Life has been a lot different the past couple years. Ever since my daddy left a whole bunch of stuff has happened, my mom cries all the time now and doesn’t have enough energy to take care of my baby sister, Crystal.
Since dad left I had to take up two full time jobs and quit school to help pay the bills. I help Crystal with her homework when I get off work. I am so proud of her; she is on the honor roll and is at the top of her third grade class.
On my way to work today I saw a sign that said “Free Schooling!” “Yeah right.” I mumbled seemingly to nobody. I got to work and right away we were packed. I was running from table to table, when my boss yelled at me, “ Halie, phone!” “Be right there,” I yelled back. I got to the phone it was Crystal, “ Halie, there is something wrong with mom, her wrists are all bloody and she wont wake up!” My heart sank, I dropped the phone and quickly picked it up again, “I’ll be right there don’t do anything.” I hung up the phone and rushed into my boss’s office. “I have to go it’s an emergency,” I said. “Go ahead baby ill fill in your spot.” She remarked. I sprinted to my car, and sped home.
I burst through the door and ran into my mom’s room, there Crystal was sitting on the edge of the bed holding my mom’s hand and crying. I rushed over to my mom and tried to find a pulse, nothing. I grabbed Crystal and held her we were both crying our eyes out. I took her into the kitchen and I called the police.
The police came and took mom away; a lady came over to Crystal and I and was asking a bunch of questions. Neither one of us wanted to answer any of them.
Since mom and dad were still technically married we were sent to live with him. (I might add that my dad drinks a lot.)
Mom died on a Wednesday, the funeral took place the Friday after. It was nice lots of people sent us flowers. The next day we were on the road to dads. Crystal hasn’t spoken a word to anybody except me since that fateful day. I looked at her, she is so beautiful, she looks just like mama I thought.
We arrived at dads, as we were walking up to the door Crystal looked up at me and said, “Does daddy love us?” “Of coarse he does baby, he’s our daddy isn’t he?” we walked up to the door and knocked, no answer, knocked again. “Hold on a god damn minute!” a voice from the inside yelled. He opened the door he was a lot different that I remembered him, his once thick black hair was now turning gray and was thinning, his once sweet majestic face was now red and aging, and his once flat stomach was big and round. “Hi daddy!” I said cheerfully, he grunted and motioned for us to come in. We walked into the small apartment, which smelled like booze and old socks. “Shut the damn door, were you born in a fucking barn?” He harshly said. “Sorry daddy” I mumbled. “Don’t call me daddy, I’m not your god damn daddy anymore. You call me Sir!” “Sorry Sir” I mumbled.
He led us to a small room with nothing but a sofa and a small dresser. “Here this is your room, both of you.” He said. “Thank you Sir” I once again mumbled. When he walked out of the room I looked at Crystal. She seemed scared and worried. I took her in my arms. “Everything is ok baby, everything is ok.” I told her.
After I put Crystal to bed I went out to get our bags from the car. I walked past the living room and looked in, there was Sir passed out with a bottle in his hand. That didn’t surprise me any. I walked out to the car and got our bags. “Do you need any help?” A strange voice asked. I turned and looked at him, he was about six-feet tall, and had sandy blonde hair about to his shoulders. “Sure.” I said shyly. We took the bags into the house and put them in my room, and went back outside to talk. “Are you new here?” he asked.
“Yeah, just moving in.” he smiled. He held out his hand and as I took it he said, “My name is Maleki.” “Mine’s Halie.” I replied. “Halie, that’s a pretty name, is the passed out guy your father?” “Yeah he’s my dad.” “I’m sorry if I offended you.” I laughed, “No its fine I know how he is.” “ Well I better get back inside before my sister wakes up and I’m not there.” I reached into my car, found an old napkin in the glove box and wrote my cell number on it. “Here, um I don’t usually do this but you can call or text me if you want.” He took the napkin and put it in his pocket. “Thanks I will.” There was a long pause. “Well I better get inside.” “ Yeah, ok, um, I’ll call you.” I turned and went inside.
I looked at the little dresser and then at both of our bags. “I think I’ll keep mine in the car.” I thought to myself. As I was putting away Crystal’s things I found a picture of my mom, “She was so beautiful.” I said to myself.
The next day I filled out the school transfer papers for Crystal when my cell started to ring, I answered it “ Hi, this is Maleki, we met the other night.” “ Oh yeah sorry it’s been a long couple days, how are you?” “Oh I’m fine how are you Halie?” “I’m ok but can a call you back when I’m not so busy?” I said. “Oh yeah that’s ok I guess.” He hung up the phone.
