Chapter 37: The runaway
Kyle was at home celebrating his tenth birthday with his mother. "Mum? Is Dad coming over today for my birthday?"
"I'm sorry baby but you know your father is busy."
"He's always busy! It's not fair!"
"I know baby but just try and have a good day."
Kyle shrugged and went back to playing with his toy spaceship. Later in the day Kyle decided if his father wasn't going to come and see him then he would go to his father. Kyle packed his bag and jumped out of his bedroom window. Kyle had no idea where Danny lived he just hoped he would find him somehow.
Casey and Heath were in the living room playing a board game, Brax was at work, and Danny was in the bedroom. Danny's phone buzzed on the coffee table. Heath tried to ignore the ringing but it wouldn't stop.
"I'll be back." He told Casey and picked up the phone and cautiously walked down to his parent's room. Heath stood in the doorway.
"What do you want?" Danny demanded.
"Uh...your phone is ringing Dad."
Heath held out the phone and Danny walked over and snatched the phone.
"Go on, get out of here."
Danny made sure Heath was out of sight before he answered. "I thought I told you never to ring me when I'm at home?"
"It's about your other son. The one you never come to visit." Alison replied.
"Yeah well I've been busy. What's the problem?"
"He's runaway and I think he's coming to find you."
"What? That can't happen! He can't find out about me other boys!" Danny snapped.
"I know that Danny!"
"You didn't tell him where I lived did ya?"
"No Danny I didn't! Is that all you care about? He's your ten year old son and he could be out on the streets somewhere!"
"Yeah alright, I bloody care. I'll go see if I can find him."
Danny grunted and hung up the phone, storming out into the living room. "Boys, I'm going out. Be'ave yourselves. Heath keep an eye on your brother." Heath nodded.
"Where are you going Daddy?" Casey asked quietly.
Danny just glared at his boys. "Just keep quiet and behave! I don't want any trouble from either of you when I'm gone otherwise you know what you'll get when I get back." He warned and slammed the door.
Heath pinched Casey. "Oww." "You don't ask Dad anything about where he goes, ever!" Heath snapped. Casey slumped down and pouted. "Come on, let's just finish our game."
Danny searched high and low over the streets of the town outside of Mangrove River until he saw Kyle sitting at the bus station.
Danny pulled up in front of Kyle and wound down the window. "Get in!" He ordered.
Kyle recognized the person in the car as his father and a smile beamed across his face and he got into the car. Danny glared at him and pulled him roughly into the seat.
"Dad! I'm so glad you came! I ran away from home to try and find you, but instead you came for me." Kyle smiled up at his father.
"Get your seatbelt on. I'm taking you home!"
"What? But Dad! I don't want to go home! I want to be with you!" Kyle protested.
"It ain't up for discussion!" Danny snapped as he gripped the steering wheel.
"But Dad I left so I could come live with you." Kyle pleaded.
Danny scoffed. "No way. You ain't ever living with me, ya going back to ya mother and that's final."
"Dad I hate living with Mum! She yells at me all the time, but you...I love you Dad and I wanna stay with you, no matter what. That's why I hoped that when I ran away you would notice me and give me a chance to live with you."
Kyle grabbed onto Danny's arm, only for Danny to pull him off. Danny could not handle someone actually loving him for real, his son's weren't supposed to do that, they were there for his benefit of bragging and for someone for him to control.
"Are you telling me boy that you did all this for attention?" Danny growled.
"Um...No, unless you want to think that...You did come for me." Kyle spoke cautiously.
Danny glared at Kyle. "Ya mother's worried about ya."
Kyle slumped, he had gone to all this trouble to get his father's attention and he just shut him off, he wasn't listening. So Kyle thought he'd try one more time to plead with his father to let him live with him.
"Dad, please. Mum doesn't care about me. I'll do anything, just please let me live with you!" This time Kyle shook his father's arm in desperation.
Danny shoved Kyle off him and held him against his seat. "Quite ya whining Kyle! I don't want ya living with me so shut ya bloody mouth until I get you home!" Danny snapped.
Kyle sat back in his seat shocked at his father's reaction. Tears welled in his eyes as he stared up at his father, the man he adored. Why can I never be good enough? Kyle thought.
Danny pulled up outside the Bennett house and Kyle turned to his father. "Dad?"
"Out of the car now Kyle." Danny ordered.
Kyle got out of the car and as soon as Alison saw him she rushed to hug her son.
"Thank goodness you're okay. Don't you ever run off like that again young man. You go to your room right now. You are grounded for two weeks."
"Mum!" Kyle protested. "Kyle do as you are told." Alison warned.
Kyle continued to stare at his father hoping he would change his mind and drag him away from the place he hated, but Danny didn't move, just stared blankly. "Now if you don't mind I've got somewhere to get back to."
Alison nodded. "Thank you for finding our son."
Danny just shrugged and turned to leave, not even bothering to say goodbye to Kyle. Alison saw Kyle still standing in the doorway but neglected to see the hurt written all over his face.
"Upstairs now young man!" She yelled. Kyle huffed and run up to his room angry and confused. He lay on his bed wondering what was wrong with him as a few tears fell from his eyes.