Behind The Couch Based on the song "The Little Girl" By John M. Montgomery
By: miguel Corrando
Chapter1
On a cold and blustery day, a little girl was born. The parents were very happy, because the girl was very beautiful. Even though she had just been born, she already had curly, blonde hair. At barely a foot long, she would have been a perfect picture for an advertising agency with any children's clothes manufacturer. Yes, the parents were happy. Fast forward 5 years. The large house was replaced by a rundown apartment. The year was 1930. The great depression had just begun. The dad, who had been a boxer, was out of the ring. The mother, who was a banker, was bankrupt. Food was scarce, and so was money. Just a few days into the depression, the electricity had been cut. Finally, the father went to look for a job at the docks. For many hours, he spent his time being rejected again and again. None had a job for a fired black boxer, because segregation was still around. But finally, he was accepted at a barnacle covered ship. His job; scrape off barnacles. After he was finished, he collected his pay of 20 bucks and headed home. But on the way back, he passed by the Boar's Head Tavern. Laughter trickled out like a babbling brook. All of the sudden, he was seized by an irresistible urge to drown his sorrows in numerous mugs of beer. Finally he gave in, and went inside. Looking around the bar, he recognized faces he had worked with, and went to church with, who were smiling at bar girls that were selling their bodies for a few bucks. Just a few months ago, these men wouldn't have drunk soda, much less vodka. Yet here they were, drowning I fermented grape juice. After blowing 10 dollars on beer, he bought a six pack and headed home. He knew his wife would be mad, but he didn't care. He also knew she loved to drink, so she would break easily. He slowly trudged up the stairs to the cell they called home. Water dripped from the ceiling, and holes loomed out of the darkness, threatening to swallow him up, like some gargantuan worm in the bottom of a deep pit. After fumbling for the keys, he finally got the door open, and stepped inside.
Chapter 2
The running of little feet reached his ears as the emaciated, 5 year old body flew to him like a torpedo. "Daddy's home, Mommy!!" she shouted as she jumped into his arms. He hugged her to his chest, fear in his heart that she would ask the inevitable; that she would ask for food. Finally he sat her down and told her to go watch cartoons and where is mommy, I want to talk with her. "She's in the kitchen." She said as she ran off. He trudged into the small cubicle that was a kitchen. Sarah, his wife, sat behind the table, slowly mashing a bowl of dough that would later become their bread with her fist. Her eyes slowly slid down to the box of beer on the floor. " So you have time to drink, but no time to get food for our daughter?" Silence filled the air, so she continued. "Bert, I'm sick and tired of you only thinking about yourself! All you do is drink, wasting all your money on a liquid that always runs out too quick." Bert snorted. " So, you think I don't do anything? I'll have you know I'm working while you are at home! At least I try!" Sarah laughed. " So what, you bring beer for Gracie, is that it?" bert threw the bottle across the room, shattering it at a spot just inches from her head. Sarah screamed as blood trickled down the side of her face.