Glorify Bad (ON HOLD)

Chapter Seven - So Much Like His Father

Caleb had walked home that day with stares at his injured eye. Students muttered in gossip circles about the fight that had broken out between the boys after lunch and quickly Caleb became known at school. It wasn’t exactly how Caleb planned to be recognized, though he didn’t want to be at all.

At Caleb’s arrival back to the Tucker home, he was greeted to the driveway by Elsie’s station wagon alongside a vehicle he didn’t recognize. He entered the home and walked into Elsie in an intimate moment with a man he had never seen or met before.

“Caleb!” Elsie, who had been wearing a silk red and black laced robe was on the couch in the living room with a middle aged man.

“Is this your brother you were talking about?” The man wore dingy, faded jeans with a black t-shirt. His light brunette hair was poking out of his head in directions as if he had been electrocuted and his lips were stained with lipstick.

Caleb stepped slowly to the living room, watching as his sister stepped from the couch, wrapping her robe closed.

“Yes, yes. This is my brother.” Elsie spoke trying to calm herself.

“Hey kid. My names Greg. That’s quite a shiner you got there.” The man had a southern voice as he spoke, squinting at Caleb’s bruised eye.

Elsie tuned in, observing Caleb’s face.

“Where the hell did that come from? Never mind. Greg, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Elsie grabbed the man’s jacket and shoved it into his chest.

“No sugar before I go?” The man frowned.

Elsie shook her head, pushing him towards the exit where Caleb had been standing.

“I’ll talk to ya’ll later then.” He spoke with starstruck eyes gazing at Elsie as she rushed him out of the door.

She slammed the door shut, locking the deadbolt.

“Who the hell was that?” Caleb dropped his bag at the door, wandering towards the couch.

“He owns Reggie’s.” She spoke, rubbing her forehead.

“Was I interrupting something?” Caleb raised a brow as he seated onto the floral couch.

Elsie ignored his question. “What the hell happened to your eye?” She said as she seated onto the cushion next to him.

“Just some prissy kid.” Caleb shrugged.

“Did you hit him back?” Elsie hoped.

Caleb chuckled at her lack of discipline. “Of course.”

“Why did you get into a fight? Were you picking on him?”

Caleb rolled his eyes. “It wasn’t me that started it.”

Elsie raised her brows in surprise.

“It’s not important.” He changed subjects. “Back to the conversation, who is Greg?”

Elsie stood from the couch again, wrapping her arms around her waist.

“I told you, he’s my boss.”

“Are you… an item?”

Elsie scoffed at the word. “Hell no, Caleb. He’s your typical middle aged man who smells like rum and soy sauce.” She scrunched her nose at her words.

“Why was he over then?”

Elsie pressed her lips. “It’s easy money.”

“You’re such a whore, Els.” Caleb rose from the couch, chuckling at his comment.