It Comes Naturally

A Promise of Forever

Brooklyn, New York
30 years ago

 It was nearing two in the morning and Eli Johnson was standing on the last step of the staircase in their family home. No tears of anger or sadness were in his eyes as he looked on at the scene before him. He was practically standing guard at the foot of the stairs for any signs of his siblings. They couldn't witness this. 

"How can you do this? They are your kids too. We've been married for years and now you decide you want a new life," his mother nearly shrieked. His father stood tall and unbending. His work suit was disheveled, his brown hair messed up, and light stubble on his defined jaw. From his position, he can see the bright red lipstick on the man's neck and smell the strong perfume on his body. He knew his mother noticed it all but being the strong woman she was, she ignored it all and fought for her children. 

"And it has been a piss hell of a loveless marriage. Don't stand there and pretend you're fighting for this shit. I finally found my way out. You and I both know it was over when the last brat went to preschool. Who knew you could have pushed out so many. Five good for nothing kids," his father shouted. 

At sixteen, Eli knew how to take care of his siblings and mother, even putting food on the table. He may not be the athletic wonder kid his father wanted to cash out on but he knew someday he will take care of his family without his father's help. It seems like it was now.

"Lower your voice," Emily Johnson hissed.

"Oh shut up. Like I care if they hear, it will toughen them up for sure. What are you looking at, you fucking freak," his father shouted at him. Eli stood his ground and stayed silent. It wasn't anything new. His father always called him confidence-breaking names because of his love for technology and drawing. 

"He isn't such a thing. How can you say that to your own son," Emily cried. 

"Babying him as always. Fucking disgrace all of you. Maybe my next kid can actually show you lot how to make your father proud," he said with a disgusting laugh. His mother paled and stumbled back into a chair. 

"We're rooting for a boy. He will be the perfect son for me. Three sons and they are all failures, useless. Don't call me or text me, just make sure and sign those papers in twenty-four hours. My fiance is getting impatient," he said with a sneer before leaving the house with two suitcases in his hand whistling fucking dixie. The door swung shut thanks to the brisk wind from the outside, shutting out his unfaithful and cruel father and closing in a now single mother with five mouths to feed. His mother was still seated on the chair staring blankly at the wall across from her. A creak up above alerted him of one or all of his siblings. Looking over his shoulder he spotted his brother Eric calmly sitting on the top stair with an expressionless face. Green eyes all three boys inherited from their deadbeat father pinned him to his spot between him and their mother. Eli slowly placed a finger to his lips, silencing his brother not only to avoid waking the others but what was said from their father's mouth. Loyal to his older brother, Eric gave him a firm nod and retreated to their shared room. 
Slowly Eli approached his mother and simply sat beside her. It wasn't long before she broke down in the arms of her firstborn. He didn't cry. He didn't sympathize. He only made a promise to her to take care of their family. Emily Johnson believed her son, his confidence gave her strength, she had a family to care for. It will be had but they will survive.

                                                                                           ******

It was August when the man they called father, left them all, and Eli became the man of the house. He was lucky to have a reasonable-paying part-time job with a construction company to help put food on the table and get school supplies for him and his siblings. Their mother had to find a job, after being a housewife for fifteen years, she had to rely on her high school diploma and community college degree. Five mouths to feed, school necessities and clothing, utilities, mortgage, and a car that's on its last turn, she had to make do on her administrative job at a local office building and her night job as a call center clerk.