AUTHORS NOTE:
Contains some harshness towards Casey. Also I hope you all can figure out the attempted baby words of Casey's language in the coming chapters. :)
Chapter 25: Casey's first experience with Danny
Brax and Heath were at school while three year old Casey stayed at home with Cheryl and Danny. Casey sat in the kitchen wearing a shirt and nappy and had just finished drawing a picture. Casey smiled and picked up the picture, waddling into the living room to where his parents sat. Danny and Cheryl were watching the TV and were clearly hung over.
"Mummy, Daddy, loot what I draws." He waved the picture at them.
"Arg! Can't you see we're watching TV?" Danny groaned.
"But Daddy, I mades this." He waved the picture again, happily.
"Get out of the way brat and stop bothering us!" Danny yelled.
Casey became upset by his father's yelling and stumbled back, knocking the cupboard. Casey bumped into the cupboard with such force it caused a small ceramic elephant to topple to the floor with a loud smash. Casey gasped at the noise and whimpered in shock while Danny and Cheryl glared at him.
"You stupid boy! That was important to me!" Cheryl exclaimed. "Mummy I..."
Danny got up and stormed over to Casey. "Now see what you've done!" He snatched the picture from Casey's hands. "All because you couldn't wait to show your stupid picture and do as you're told!"
Danny waved the picture in Casey's face before he tore it up and tossed it on the floor. "You're a bad boy Casey!" Danny bellowed.
By now Casey's eyes started to water. Danny reached for Casey and whacked him on his thigh. Casey screamed at the stinging pain to his leg and cried loudly. "Get out of here you brat before you cause more trouble!" Danny shoved Casey to the floor.
The young boy stumbled to get up, frightened. Casey picked up his picture pieces and wobbled back into the kitchen where he collapsed into a sitting position and fiddled with the torn pieces and continued to cry.
Brax and Heath entered the house. Brax was again lecturing Heath about school. "Just because you don't like school, doesn't mean you slack off in class. You understand? I want your homework finished before dinner."
"Arg, alright Mr. Bossy." Heath groaned.
They walked into the kitchen and were interrupted when they saw a screaming Casey on the floor. Brax dropped his bag and raced over to Casey. "Casey what's wrong?"
Heath scoffed. "Did you lose your temper with your picture squirt?" Heath laughed as Casey continued to cry.
"Heath!" Brax scolded. "Just get and do your homework. I'll be checking on you."
"Arg, fine!" Heath stormed out and went to his bedroom to start his homework.
Brax turned his attention back to his crying baby brother. "What happened Casey?"
Casey ignored him so Brax placed his hands on Casey's arms. "Casey?" Brax spoke quietly.
"You be's mad at me." He whispered.
"No Case, I won't. Just tell me what upset you." Casey shook his head again and sobbed harder. "I's sowry Bax. I's been very bad."
Brax went to pick up Casey when he noticed a red mark on his thigh. "Casey what happened here?" He gasped. Casey sobbed.
"Tell me Case, you're not in any trouble and I'm not mad at you okay. I promise." Casey looked up at his big brother with watery eyes.
" Da...Daddy."
"Did Dad hit you?" Brax asked quickly, only to receive another wail from Casey and a nod. Brax picked up his brother and sat at the kitchen table and placed Casey on his lap.
"I's very, very bad. Daddy says." Casey whispered. "What did you do?" Casey looked away.
"It's alright." Brax encouraged.
"I's wanted to show Mummy and Daddy my picture I's draw."
Brax glanced at the torn pieces on the floor, "and...And I's broke Mummy's eleph…el..."
Brax noticed Casey struggled to get the word out but understood what he meant. "Elephant?" Casey nodded and his eyes welled again.
Brax knew that Cheryl valued that ornament. "Then Dad hit you?" Brax asked. Casey nodded and leaned into Brax's chest.
"Sshh, it's okay, I'm here now you're safe." Casey clung to Brax. "I's sowry Bax."
"Hey, it's not your fault." Brax embraced him, holding him in a warm hug.
After several moments Brax spoke. "Hey would you like me to help you draw another picture?" Casey looked up at Brax and gave a smile.
Brax pulled a piece of paper over and Casey's coloring pencils. Brax started drawing, followed by Casey.
"Loot Bax. Dats you and dats Heaf and me." Brax smiled. "That's great Casey."
"What you draw?" He asked Brax. "I'm drawing a tickle monster to come after you." Brax tickled Casey, causing a fit of giggles.
"Bax!" Casey squealed. Brax bounced him on his lap and laughed, as he watched Casey finish his picture.