Day Eleven: Lost time – Part VI

Did you miss Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, or Part V?

I left the room and went to play in mine until I heard the water running in the sink. I went and joined Dad in the bathroom for his morning shave.

“Hey, kiddo! Sleep good?”

Sleep good?!? He had to be kidding! How could I have slept well when I was soaking wet because he made me take the trash out during the storm? How good a night’s sleep can someone possibly get when they woke up in pain every time they rolled on their back? Sleep good??

“Yeah. I slept pretty good.”

“Great. Watcha got planned for today?”

“Nothin’ much. Probably just playing around the house.”

“I see. Well, maybe tonight we can go out and get some ice cream. Would you like that?”

“Yeah! That’d be great!!”

I was excited before I could seven stop myself. I knew better than to believe that we would actually go out. The beers at supper would change our plans. But, he was my father and I loved him. He meant well, and I tried to convince myself that meaning well was what really mattered. Dad always meant well in the morning. He was different at those times, different than the man I knew at night. I wished it could be morning all day long.

I played in my room most days while Dad was at work. I never enjoyed being with Mom because she was so depressed. I can still see her lying on the couch, her forearm resting on her face, complaining about everything she could think of. I felt alone with or without her and so I usually tried to stay out of her way. I had no friends, and even if I had any, I wouldn’t have brought them to my house. Well, maybe in the morning, or for an hour before supper. No, that would never work. It was safer to just keep to myself instead.

Tomorrow: Lost time – Part VII

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