*FLASHBACK*
"What are you going to name him?" the doctor asked.
"Uh," Melissa, holding the newborn, looked up at me. "How about...Dallas? Do you like that name, Jackson?"
I bent down to give Melissa a kiss. "I love that name, Mel." Then I kissed the baby.
*END FLASHBACK*
"DJ, it's time for school. Wake up, buddy."
"Dad, I don't wanna go to school today."
"Why not?"
"I'm sick." Dallas coughed.
"C'mon. You can do better than that, can't you?"
"I'm serious."
"Sure you are. You know how many times I tried to pull that when I was little?"
"Did it work?"
*FLASHBACK*
(29 years ago)
"Jackson," my dad said, violently shaking my shoulder. "Jackson, get up."
"I can't go to school today."
"Oh, really?"
I shook my head.
"And why is that?"
"I'm sick."
"You're sick?"
I nodded.
My dad stood there, staring at me. "Jackson, get out of bed."
"Dad, I'm sick."
"I don't give a s*** if you're sick! Get up and get your a** to school!" He pulled me out of bed by my shirt and threw me to the floor. "Go!"
*END FLASHBACK*
"No." My voice was barely a whisper. "No, it didn't work."
Dallas groaned.
I'm thirty-four now. I've never been able to forget about what my father's done to me. But now I've leaned to except it…or at least tried to.
"C'mon, DJ. Get up."
"I'm tired."
"So am I."
Dallas was silent.
I gently shook his shoulder. "Dally, c'mon. Please, get up."
There was no answer.
I sighed and stepped out of the room, heading to the kitchen.
Melissa stood at the stove, frying eggs. "Is he up?"
I slumped down onto a chair at the kitchen table. "No. I don't know why he doesn't listen to me anymore."
Melissa turned off the stove, then walked over to me. "Honey, he's a teenager. You remember what you were like as a teenager."
I sighed. "Yeah, I guess."
"I'll go get him up."
I drummed my fingers on the table.
After a while, Melissa walked into the kitchen, followed by a sleepy Dallas.
"You want some eggs, honey?" Melissa said.
"Sure." Dallas took a seat across from me, yawning.
I watched him closely.
He rubbed his eyes, then noticed me looking at him. "What?"
"Nothing."
"Is there something on my face?"
"No," I said. "No, it's nothing."
Dallas eyed me suspiciously.
"Here's your eggs." Melissa set a plate down in front of him, then grabbed one for each of us.
We ate in silence.
"See ya, Mom."
"Bye, Dallas."
Dallas stepped outside, letting the screen door slam shut.
I got up, setting the dishes into the sink.
Why didn't Dallas talk to me anymore?
*FLASHBACK*
(9 years ago)
"Really? What's her name?"
"Angela."
"What's she like?"
"She nice, and smart, and...pretty."
"Did you talk to her?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because Ross started making fun of me."
"He did?"
Dallas nodded.
"Why?"
"Because I don't have the new bike that everyone else has." He changed his position on my knee, turning to face me. "Can I get it?"
I sighed. "I'm sorry, Dally. We just don't have that kind of money."
"Oh." He was disappointed.
I looked at him. "I'll get it for you, baby. I promise."
"Really?!"
I nodded. "Yeah."
"Yay!"
*END FLASHBACK*
"Hey, Mr. Jackson."
"Oh, hey, Angela."
"Angela and I are gonna go study, Dad."
"Okay."
Angela followed Dallas into his room.
I looked at my watch. 5...4...3...2...1...
The door opened.
Angela stepped out, Dallas following close behind. She stepped in front of the door.
"Bye, Angela," Dallas said, giving her a quick kiss.
"See ya, Dallas. Bye, Mr. Jackson." She waved at me.
"Bye, Angela," I said.
She stepped out the door.
"So, DJ?"
Dallas looked at me. "Yeah?"
"How do you study without any books?" I smirked.
He blushed, walking into his room.
"'Night, baby." I gave Melissa a kiss.
"Goodnight." She rested her head on my arm, snuggling close to me.
I was deep in thought.
Why doesn't Dallas talk to me anymore? Did I do something? He talks to Melissa. What's wrong with me?
Melissa could sense that something was wrong. "Honey, he's growing up. He doesn't need his parents as much anymore."
"But he talks to you."
She looked at me playfully. "Who wouldn't wanna talk to me?"
I looked at her, chuckling, then kissed her again.