So here I was, sitting alone on a Friday night, watching TV and wondering why I heard nothing. Not dad stumbling into something. Not Andrea and her quiet walk padding up behind me. Nothing. It was creepy, almost eerie.
You know how you get used to bad so much that you don’t even think about it anymore? That was dad’s decline. I kept hoping he would see what a shambles he was making of his life and have some remorse, but he never did. Failing that, I kept praying that he’d die in his sleep and my poor stepmom and sister would get some peace, but it never seemed to happen. Finally, one day, it all seemed to change in an instant, and though it was weird and traumatic in the moment, it was a defining moment that bore some of the best things my life has ever produced.
It came at first as a picture on my cell phone from dad. A picture of him and some drunk skank he occasionally hung around with and was fairly sure was banging, named Donna.
“Heading to Vegas Bro! Gonna marry this girl! I’ll let you know when I get there.”
I flipped out. I quickly dialed him. He answered on the third ring.
“What the hell do you want kid?” he slurred badly.
“Dad, what the fuck?! What’s with the pic?”
“Ah fuck. That wasn’t for you.”
“What the hell is going on?!” I nearly screamed.
“I’m leaving. I left a note in my room. I’m taking off. Can’t take her shit anymore. Sorry kid, but you’ll be fine. You’re grown up, you should get outta the house anyway,” he replied.
“So you’re just leaving? And what about that Donna girl? You’re already married!”
“Not for long! Read the note, I don’t have time to talk, kid.”
“You’re gonna regret this if you ever sober the fuck up, you fucker! How fucking dare you do this to her and to Chloe!”
“Hey, don’t lecture me you little fucking shit, you don’t know anything yet!” he shot back. By the sound of him, he was way gone. I wondered if he’d even remember this conversation. “It ain’t about nothing except her being a cunt.” I winced a bit, and I think he heard me gasp a bit. “Yeah, cunt. She’s a fucking cunt. The only thing that’s good on her, too. So I left. And she’s up there in the fucking bedroom all bound up waiting for daddy to come in and give it to her good. But joke’s on her, cuz I’m halfway to Vegas right now and I ain’t coming back!”
“That’s fucking horrible. Thanks for leaving me a giant mess to clean up again, you stupid drunk bastard!” I was losing it. My vision was tunneling down and I realized that if he were in front of me at the moment, I’d probably have beat him within an inch of his life.
“Hey, you only care because you’re in love with her, you miserable pussy. So since you’re so in love, why don’t you go up and fuck her yourself!”
“What?!!!! What the fuck is wrong with you?” I shot back.
“Yeah, fuck her yourself, get that oedipus shit outta your system, and take my cunt wife off my hands! I don’t have time for this shit, read the fucking note and don’t call me again. I’m changing this number the first chance I get anyway. Have a good life kid.” And with that, the call went dead.