AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Thank you to Ludub, BonnieSveenFan and Braxtonboyzz123 for your wonderful lengthy reviews and many thanks to Fanfiction.79 for catching up and reviewing all my chapters. I appreciate all of your support and the support of those reading.
Some sensitive abuse themes are in this chapter.
Chapter 10
Normal POV
The following morning was like any other normal Wednesday morning. Debbie called for the boys to wake up and get ready for school, but instead of getting up like he was told, Casey remained lying in his bed.
His backside was still incredibly sore from the previous night and his back and hips throbbed every time he moved; he just did not want to get up.
Josh had already gotten out of bed and half dressed when he stared down at Casey.
"You'll be in big trouble, if you don't get up and ready," Josh taunted.
Casey turned around to face Josh with a frown on his face. He wanted Josh to just leave him alone.
Josh shrugged and went back to getting dressed.
"Suits me if you want to get yourself into trouble, but don't say I didn't warn you," he teased.
Casey was well aware Josh was itching at giving another reason to get him in the bad books and if he didn't act fast then that was exactly where he would be.
Casey shifted in his bed and struggled to push himself up on his sore body and fought the urge not to cry.
Josh laughed at Casey's wincing face as he leaned up and yelped as he got out of bed.
Casey frowned at Josh, but the younger boy just ignored him and ran out of the room.
Casey wiped a few tears that managed to fall; he felt miserable and reluctant to do anything.
He slowly got himself dressed and made his way out into the kitchen.
Andy and Josh were already sitting at the table and smirked when Casey appeared in the room.
"What took you so long? I do not appreciate tardiness when you are called to get ready," Debbie scolded, "Sit down and eat your breakfast before we are all late," she instructed and placed a bowl of cereal on the table.
Casey stepped towards the table but refused to sit down, and so stood beside the table and picked up his cereal spoon.
Andy and Josh snickered as Casey attempted to eat his cereal standing against the table, but miserably failing and spilling some onto the table.
Andy knew exactly what Casey had suffered the night before after hearing every yell, every scream and cry, and every loud whack of his father's hand and his choice of beating implement coming from the bathroom, due to his bedroom being right next door.
Andy had spent every long moment of Casey's pain smirking and had informed Josh of Casey's 'situation' before the saddened boy had come out of the bedroom to join the tight-knit Barrett brothers.
Debbie turned around from the sink to see what her boys were laughing at.
Casey's cheeks flushed from the constant snickering of Andy and Josh.
Debbie frowned down at Casey.
"What do you think you are doing? We do not stand to eat food at the table, sit down!" Debbie demanded.
Casey stared down at the table and still refused to comply; scared of the pain he would feel if he did.
Andy made a squirming gesture in his chair causing Josh to laugh and spit out some of his breakfast over the table.
"Joshua, eat properly, and Andy do not muck around with your brother while he's eating," Debbie stated, "Casey, I will not tell you again: sit down at the table while you eat. If you continue to deliberately disobey me I will have no other choice but to punish you."
"No, please; it already hurts so much," Casey whispered.
"What, what hurts?" Debbie demanded, losing patience with Casey fast.
"He means he's too sore to sit down Mum after Dad gave it to him good last night," Andy announced with a snicker; causing Josh to almost choke on his breakfast again.
"And whose fault is that?" Debbie implied and gestured for Casey to sit at the table; challenging him to disobey.
Reluctant and not wanting further trouble, Casey pulled out a chair and done his best to slide into it, letting out a pained yelp and shifting to get comfortable while trying to ignore the intense sting that was making his eyes water.
Once he had sat down Casey didn't very much feel like eating and stirred his cereal in the bowl.
"Aww does the little wet the bed not feel so good after he was punished?" Andy teased and kicked his leg under the table to get to Casey.
"Don't!" Casey protested in a low grumble.
"Now what is the fuss?" Debbie questioned.
"Please Debbie I don't feel well and don't want to go to school," Casey whimpered.
Debbie raised her brow at Casey.
"Well you don't look sick to me, so hurry up and finish your breakfast."
Casey slowly munched on his breakfast and scrunched his toes and kicked his feet to alleviate his discomfort.
At school it was floor day and that meant the whole day was spent doing activities on the floor.
Casey shifted to get comfortable on the floor; initially attempting to sit resting on his legs but nothing seemed to help.
