The Failure of a Father
Ch 15: Lurking Shadows of the Past
Everyone woke up to Monday, which means they need to get their asses back to working and studying every topic in the field of each subject. They woke up, brushed their teeth, went for breakfast, and got ready for school.
"Bye kids, see you at home!" Julius said as he waved his kids and Michael goodbye, before he and his wife head off to work.
The three kids head inside the school hallway, as the sound of kids chattering and playing welcomed them inside.
Things have turned for the better for the Afton family, and they are working altogether to make amends with their lost son and brother. Elizabeth was making Michael a card upon his return, CC was drawing a picture of him and his family together, and the parents, William and Olivia, are deciding to make their eldest child a large mango cake as a gift when he returns.
At school…
CC and Elizabeth were discussing their plans for their older brother's return.
"That's nice." Sammy smiled.
"We'll keep it a secret." Elizabeth said sneakily.
"Hola niños." Ronalda greeted, as she, Lincoln, and Clyde came into the scene. "What are you talking about?"
"We decided to give Michael a present once he goes back home." CC said.
"That's a good thing." Clyde smiled.
"What's your name?" Sammy asked.
Lincoln then puts his hand on Clyde's shoulder. "This is my friend, Clyde, and together, we are…" The two friends performed their fist-bump. "…Clincoln McCloud!"
"You two are like brothers." Michael smiled as he and his friends come into the scene.
"Sure we are." The 11-year-old Loud said as he and his African-American friend put their shoulders on each other's arms. "We took care of my baby sister when Mom and Dad are out shopping or on their anniversary when my other sisters are busy."
"How many sisters does he have again, Michael?" Stephanie asked, looking at Michael.
"Ten." The Afton teenager answered.
"That's a lot…" Robert said, shocked as he put his hands over his head.
"I think someone is busy in the baby factory…" Elijah said, chuckling.
"You are going home eventually, right?" Ronalda asked Michael.
Later, in class…
Everybody was busy burying themselves studying every topic in the field of every single subject, as they listened to their teacher's explanation. They tried to stay awake, and the others fell asleep.
Exasperated, Mrs. White tapped the shoulder of her student. "You don't go to school to sleep, you are here to learn."
The classmate then rubbed the dead skin cells out of his eyes.
The teacher continued with her explanation, until lunch came in the house. The students, happy, then sprinted off to the lunch room. Michael was about to leave the door, when Mrs. White called out to him.
"Michael?" The teacher called out.
"What is it, ma'am?" Michael said as he sat down near his teacher.
"You have been feeling better recently, did something exciting happen?"
"Well…" The boy cleared his throat. "I already forgave my mother a few days ago, the same will go for my father eventually."
"That's nice." The 39-year-old woman smiled. "I'm happy that you finally decided to forgive your mother for what happened recently."
"Is there something else you want to talk about?" The teenager asked.
"No…no, that's all." Janet said. "You can go eat lunch."
Michael walked out of the door, as Mrs. White looked out the window.
During lunch with Michael's friends (plus Roberto and Lori)…
"That's great news, Mike." Elijah said as he smiled while eating.
"Glad that you already forgave your mamá, amigo…" Roberto said, munching on his food.
"The same will go for your father eventually…" Lori smiled.
"Yeah." Michael smiled at Lori.
After lunch, they went back to their normal affairs. They studied and studied, until home-time arrived.
Days later on Saturday…
Michael met with Lynn Sr. and Rita, this time with Lincoln in tow.
"Hey, Mr. and Mrs. Loud." He looked at Lincoln, who was clinging to Lynn Sr. "Like father, like son, eh?"
"He's always like this…" Lynn Sr. said, patting his son's head. "It's cute…"
Lincoln tightened his grip on Lynn Sr.'s waist.
"He's clingy to his parents." Michael replied as he brushed his hand across Lincoln's hair.
"How are things doing between your parents?" Rita asked.
"We're back on good terms." The Afton teenager answered.
"That's nice…" Lincoln said, releasing his grip on Lynn Sr. "I'm glad that you and your biological parents are back on good terms." Smiled he.
"Thanks, Lincoln." Michael said, gratefully.
"I'm glad, son." Lynn Sr. said as he patted Michael's head.
"That's good news, honey…" The Loud matriarch said, smiling.
"Glad that you weren't the emotional wreck you were before." The 11-year-old Loud said.
Later that day…
Michael was at the park with his parents, William and Olivia Afton. The Afton parents were happy to get to spend time with each other after a long time of being isolated from their kin, they went to get ice cream and sat on a bench.
"I'm very happy to spend time with you after a long time, my son." William said, munching on his ice cream.
"Same to you, Father." Michael answered.
"Your siblings have decided to make you a present, honey." Olivia said, she finished her ice cream and went to the bathroom to clean up, the same goes for William.
Michael was left alone, and some kids came up to him.
"Hey, kid." Freddie greeted.
"What is it?"
"You think you can go one against two? I bet not, you're just going to cry and go to your mom." Richard taunted.
"Try me, bitch…" The Afton teenager said, as he cracked his knuckles.
"You think you can fight us?" The adolescent asked, poking at Michael's arms. "With those noodle arms?"
"You think you are to tease my son?" A familiar voice asked Freddie from behind.
"Uh…hey, Mr. A…" The teenager said as he faced Michael's parents.
There is one, single, rule every bully knew, when parents are involved, your ass is grass.
"Isn't that his parents…?" Richard asked, slowly walking away from Michael's parents.
The two bullies seized the opportunity to run for their lives, when Olivia grabbed one of their shirts and pushed him to the ground. William delivers a strong blow to the other kid's nose and genitalia, he then grabs his arm and twists it 90 degrees from its normal twist.
Olivia pulls the other boy's hair, and lands a strong blow to his face and chest.
Once the bullies were injured, Michael told his parents to stop and the bullies finally ran for their lives.
"MOMMY, PLEASE HELP ME!" The other kid said as he ran.
"That kid…is a mama's boy…" The Afton father crossed his arms.
"Are you OK, honey? Did they hurt you?" The Afton mother said, hugging her son tight.
"I'm fine, Mother…" He said, smiling.
"Glad to hear that, son…" The man said, giving his son a head pat.
William and Olivia wrapped Michael in their tight embrace, as he hugged them back.
To be continued in Ch 16…
A/N; Phew, finally finished chapter fifteen. I'm sorry that you have to suffer waiting for it to come out, since it was the
new year. I decided to go hiatus for 10 days, and finally got back to writing, anyways, enjoy.