oliver's sleeping face.

"How you could just give away such a beautiful child is a disgrace and I hope you both rot in hell for your sins" the boss of The Creatures said and walked off while carrying Oliver. "Well little man you're gonna live a troubled life now, but at least we won't want to get rid of you."

Oliver slowly began to wake up for his slumber and looked around before looking at the man holding him, "w-who are you mister?"

"My name is Diablo and I will be your new guardian" the man said looking at Oliver's face and giving him a smile to let him know he won't hurt him. "What's your name little man?"

"O-Oliver P-Price" Oliver said looking at the man.

"Hmm what a fitting last name" Diablo said and continued to walk to their home. "Would you like something to eat when we get to the house Oliver?"

"Macaroni?" Oliver asked almost falling asleep again.

"Sure thing my precious Oliver" Diablo said just as Oliver fell asleep again.