The next day my mom had woken me and forced me to prepare to leave the house. Still being drowsy, I hadn't thought much of it and just blindly obeyed my mom. As soon as I had finished dressed, she rushed me out of the house and into the car. It was then that I had fully gotten over my sleepiness. My brain had seemed to now shake of its cobwebs. "Where are we going mom?" I pondered as I was riddled with confusion. She remained silent as she drove off not looking bat once at me. I stared at the rearview mirror and could see that a worrisome expression was all over my mother's face.
After a while of driving my mom parked in the parking lot next to a tall building which my dad was angrily and impatiently waiting in front of. "Mom what's going on?" "I'm sorry I didn't do this earlier Kenny dear but I thought that the man I married was still present somewhere underneath the monster your father had become. Hitting you and then cheating on me was the final straws so from now on you won't have to deal with him anymore don't you worry." She reached back at me and softly patted my head as she smiled at me.
I then came to an abrupt realization. The dream I had last night definitely was foreshadowing my family splitting apart. Unfortunately, my parents were at odds unlike the nice moments of my past. Tears formed as I begged my mom to reconsider the divorce but as much as I pleaded my mom didn't waver. Seeing me cry and ask for her to forgive dad almost brought her to tears but she was strong enough to hold them back. She left the car and headed straight into the building without acknowledging my father. I could sense the tension between them even though I was quite far away from my parents.
I remained in the car waiting anxiously for my mom to return. The door to my right was opened and my mom grabbed my arm and led me inside the building. Inside the building was a man in a long black robe and a tie. "Hello there, Kennedy," he greeted me warmly, "how are you?" "A little bit scared not gonna lie." "Well, there's no reason to be scared because I just need to ask you a few questions. Is that alright with you?" I nodded my head in response and followed him into a secluded room where the only inhabitants were the judge and I.
He stared at me firmly as I secretively shivered in my boots. "I've heard some stories about you and your dad so I'll just be asking some few questions. Are you okay with that?" he wondered as I reluctantly nodded slightly. "How is your basketball practice been doing? I heard from your mom that you've been working really hard." "Yes I have. Basketball camp was fun but extremely exhausting. I'm still recovering from it now sir." I said silently while stuttering occasionally. "I can see your mom I supportive of it but what about your dad?"
Nerves overwhelmed me as I was riddled with fear after the thought of bringing up my dad's recent outbreak had come to mind. "Not really." "How so?" I could hear the curiosity in his voice. "He thinks it's a distraction unfortunately." I responded in a solemn tone. "Do you think it's a distraction?" "Of course not!" I exclaimed sharply. "Why may that be?" "It can get me a scholarship if I work hard enough and I hope to become a basketballer." "Did you let your dad know that?" "I tried to tell him but he won't listen. He'd prefer me be an academic child and study my books hard enough but I can do both." I gradually became comfortable to speak in him and soon you'd believe we were close friends.
"It's been good talking to you Kennedy. Have a nice day." He escorted me outside the room where I encountered both of my parents quarrelling once more. "You didn't hear it from me but you're parents came here to get a divorce and based on what I've seen your mother now has custody of you and you won't be bothered by your, quite frankly, aggressive and impulsive father." Hearing that gave me mixed emotions. I was happy that I didn't have to worry about my dad hindering me and at my throat at both my mother and I but for the longest while I longed to have my father return in my life now I have to lose him once more.
When my mother and I left my father behind and had a serious conversation about my dad. "I'm sorry Kenny dear but I had to leave your father. You know how much I love your father but he has some serious issues he needs to deal with. Until he deals with them I won't be talking to him. You understand right?" "Yeah I understand." I said while holding back my true emotions so I could be strong for my mother. After a long talk the drive back home. Ironically, it felt so empty inside the house despite this is what I desired for.
"If I was a better son he wouldn't have done what he did. If I was smarter he would be on my side. If I was a more obedient son he'd stay home and be on my side more often." Despite it wasn't my fault that my father acted the way he did, I still blamed myself. I rushed to my bedroom and buried my head into the pillow while silently crying so I wouldn't have to bother my mother. My phone rang almost instantly and I refused to answer it because my self-hatred and my sadness had me inhibited as I cried on my soft pillow. It relentlessly rang and eventually when I had calmed down slightly I was able to answer the phone despite my current mood.
"Hello." My current emotions were being displayed by the sound of my voice. For a while the call was silent on both ends. I began to consider hanging up but the instant before my hand had completely touched the screen one of the people on the other end answered with concern. "What happened?" a familiar voice asked but I couldn't distinguish the person because my head was scrambled and my thoughts were all over the place. Without thinking a single repercussion not knowing who the person was I answered, "My parents got divorced and I won't be seeing my father anymore. I broke into tears while the others on the other end remained silent for a great while.