Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 67263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Dad’s people didn’t appear either.
I never knew why. It might have been nice to have an aunt to hold me and kiss all the pain away.
However, Dad always said that blood relatives were bad and tainted. He added that we had to make our own families in this life.
The week after Mom’s funeral, single women brought casseroles, pies, and roasted chicken by the apartment. Many spent the night, taking turns sitting up with Dad and trying to console him. Different perfumes filled the space, drowning out my mother's rosy fragrance. I always found bras or panties under the couch or in the cushions. For some reason, I would immediately throw them away, scared Mom's ghost would be mad.
Luckily, Dad never kept any of the women around longer than twenty-four hours.
He used to say that women were like the tools in his box. They were to be taken out and used. When one was done, the tool went back in the box for another day.
I thought he was the wisest man in the world. I wanted to grow up and be just like him.
The dream continued.
Daryl and I watched Dragon Ball Z's hero Goku kick his feet up so fast he floated in the air.
Em chuckled.
I glanced over my shoulder.
She had put down her comic and was watching with us. She loved the show too, even though she never admitted it.
Then, the front door slammed, and her face shifted to serious.
I turned to see Dad coming in. He had a worried expression on his face.
“Hey, Daddy." I jumped up and rushed his way. "How is Mr. Parker’s air conditioner?”
“Not good, son.” Dad shook his head and walked over to me. “Not good at all.”
“Aww, man.”
He patted me on the head. “Aww, man is right. I did something wrong.”
“What?”
“I don’t know. When I turned it on, black smoke came out of it.”
Excitement hit me. “Then, we’re going to the library tonight?”
“We sure are. Summer is coming and I can already tell it will be a hot one. If I don’t get that fixed, Parker is going to cut my balls off and you know your daddy loves his balls.”
I chuckled.
Daryl laughed and fell to the floor.
Frowning, Em kept her view on the television, but something told me she was no longer watching.
I rushed back to Daryl, sat down, and checked to see what Goku was doing next.
Dad whistled behind me. “Look at that. My sweet Emily is sitting over there, being a precious angel."
Daryl rolled his eyes and muttered, “More like a demon.”
I nudged him. "Leave her alone."
Dad must've headed over to her since he sounded closer. "What are you reading, baby?”
Em remained silent.
Dad whistled again. “You’re so sweet, Emily, I’m going to give you some candy.”
“I don’t want any candy.”
Daryl turned around. “I want some candy.”
“Wait a minute, Daryl.” Dad grabbed Emily's arm.
She pushed him away.
"Come on now, girl. You don't want me to tell your daddy that you've been acting up again."
She put her hands to the side.
"Let's go get you some candy, baby." Dad guided Emily away.
Daryl called after them. "Can I get some too?"
“I’ll get you some in a minute, Daryl.”
They escaped into Dad’s bedroom.
The door shut.
I didn't know why my stomach twisted. I turned back to the television.
“She always gets candy.” Daryl pouted. “And she’s so bad.”
“Dad says that Em isn’t bad. She’s just misunderstood.”
“What does that mean?”
“That people don’t understand her.”
“Well, she don’t understand anybody either.”
“I think she understands me.” I returned to Goku kicking the shit out of this guy named Frieza. Dude was a bad one, super powerful too. I worried that this might be the one creature to destroy Goku. It was such a tough and long fight that had carried over for three days.
“Get him, Goku.” I formed my hands into fists. “You can do it.”
Em screamed from the bedroom.
I stopped watching the television and put my focus on the door. "What's wrong?"
Daryl shook his head. “I heard Mama whisper to Daddy one night that she wish she never had Emily because all Emily does is give her headaches.”
For some reason that made me sad, but I couldn’t explain why. Maybe, because I missed my mom so much.
Daryl jumped up. “Oh no. Goku is getting weak.”
I didn't turn back to the television. I continued to watch the door.
Another noise came from Dad’s bedroom.
No longer interested in the TV, I rose and headed over there. Maybe, everybody was right about Em. She was always getting in trouble. I hoped she didn’t do anything to my Daddy.
A weird noise came.
I got to the door, slowly turned the knob, and opened it. The door separated a few inches.
Em lay on her back on the bed. Dad was over her with his shirt off and his pants was down his hips. And she was kicking at him as he covered her mouth.