After dinner, everyone hung out in the living room. I was getting tired so I figured I would put away the few gifts I got in my room. I was looking forward to the next day when I would be able to enjoy some peace and quiet and get to write some stories in the journals Daisy got me for Christmas. I put the new journals on my shelf, and the other things I got where they belonged. I was about to head back to the living room, but turned around to see Jim in my doorway.
“So. Any reason why you protected your fat ass of a sister?” He looked unimpressed. “Seriously, I was just telling her how it is.”
“What do you want.” I said coldly, ignoring his comment.
“Nothing. Nice room you got here.” He smirked. “Definitely proves my suspicions.”
“And those would be?”
“Queer.”
“Excuse me?” I raised a brow.
“Sorry let me put it in simpler terms.” He grinned. “You’re gay. You like boys.”
“Uh, no?” I said. Last I checked, I was pretty sure I was straight. I didn’t have any interest in dudes. “And if I did, what’s wrong with that?”
“Oh come on. Look at yourself. You’re so feminine I wouldn’t be surprised if you were one of those tranny’s.”
“Again, if I was, what’s wrong with that?” I didn’t get him. There was nothing wrong with being gay, transgender or anything related to that. We were all people. It didn’t matter who we were attracted to or what gender we identified as. I didn’t know what his issue was at all. Or why he was even bringing it up.
“Everything.” He growled. “You’re scum.”
“Look, I don’t care what you think about me.” I said. “You’re just a spoiled child who’s butthurt about being yelled at by a guy who you apparently don’t think fits your standard for being male.”
“Say another word and I won’t hesitate to beat the shit out of you.” He hissed. “I’m sure nobody would care. I’ve seen how they ignore you.”
I glared at him. I didn’t want to get into any fights. Part of me feared he was right and that if he did beat me up, nobody would come and help me. I felt the need to go back to the living room to join the others just to be safe. Silently, I tried to walk by him and leave my room, but he grabbed ahold of me and shoved me back in my room.
“What are you-” I started to say before he punched me right in the gut. One thing about Jim was that he was strong. I practically flew back into my bookshelf, and then collapsed to the ground. I knew I couldn’t take him on. I was a scrawny little stick with practically no muscle. He was a muscular guy who was a couple inches taller than I was.
“MUM!!!!” I screamed as loud as I could. I don’t know why I screamed for her like I did, but I guess it was instinct. I was scared and didn't want to end up seriously hurt. “HELP!!”
The yelling only pissed Jim off more and he punched me in the face causing me to hit the back of my head on my bookshelf. I could hear someone running down the hall. I was hoping they would make it before I got hit again. Jim looked about ready to kick me. I could feel blood running down my face. The punch must have given me a bloody nose. I was just hoping I didn’t hit my head against the bookshelf too hard. I didn’t need to take another hospital trip.
“Kevin- OH MY GOD!!” Mum and Daisy showed up at the doorway, with Dad showing up not too long after. Everyone heard the screaming, and quickly came over to see what was up. But Jim wasn’t about to stop for them. He had to prove his point. He pulled his foot back and was about to kick me right in the gut, but Mum was one step ahead of him. She ran over to him and shoved him away from me.
“GET AWAY FROM HIM!!” She shouted. “WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!”
“HE DESERVES IT!” Jim yelled back.
Mum slapped him across the face before growling at him. “Don’t you ever say that to one of my children. EVER.”
Jim looked completely taken aback. I stared at her in shock. Never had I seen her protect me like that. Unfortunately, it only pissed Jim off more. Angrily, he shoved Mum. I stayed on the ground and protected my head with my arms just in case Jim got any ideas.
“Get. Out.” Mum shoved him back. “I don’t want you in my home. Especially not if you’re going to insult and beat on my fucking children!!”
Mum practically shoved him out. Since Gran and Gramps were the ones to drive him to our place, they also had to leave with uncle Dan as well. After shoving Jim out, Mum hurried back to check on me. Daisy, Dad and Grammy were already trying to make sure I was ok.
“Where did he hit you?” Grammy asked just as Mum came in.
“I-It’s nothing.” I was trying to laugh it off, but I was in pain. Especially in the back of my head.
“Dear, it’s not nothing.” Grammy said. “C’mon, tell me where it hurts most at least.”
I shakily pointed to the back of my head.
“Here, let me look.” Mum said as she gently pushed my head forward so she could take a look. “Oh shit.”
“Oh dear.” Grammy said. “That’s not good.”
“Thomas?” Mum looked over at Dad. “Can you go start the car? We need to take him to the hospital for stitches.”
“On it.”
“Is it that bad??” I asked.
“You got a pretty big wound.” Mum sighed. “I take it you hit it on the bookshelf?”
I nodded.
“I’m going to go get some clothes to cover it to help stop the bleeding.” Daisy said as she got up to go grab some stuff from her medical supply stash. She returned a couple seconds later and started tending to the wound.
“Sorry this is going to sting.” Daisy said as she put a wet cloth on it. I immediately flinched. She was right. It stung like hell.
“Here, take this for your nose.” Mum handed me a kleenex. “It’s bleeding pretty good.”
It took a crazy amount of kleenex just to clean up how much blood I had on my face and on my hands from touching it. Once Dad got the car warmed up, Mum and Daisy helped me out to the car, adn off to the hospital we went.
As expected, I needed stitches. Daisy got to watch how they did it so she could learn to do them properly. The nurse doing it was pretty impressed with how clean Daisy managed to keep the wound and said she would make an excellent nurse. Daisy was proud to say that’s what she wanted to do in the future. She always had a knack for that stuff.
By the time we got home, it was past midnight. Everyone was exhausted, and we all just wanted to sleep. Me especially. I was the first to head right to bed. I was about to fall asleep when Mum came into my room for a little bit. She quietly came over to my bed and sat down on the edge of it.
“Your head feeling ok?” She asked.
“Yea, the pain meds are helping.” I sighed.
“Good, good. Just checking.”
There was an awkward silence before Mum spoke again.
“Thanks for standing up for Daisy like that.” She said. “I really didn’t expect you to blow up like that, but it’s nice to see you stand up for her.”
“Well thanks for coming and saving me.” I laughed a bit. “I was scared no one would come.”
Mum gave me a surprised look. “Of course I would come! Especially after hearing you scream like that! And if not me, your father or Daisy would’ve! We aren’t just gonna let someone beat you to death!”
“I suppose.” I sighed.
“I know we’re hard on you, but no brother of mine is allowed to come into this house and beat the shit out of you or Daisy. I can promise you that.”
“Good to know.” I laughed a bit. I was still uncomfortable around Mum despite her just saving me not too long ago. “Anyway. I’m going to bed.”
“Alright. Sleep well.”
“Night.”
“Night.”
Despite just being beaten up, and getting back from the hospital, I went to sleep with a smile on my face for the first time in a long time.
Comments (3)
See all