Love, your stalker

Seven

I had to talk to Kirk. If he came home sober; probably not. Unfortunately, he did not. But I still had to straighten things out. He stumbled into the door and walked to the kitchen where I am standing, waiting. "Kirk, we need to talk." I said in a harsh voice. I knew I had to do it slow, or something could go wrong.

        "What!?" He spun around to face me, only inches away from my face. Alcohol streamed from his droopy mouth and his eyes were pinkish. Under his eyes were dark bags and wrinkles. I put my hands up like I was surrendering. But I wasn't going down without a fight.

        "Kirk. This needs to end. You've been coming home drunk for the past two weeks. And quiet frankly, you're freaking all the kids out. It's ridiculous. This needs to stop," He was moving closer to my face every word I said. The closer he got, I clearer it was that he was in trouble and he needed help. "You need help. I can see you are troubled. You need a doctor. Maybe we could set up-" I didn't get to finish. Kirk was steaming mad at me, and I don't know why.

        "I don't need a doctor! I'm just fine! I don't need you on my back all day everyday! Stay in your own business! And," He jabbed his finger in my face, "stay away from me. I don't need your help. Stay away!" he screamed. He stomped upstairs and left me in the kitchen alone. I cupped my mouth with my hand and let out a little sob. I heard Ryan screaming upstairs. I was waiting for Kirk to get him, but he never did. I smacked the counter with my palm and rushed upstairs to comfort Ryan. Lacey and Harrison Jr. were waiting for me at the top of the stairs.

        "Mom, what's going on?" Lacey said with concern.

        "Nothing Lacey. Kirk is just a little upset."

        "A LITTLE? Mom, open your eyes!" I backed up at Lacey's sudden outbreak. "Kirk is nothing but trouble. He's never going to come back home sober, you understand? You need to stand up for yourself and DO something! Please!" I knew Lacey was right. I did have to do something, but what? "I'm sorry mom. I didn't mean for it to sound like that." Lacey was crying now. Harrison Jr. was standing there, staring at me and Lacey.

        "Hey, it's OK. I understand why you said what you did. You're right." I cupped her face, kissed her forehead and pulled her into my chest so she could calm down. I grabbed Harrison Jr.'s shirt and pulled him in. I knew Kirk was in the other room listening. But I didn't care. Ryan was still screaming blood murder in his room; I let go of Lacey and Harrison Jr. and kissed them both on their heads and told them to go to bed. I promised them I would do something. Ryan was standing in his crib, gripping the bars as if he was a con, begging me to leave prison. He saw me open his door and started to calm down a little. Tears stained his red face and his eyes were red and swollen. He cooed as he saw me and stuck his chubby arms our for me, urging me to pick him up and protect him. I picked him up; he felt like he was twenty pounds, even though he was only a few weeks old.

        "Mama," Ryan cooed. He pulled at my stringy, unkempt hair and twirled it around with his chubby finger. I smiled and kissed his forehead. I sat on the hard ground and lay on my side. I grabbed a blanket Ryan got when he was born, and covered both of us up. I pulled him in closer to my body to protect him. I held onto him and he fell into a deep sleep.