Family Affairs Chapter 1

Okay, this story needs a little introduction. It was started several years ago. It’s about I think 30 pages total, all 14 chapters. It is my longest and most developed story. The first few chapters develop the story and characters and may not be very interesting to some readers on this site, but I promise you, it does get more interesting as the story progresses. Any feedback is more than welcome. So, on with the story.

Thanx for reading,
–mourning

“Guys, come on! Give it back!” Carry tried desperately to get his wallet away from his brothers, Vince and Jeff. “Give it back!”

“Come and get it. All you have to do is touch it and we’ll give it back.” Vince held the wallet high above his brother’s head, just out of his reach.

“Come on short-stuff. You can do it. Just stretch a little,” Jeff teased.

“I mean it! Give it back or I’m gonna tell mom,” Carry said as he jumped to try and redeem his wallet from its captors.

“Boys, give him back his wallet,” Ms. Kennedy scolded. Vince and Jeff stared at her as if she weren’t there, “Now!”

Vince lowered his arm and Carry snatched his wallet before Vince could retract his hand. “Momma’s boy.”

“Enough, now I need you two to run up to the post office and mail some things for me. I also want you to pick up some stamps. Can you do that for me?” Ms. Kennedy asked. “You can take my car, but hurry back. Your father will be here any minute; that doesn’t mean speed either.”

“Okay.” Jeff and Vince shouted after they were outside, already bickering about who would get to drive.

“Carry, why don’t you come into the kitchen with me while I finish supper… I’d really enjoy the company.” Ms. Kennedy led the way to the kitchen and Carry trailed behind her.

“Do I really have to put up with Vince and Jeff the entire end of summer? Why isn’t Jack taking them for the whole summer like he usually does?” Carry poured himself a glass of milk and sat down at the island in the kitchen.

Ms. Kennedy tended to the pot of boiling macaroni. “He’s getting re-married in late July. He intends to have them stay for the wedding and then he’s flying off for his honeymoon in Honolulu. They’ll ease up on you. It’s natural at their age. You’re just a lot younger than they are. Sibling rivalry occurs between many children.”

Carry picked a cookie out of the cookie jar, nibbled on it tentatively, and finished his argument. “I don’t care what it is. I hate it.” He stared at his cookie, but soon lost his appetite and threw it in the trash. He contemplated pushing the subject further but decided it would be better not to. “Did you get that letter yet?”

Ms. Kennedy looked at her son with concern as she decided if she would tell him. After a few moments of silence she relented to her usual honesty, “Yes, I received it yesterday.”

“And…” Carry asked tensely. He could feel his stomach tighten in knots. He had dreaded the verdict throughout the whole case.

“And what?”

“What did it say?” Carry was about to burst with anxiety.

Ms. Kennedy noticed that he had begun to ring his wrists, a common habit he exhibited when he was nervous. She thought about what she should say. “Carry, do we really want to go through this? Right before the weekend? Why don’t we just wait until Monday?”

“Please. I really want to know what it said. I’ve been waiting for this letter for so long.”

“All right, Carry, but I don’t want to hear a word out of you. If you must know now…the courts granted him supervised visitations.”

“What? Why? I don’t want to see him. You can’t make me; I won’t go. Mom that isn’t fair. I don’t want to…” Carry propped his elbows on the counter and put his head in his hands.

“He’s been out of prison for several months now and the whole time he’s been petitioning… I’m not going to argue with you tonight. I told you we should wait until we had time to talk this over. Tomorrow, we’ll see what can be done and if we can get the verdict appealed. What’s done is done. I’m going out tonight and I’m going to have a good time.” Ms. Kennedy wanted to be firm, but she knew how he felt. She had as much anxiety about the visitations. Supervised or not, she would prefer her son not have to see a man he hated so much. “Mr. Hutchinson said that we don’t have a strong case. He’s been through every rehab program there is. They say that it was alcohol related and that he’s better. There’s nothing we can really do.”

“Mom, you know it wasn’t his drinking. Everyone knows that. It was just him. He was never drunk when he did that. When he was drunk was the only time I felt safe. I just don’t understand why…”

“Sweetie, I know what you went through was harsh. Believe me, if I had known…”

“I know… I just don’t want to see him…Not ever…”

“Carry…”

“Do Vince and Jeff know?”

“No; I haven’t told them yet. I felt that you should be the first one to hear the news.”

Carry lifted his head to look at his mother. “Who’re you going out with tonight?” His voice was shallow and empty.

Ms. Kennedy sighed, but was determined to keep her appointment. “I’m going with Michael Sikes.”

