Sorry. It wouldn't let me post the map! :-(
Chapter Text
This is where the map comes in handy, so I'll insert it under this. The red pin is my house, the red dot is the house he ended up getting and the yellow line, up where it says Eatwell, that's were he worked.
He had a best friend at work, Mick, and Mick lived out of town. Micks dad lived at the caravan park. He stayed with one of them for a bit before he got the house and I was paranoid and a little annoyed that Lucas got a house literally 3 houses down from me. It was a little easier to get houses back then, especially in rural areas. Nobody felt the need to move and if they did, they'd go closer to the city.
He would drive passed my house up to 5 times a day, which was completely unnecessary. He even admitted to me later on that he would deliberately go passed just to see if he could see me.
At home, there were stupid fights between Leana and Chris still and I was being on edge again.
One time, I cooked tea for everyone and I put all the males food on the kitchen table and brought Leana her food in the loungeroom to her. I said to Chris that the guys could all eat in the kitchen so I could have some time with my mother.
He stood up and stormed out to the kitchen, booting the chest freezer on the way passed and grabbed his food. He opened the back door and threw it all out to the dogs. He did that because I didn't serve him his dinner.
I think this was before I kicked Lucas out because he was there and all he did was laugh.
Chris' abuse of the boys still hadn't stopped now that they were older, in fact he was more blatant about it now and would do it in front of people.
I remember 2 specific instances. For one of these instances, I will only say "my brother" as the thing that happened was pretty bad and I wanted to literally kill Chris for doing it. I'm only mentioning it too, because I actually witnessed it.
The first instance was I was sitting on the couch with Seth and we were looking at my laptop. Chris said something and went to walk out the front, but Seth retorted and Chris came flying back inside and smacked Seth in the head so hard with his hand that I heard the crack. I looked straight at Leana and all she did was turn her head. She was sitting right there and SAW what Chris did, and she STILL did nothing.
I wasn't surprised, but at the same time I think it was that situation that made me start to dislike Leana. She was sitting across the room and a full grown ass adult man full on belted HER 12/13 year old son in the head and she saw it with her own eyes, and nothing. She didn't even acknowledge it.
Another day, Lucas was there and the males were all fucking around chasing each other etc. Chris chased one of my brothers into my room and when I walked into my room to ask why they were in there, I saw Chris using his whole body to pin my brother to the bed. He had my brothers pants down and the deodorant can between his legs.
Lucas was in the doorway behind me, just laughing. I yelled at him and Chris to get out. I forced them out of my room and I let my brother sit there for a little bit. I said to him that he could sit there in peace for a bit if he wanted, though I can't remember exactly the words I said.
I can't even put into words the emotions there was. Anger obviously, but shock as well I think. I didn't want him to leave my room, just so I could look after him. Obviously that isn't a good thought, but I just wanted to keep him safe.
I didn't know what to do, and now looking back I could have done so much. At the time there just wasn't anything I could do at the time. Not with the situation I was in, plus I didn't know where to start. It's not always obvious to call the cops at the time, no matter what anyone tells you.
I said "my brother" simply because that's his thing to share, however I don't know whether he remembers, blocked it out or what. In a way, I hope he doesn't remember it.
There were times where Chris would get drunk and come home, making a mess in the process.
One time, Chris went out and got drunk. I was still an insomniac at this point so it was about 1 or 2am when I heard loud voices outside. I got up and looked. All I saw was Leana standing out there with her arms out so I thought: great, what's happening now.
I got dressed and walked out the front door. I'm surprised nobody even noticed I walked out.
Leana was standing between Chris and a group of teenage boys, roughly 18 or 19 years old. I now realise I was probably the same age as them, but I felt older for some reason.
The first thing that come out of my mouth was: What the fuck is going on here?
Everyone just stopped and looked at me. The group of boys tried to argue, but I didn't let them.
I can't really remember too much of that confrontation if I'm honest. All I remember is somehow ending up out on the service road, basically chasing the guys off.
I remember being out on the road with Chris and one of the guys being literally toe to toe. Chris was about 6ft, and the other guy was taller than that. I'm only 5ft 2 last I was measured. I stood right in that guys face as both of them were trying to best each other in reputation. Chris saying about how he had been to Barwon Prison and the guy saying something to the effect of: Do you know who I am?
As soon as he said that, I said: I don't care who you are. If you touch my step dad, I'll deck you myself.
Obviously at the time the only thing going through my head was what was happening right then.
The next thing I remember after that is one of the guys saying something to me but I honestly didn't even hear it. All I remember is Leana saying: Watch him; then running after the guy, punching him in the stomach then punching him in the head. It was hilarious because she wasn't much taller than me.
