6 Cranbrooke Avenue

Chapter 10

It was September 9, 2019, my first day of grade ten at my new school.  Devon and Daren had been enrolled at Simon Downs, so they got to be around Anthony everyday, but I got to hang out with him on weekends, after I completed my chores and homework.

Due to my school being further than Devon's, I had to leave out earlier than he did so I could reach early.  I had to make an excellent first impression.  My father walked me to my form room and stayed outside as the only parent, until he received a call and had to leave.  He waved bye and I waved back when the teacher looked away.  She gave out the timetables and when the bell rang, she instructed us to form a line and head to the devotional exercise in an orderly fashion.

That day was just an orientation, so school was in session for only half the school day, and at eleven I was back home eating lunch.  My father was still at work so I bathed and watched the television.  Night came down and he still had not reached home and I got worried.  Because of how worried I was, I couldn't fall asleep.

His car pulled up outside at around midnight and he limped into the house holding his side.  Since when did getting injured become a part of being an office manager?

"Daddy, what happened?!" I asked.

"Nothing.  Just a little problem at work.  Why aren't you sleeping?  Don't you have school tomorrow?"

"Just a little problem?!  You're hurt!  You should be in a hospital!"

My father claimed that he was fine and all he needed was a warm bath.  I disagreed with him, but what was I going to do about it?  I couldn't take my fifteen years old self and drive him to the hospital.  I wouldn't have even been able to get him in the car.  He spent an hour in the bathroom, but I didn't complain.  I made him a few sandwiches and poured some apple juice for him to eat and drink when he came back downstairs and ended up falling asleep in the chair in the dining room before he came down.

I woke up the next day in my bed.  I rubbed my eyes and walked out of my room and into my father's to check on him, but he was not there.  I checked the entire house but he wasn't inside.  All I found was a note on the kitchen counter held down by a phone that read:

'Good morning J.  I have to go out of town for a few days.  Your aunt Judy is coming this afternoon.  She should be there when you come home from school.  I've arranged for a driver to pick you up in the mornings at seven and you'll call him to pick you up in the evenings.  So yes, the phone that you see is yours.  My number and the driver's is already in it.  Stay safe.  Love you❤️.'

Where could my father's work send him?  He was already injured.  I hoped it was the hospital.

I got ready for school and waited outside for the driver to arrive.  When he did, he introduced himself and then brought me to school and when I called him after school, he arrived in twenty minutes to carry me home.  My aunt was there and she had started the dinner.  After talking with her for a while, I went upstairs to start my homework.

Around eleven that night, I heard her whispering downstairs so I snuck onto the stairs to listen.

"-need to quit this, you have a daughter.  You can't be doing the same thing that killed your wife.  You'll leave her with no parents......I know it's family business......Just don't bring J in this.  This hunting has claimed too many of our family members already." I heard my aunt say.

She looked all around her and I moved backwards.

"I'm going to sleep.  Stay safe.  Consider what I said." Was the last thing I heard her say.