Six years ago
‘Get your sorry ass back here, Tyler. I’m not done talking to you.’ The gruff slurs echo around the barren room as I walk away from him.
‘You haven’t been able to tell me what to do since I was twelve, Allen. Stop trying.’ My words have a bite to them, and I flame with pride.
I notice the headlights shining through the cracked living room window and pick up my pace.
‘Show me some damn respect, you ungrateful waste of skin,’ he growls from behind me. The old, torn up, reclining chair smacks against the wall with a thud as he forcefully stands up. My eyes roll back into my head. I come to a stop just mere inches from the front door and turn around. His long, dirty black hair is slicked back, his thin scalp emphasising the bald spot near the peak of his round head. The baggy sweatshirt that hangs loosely off his torso is a deep red colour, similar to the bloodshot eyes that stare back at me, furious. The stench of whiskey seeps from his breath and arouses a gag from my throat.
‘You seem to have forgotten your place here. You are not my dad,’ I spit through clenched teeth, broadening my shoulders in front of the sorry excuse of a man that is my step-father.
‘I think it’s you that’s forgotten your place here, boy. As long as your momma has me here, under this roof, this is my place.’ Allen seethes the words, his lips stretched back to expose his decaying, rotten, yellow teeth.
I almost laugh. ‘The only reason you’re here is because I haven’t thrown your scum ass out on the street.’
The same frightening chuckle I used to hear from behind my bedroom door years ago sends vicious shivers up my spine. The menacing smirk that dances on his chapped lips used to be enough to send me running away, locking myself in my room from fear. But things change.
‘If you have such a problem with how I run things in my house, then why don’t you go find somewhere else to live?’ He raises a bushy eyebrow as he challenges me, lips still pulled tight.
‘Wow, that’s a great idea. Too bad I’m too busy being the only one paying to keep this house from being seized by the bank to focus on finding somewhere else to live. Not all of us can rely on our drug dealing buddies to pay our bills.’ I throw the words with a force that I wish I had when I was younger. It would have saved me a lot of agony if I hadn’t been such a pussy back then.
His lips stretch into a tight line, and I watch him expectantly as he closes the distance between us and shoves a long, shaking finger into my chest. ‘That smart mouth of yours is going to get you into trouble one day. Mark my words.’
‘I’ll be waiting anxiously for that day to come. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Allen, my rides here.’ I flash him an arrogant grin and take a large step back, watching his hand fall to his side. I can feel the anger radiating off of him as I dismiss his threat, and my chest puffs.
Raising my hand, I give him a small wave before walking through the front door. The sticky heat hits me like a brick to the balls as I move down the sidewalk and to the black car waiting for me beside a busted light post. Pulling out the pack of cigarettes in the pocket of my black jeans, I peel it open and grab one, lighting it and bringing it to my lips.
The car honks impatiently and I throw up my middle finger in their direction before inhaling deeply. With a sigh, I drop the cigarette and stomp it out with my boot.
I reach over and open the car door, breathing in the thick smell of weed. I shake my head and slide into the passenger seat. I hear the other passengers greet me, only to get a lazy, two-finger wave before the car takes off down the black tar road.
Here’s to another night I can’t wait to forget.
