DownBeat

1 - Gaunt

The glass clings angrily against the wooden table and the shouts of a toned, pale, and very drunk man echoed through the living room. "Let's go!" The words sang from his parted lips as his team had miraculous turned the football game around. The camera on screen zoomed in on the celebrating college students. Their jerseys and gear slamming together as they huddled. Some even gave the proud guy an occasional slap on the back of the helmet in excitement. He had ran down the end zone and scored a touchdown for his team and the crowd was going absolutely ballistic.

Eyes furrowing the tall male sat back onto the leathery couch engrossing himself back into the game leaving the small female in the recliner to sigh and shake her head. The small smile that had formed on her lips returning back to it's sender leaving the lips in a thin straight line. She to focused on her book to care to much about the ongoing football game. It was a tradition every Saturday during the fall and sometimes winters months of her home. Her once humble father turning into a menace during these seasons.

She didn't see the appeal in watching men crash violently into one another for entertainment, but never voiced her opinions onto her dad. It didn't bother her and he didn't push for her to become a hardcore fan which played out fine in her book. As a bonus she was happy to see her dad all worked up. 'He's going to pop a vein in there if he doesn't calm.' The thought bounced around her head before dissipating into nothingness as she drew her attention back to the book that lay silently in-front of her, beckoning her to turn the page.

This continued the following hours with the occasional angry grunt from the swaying male. The girl had eventually retreated to her room where she stayed and watered the few plants she kept in there with her. The leaves swayed in the wind from the open window, welcoming the soft fall breeze. Brushing a couple loose strands out of her face she puts cup she was using down and walks to the welcoming breeze from the window. The breeze caressed her skin and danced around her eager to explore the stuffy space she called a room. The whispers grew ever louder and as a response she listened to the calling wind. It beckoned a story of millennia worth of knowledge to her. It told her of the tale of life itself; caressing her ears with the stories. She was entranced by the gentleness of the wind and it's voice. It was smooth and felt like sweet melancholy. It sang to her about how grateful it was to be heard and understood even if not for it's entirety.

She could stand her forever listening to the caressing words of the wind but it was cut to a startling halt when her father charges in a wide grin on his face. The sweet embrace recedes to only a faint tickling to her face as her father closes the gap between the two. She returned a smile to her father not bothered by the intrusion, he couldn't hear the wind as she could. Couldn't hear its jealousy on how it stole her attention.

"Did you guys win?" She mused and it seemed to make her eyes sparkle. "Nope!" He shouted excitedly "But we were so much closer to playoffs this year! Only one more win and..." he trailed off into his usual rant about how the team he cheered so religiously for would win next year. She soaked in his excitement and hopeful glee. Walking up to him she pats the male on the back as he takes a breathe "I'm sure they will make it into playoffs next year no doubt." Her father slicks back his messy and untamed dark brown hair. It's curls fighting against his mighty hands in comparison. His childish excitement danced in his dazed and drunken eyes. Swaying slightly he stumbles to the doorway where the girl follow.

'Just incase you fall like last week.. I should also order some food.' She looked up at her father and guided him down the four steps into the modestly decorated living area. With a small shove he sits on the couch and she joins him. "Do you want take out?" He grumbles softly and nods. Casting her eyes to the side she peeks at the drink he'd been religiously drinking for the past four hours. 'Oh boy, you're going to have a rough morning.' With that she takes out some cash from the small jar sitting on the coffee stand that separates the love seat from the couch that they were currently resting on. Her father grunts a couple times and adjusts his position to lay his head on top of the arm rest.