This story is a follow up from 'Forbidden Love' where Barry's abuse by his father was briefly mentioned, this story focuses on what happened to Barry before Neil was send to Jail and might contain references to 'Forbidden Love'. This story is for BoomItsKerry who requested it.

Lost Childhood

Chapter 1 - The First Beating

I was sat on the sofa watching a horror film it was a Saturday so mum had said I could stay up a bit longer with I didn't object too. I was 10 years old and just starting to get into horror films.

Mum was upstairs asleep and so was my older sister Dynasty who was 12 and my Younger sister Kacey who was 8.

It wasn't that late just gone eleven but it was winter so it was dark outside which gave the film an more scary appearance.

The scary music was starting and I was hiding under the covers scared of what he would find when he opened the door when I heard our own front door opening.

It could only have been dad but even so I carried on watching the film until he appeared in the doorway and he walked into the room looking angry.

'What the hell are you still doing up?'

I could smell the alcohol on his breathe from the sofa and I knew instantly I was in trouble as he was drunk and as if he wasn't violent enough when he was sober.

'I ASKED YOU A QUESTION'

'Mum said I could stay up and finish watching this film'

I was trying to make him happy I might act tough but even I couldn't deny that dad scared me.

He started walking toward me and then all of a sudden out of nowhere he started hitting and kicking me whilst I was still watching the film; he was very strong so I didn't even attempt to fight him off.

He was hitting me but then started to say things he said I was the 'runt of the litter' and a disappointment to the family and that I should of been drowned at birth.

I then made the huge mistake of answering back and it wasn't exactly polite

'Well at least I'm not some physco alcoholic that has to use violence to make himself heard'

That was the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life

He walked toward the cupboard where we keep all of our toys and started looking around it, he then pulled out the baseball bat that Kacey had and came back over to me.

He started to hit me with it and I started to scream but all the time I was worried about waking my sisters.

After he had finished he walked out the door as if nothing had happened but told me to get to bed.

I ran upstairs before he could attack me again and jumped into my bed, I was sore all over but I didn't dare get up in case he was waiting for me, but I couldn't help it when I felt tears springing to my eyes and that was the first night I cried myself to sleep.

That was the first beating in a long line.