His continuous shifting of positions and wincing didn't go unnoticed by his teacher, Mr. Bradley, who raised a questioning eyebrow to the young boy's odd behaviour.
When the lunch bell rang, the students scattered to leave the class, while Casey was slower to make his way out.
As he was about to leave the classroom, Mr. Bradley called to him.
"Casey, may I have a word?"
Casey shuffled towards his teacher with his head hung.
"Did I do something wrong?" Casey mumbled.
Mr. Bradley was shocked by the statement and Casey's withdrawn demeanor.
"No, of course not Casey, in fact you are one of my top students," Mr. Bradley quickly said to reassure Casey.
Casey glanced up and gave a weak smile.
"Casey, it's come to my notice that you are struggling to get comfortable a bit in class today, is something the matter?" Mr. Bradley asked.
Casey knew he wasn't to tell about what happens at home, not after the incident with the social worker, so slowly shook his head.
"Are you sure Casey, because you looked like you were hurting? You can talk to me Casey; I won't judge you and you are safe here to talk about anything you want," Mr. Bradley said softly.
Casey glanced up at his teacher, he was the softest and kindest person he had met since he had been taken from his real home, and Casey wanted desperately to tell him everything but was weighed down by the fear of a serious beating.
Casey stared back down and opened his mouth, uttering only a sound.
"Yes Casey, you want to tell me something?" Mr. Bradley urged.
Casey shook his head. Mr. Bradley had seen this kind of behaviour in students before and before he could jump to conclusions he had to find out more.
"Casey, can you tell me the honest truth: do you get hit at home, even as punishment maybe?" Mr. Bradley asked.
He knew he was overstepping the boundaries of his teaching but he had a soft spot for Casey.
Casey's cheeks flushed at being caught out and his heart pumped; what if his teacher betrayed him and told Debbie and Johnny about his suspicions? He already knew he didn't deserve compassion or love, so maybe his teacher was just testing him to see if he would keep his mouth shut?
Casey immediately shook his head.
"No, no I don't," Casey mumbled, "I just fell in the backyard and hurt myself," Casey lied.
Mr. Bradley noticed Casey's hesitancy and quick reply.
"Okay Casey, I believe you; it's alright. I told you I wasn't here to judge you and I only want what's best for you," Mr. Bradley assured.
"You don't have to talk to me if you don't want but you can come to me if you are ever having any problems, whether it be at school or at home. I am here to help you Casey," Mr. Bradley affirmed.
Casey gazed back up into Mr. Bradley's dark brown eyes and felt a sense of comfort he had not felt in a long time but the young boy remained skeptical.
"Thank you, but nothing is wrong," Casey said in a quiet mumble.
Mr. Bradley nodded. "Well you best get some lunch then," he said with a smile and gently squeezed Casey's shoulder.
Casey reacted with a slight flinch, increasing Mr. Bradley's curiosity that something indeed was not right with Casey.
Not wanting to frighten Casey away from feeling he could trust him, Mr. Bradley kept quiet about Casey's reaction.
Casey nodded and left to get his lunch from his backpack.
As Casey pulled out his sandwich he saw Josh, Andy and their friends outside the classroom.
Not wanting to deal with being bullied again, Casey turned back to the inside of the classroom.
"Mr. Bradley?" Casey asked in a low mumble.
"Yes Casey?" Mr. Bradley replied promptly.
"Could I please stay in here for lunch?" Casey mumbled.
Mr. Bradley smiled. "Of course you can, Casey. I could always do with the company anyhow."
Casey fake smiled and got himself comfortable on the floor and un-wrapped his sandwich and began munching on it in silence.
Just before the end of lunch finished, Mr. Bradley got up from his desk to head out to the front office to pick up some activity sheets he photocopied for his afternoon lesson.
"I will be back in a moment Casey," he said as he headed out.
The bell rang soon after Mr. Bradley's departure; not leaving Casey alone for long in the class before the students came piling in.
Josh stared at Casey as him and his friends walked in. Josh's friends were laughing as they took sight of Casey.
The one that had red hair approached Casey and stood over him.
"I heard you had a little baby's wet accident last night," he taunted.
Casey's cheeks flushed with sincere embarrassment and he got enraged at Josh for blabbing.
"No I didn't!" Casey protested.
"Don't deny it; we all know you're lying. Josh told us the truth that you wet the bed like a baby," another teased.
"I bet that's why he needed to stay in at lunch, in case he had to get teacher to take him to the toilet."
