When Charlie was with his sisters on their way to New Jersey he couldn't contain his anger. Tears streamed silently down his face as the car rattled along the way.
She parked the car on the narrow street. The red brick house and the short black iron gate were simple and looked small, in a way, twinned with the neighboring house. A small step leads to the main entrance door. Then her grandmother appeared, with a concerned look, going straight to her mother and hugging her.
Then his mother opened the door asking Charlie and his sisters to go out and take the luggage. The house was a little dark but very cozy, different from theirs. The floor was wooden and at the entrance, there was a staircase that led to the second floor of the house. Next to it was the kitchen, all wooden, small, with a round table with four chairs. The room had a fireplace, with some pictures and decorations. There was a leather sofa covered with a blanket, an armchair, the TV, and a chandelier that Charlie thought was "old people's stuff". White curtains covered the window.
- Kids, I have to go now but I'll call you, okay? - She hugged Allie and then Julie ran to hug her too. Then, after saying goodbye to the girls, she addressed Charlie, who was looking at her angrily.
- Charles ... - she tried to touch his face, but he took his hand away, silently - I know you don't understand now ... - She started crying again and he lowered his head, crying. She tried to hug him.
- Do not touch me! - He pushed her - I hate you! - Charlie said going up the stairs, without looking back. He went to the bathroom and locked the door, sat on the checkered floor, hugged his legs, and cried. His heart was broken.
And then, ten years later, he was there, in the same bathroom, leaning against the sink and shaving.
- Julie! If you want a ride, stop playing and get out! I'll be out in a minute! he said to his younger sister.
- Alright Charlie! - Julie shouted from her room. He would leave her at work and go to work too. Charlie works part-time in sales and at night goes after his second job: Bartender, at the Selene bar.
He left the bathroom with his hair still wet, wearing a black T-shirt from his favorite band: 1975, pants in the same color torn at the knees, and vans shoes with plaid details. He and Julie almost met in the narrow hall, but Charlie gave way to "Hurricane Jules" and moved out of her way so she could go down the stairs- Grandma, we're going! - He went to the kitchen, where his grandmother watched the news.
"Have a nice day my sweet boy" she said, being hugged by him, and then, kissing his forehead.
- Tomorrow is my day off at the Bar so I think we can watch a movie together - he suggested to the tiny wrinkled woman who looked after him adorable at the time - What do you think?
- Charlie ... I end up falling asleep all the time! And you always scolded me for it! And I'm even going deaf - she joked.
- Movie night tomorrow and don't sleep! - He ran out the door, and soon his grandmother heard the car engine starting and he left for a day's work. She loved her granddaughters but Charlie was special. It was her heart out of her chest, and she always treated him with a lot of love and patience, until he finally gave in and was sweet to her.
Charlie was serving his customers, as usual, that night, talking little to them, but whenever he saw a pretty girl, he slipped a drink "on the house". Always with strawberries, after all, girls love strawberries, right? He knew he was a guy who called attention, after all, he was constantly reminded of that. In his spare time, Charlie liked to get together with friends and rehearse because they had a band since high school. The period when he moved to New Jersey with the sisters was, though difficult due to abandonment, a positive change, so positive that Charlie never thought of leaving the city, at least not anytime soon. Finally, he felt "at home" as he hadn't felt in a long time. He remembered his teenage years when he and his friends Tom and Billy
had fun in the city. They climbed water tanks, drank hidden beer, entered abandoned houses, and wandered the city. Those were good times!
He felt the phone vibrate in his pocket and went out to answer the call, going to the farthest corner of the bar. He put a finger to his ear, covering it to hear better. It was Julie and she was crying.
- Charlie! A terrible thing has happened! - she sobbed on the other end of the line - It's Grandma!
Charlie felt a shiver down his spine at that moment and held his breath and his heart was racing. This was not happening - he thought, fear was taking over his mind and a terrible feeling came over him.