Fatherless by Josh Conley Jr

Author:Josh Conley Jr
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JMI Consulting LLC

Saturday Morning

“Seven! Don’t make me come out there. Stop making all of that noise,” Jerri’s deep voiced vibrated through the walls.

“It’s not me, Dad, its Jumi! Tell her to stop playing and give me my hoodie,” Seven yelled back, breathlessly.

“Such a tattler. You can’t catch me, you can’t catch me,” Jumi teased.

Seven chased Jumi from the living room, to the dining room, through the hallway, and finally to the kitchen. Her love for sports made her unsuspectingly elusive as Jumi ran and dodged all the while with his hoodie in tow. The breeze from her running had the hoodie flailing behind her and gave Seven a chance to grab it. So, he extended as far as he could and lunged for it as she turned the corner from the hallway into the kitchen. The kitchen floor was ceramic which made his footing unsure.

“Gimmie that!” he yelled.

With his lunge he grabbed his hoodie, but slipped on the floor and fell on his back. He looked up at her, she looked back down at him, both in shock that he actually fell. And he didn’t just fall, he fell hard. Like he really busted his behind on the floor. So much so that the dishes in the cabinet shook. Then they both started laughing uncontrollably. Despite the constant bickering and taunting one another, they really enjoyed each other’s company.

They both heard a creaking sound coming from the back of the apartment. It came from their parents’ bedroom door. Jumi heard it first. Seven wondered why Jumi stopped laughing. She transformed from being full of joy and laughter to that of worry, concern, and regret. Followed were the familiar sounds of the heavy footsteps coming down the hallway. Seven knew those steps ever so well. Jumi looked at Seven in a way that suggested she pitied him. She did not speak it, but rather, mouthed to him.

“I’m so sorry.” She mouthed.

Seven lowered his head, saddened by what he knew was coming.

“Seven!” Jerri yelled.

Before he could even respond, Jerri whooped him with his belt. He struck him all over. His legs, his arms, his back.

Seven fell to the floor squirming in pain. Jerri swung the belt so hard and so fast that all he could do was ball up in the corner. He covered his head with his arms and hands.

Seven screamed and desperately tried to get away, but he was pinned in the kitchen corner. The sound of Seven screaming was not like a typical whooping and it concerned Rehi. She ran out the bedroom to see what had happened.

“Jerri stop!” Rehi yelled.

“No, he don’t listen!” Jerri yelled back.

“What did he do that was so terrible?”

“He doesn’t respect me. He will respect me.”

“Respect you? They are kids. Kids play around.”

“Not in my house.”

“It’s not only your house.”

Seven, balled up in the corner, was relieved that Rehi came to save him. She saved him many times from being whooped by merely being home. Regardless of how he felt, Jerri did have respect for Rehi and her opinion so he stopped despite really wanting to hit Seven again.

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