“The Chief of Police?”

“Yes. We met at the last PTA meeting. He seems nice enough. It’s only dinner and a movie. Nothing too serious.”

“So, I’m going to be here all by myself?”

“No. What do you think I am crazy? His son Steven is going to stay with you since the boys will be gone with Jack. He seems like a really nice kid.”

Carry slumped in the chair and started mumbling to himself when the doorbell rang.

“Could you please get that while I finish up in here?”

“I guess…” Carry opened the door to see Mr. Sikes and his son. “Come in.”

“Thank you, son. Is your mom ready yet?” Michael asked. He gazed at Carry but Carry immediately turned his eyes elsewhere.

“Yeah, she’s just finishing dinner. She’ll be out in a minute. You can sit down if you like.” Carry stood with his hands in his pockets.

“So, are you going to be the one keeping my son in line?” Mr. Sikes tried to get Carry to warm up to him, but the more he tried, the more Carry shied away.

“Umm, I guess so.”

Steven was just about to introduce himself to Carry as Ms. Kennedy entered the room. “Okay, I’m ready. Have you boys met before?”

“We occasionally see each other in the hallways.” Steven said.

“Well Steven, this is my youngest son Carry. Carry this is Steven. Now, Carry, you know the rules. No one is to be in the house while I’m gone. Dinner’s on the stove for when you boys get hungry. Jack should be here anytime to pick up the Jeff and Vince. And don’t destroy anything. Steven, if you need to know where anything is just ask Carry.”

“You boys behave.” Mr. Sikes said as he and Ms. Kennedy left.

“Bye Ms. Kennedy, by dad.” Steven said as the adults walked out of the house. Once the door was closed the boys sat in an awkward silence. “So, are you hungry?”

“Not really.” Carry replied.

“Do you want to some play video games?”

“No.”

“You know, I’m not going to bite.”

“I know.”

“You’re not real talkative are you?”

“No.”

Steven laughed apprehensively as he turned on the TV. “Anything particular that you want to watch? Sports maybe?”

“No.”

“Okay…” Steven sighed as he tried to get Carry to open up, but nothing seemed to work. They sat in an awkward silence broken only by the dull hum of the Home Shopping Network. Steven tried to make small conversation, but Carry seemed content to just sit and stare out of the window. He seemed not to be paying attention to anything. “So, the weather’s looking kind of nasty out there huh? I heard we’re in for a major storm this evening. Think it’ll pass us?”

“I guess.”

A knock at the door startled both of the boys. “I’ll get it.” Steven said. When Steven opened the door Vince and Jeff stepped in sopping wet.

“Who are you?” Asked Jeff.

“I’m Steven, Steven Sikes.” Steven offered his hand to the boys, but they pretended not to see it as they shoved past him and hung up their coats.

“That’s right. You remember; he’s Carry’s babysitter.” Jeff said.

“Dad stop by yet?” Vince asked.

“No.” Carry replied as he turned his attention to his latest Stephen King novel that had sat undisturbed on the table for the last ten minutes.

“If he comes, let him know that we’re changing and that we’ll be right down.” Vince replied. Vince and Jeff bolted up the stairs, shoving each other out of the way as if they were in a derby.

“You guys are real conversationalists.” Steven said. He started to sit down when the doorbell rang. When Carry made no move to get it Steven stood back up, “I’ll get it.” He walked back over to the door and opened it.

Standing in the rain was a well-built man in khaki shorts and a loud Hawaiian shirt. “Well don’t just stand there while I enjoy this beautiful weather; let me in kid,” Jack jokingly chided. “Well now, who are you? Last time I checked only three boys lived at this house or did I get the address wrong?”

“Are you Jack?” Steven asked.

“Sure am. Jack Roberts, the latest and greatest.”

“I’m Steven, Steven Sikes.” Steven held out his hand

Jack strongly shook his had. “Got a nice arm there. You play baseball?”

“Yeah. I pitch.”

“You pitch, huh? Wish my boys played, but nope, I get the TV and skate board addicts. Maybe you, me and my boys can get together some time and throw a few.”

“Maybe…”

“Ah, you’re no fun.” Jack turned to see Carry with his nose in his book. He grabbed the book from Carry, “That’ll rot your brain, watch a little TV instead.”

“Hi Jack. The boy’s will be down in a minute. They had to run to the store for mom and now they’re soaked,” Carry sat in his seat, not even attempting to redeem his book.

Jack ruffled Carry’s hair and set his book on the table, but Carry still did not reach for it. “What’s for dinner? Smells mighty good.”