Casey felt utterly humiliated as he was surrounded by laughter.
"Stop it!" Casey pleaded with frustration and hurt.
The laughter continued and the group began to chant again.
"Teacher's pet, teacher's pet; we all know you wet the bed."
The group chanted over and over as Casey's cheeks flushed deeper and he was on the verge of tears.
"Stop: Mr. Bradley's coming!" one of the gang yelled; he had been the look out.
The group along with the rest of the students scattered to find their places on the floor.
Mr. Bradley walked back into the room and looked suspiciously at his students.
Casey couldn't stop the taunting chant running through his head and knowing his whole class knew he had wet the bed; he wanted to run out and find somewhere safe to cry his eyes out, but he didn't want to feel anymore weaker than he already was.
Mr. Bradley turned his back to write something on the blackboard when Josh couldn't resist in taunting Casey some more, he poked Casey in the back; hitting one of Casey's sore spots and snickered as Casey let out a quiet whimper and arched his back.
Once Casey reacted the young Barrett poked Casey again and softly chanted.
"Teacher's pet, teacher's pet; everyone knows you wet the bed."
Casey's emotions went into overdrive and he swung around to face Josh.
"Stop it; why are you such a jerk?!" Casey yelled and gave Josh a hard shove just as Mr. Bradley turned around being alerted by the yell.
"What is going on here?!" he demanded sternly.
"Casey pushed me!" Josh yelled pathetically as he pushed himself back up from his side one position on the floor.
Casey's eyes widened at the thought of his kind teacher getting mad at him and above all the hurt from the teasing, Casey couldn't handle it anymore and burst into tears.
"Uh-oh the baby's putting on the water works, better watch out and don't get too close in case he starts wetting something else," Mathew, one of Josh's mates teased.
Mr. Bradley frowned.
"That is enough! Casey, go and wait for me outside!" Mr. Bradley ordered firmly.
Still crying, Casey stood up from the floor and rushed out of the classroom.
Josh smiled over at his friends thinking Casey was going to get in big trouble, but when he heard his name being called in a stern, unwelcoming tone he started to get his own nervous butterflies.
"Joshua Barrett and Mathew Kenny, come up here now please," Mr. Bradley ordered sternly.
Josh looked down and followed his much more blasé friend up towards the teacher's desk.
Mr. Bradley folded his hands behind his back and stood up straight as he towered over the two boys.
"Under no circumstances am I to see teasing of any sort going on in my classroom!"
"It was Casey's fault; he started it and pushed me; he should be the one in trouble," Josh stuttered.
"I will not tolerate placing blame on someone else Joshua and as for Casey; he is not your concern," Mr. Bradley scolded.
Josh's lip quivered and he was beginning to feel more and more intimidated under the watchful eye of his teacher.
"If I ever see either of you; or anyone in this room for that matter," Mr. Bradley paused to glance firmly around the room at the other students, "Teasing or bullying one of my students again, it will be straight to the Principal's office for a written warning; do I make myself clear?!" Mr. Bradley said with a raised, stern tone.
Josh stared down at his feet hating the embarrassment of being in trouble and his eyes now filled with tears.
Not having a care in the world at being told off, Mathew shrugged, but answered with a soft 'yes sir'.
Mr. Bradley glanced down at Josh.
"Joshua, I said is that clear?" he repeated sternly.
Josh refused to look up and slowly nodded as a tear fell from his eye.
"Yes sir," he whispered.
"Good, now I want both of you to take a desk and chair and sit in the back corner of the room. Neither of you will be participating in the afternoon's activities, and you will both write out thirty lines. Joshua you will write: I Joshua Barrett will not tease others and you Mathew will write the same..."
"My name's not Josh sir," Mathew interrupted in a smart tone.
"Now is not the time to test my patience Mathew, for I can easily send you straight to the Principal," Mr. Bradley admonished.
"I want no talking out of either of you and when you have finished your lines I want a half page comment on why teasing is wrong, which you will read to the class at the end of the lesson; now go on; the both of you!" Mr. Bradley snapped.
Another tear slipped from Josh's eye as he passed through the classroom next to his friend.
"The stupid activities are over-rated," Mathew snickered and nudged Josh.
Josh glanced up with a few more tears falling.
"Forget it man; your stupid adopted brother deserved it for being such a baby; it had to of been worth it to see him cry like that," Mathew smiled.
