The Man That Changed My Life

Chapter 2 Don't Let Me Drown

When I got home that day, dad wasn't home thankfully. I was still a bit giddy, but not enough so dad could notice when he gets home. I went into the kitchen to get a snack when I heard the garage start to open. Oh shit. I started to freak out. I ran into my room and locked the caged door in front of my door, like I'm suppose to do when I come home after I go into my room.

"Danielle!!!!!" Dad loudly exclaimed.

"Yes, father?" I cautiously asked. I knew that anything could set him off. I opened up the inner door just enough so I could look out to see what was happening and saw him drunkly walking around the dim den connected to my room. I opened the door all the way to see him walk to the couch in the middle of the room and turn on the tv. Maybe I'm in the clear for nothing that happened. I would be happy if I didn't get a beating today since today is a Wednesday and every Wednesday is the weekly beat day. Maybe he's messing with my head. That's probably it. He's messing with me.

"Danielle," he started. "Could you be a dear and get my special beer? You DO know what day it is, right?" He just looked at me with that blank stare. The most dangerous stare he has.

He normally never asks for his special beer. What's the occasion? Did he get a call from one of my teachers, and if so which one for what reason? How much trouble am I in? Did I disobey him in someway that I don't know about? Did my gym teacher call him and told him I skipped gym? I did that like 3 times before and he didn't get a call. Otherwise he would've told me, well if he actually cared enough that I was missing a requirement to graduate. I was terrified about why he wanted one of his special beers.

"Did I fucking stutter?!?!" Dad angrily asked. "Now get me that fucking beer, or we're gonna have problems. Oh, and make it the entire pack. In fact, all of them." I did as I was told. I got him his beers, and boy was I terrified. He never asked me to get every single last container and 6-pack of his special beers before. Not even on the anniversary of my mother's death, birthday, or Mother's Day. This was fucking scaring me.

"Wh-what's the occ-occasion?" I asked, scared of the answer. He just looked up at me that same blank stare and chuckled to himself.

"You'll see," he said, still chuckling. "You'll see. And don't go thinking that this may be about you, cause it isn't about you at all. What I'm planning INVOLVES you, it's just not ABOUT you, now scram. I'm having company over and I don't want them seeing you like THAT." He pointed at my entire body, scanning it with his head and finger. "I'll be in your room about 10 minutes before my little 'party'. And I don't mean before the time my friends are suppose to be here. I mean 10 minutes before the 'party' goes into your room." He then turned his attention back to the tv when there was a knock on the door. He stood up, mumbling something to himself, while I just stood at the end of the couch, shocked and scared for my life about what he was planning. I covered my mouth with my hand as a cry was about to escape my lips and tears pooled into my eyes. I heard talking and looked towards the kitchen, even more terrified when I saw who his friends were. They were his biker gang friends, and I ran into my room, not even locking the caged door before locking the inner door. I know I'm not suppose to lock that door but I had too. I couldn't let my cries be heard by them. I heard my dad lock the cage door, but not after sliding a note under the door.

You are such a disgrace that you can't even do a simple task like locking the door. You need to be disciplined. Your mother would be disappointed in you. And she would agree with me. But she's not here, now is she? And whose fault is that? Oh yea: yours. It's your fault that she died that summer. Since she's not here to discipline you, I'm gonna discipline you. The correct way too. I'm gonna get you ready a little bit sooner than planned. And everybody is gonna love your sweetness. You better prepare for a night full of beating. And yes you are going to school tomorrow.