“Mom made macaroni.”

“She always was an expert chef.”

“Alright dad, we’re ready!” Vince called down the stairs. Vince and Jeff bolted down the stairs and stopped only to put their coats on.

“Jeff, why do you have a hat on? You didn’t dye your hair again did you?”

“Sort of…” Jeff replied as Vince chuckled.

“I swear to the saints boy… What color this time?”

“Electric blue.”

“Christ…” Jack stopped to listen to Vince chuckle, “and don’t think I missed the eyebrow ring either. We’ll discuss this on the way to the airport.” Jack turned back towards Carry and Steven, “Bye Carry; see you in a few weeks. And don’t you go getting any piercings or dying your hair pretty in pink. Bye… uh… umm…”

“Steven.” Steven smirked at the odd man.

“I know what your name is. Bye Steven.” Jack said as he grinned and followed his boys out of the door.

“He’s weird.” Steven said.

“He’s really okay, once you get used to him. He’s always been real nice. He’s really fun to be around too. He seems to like you.” Carry said.

“Really? How can you tell?”

“He doesn’t talk to people he doesn’t like.” Carry stared off for a moment and then turned his attention back to his book.

Steven studied Carry for a while. “So, do you have many friends at school?”

“No.”

“So… Does you dad come and pick you up during the summer too?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I haven’t seen him… my dad for five years.”

Steven channel surfed for about an hour, but found himself paying more attention to Carry. He had remained on the same page for almost an hour and a half. “Interesting book?” Steven asked.

“Riveting.” Carry said flatly.

“Really…” Steven couldn’t imagine a more uncomfortable position to be in. Carry’s stomach grumbled. “Are you hungry?
”
“A little, I guess.”

“I’ll reheat the mac ‘n cheese, if you want.”

“I guess.” Carry led Steven to the kitchen and sat down.

Steven rummaged through the cabinets before he found the bowls and did the same with the drawers until he found the silverware. He scooped macaroni into two bowls and proceeded to heat it in the microwave.

The wind howled outside as the storm picked up speed. A crack of thunder knocked out the power.

“Well,” Steven said flatly, “do you guys have any candles anywhere?”

“Second drawer to your left.” Carry replied.

Steven got out the candles and matches and lit them. “Well, I guess you’re done with your book. Anything else to eat?”

“No, I’m not that hungry.”

“You don’t like me, do you?”

“What?”

“I said, ‘You don’t like me, do you?’”

“You’re okay.”

“Well you sure don’t act like you like me. Come on maybe we can salvage the night. Is there anything you would like to do?”

“I’m not much of a people person. I like to do things by myself.”

A knock at the door ended their conversation. “I’ll get it,” Steven said.

Steven opened the door to two men standing in the darkness.

One of the men stepped forward, “My name’s Arnold Crosswire, I’m Ms. Virginia Kennedy’s attorney. Is she in right now?” The other man stayed in the shadows just beyond Steven’’ view.

“No, I’m sorry but she’s not here. If you’d like to leave a message I’ll make sure she gets it.” Steven said.

“No, that’s okay. Is Carry Glenn here?” The man asked.

“He is, but I’m not permitted to let anyone in the house. Like I said before; if you’d like to leave a message for Ms. Kennedy I assure you she will get it.” Steven was starting to become suspicious of the two men.

“Alright, just tell her that I need her to sign some papers as soon as possible and that I need Carry’s signature as well.”

“I will.” Steven closed the door and watched the men leave.

“Who was that?” Carry asked from around the hall corner.

“Jesus-Christ! Don’t sneak up on people like that.” Steven caught his breath. “That was Mr. Crosswire.”

“Mr. Crosswire?”

“That’s what he said.”

“Who’s Mr. Crosswire?”

“He said he was your mother’s attorney and that he needed your mother’s signature and yours as well on some documents.”

“Mr. Hutchinson is my mom’s attorney. I don’t know a Mr. Crosswire.”

“Well, maybe she has another attorney.”

“Whatever.”

A crash upstairs made both the boys jump. “Probably just a cat… You stay here, I’ll go up and check.”

“If it’s just a cat, then why do you want me to stay down here?”

Steven ignored Carry’s sarcasm as he negotiated his way up the dark staircase. Steven felt his stomach knot as he maneuvered in the unfamiliar hallway. He scanned the hallway for anything that might have broken and noticed a brick lying in the hallway surrounded by glass. When he glanced out the window he also noticed that the houses around them had power. He bolted downstairs at the sound of commotion. As he stepped on the bottom step he saw something fly at his head. He then lost consciousness.