Chris went to his 4wd (4 wheel drive) and got his chainsaw out. He tried to start it and obviously I didn't want to get too close in case it started. Leana came over and took it off him.
After that, I remember being on my bed. Chris had thrown up in the toilet and Leana had to clean it then put him to bed.
She came into my room afterwards and said something like: I didn't know you could flip out like that.
I said: I told you I did in school. Because I told her about the times when I flipped out at the bus stop and at school about bullying. She never believed I actually did that. Now she did apparently.
The next day or so, I ended up telling Lucas what happened and he said he heard something but didn't see anything so he didn't look. If you stand on the footpath in front of his house, you could see my house. There is no way he didn't see anything.
Somewhere around then, I had started staying at Lucas' house because of all the bullshit at home. I went into the shower one day, and I just started bleeding. It was so ,much and there were clots as well. I already was prone to heavy periods, but this was heavier and a darker colour, plus more clots than usual.
For the males reading this, periods do have clots at times, because its tissue and cells breaking down to be passed and then regrow etc. for baby making etc.
This was not that. It freaked me out to the point I called/text Leana to come over so I could talk to her about it. I thought I was having miscarriage, but she said: If you had a miscarriage, you'd have to go to the hospital.
I wasn't sure, and even now I believe that's what happened. I pushed it out of my head, but every so often it'll pop up and I'll really think about it, wondering if that's what happened.
If that is what happened, I would have 3 children, instead of just 2.
I'm so glad I'm drinking while I'm writing this, I tell you...
The next thing I remember is it was only me, Leana and Chris at home. I think Jesse was down for a nap because he wasn't up.
Leana and Chris were in the loungeroom. Chris was on the couch with Jesse's "Dunky Monkey" (Soft toy monkey) and Leana was on the chair opposite. I was on the chair in the middle.
They were supposed to be talking about all their shit, and I was there because it was technically my house, so I got a say. I would've made myself have a say anyway if I'm honest. I was sick of their shit.
Leana brought up the fact he threw the meal I made for him out to the dogs just because I didn't serve him his food like a slave. I said: Its hypercritical because he tells the boys off for wasting food. He ignored me until Leana said that I get a say since it's my house.
He said: I don't care if it's her house.
My thought was: You better fucking care, because it's up to me if you even live here.
I can't remember what was said after that, but I think Leana actually said what I was thinking. After that, they argued about something, then Chris got up and walked up to Leana and full threw dunky monkey at her face and walked out into the backroom.
Leana and I looked at each other, then she got up and flew after him. I got up and closed the kitchen door, since there was a door there at that point.
When I looked, she had him bailed up against the back window, right in his face.
Isn't it funny how she got mad about disrespect towards her, but couldn't care less about the disrespect and abuse of her children?
Some time after that, I told Leana that if she doesn't kick him out, I will and I'll throw his stuff out on the front yard. If he doesn't come and get it, I will burn it like a bonfire in the yard.
She thought I was being dramatic, but I wasn't.
He ended up getting a house down the road, towards town. I can't remember what it looked like but I remember the loungeroom had an archway type thing instead of a door.
I was hoping she'd be smart enough to leave him at that point, and I even thought they broke up, but when she left my house, she moved in with him.
I don't remember how long they lived there before they moved to Camperdown, but I remember Seth becoming friends with my distant cousin, and they used to wander around town drinking. They went to Kelly's house once, with some other guys and Seth told me she went into her bedroom with 2 guys while her baby was in the next room. Seth and the cousin bailed after that.
Just for everyone's information, at the time I didn't understand Kelly's actions, but now I do, so writing all this is not in a hateful way. Just factual.
Chris' dad and brother went to visit him from Bannockburn, just out of Geelong. They asked him if he wanted a little kelpy cross foxy named Lucy that they had but Chris said he already had a dog. When they left, they left Lucy in Chris' backyard.
Chris' was going to put her to the pound, so I said I would take her. Not knowing she had already got out and was pregnant.
When Chris moved into another house, he took Jai. Jai was a red Kelpy we had. We had Jai, Smithy and a Labrador named Ziggy.
One night, Jai was hit by a car and killed. We were all really upset, but when stuff like this happens, I become really...not numb, but I make sure everything is done properly like housework or cooking or phone calls.
Leana was still living with me when she got the phone call. She started crying and so did everyone else. I started cleaning the house. I told her cleaned everything she wanted me too, and she said ok. Then said: Where's Dexter? He's my rock.
It shouldn't have bothered me as much as it did. I did everything she wanted me to, and I did everything I could, but still I wasn't the "rock" as she said.
After Leana, Chris and the boys moved, Lucas moved back in with me. I don't remember how that happened or anything.