…
I got out of work and said my goodbyes to my coworker. Gene was my fellow anchorwoman and she was a sweet girl. Always had my back. “Hey Cordell! How was work today buddy?” That brash voice coming from afar but sounding remarkably close to me. “Hello Tate, the usual business.” I responded. Tate came closer; he lived near the ComBox Media studios, so I always saw him as I came out of work. We are good buddies, even if I’m not feeling like talking, he always brings out the happiness in me. He was even there for me when my wife died. “Just doing your typical newscaster BS.” I told him. “Well you know I’m here to listen to you complain ol’ buddy.” We laughed together. Tate was one hell of a guy. “I gotta get home before my daughter comes home from school, I’ll see you later T.” “Okay bud, let her know I said hi.” Tate was such a good guy, always looking out for me and my family. Probably because he wasn’t able to have kids himself; after that workplace accident back when he worked with me, he said he had to get castrated. Forced out of ComBox after that so they wouldn’t be liable. Disgusting company but the best income I can get around this city so I gotta stay. Poor guy, but he knows he has a family here with Heather and me.
After getting home and doing my usual routine, undressing from my suit, and showering. Getting dressed and relaxing in the living room for Heather to get home. She tells me all the time that she sits in Tech’s class for a while after the bell. Tech was a cool girl back in the day. She doesn’t really like anyone anymore. A very stubborn woman at times and I know she doesn’t like children either. Back in the day she seemed to be bipolar. Just a single woman making a living as a teacher. Poor Heather. I know she hates school but at least it’s her last year. Graduating at 17 is definitely an accomplishment, at least in my eyes I thought so. I can hear the door start to open.
“Heather Hummingbird Hendricks!”
“What Dad?”
“Can you bring me a tea from the fridge?”
“Yes Dad, give me a second.”
I love playing that game with her. I like to make sure her day is good no matter what. That joke usually cheers her up as she comes through the door. Of course, I’ll tell her if it’s a joke or not, but this time I really craved an iced tea. I let her rant to me about her school day and we chat. She’s such a beautiful girl and I couldn’t ask for a better daughter. I’m always here for her and always here to listen to her, even if I’m watching my TV shows.
…
“Hey dad, Mr. Gladys invited us over for a party next weekend. Are we gonna go?”
“Heather Hendricks. You know we do not speak about that family in this house.”
I don’t understand why dad never wanted me to talk about the Gladys’, especially Mr. Gladys. He won’t tell me and doesn’t want me to mention him ever; I respect his wishes, but I would like to know. “Well do you mind if I go?”
“Fine honey. Just be careful and absolutely no drinking, you hear me?”
“Yes daddy.”
“What are the times?”
“It’s five to eleven.”
“Be home before ten. No exceptions.”
“Okay dad. I promise I will.”
Tomorrow is another day.
2
It’s been almost a whole week since I talked to my dad about the party. School was as boring as ever. Same shit going on each day. The M’s being douchebags, Po being a sweetheart, Derrick living his best life, Cindy sleeping with everyone under the sun, Mr. Solomon’s shitty finance class, and Ms. Julian being bipolar. Mr. Solomon’s class is seriously the worst. Finance doesn’t bother me but… man, he is the worst teacher. He’s so damn boring and monotone. Like he got rejected from his dream job and was forced into a teaching job. He doesn’t teach it well either. Po is the only one I talk to in that class. But Po likes to skip school a bunch and he’ll leave me stuck with Mariah and Marcy. Marcy hits on Mr. Solomon, which is disgusting to sit through. And Mariah acts like she owns the place. She called Mr. Solomon a motherfucker to his face and I don’t think he even reported it. That’s the shit that encourages their behavior. You’re a teacher, not a buddy. Stop letting them do this shit. Those fucking twins.
That isn’t even the half of it. There’s six of these douchebags. That was just the twins. Mandy and Milo are the “talkers” of the group. They instigate everything. Picking fights that they know they won’t finish. They don’t care who it is, even picking on some of the disabled students in our school. They will make fun of absolutely anyone they don’t like. They’ll do it in many ways. Marcus is the literal fighter. Anything that Mandy or Milo start, he’ll be there to
