Karaoke was a fun idea and everyone welcomed it except Jason. He put up a fight but what could he do against the majority?
Bryan, who was particularly missing his mom as he recalled some sad memories of the past, took the stage first. It was memories of his fourteenth birthday. His mom had done a special karaoke song for him. He loved that moment. He could remember the smiles on everyone's faces, he remembered Anna. She was also one of the reasons why he felt lonely. His mom, Anna… all gone from his life.
He chose to sing a love song. As he sang, his voice broke as one name kept flashing in his mind: Anna.
Bryan had a good voice which kept the rest entertained. Regina even joined in with him and they made a perfect fit complementing each other. Bryan didn't mind, he like that she joined him.
After his turn, Bernadette went over to the karaoke machine and selected a song. She picked the mic and started singing along in a slightly tipsy voice. Her voice was hoarse and it even jolted Morgan awake. Unlike Bryan, she chose to sing a sad song.
"You left me alone
Never caring if I made it
Or if I'd fail..."
Her voice followed the rhythm but she occasionally missed some beats. All she had in mind was her father. The man who disliked her to everyone's knowledge, the man who left the hospital after her mother's death during child birth just to go see Tracy. She didn't know what happened back then. All she knew was that from the day her mom died, she also lost her father.
The only comfort she had was Walter, but he had also given his custody over to a stranger; the very reason she was reluctant to leave that house and had to stomach all the abuse.
"My trust is broken,
"My heart is fractured
"Yet you keep smiling on the side-line..."(1)
She had spoken to a few lawyers, she had wanted to file for full custody but realised it was a difficult task. One of the conditions to revoke the custody was if Walter suffered any physical or mental abuse to suggest that Tracy wasn't capable of taking care of him, but the thing is, Tracy really adored and protected Walter!
Another thing was to wait till he was 18, but by that time he would already be an adult, he wouldn't need her protection.
....
After Morgan and Regina finished a duet, Bruce refused to sing. He instead made Jason pick a song. Everyone waited while Jason picked a song. They wanted to listen to what Jason would sing about, and if possible join in with him.
Jason scanned everyone's faces after he selected his song; Bernadette was out cold.
The song played and Jason joined in almost immediately:
"Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are..."
Regina:"-"
Bryan:"-"
Bruce:"-"
Seriously? They waited all this while for a nursery School rhyme?
Bryan face palmed, they had no choice but to listen.
....
After the gathering ended, Jason took Bernadette to his car. She had difficulty walking by herself and he had to support her.
He drove all the way to her house and dropped her off. He wanted to escort her in but she refused, "I can still walk on my own!" She groaned and truly she could walk fairly steady now.
When she opened the door, she met Tracy watching TV. She staggered in and made to pass by her when she was suddenly jerked by the arm. Before she could react, Bernadette felt a searing pain go through her head and her head buzzed. Tracy slapped her again. She was pissed off that she stayed out so late and made Walter worry so much.
Bernadette struggled to get up as she had fallen to a kneeling position.
"What do you think you're doing? You know *belch* I can still beat you..." She wobbled. Now she regretted getting drunk. She couldn't fight back even if she wanted to. And more than the alcohol was the thought of Walter that held her back, she shouldn't fight back.
"You slutty bitch. I saw when he dropped you off!"
"Did my father ask you to transfer his hate to me before he died?" Bernadette asked with a cheeky smile.
"You ungrateful bitch! I could throw you out right now!"
Another slap met her cheek. She fell down and her eyes couldn't focus anymore. The last thing she saw was Walter running up to her and covering her with his body.
"Mom what are you doing? Why did you hit her?!" Walter yelled as he held Bernadette's body preventing Tracy from hitting her again.
"Go back to your room, son!" She said menacingly and left for her room.
Bernadette could still hear voices indistinctly before she blacked out. She was already light headed from the alcohol and the slaps were the last straw.