Chapter 5
He slowly got up off the steps, it was no good just sitting here. Mom or Mr Sir might catch him whilst they are on their night patrol. He trudged back into the tent and lay back down on his cot.
Four thirty a.m. came far too slowly for him. He hadn't slept a wink all night.
He got changed and headed out to get his shovel from the 'library,' The other guys in D tent seemed to have got over the shock of finding out that one of their fellow D tenters is a dad. "You have a lot of guts telling us that," X ray kept saying.
"Yeah, I imagine it would be hard for you. If it was me I wouldn't be able to tell anyone, I think it would be the worse to have to tell my mom," Caveman said.
Squid ignored their comments. He was too wrapped up in his own thoughts, plus he hated it when Caveman talked about his mom. It was alright for Caveman, he had a mom who cared for him and loved him. Squid's mom never cared for him, Squid had to take care of himself ever since a very young age.
Squid always used to think his mom didn't love him… but maybe she did, deep down. Squid had always thought he hated his mom, but he did love her, really. Even though she had put him
through so much pain and suffering.
He thought back to when he had told his mom about Yasmin and her being pregnant…
Flashback
Squid desperately didn't want to tell his mom about Yasmin and their unborn child, but he knew he would have to, sooner or later. Especially since he'd soon be moving out. He and Yasmin were finally getting enough money to rent a small, cheap flat.
Getting this money did involve stealing money from some houses in his neighbourhood, but they really need it because Yasmin had been kicked out of her house by her parents when she told them about her being pregnant.
There was his mom, she was lying on the faded couch. It was now or never, she didn't seem all too drunk, perhaps she was sobering up.
"I have something I have to tell you," Squid said, taking a deep breath.
His mom just mumbled a reply.
Squid had no idea how to say this… "See, the thing is, I have a girlfriend, called Yasmin, and I got her pregnant, I didn't mean too, it was just that it was our first time and we didn't think about precautions and all that. But she is going ahead and having the baby and I support her decision. I am going to be the best dad ever for this child.
We have saved up money and Yasmin has got a job and we are going to rent out a flat, because Yasmin has got kicked out of her house by her parents. I don't blame you if you want to kick me out too. I am really serious about this and I love Yasmin with all my heart and I love the child we are going to have together with all my heart too," the words just streamed out Squid's mouth.
His mom sat up, her eyes were blazing.
"YOU GOT SOME FUCKING SLUT PREGNANT!" she screeched.
So much for not that drunk.
"SHE IS NOT A SLUT!" Squid found himself yelling back, "I LOVE HER!"
"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS," his mom screamed, she chucked an empty liquor bottle at the wall behind Squid. It smashed and shards of glass flew everywhere.
One lodged itself in Squid's flesh. Squid clutched his shoulder were the jagged glass shard stuck out , blood dripped on his fingers.
He blinked back tears.
His mom came tearing forwards, she grabbed his hair and held onto it tight.
Squid felt as though his scalp was going to be pulled off, his head was burning with pain.
Squid could of easily fought back, he could of easily thrown her off. But he didn't want to hurt her. That's one thing he would never do, hit his own flesh and blood. He would never hit a girl either. He didn't know what evil in his mom forced her to hurt him so much, was it just her alcohol fuelled brain, or did she really hate him. It hadn't always been like this, Squid remembered a time when they had been a happy family.
Him, his mum and dad.
But things change.
His mom tugged him along by the hair, Squid yelled out in pain for her to stop. But that only made her pull more. She opened the front door and pushed him out. He landed hard on the gravelled ground, he scraped all down his shin.
"GET OUT AND DON'T EVER SOME BACK YOU FILTHY PIECE OF SCUM, I NEVER WANTED YOU, YOU HAVE RUINED MY LIFE," she yelled, she spat on him before turning round and going back inside, slamming the door behind her.
Squid unsteadily got to his feet. Cold tears were streaming down his face. He stumbled down the street. His shoulder was throbbing so bad. He tugged the shard of glass out of his shoulder and blood poured out.
He needed Yasmin… He made a promise to himself then, he would never hurt Yasmin or his child. He knew his mom was stuck in a similar situation as him. She gave birth to him when she was Squid's age. Squid knew he would never leave his child and Yasmin, like his dad left him. Even if it got too much, he'd always stand by her…
End of Flashback
Squid couldn't help but feel quite impressed with his hole so far. He had dug quite a lot whilst thinking about his old memories, almost as much as Zero. He didn't really like thinking about his Mom. He lifted the arm of his t-shirt up so he could see the faint scar that was a result from the shard of glass which got stuck in his shoulder. This was one of many scars that was from his Mom. He had emotional scars as well.
It made him too sad to think about his Mom, he didn't want to think about her anymore. He tried his best to block her out, normally. Act like she doesn't exist. Instead he though about Alex…
Flashback
He held the small baby in his arms, trying to settle the little baby boy's small sobs and send him back to sleep.
The only light in the room came from the silver moon whose sparkly rays shone through a crack in the curtains.
Squid looked down at the innocent child. This seemed like all a dream to him, it was too surreal. Here, lying in his arms, was his son. He is part of him.
He looked like him as well. From the mop of wavy brown hair to the chocolate- coloured eyes.
Alex's eyes began to droop, his sobs died out, soon replaced by light- breathing.
Squid lay him down in his tiny crib and kissed his forehead.
"Night," he whispered, pulling the blanket round the small baby, "See you in the morning," As he quietly tip- toed out the room he felt overwhelmed with emotion. He wished this moment would never end…
End of Flashback.
As Squid shovelled up more and more dirt he wondered what Alex was doing now. Judging from Yasmin's letters he was beginning to talk. He had said, "Dad," as his first word. Squid felt so proud but he was so sad that he missed it. He was missing his son growing up, he'd always promised Yasmin he'd be there for her and Alex, but he wasn't…
Flashback
The only way Squid could earn enough cash to get food to put on the table and to pay rent for the flat was to steal. He actually felt quite guilty about stealing from neighbourhood houses so he'd only steal loose change. Only enough for what he needed it for.
Squid had heard from some people that the house at the end of the street was empty because the family who lived there were on vacation. He desperately needed money to pay the rent this month because Yasmin had, had a lot of time off her job as she had tonsillitis, and she doesn't get paid when she's off sick. He decided to take some cash from the house whose family were away, it was the safest option, he had almost been caught plenty of times before.
Inspecting the house carefully he noticed that they had left the bathroom window open. It was just enough room for him to squeeze through.
Inside the dark, unfamiliar, quiet house Squid felt a rush of nerves and adrenalin. He crept across the creaky floorboards. He brushed against the wall as he left the bathroom and accidentally pushed down the light switch.
Light flooded the room.
Squid had to stop himself from yelping out, he hastily switched it off. Neighbours would notice if a light turns on yet no one is at home. He crept throughout the house, as quiet as a mouse, if mice were quiet. Searching for any money or anything that could be of value.
He was in the kitchen, searching through cupboards when he heard a voice, "So here's the thief whose been stealing from this neighbourhood's house, we've been looking for you for months, sonnie…" Squid gasped and knocked a glass off the shelf as he turned round. It smashed on the tiled floor In front of him stood two police officers who looked very pleased with themselves…
End of Flashback