I heard her voice outside the house. She was yelling something to my 'once' father. I only could make out the "Fuck you!" or "Get the hell out of our lives!" parts but I'm pretty much sure the rest of the conversation floated around those words. I tried to block out the argument with my music but I couldn't. The last thing I remember of my father was him racing into my room after the yelling came to a stand still. I turned to look at him. Our gazes met and all he said was "Have a wonderful life." That was the last time I saw those eyes...
It had been 8 years since that day. I was out of school and trying to figure out what the hell I was going to do with myself. I hadn't spent much time out of school, I had only graduated 3 months ago and still no response from any colleges, and the ones that did respond 'regretfully informed' me that I was unable to attend their snobbish college.
My mother was doing fine, she worked at the market and was supporting the two of us on a minimum wage pay. I loved her for that and now it was time for me to repay her for all those years she put in for me...
My mother walked in the house with groceries in her arms. She called my name a couple of times then came into my room. I was listening to my music and kind of sleeping, but not really.
"Honey, can we talk?"
I nodded my head and turned the radio down low.
"I made planes for you to head up to see your Uncle Danny for a little bit"
"Uncle Danny? Why?"
"Well you haven't seen him in a while and I thought it'd be nice if you went up there to see him. Besides you have to find something to do, can't stay in your room forever."
"Are you coming to?"
"No, I'm staying...Plus, I hear there's a nice school over there near your Uncle"
I got up from my bed and walked over to her, "So that's the plan ay, get me to go to school there. When do I go?."
"Friday night"
"That doesn't give me much time to pack."
"I think you'll like it, Uncle Danny says that Lacey and Chris go there. It'll be fun right?"
"Loads"
I arrived in the terminal around six-thirty in the morning. The Airport wasn't crowded, surprisingly, I thought Airports were suppose to be packed in L.A. Even though it wasn't crowded or busy, it was big; I lost myself about eight times trying to find the exit I was meeting Uncle Danny at.
As I was heading towards the right direction, Uncle Danny hollered, screamed, and yelped my name out, as any redneck man would do. He was running full force to me. Uncle Danny rapped his arms around me and squeezed as hard as he could.
"Nathan!! My lil' nephew, how you been bud?!" He said not letting his bear grip go.
"Fine...Uncle Danny...could...you let...me breathe?"
"Oh, of course" He loosened his grip. He grabbed my bags and flung them around his shoulders "Hey bud, why don't we chit chat in the car, I kinda wanna get home before work starts."
The drive to his house was kind of long, it's amazing that even in California you'd have to drive a distance just to get to an airport, Uncle Danny mainly talked about how he was doing with his job down at the construction place. Isn't it always that the strong southern man ends up with a job like construction? He wasn't a hand's on person though, he was the big boss of the place, and hardly ever got his hands dirty from what he told me. He asked about me and mom, life in general back in Donie, and any little thing that popped inside his head.
"So Natty, I heard you hadn't been doing much about college or nothing like that. So I signed you up at the college your cousins are going to."
"You signed me up all ready! Mom mentioned that there was a school here but not about signing me up! Dude, give me a little time to adjust."
"Listen bud, I can't have you sitting on your butt all day around my house, I ain't having that. So you're going to get that there college degree"
"But---"
"No buts, you're going. No need to worry about money or nothing, I got all that...you start up tomorrow, first class is at eleven so I hope you still have that sleeping issue."
"Fine" No point in arguing with the man, he gets an idea, he runs with it and no one can stop him from it.
Around the time I stopped sulking about not have any free time we pulled into his drive. His house was fancy, on the beach and everything. It wasn't big but it had character, completely wooden, underneath it looked as if it was supported by logs ground into the sand. There was a small fleet of stairs winding up to the doorway. A glass window was in the center of the door.
On the inside it seemed a bit bigger. There was a couch in the center of the open house, with a shag rug in front of it. The Kitchen was right behind it. The kitchen had stainless steel all over, the counter tops were marble, with wooden cabinets surrounding the kitchen. In the center there was an island, with the same marble counter top and wooden bottom.
As for the upstairs it had cream rug carpeting floor. He showed me his room then Lacey and Chris' rooms, my cousins. He told me that they had classes so I wouldn't see them for a while. In the back yard there was a veranda looking out to the beach. It had to lawn chairs spread out with a small table in between them, and of course a small Jacuzzi On one side of the veranda a stair case led down to the sand.
After the grand tour he showed me the spare room that I was going to sleep in, it wasn't the largest of rooms but it was livable. A bed, night stand, own personal bathroom, I have done worse.
"So what do ya think?"
"It's definitely a sweet place"
"Well I have to get going to work. If you wanna go out and explore the town don't think you can't borrow the other car. I should be home later, so make yourself comfy."
"Thank, listen Uncle Danny thanks for letting me crash here."
"Hey, none of that now, you're family, do anything for you bud, you and your ma. Now come get your stuff outa the truck"
"Well still, thanks" He patted my shoulder and headed out the door.
I grabbed my things and headed inside. I walked into my new room, setting my junk on the bed. It seemed like a nice day so U decided to pull my swimming trunks out, should enjoy it a little before I have to get a job or something.
I went out onto the veranda and sat down on one of the lawn chairs for a bit enjoying the scenery. On the table there was a book, normally I wouldn't pay any mind to it but the cover drew me in, it was an old Victorian fire place with an already lit fire in it. I turned to the marked page...
'And he took her hand and held it firmly as he penetrated her, blood dripping from her entrance. He ignored her pleas for him to stop. Tears ran down her face as he continued to defile her...'
I took my eyes of the book. I wondered who it belonged to, Lacey, Chris, Uncle Danny? I had never read books like that before, sure I wasn't oblivious to books like that but reading it kind of set me off.
I headed down to the beach. It wasn't that crowded, just a few people here and there. I walked to the water letting the sand go between my toes, felt really good considering I hadn't taken my shoes off in a day or so. I let it touch my feet, another very enjoyable cool feeling. I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. The wind blew across my face and through my hair. Then a volley ball came hurdling into the back of my head. I turned and saw a girl running toward me. I picked the volley ball and reached to give it to her.
"I'm so sorry about that, it kind of got away from me."
"It's ok, no harm no foul."
"I guess so." I handed the ball to her. She took it and started to walk off. She stopped for a second then turned to look at me. "You want to come and play with us?"
"I don't want to be any trouble."
"You wouldn't be, 'sides I think one of our players is getting tired."
"All right then, count me in"
"By the way, I'm Morgan."
"It's nice to meet you Morgan."
We walked over to a net with six people already there, three girls and two guys, starring at us. "Hey guys it cool if..." She turned to whisper to me "What was your name again?"
