Something Going On

"Hi Malik," Maria said one Monday afternoon, "How was your day?" The eight-year-old was just returning from school to find his mother home alone in the kitchen. Francis had gone out to meet the ship that had just come in and unload the cargo. But that wasn't what set alarm bells off in the boy's head. He saw his mother was wearing a ton of blush on her face and some dark sunglasses over her eyes. Although she was smiling, their was something beneath that. He always saw her feelings; their bond was that strong.

"I'm fine Mamma. Derek was spinning plates on his nose at lunch today. Louie and Alex were both laughing so hard that they spit milk out of their noses. But what's wrong? Did something happen between you and Francis? You look really sad, and it looks like you were hurt in some way," Malik told his mother.

Maria shook her head and whispered, "No, everything is just fine darling. I'll be ok. I just fell down and hit my head on the side of the table." However, that wasn't the full truth. Indeed, she had fallen onto the table. But she had a lot of help from Francis in the falling. He'd been mad because she'd stopped to talk to Jess after work that day. In his opinion, if she didn't come right home, she wasn't performing her job as a wife and mother very well. For he had become very demanding and abusive following her marriage to him. Not that he showed that side of him to Malik or anybody else. Only poor Maria was forced to put up with his angry beatings. And he'd threatened to harm Malik too if she went to anybody with their problems.

Malik wasn't convinced, but he knew his mother had a good reason for keeping the secrets from him. He could tell that she was not talking because of something wrong that could affect him. If it came down to either her or her son…Maria would choose Malik's happiness over her own. She was considered a really good mother for that. One of the reasons that Jess was envious; she was having trouble conceiving.

He ran up to his room to start his homework. But just as it had been for the last few weeks since the marriage began, he found it hard to concentrate. Malik was only concerned with helping his mother and solving whatever problem she had. He wished she'd just lay her problems onto his little shoulders. She'd taken care of him for years, and never complained about the work involved. Nobody was more worthy of his help than her. She had protected and taken care of him for years; now it was his turn to watch over her.

. . .

Francis came home around five to see Maria making dinner by the stove. He seemed angry for some reason. In truth, he'd gotten into a verbal argument with Jess Enduro; who had guessed something was wrong from Maria's odd behavior as of late. That woman had a temper that was on par with the boy who would be created from Filgaia's energy and her late son's DNA. And that should say how much trouble it was to get on her bad side. "Where's the brat? Up in his room with his books again is he? Isn't dinner ready yet? You're the slowest cook I've ever seen you little bitch. Either hurry up or I'll have to get violent."

"I'm sorry Francis," she sweetly stated and smiled, "I had to let the meat sit in the sauces for awhile before I cooked. I didn't have enough time to let them stew after getting back from work today. If I was making this on Saturday or Sunday, then this would have been finished by now. But it'll be done soon."

"You insolent woman! I bet you told that bitch Jessica what's going on; she was beginning to annoy me with her complaining. You're going to regret your cheek with me!" screamed Francis. He slapped her to the ground, and she hit her head on the chair. Maria resisted the urge to scream; to not bring Malik down.

However, Francis's yelling had alerted him to the fight. Malik ran down the stairs, and gasped at what he saw. There was his step father with an enraged expression on his face. On the floor, clutching the bump on her head with her hand, was his mother. But Malik hid; now he knew the reason for her silence.

Terror was in his eyes as he saw the man that he'd thought was the ideal father harming the person who meant the most to him. The boy ran up to his room to keep his knowledge of it a secret. He was afraid that knowing would cause his mother even more harm. Malik had to find some way to help her get away. The fear showed clearly in his eyes. Something would have to be done to protect her from his wicked grasp.

. . .

At dinner, both the boy and his mother were silent. Francis had the ample opportunity to complain about some of his fellow workers; they were all trying to hit on every single woman that walked by the docks as they worked. Usually, this was accompanied by a whole lot of joking back and forth between him and Maria. But she was too upset to talk that evening. The pain in her head wasn't going away; and she had no way to relieve it without tipping Malik off. She had to heal the wounds once the boy went to bed so he would have no suspicions as to what as going on with them. Maria didn't know exactly what the boy knew now.

Maria thought, 'I was so sure that I'd find true love after all my pain. But how could the man that I thought I knew turn out to be somebody different? He was so nice to Malik and me before. Probably just wanted to get on our good side in order to reel me in. One of those men that thinks women should take care of him and do exactly what he says. Somehow, I have to get out of here. But how? Malik's life is in danger if I take many large steps. I'll have to work covertly. That's the only way to keep him in the dark.'

She washed the thick makeup off her face and began to work on medicating the many bumps and bruises that covered her following the latest round of arguments with her husband. But even with all of the powder gone, Maria no longer felt like the same woman that had met life head on with a smile. She was aged beyond her years and drastically changed following her abused lifestyle. Her only hope was that her son never had to witness these fights. He wouldn't be able to take all of the pain that she felt inside of her.

But unbeknownst to Maria, Malik had already seen the fighting. He'd watched his mother fall to the floor and become nothing more than a punching bag. The boy was wishing once more that he was older; then he'd show Francis what happens to people who messed with his mother. They deserved much worse than what he gave to her. Malik went to sleep that night in tears; his dreams filled with all the pain she felt.

- - - -

Teefa's Last Words…

Yes, it has taken a darker turn. I had to put in some more trials for the two to go through in order to show the full bond between mother and son. Ok, basic backstory due to the fact that I don't know how to insert it in the story without making it seem like a therapy session. Well, Francis had a father that was just like this, and he always saw his mother getting beaten on in private. But in public, his father acted like the little angel. Thus, he grew up believing that it was ok to hit women if nobody knew about it. Basic psychology, those who come from abusive families are more likely to become abusers themselves when they grow up.