A Good Day
'Everyday should be as good as today.'
Ryan paused, that wasn't a thought he had often. Normally Ryan would lie in bed at night hoping to just get through the next day without getting slapped more than once. Even at six he was smart enough to know that getting through a day without physical pain was near impossible. It was his fault anyway. He was the one that was always upsetting mummy and daddy; it wasn't there fault they need to discipline him for being such a naughty little boy.
Today, however, was the first miracle in young Ryan Atwood's life. He had had a good day. He, Trey and Mummy went to the park 10 minutes from their house in Fresno. Going to the park wasn't what made this day special. It was his Mum. She was laughing. Ryan had never seen his mummy laugh. She'd seen her yell, cry, beg. He'd seen her giggle when she'd had too much drink. But he'd never seen her laugh until today. It was such a tiny moment in time. If he had blinked he might have missed his miracle.
He was playing on the swings and Trey was pushing Ryan higher and higher. Ryan didn't like getting pushed to high, but he wasn't going to admit his fear to his older brother. Besides as long as Trey was there he would catch him if he fell. On one push one of the girls from down the street walked by. For a reason Ryan was certain he would never understand, Trey liked to hang out with girls. He kept telling Ryan that one-day he'd be interested in girls, but Ryan refused to believe him. Girls were yucky! The girl from down the street was one of Trey's favourite girls. So as soon as he saw her Trey left Ryan by himself.
That's when Ryan started to get scared. Trey wasn't there to catch him if he fell. He started to panic. He didn't know how to stop himself. He didn't want to fall. If he fell he could break something, and then he'd have to go to the hospital and then his mummy and daddy would get made cause they'd have to pay for it. Then it would be a bad day.
He had to get someone to help him. He looked around for his mummy, while trying to ignore how high he was off the ground. He spotted her on the park bench talking to a man he'd never seen before. That's when he saw it. Her face broke into a smile and she started to laugh. However the second she started an elderly woman walked by, and his mummy stopped. In that instant Ryan wished death on that old woman.
Ryan's fear of heights temporarily forgotten he just watched his mummy with this man. Her face, even though no longer laughing, still held the traces of a smile. She was beautiful.
'Everyday should be as good as today'
As Ryan lay in bed that night he couldn't stop picturing the way his mummy's face had lit up when she smiled.
Ryan fell asleep with a smile on his face for the first time in his life.
He was woken by the creak of his door opening and someone entering his room.
"Daddy?"
"Daddy, is everyfing ok?"
"Do you want somefing daddy?"
David Atwood walked slowly across the tiny room to sit on the bed. Ryan sat up, confused. No one visited him at night that was the arrangement. They could do whatever they wanted to him during the day, but nighttime was his sanctuary.
"Your such a beautiful boy Ry."
Ryan gave a look of disgust. "Ew daddy, boys can't be beautiful, only girls can."
David chuckled "My mistake. You're a very handsome boy then." David moved down the bed so that there was barley any space between Ryan and his daddy.
"Daddy, you're sitting a bit close. What are you doing here, I have school tomorrow and need to sleep?"
"I'm so sorry my boy."
At that moment David's hands started to touch Ryan.
"I'm sorry I'm not strong enough to stop myself."
He pushed Ryan back onto the bed and started to undress.
For the next hour and every Sunday night for three years Ryan held on to the image of his mother's face while she laugh, and tried to forget.
Everyday should be as good as today