Josh smiled and took his seat; wiping his arm over his eyes.
Mr. Bradley handed out the activity sheets once he saw Josh and Mathew get working on their punishment writing.
"Alright class first I want you to do some brainstorming about Australia's landmarks and animals and when I come back we can discuss them," Mr. Bradley instructed.
As he went to exit the class he added: "I will be just outside of this classroom so I want no mucking up."
Mr. Bradley stepped out and saw Casey leaning up against the steps still sniffling and wiping his eyes.
"Casey," Mr. Bradley called.
Casey stared up at his teacher not saying a word.
Mr. Bradley stood over Casey.
"The kids may think they can pull the wool over my eyes but I know what happened in there, Casey. That behaviour is not tolerated, especially not in my classroom and that also goes for your physical retaliation towards Josh," Mr. Bradley said firmly.
Casey licked the salty tears reaching his lips and avoided his teacher's gaze.
Mr. Bradley kneeled down to Casey's level.
"Why didn't you tell me you've been getting bullied Casey?"
Casey glanced up and shrugged.
"Am I in trouble?" Casey whimpered.
"Under normal circumstances what you did would mean an immediate trip to the Principal's office and I would hate to have to do that to one of my favourite students," Mr. Bradley replied.
Casey shivered; if he got in trouble at school he was certain he'd get beaten when he got home for being a nuisance and he was terrified.
"Casey, I am prepared to let it slide, if you promise me you will come and talk to me if you are having trouble with the other kids. I don't want you feeling so built up with hurt that it causes you to lash out at someone, because if you do it again you will give me no other choice but to send you to the Principal; do you understand?" Mr. Bradley continued.
Casey nodded and wiped his eyes.
"Good, now I think you need to go to the bathrooms and get yourself cleaned up and have a drink from the bubble-o, then come back to class," Mr. Bradley instructed.
Casey nodded, "Yes Mr. Bradley," he whispered and stood up on the step and turned to make his way towards the bathrooms.
Mr. Bradley watched Casey leave with a concerned expression on his face, before returning to his classroom.
That afternoon Andy waited at the gate for his younger brother. When the bell rang, Josh was quick to rush out of the classroom and out into the school grounds, eager to go home and forget all about his humiliating experience of getting in trouble and having to read out his comments of bullying to the class at the end of the lesson.
Josh raced out towards the gate towards his brother and pushed past Casey.
Andy noticed the sad frown on Josh's face.
"What's up bro?" Andy asked.
Josh turned around and glared at Casey lagging behind.
"Casey pushed me and I got in trouble. I had to write out lines and a stupid paragraph on why teasing is wrong then I had to read it out in front of the whole class," Josh grumbled.
Andy glared at Casey who had just about reached them.
"What did you get Josh in trouble for you pathetic worm?" Andy demanded as soon as Casey reached them.
Casey's stomach fluttered and he gazed down.
"He was teasing me," Casey mumbled.
Andy smirked and slapped Josh on the back.
"Good on you; it would have been worth getting in trouble for," Andy praised.
"It was embarrassing," Josh complained.
Andy huffed, not liking how his little brother had been made to feel and his protective barriers rose and the next thing Casey knew, he was grabbed from the side with his arms twisted behind his back, with a sheer element of surprise.
"Ow!" Casey cried out.
"What have I warned you about messing with Josh?" Andy threatened and pushed Casey's arms further up his back.
"Ow! Stop, please!" he shrieked out.
Andy snickered, "Not until you say sorry to Josh for getting him in trouble and say that you're nothing but a pathetic and worthless scum and that you deserve a Chinese burn to both your arms," Andy threatened.
"No, please," Casey whimpered.
Andy put more pressure on Casey's arms.
"You better say it now jerk-face otherwise I'll break both your arms if I keep up with forcing them up your back," Andy snickered.
Tears welled in Casey's eyes and the discomfort was unbearable.
"I'm sorry," Casey whimpered.
"What? I didn't hear you," Andy implied.
"I said I was sorry," Casey sobbed.
"You forgot to say how pathetic and worthless you are," Andy whispered in Casey's ear and took each of his arms in turn and rolled up his sleeves to where he then gripped Casey's bare arm skin tight and twisted until an angry red mark appeared on both sides and Casey was left struggling to free himself from the discomfort.
Andy released Casey with a shove and Casey stretched his sore bent-back shoulders and vigorously rubbed his inflamed arms as he followed along behind the two brothers, now with almost every part of his body aching.
