As told by Tom Collins
(15 NOVEMBER)
"Caw-ins?" I wake up to a small whisper.
Noah?
Right, Roger has a gig.
"Why aren't you asleep, little man?"
He points down the hall to the light coming from Mark's room.
"Go back to bed, I'll take care of Uncle Mark."
He goes back into his room as I approach the light, but something stops me from going farther than just outside the door.
Mark seems lost in his own world. He watches the projector play on the wall, his back facing me. The images are old...the Mark on the wall looks about fourteen maybe fifteen in a suit...blue suit. The only sound in the room is Mark's mumbling.
(narration interrupted by Mark Cohen)
Close on Mark, idiotic, teenage Mark. February 1980. It was the big "Sweetheart" dance. Maureen and mine's first official high school dance we were allowed to attend. Afterwards...I can't believe she convinced me to go to her place...her uncle was never home and her cousin was too busy to do notice us. Once wasn't going to hurt anyone.
Yeah, right.
Zoom on April 30, 1980.
I thought turned it off, but the camera sees all.
I hadn't expected her to come in crying...I thought she was going to break up with me. No such luck...Her cousin, Kyle, had found her in the bathroom throwing up and helped us with everything...not out of the goodness of his heart... he just didn't want Mo spilling the beans on all his trash.
September 7, 1980: For being seven months pregnant you could barely notice...everyone thought she was just stress eating. Better that way anyhow, it took all the suspicion off. Well, I think my mom suspected something, but she never said anything.
November 5, 1980: I remember every moment of that day. Mo called at two in the morning to tell me her water broke. Kyle drove her and gave his insurance. When I finally arrived at six after telling my mom I had some meeting at school. We lied about my age...I doubt they believed me, but the nurse never questioned...maybe she should have,... or not. Finally at five, she arrived at 5 lbs. 3 oz and 18 inches long. I was scared to hold her. I thought I'd get hooked...I did, but I knew I was being stupid thinking I could raise her. She had a head pretty full of hair for a baby and birthmark on her left shoulder...I thought it looked like a crescent moon, Maureen thought it looked like drunken smile.
...Nineteen years ago today and I can still ramble every thought in that went through my head as I signed the papers.
Oh, well, I turn the projector off, a lot of good that does. It all only holds me back, but I need to remember. I just can't move on like Maureen did, well, how it looks like she has.
(back to Collins)
Well, well, well...that explains a lot about you, Mark Cohen.
HEY, EVERYONE! WELL, THAT'S CHAPTER TWO.
First Thanks to:
BwayDiva: Thanks for sticking around, thanks for the heads up. I've already fixed the prologue, but know that while I posted this chapter I did go back and redouble check and will have fixed chapter 1
carsonheir: Thank you so much! On your suggestions, I playing with that idea for Mark, however I have some reservations about that and you'll probably see why in upcoming chapters. As for Benny...we'll see.
Kelby: Thanks goes to you too for sticking around...I wouldn't be too sure if I were you, but hey, your probably rightlet me know if it goes how you're calling it. And I'm trying to not make it a 'hook up' thing. It shall be explained in, I think the next chapter which should be up not too long after this one goes up. AND you're rightdefinitely NOT Mark. EWWW! That thought gave me the creeps.
And I did add a "clue" in the Prologue just for fun.
Thanks for reading this chapter and hope to see you again next time!