Gutter - Part 1: The Rise by Tiana Laveen

Author:Tiana Laveen [Laveen, Tiana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: The Lions Den
Published: 2021-09-04T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Monster in a Dress

The rhythm of Billy Idol’s ‘Eyes Without a Face’ bounced off the suffocating walls of Jenny’s home, flowing through the halls and various rooms from an old scratchy radio turned on high volume in her bedroom. Neatly stacked newspapers she used for her artwork sat in the kitchen corner, along with a bright blue plastic tote chock full of paint brushes and old towels.

Hot coffee percolated on the green countertop, the scent mingling with that of the cheap citron candles, the powdery perfume wafting off her frail form, and sandalwood incense. The mixture created a nauseating concoction. Today, Jenny had on a baggy green poncho, large red and gold hoop earrings, neon pink leggings, and an enormous Native American turquoise necklace. Her hair was brushed away from her heart-shaped pale face, showcasing a broad forehead with not one wrinkle, set over sunken dark eyes devoid of lashes. A white scrunchie struggled to hold on to her thin blonde tresses. She stood by her kitchen table with something tucked under her arm, and a rather proud smile on her face.

“These are of you,” she said, placing a worn yellow leather binder onto the kitchen table and taking a seat. His name was written on the front in faded black marker.

“What’s in there? A few baby photos Dad already has copies of? I don’t want to see it.”

Her chin began to tremble, and she hung her head.

Sitting down across from her, he folded his arms.

“When you were nine years old,” she coughed into her fist, then continued, “I left the house for the first time. It tore me to pieces, so I returned against my better judgment. I left again three years later, for good, when you were twelve.”

As she spoke, time slowed down to a crawling pace. Seconds demanded to be minutes. Minutes to be recognized as hours. He floated in some space that transcended all rules of time.

“I couldn’t explain it then. I can barely explain it now.” She lifted her head, her palms upturned in entreaty, “but I didn’t leave you kids, Gutter. I left your father.”

“When you pack your bags and walk out a door and don’t take your children or even communicate with them afterwards, that’s leaving your children. Don’t do this. Don’t try to rearrange the pieces, to make ’em fit your fucked up narrative.”

“I’m not. I’m trying… I’m trying to explain my thought process and why I…” She winced as if in pain. Closing her eyes, she ran her fingers across her forehead. “Look. This is a conversation we should’ve had years ago. I’m sorry for not doing things better. I know how shitty things ended up. I tried though, Zake. The fact of the matter was, your father was the better parent, so I didn’t fight to get you. I knew you were better off with him… but I wasn’t.”

“Good to know that your needs came first, Jenny.” He dragged the book across the table and roughly opened it. Page

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