When they got home, Debbie was impatiently waiting inside.
Out of consideration, Mr. Bradley had called home to notify of Josh's bullying in class.
Debbie of course did not want to hear about her youngest boy causing a stir, especially when it came to Casey, so said what needed to be said to shut up the teacher and was ready for the boys when they got home.
"Hello boys," she greeted, "Josh, are you alright? I had a call from your teacher today informing me about your punishment."
"It wasn't fair Mum; it was stupid Casey who got Josh in trouble!" Andy shouted.
"I understand Andy and your brother's predicament will get sorted, now Andy and Josh; you may please yourselves this afternoon," she instructed.
Casey stared down at his feet as Andy and Josh left.
"Have you anything to say for yourself?" she demanded at Casey.
Casey remained silent not understanding what he'd done wrong; Josh had been bullying him, just like his kind teacher Mr. Bradley had implied.
"It wasn't..." Casey started to whisper but was cut off.
"Don't you start blaming someone else; lies and outbursts will not be tolerated. Go straight to your room," Debbie ordered.
Gulping nervously, Casey did as he was told and remained quietly sitting on his bed.
Out in the living room, Josh went about watching a kid's penguin show on television, while Andy played with his hand-held video game.
When Johnny stormed into the house, only an hour or so later, and slamming the door; Josh and Andy briefly looked up at their father.
Johnny stomped into the kitchen where Debbie was ready to meet him.
"What's the matter?" she asked.
Johnny gave his wife a rough kiss on the cheek.
"Damn deal got busted," Johnny answered in annoyance, "D'I miss anything here today?"
Debbie sighed, "Besides the phone call from the school basically telling me rubbish about Josh being a bully and then he comes home upset because he got in trouble at school because of it," Debbie explained.
"Who the hell started this?" Johnny said with a growl.
"Casey apparently; he caused a scene in class and Josh was pointed as the perpetrator," Debbie explained.
Johnny huffed, "That damn boy is more trouble than it's worth. I ain't in the mood today."
Johnny wanted nothing more but to pleasure himself, or have it off with his wife to relieve his stressors, but an evil idea came to his mind.
"That boy's got to understand he is causing chaos in this house and it's time he started making up for that," Johnny stated.
After kissing his wife again, this time on the lips with a sloppy kiss, Johnny left the kitchen and walked into the living room.
"Boys," Johnny greeted.
"Hi Dad," Andy and Josh replied.
Casey startled when the bedroom door swung open.
"I hear a lesson is in order about manning up and learning to keep your mouth shut," Johnny warned.
"I didn't do anything wrong," Casey whimpered.
"Did I ask for your argument? You are going to learn one way or another," Johnny snapped.
"It seems your consequences have been too easy on you and you just keep causing trouble, so you leave me no other choice," Johnny explained.
Johnny shuffled himself down on Casey's bed and undid his belt.
"Please...I'm sorry," Casey whimpered in fear; thinking he was about to get hit and still feeling incredibly sore from the previous night, Casey did not want to feel more pain.
"Come here!" Johnny yelled, losing patience and just wanting his release.
Casey shuffled towards Johnny and once within reach, Johnny reached out and roughly grabbed Casey's hands, pulling him forward.
Unzipping his pants, Johnny thrust Casey's hands onto himself.
Casey felt sick and knew that the whole situation was wrong and he wanted to run out of the room, but his hands were held tight.
After a few minutes Casey's hands became sweaty and sticky and Johnny released him.
"Now you breathe one word about this and know this: no-one will ever believe you, you know why; because no-one will believe a worthless little boy who deserves everything he gets." Johnny warned in a low evil tone, "And if you think it won't happen think again: I find out you breathed a word, and you'll be having to make it up to me day in and day out and this would just be the beginning; understood?"
Casey nodded his head and blinked back his tears; remaining still with his hands and not wanting to move them for they felt too dirty and yuck.
"Get and clean yourself up," Johnny ordered and shoved Casey away before finishing doing up his pants and standing up from the bed.
Casey wandered towards the bathroom and scrubbed his hands raw. He watched tears fall from his eyes as he looked at himself in the mirror and his mind flashed with a vision of Brax telling him to promise to behave and do everything that was asked.
"I'm trying Brax...I'm trying, but I don't want to do this. I'm sorry I don't want to; I don't like it," Casey whispered and wiped his eyes.