Page 9 of Tainted Love

My Dad frantically paced around the living room, his hand running through his hair, tugging and pulling.

“Sir, you’re going to need to come with us,” one of the officers said. “Is there someone who can watch these kids?”

“No,” Dad replied, not talking to anyone in particular. “I didn’t do this. I’d remember if I’d done something like this,” he said, his words clipped and urgent. He paced around the room while his eyes darted back and forth as if trying to make sense of whatever news he had just received. Or maybe he was looking for an escape.

A moment later, he sat on the couch and hung his head. He didn’t move or make a sound. I wasn’t even sure he was breathing.

My shaky voice shattered the stillness of the room. I wanted to go to him, but the officers stood between us, so I stayed put. With my feet glued to the shag carpet, I spoke. “Dad?” I managed to ask, “What’s happening?”

He lifted his head, his face worried, and turned to me and my brother. “I need you boys to stay here for a while. Your grandmother should be here soon. There’s somewhere I have to go.”

“But what about football practice?” Brian interjected.

“That’s not something we can think about right now. I have to go. I need to figure out what’s happening.”

My heart raced as I tried to understand. “Did you do something wrong?” I wrung my hands together, and tears spilled down my cheeks.

Dad hesitated before responding, his eyes flickering with sadness. “Look, I’ll be back as soon as I can. For now, just stay here and don’t get into any trouble.” His gaze shifted to Brian. “And Brian, watch your brother.”

He stood and turned his back to the officers, who put silver metal handcuffs on his wrists. Just then, Gram walked through the open front door with a bag of groceries in her arms, and Farrah happily trotted at her side. Her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped as she took in the chaotic scene before her.

She set the groceries down on the dining room table and paused to speak quietly with the officers, her face wrought with concern, before turning to my dad to say something I couldn’t hear from where I stood. I called Farrah over and dropped to my knees, throwing my arms around her neck and using her as a shield from whatever the grownups were talking about.

She returned to Brian and I, as my dad was led out of our front door. He kept his head down the entire time and never once looked back at us.

I stood when Gram reached us, and she placed an arm around us. I felt betrayed as we watched what was left of our family crumble before our eyes.

Brian wrenched free of her hold and disappeared into his bedroom, slamming the door. I could hear him fiddling with something, and then loud music blasted through the thin walls, vibrating with every bass drop.

Gram entered his room, and the loud music lowered to a more manageable level. I could hear them speaking for a few minutes before she returned to me.

“Michael,” she said gently, her hand resting on my shoulder. “I have to go down to the police station. Brian will be here to look after you, and I’ll let the neighbors know you’re alone if you need anything.”

My tears fell onto my lap as I looked up at her with pleading eyes, “Do you really have to go?”

She sighed, her eyes filled with worry. “I do. I need to find out what’s happening with your father. But I promise I’ll be home soon.”

I nodded, trying to hold back my sobs. She handed me a tissue from her pocket, and I wiped my nose.

“There’s some bread in the kitchen if you want to make a sandwich. Don’t use the stove without your brother,” she said before grabbing her purse and walking out the front door.

As she left, the weight of the situation settled on my chest like a heavy stone. The house suddenly felt too quiet and empty. A sense of anxiety crept over me as I realized how serious things were for our family.

With a heavy heart, I made my way to the kitchen and mechanically prepared a ham sandwich, trying to distract myself from the fear and uncertainty that consumed me. I tried to take a bite, but it was too much effort to swallow past the lump in my throat. All I could do was wait for my dad and grandmother to return and hope everything would be okay.

My grandma still wasn’t back after midnight. I lay in my bed, unable to sleep, until eventually, I gave up and grabbed my blanket. With Farrah on my heels, I padded down the hallway and peeked into Brian’s dark room. He was asleep, so I made a little nest on the floor next to him and wrapped myself in my blanket, lying against Farrah. Having someone else in the room comforted me during this scary, uncertain night.

The next morning, the faint glow of dawn peeked through the curtains, waking me. My brother’s gentle snores could be heard from the bed beside me, and I carefully slipped out from under my covers. As I padded into the living room, the floor creaked beneath my bare feet.

I found Gram sitting on the couch with her head buried in her hands. I approached her cautiously, trying not to disturb her thoughts. I could see the sadness weighing on her shoulders as they bobbed slightly in time with her silent tears.

Without a word, I sat beside her on our old green sofa. Gently, I began to rub small circles on her back. She continued to cry into her hands for a few minutes; the sound of her muffled sobs echoed in the quiet room.

When she finally stopped crying, she looked at me with red-rimmed eyes and tried to compose herself. “Hi, sweet boy. How did you sleep?”

“Fine.” I lied.

She let out a sigh and then dropped the news on me. “So, your father made a very big mistake, and he’s not going to be able to come home for a while. I’ll be taking care of you.”