Friday, September 21st, 2012

“Boy! Front and center,” Anton shouted like a drill sergeant.

Toby sat in the warm living room watching The Backyardigans for what must have been the 100th time when he heard his father calling him. With no cable and only three VHS tapes, what other options did he really have? His play station was broken by his mom’s new neighbor friend when they were arguing.

Hopefully, his dad was calling him so could go to the park or something. Even better, maybe his dad was going to take him to McDonald’s so he could get something to eat. Mommy hasn’t fed him yet today and he didn’t get to eat last night since he got in trouble.

Toby rounded the corner into the kitchen. His dad was sitting at the table while his mom was washing dishes with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth. The smell of stale beer clung to the walls like cobwebs.

“Do you wanna explains this, Boy?” Anton questioned firmly, holding Toby’s backpack in one hand and a piece of paper in the other.

Toby immediately knew what that piece of paper was. It was the reason he got in trouble last night. It was a note from his teacher. Instantly, Toby began to hear the recurring creepy hissing sound that’s plagued him his whole life. The note read: “Toby hit another student in class today.”

Toby, looking a bit ashamed, focused his gaze down at the ground. As he began opening his mouth to speak, the noise got louder. The noise had never been this loud and overwhelming. He even thought he heard his name this time. He froze, clenched his fists and squeezed his eyes shut tight. Finally, he spoke, a quiet whisper barely falling off his lips. “Sorry, Daddy.”

“What happened?” Anton sternly asked, a bit of disappointment in his voice.

“There was a group of kids picking on me cause I’m the only white kid in class,” Toby whimpered.

“Oh really?” Anton turned and gave Karin a dirty look. The disappointment in Anton’s voice rapidly replaced with irritation.

“So you talk to a teacher,” Karin chimed in.

“Did you talk to a teacher?” Anton echoed Karin’s sentiment.

The creepy noise began to get even louder.

“Y-y-yes sir, she didn’t do anything,” he explained.

“Bullshit!” Karin argued. “Teachers don’t ignore their students.”

“Karin, let the boy speak,” Anton defended his son. “Go on.”

“I got really angry and I punched the biggest one in the nose and his nose started bleeding and he fell down and he was crying,” hearing his father stick up for him with his mother his speech sped up and the creepy noise began to quiet just a little.

“Really?” Anton chuckled a little while trying to hide his pride. “I bet that didn’t mess with you anymore.”

Toby recognized the pride in his father’s half smile and the creepy noise came to a sudden stop.

“No, they want to be my friend now,” Toby beamed with pride. “Daddy, you told me never to back down from a bully.

“That’s right, boy. I did,” Anton assured his son. “Well done. Fighting is your last option, but never be afraid to knock someone into next Tuesday if they need it.”

“No, you don’t fight,” snapped Karin.

She shot Anton a dirty look that could burn a hole right through Anton’s skull. That put another crooked grin on his face. It’s been a good day. Toby showed that he actually heard his father’s lesson on bullying at the park and he pissed off Karin.