Fid's Crusade by David Reiss

Author:David Reiss [Reiss, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Supervillain, Sci-fi, Science Fiction, superhero novels, urban fantasy, Super Hero, superhero fiction
Published: 2018-03-22T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Squatters were living in my childhood home.

The property hadn't been sold when Mother and Father had died; Bobby moved to Massachusetts to live with me, but I'd intended that the house pass to him when he came of age. Utilities, grounds-keeping and maintenance were all relatively minor expenses even then. We'd visited, Bobby and I, several times. Cleaning our parents’ rooms had been a task that I'd seized for myself. That pain, I'd thought, I could spare my younger sibling.

◊◊◊

A small bottle slips through my numb fingers, and the loose plastic lid rattles to the floor; I reflexively bend to pick up the bottle-cap but the damage is done. A few drops of my father's aftershave are shed upon the linoleum counter, scent redolent with flowers and citrus and musk, and I'm lost to memories of warm hugs and gruff reassurances, of a hand ruffling through my hair and of a patient, proud voice reading theoretical math texts aloud for me even when he didn't understand the material. I'm bawling like a child, like I hadn't when my third-grade science teacher accused me of cheating and humiliated me in front of all my peers, or when Kenny Bryant had punched me so hard that the school nurse called an ambulance. I'm not ready for this. How could anyone be ready for this? Bobby still needs a mother and a father.

So do I.

“Terry?” A young and hesitant voice queries from the craft room across the hall. “Are you okay?”

“I'm fine.” I lie, choking back my tears. My brother needs someone to be strong and I'm the only person here.

Bobby needs me.

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