Chapter 6: The trouble with burns
Brax was six years old and Heath almost 10months old. Brax watched from the kitchen table as his mother took another sip of her alcohol bottle, his father had gone out again, probably to the pub to gamble, and drink with mates like he always did. Brax walked over to his mother. "Mum, are you okay?" He asked quietly. Cheryl glared at him.
"Shut up and get away from me. Go and do the dishes." She groaned. Brax went back out into the lounge room where his baby brother Heath slept. He looked down at him, smiling.
Several hours later Danny burst through the door drunk, he slammed it shut loudly, awakening Heath. Brax looked at Heath then towards his parents, he didn't know what to do, he cautiously walked into the kitchen where his parents were slurring together in irritated tones.
"Mum, Dad, Heath's crying." They both turned to look at him. "He needs to...to be cared for."
"What are you saying I don't look after my kids? How dare you say that to me!" His mother bellowed.
"N...no I...I didn't mean it like that..." Brax stuttered as his father approached him, towering over him.
"You think you can tell us what to do? You haven't even done the dishes like your mother had asked you!" "I... I can't reach the sink..." Brax whispered.
"Don't you back chat me! When you're asked to do something you do it!" Danny hit Brax across the face, causing him to fall to the floor, he saw his father go for him again and he stumbled to his feet and turned to run but was not fast enough, Danny grabbed his arm tightly and dragged him towards the sink turning the boiling water on.
He grabbed Brax's hands and shoved them in, Brax screamed at the hot temperature. Still holding onto Brax, Danny grabbed the wire off the stove top. "And don't forget to clean the stove." He pressed the wire onto Brax's arm and it burned. Brax struggled and screamed the burning felt so painful.
"Dad, Stop!" Brax yelled. "What did I tell ya about back chatting?" After about half a minute Danny threw the wire top near the sink, Brax had an angry red mark on his skin and Brax was now crying heavily. Danny released him and smacked his thigh and proceeded to stand over him.
"Get and clean this mess up." Brax didn't move as he held his stinging arm. "Now!" Danny bellowed. Not wanting to experience any more of his wrath Brax quickly turned to stand on a chair to do the dishes, sniffling and wiping his nose on his arm as he looked at the painful wound searing from his arm.
Danny walked out to Heath who was still crying. "Shut up! Cheryl will you do something with this baby's annoying crying." Brax turned to see his mother groan and get up from the kitchen chair. Brax worried if they would ever hurt his baby brother. Cheryl picked up Heath and held onto him as she sat down on the couch. Heath soon fell asleep again. Cheryl not wanting to get up called for Brax, "Darryl, get out here and put this baby back in his crib!"
Brax exited the kitchen and took his brother in his arms, cradling him gently. From that day he promised himself he would protect his younger brother. Brax placed Heath in his crib. "I'm going to bed now." He told his parents, but all the reply he received was a groan from both.
Brax headed up to his bedroom and quietly huddled in his bed, he wished he could have a normal family, like the ones he saw on TV, with parents that cared and didn't hurt their children. He held onto his sore arm, the intensity had not let up and he had no idea how to treat it and he didn't dare ask his parents, he would just have to suffer in silence. The following morning his arm had blistered and Brax moaned in pain. Brax walked into the kitchen and sat at the table for breakfast and winced.
"What's the matter with you?" Cheryl asked. "Nothing." Brax replied quietly, however Cheryl saw his arm and grabbed it. "Geez Darryl, you didn't even fix yourself up, you better be lucky that don't get infected." Brax looked up with a worried expression.
Seeing Brax's vague expression Cheryl groaned and grabbed a wet towel and pressed it tightly around Brax's arm "Ow." Brax moaned. "Oh shut it, you want this fixed don't ya." Brax nodded "Well keep hold of this then and don't complain." Brax done as he was told and held onto the towel, the dampness gave a refreshing feel to his sore arm. Danny walked into the kitchen and saw his son holding the wet towel. "Ah Darryl, harden up, you'll never be a tough Braxton like that. I ain't having my kids be soft."