Chapter 20: Brax's promise to Heath
Brax waited for Heath outside his classroom at the end of the day and smiled when he saw his brother emerge. Brax's smiled faded when he noticed Heath's split lip. Brax put a hand on his chest.
"Mate what happened?" "I got in a fight."
"Heath you know you're not supposed to fight in school."
"I know. I'm sorry. It just happened." Heath replied.
Truth was Heath was feeling unhappy after Casey's birth. Brax sighed.
"What happened?" "What difference does it make?"
Brax stopped Heath from walking and placed his hands on his shoulders.
"Nah, talk to me."
"One of the kids in class made fun of me and I pushed him and as he hit me, I punched him back. I have detention for the whole week and the principle said if it happens again I'll be suspended."
"Geez Heath. You can't keep acting like this." Brax scolded. "I know okay!" Heath snapped.
"Hey don't you yell at me." Brax warned and Heath turned away.
"I just hope they didn't contact Mum and Dad." Brax placed an arm around his brother. "I hope so too mate."
Brax and Heath walked through the door pretending like nothing had happened.
"Hi Mum, hi Dad." Brax greeted. They went to walk away when Danny yelled.
"Heath get in here now!" Heath looked nervously at Brax, not moving.
"If I have to repeat myself boy you're really gonna regret it!" Danny yelled, causing Heath to flinch. Brax patted his brother's back and they walked towards Danny.
"Ah. This doesn't concern you Darryl. This is between Heath and me." Danny added smugly and wrapped his arm around Heath, squeezing his shoulder.
"Go and check on Casey, Darryl." Cheryl ordered.
Brax turned to his brother once more before heading down to Casey's room. Danny led Heath towards the kitchen table.
"Now my troublesome son, care to tell me how you got that split lip?" "I…ah…fell."
Danny glared at Heath in the eyes before he smacked him across the face.
"How dare you lie to me! You've been fighting with another kid!"
Heath held his face as a few tears fell. He tried to back away from Danny but it was no use, his father advanced towards him quickly.
"Your little stunt messed things up big time for me! You know what that means don't ya?"
Danny shoved Heath causing him to stumble into the chairs. "You're a pathetic excuse for a son!"
Brax was in Casey's room, trying to rock him back to sleep. He could hear all the yelling and the crashing of the chairs. Danny slapped Heath across the back of his head and yelled. "This better be a lesson I don't have to repeat, ya hear?" "Yes Dad." Heath mumbled.
"Get out of my sight, you useless boy!"
Heath quickly ran down the hall, passing Brax on the way and ran into his room and slammed the door, lying on his bed. Brax knocked on the door.
"Heath, are you okay?" He asked as he opened the door. Heath lifted his head. Brax saw a bruise forming on his cheek.
"Do I look okay?" He snapped. Brax walked over to the bed.
"I hate it here Brax! Sometimes I just wish Dad would hit me enough so I don't feel anything anymore. Then I wouldn't have to deal with this."
Brax placed a hand on his brother's back. "Heath don't say that. I'd be devastated if something like that happened to you. I promise I will try to make a better life for us."