One Careless Moment
George awoke that morning feeling unusually out of
sorts. He's spent the last several days waking
endlessly through huge piles of paperwork only to come home to an
uncharacteristically messy home. Kat barely managed to
be home lately, busy herself with a new book deal. Jason had been home
after managing to get himself suspended from school
for three days. Something, George recalled, about taking
firecrackers to school.
As he stumbled over Jason's skateboard a flash of
white darted between his feet. Ricky yelped as George
managed to step on his tail.
"Goddamn it. " George muttered between clenched teeth
as he gripped the wall to maintain his balance.
"Jason!" He bellowed angrily "Get your crap picked up or it goes
into the garbage!"
"George?" he heard Kat's soft voice question. He knew
she wasn't used to hearing anger in his voice.
"What's so hard about keeping this place clean?" He
growled "It's not like you have a real job or
anything."
Kat gasped softly and for a moment George felt a mean
grin cross his face.
He turned away from her only to run headlong into
Daniel who was scrubbing sleepily at his eyes.
"Jesus boy, it's almost eight, why the hell aren't you
ready for school?"
Danny's eyes widened as George gripped his shoulder
painfully
"I...I just..."
"Just what boy? Didn't you set your alarm? What, I
have to do everything for you?" He pushed the boy
away, "Go get ready for school. I'll be damned if you and that brat
brother of your's are missing another day."
"But...I..."
That was it, Georges unreasoning anger finally
snapped. He felt his hand rise, saw the fear and
disbelief in his son's eyes as his hand connected with that
innocent face. For a moment it all seemed unreal as Danny was sent
sprawling to the floor.
George felt numb, all the anger suddenly drained as he
watched Kat gather a sobbing Daniel in her arms. How
could he have done it? Bile rose in his throat and he raced outside,
anywhere to get away from Kat and Jason's accusing
stares. He had somehow become his own abusive father. He had lashed
out in anger at his beloved son. He sat in the car,
every instinct screaming to go back inside to face the results of his
rage but he couldn't do it. His mind kept flashing a
picture of Danny lying hurt, a thin trail of blood escaping his nose.
With shaking hands he turned the key and drove away
from the devastation of that one careless moment.
TBC...I promise things will get better
