TEN
I entered the house - my worrisome home. Mother welcomed me with smiles on her face than I expected. I smiled back but I knew her smiles were that of relief.
She was relieved I had come to join her in pain.
"I'm sorry dear. I should have just told you the truth, we wouldn't-" she apologized, cuddling me.
"It's fine. It was childish of me to leave like that. I shouldn't have done that." I sobbed.
"No dear. I truly understand what you're going through. Just hang in there, a little longer." She kissed my forehead.
I smiled nodding. A mother's love.
"We would definitely fight this,"
Peculiar neither hugged nor welcomed me. Instead he gave me a kind of - welcome - back - misery look.
That didn't hurt me - staying away from him made me strong. I value myself more now.
Looking at him, I observed some differences. The toothless young man I used to know now had a complete set of adult teeth. I almost freaked out. How can a baby possess adult dentition?
I walked straight to my room and banged the door behind me. Inhaling the air, I sighed. I knew I was back.
I knew I could never have happy moments under this roof talk more of a happy ending. I thought being away, far away from home would bring happy moments in my life but I was wrong. Wrong because mother ruined my happiness the very moment she gave me that call.
Was it true that one can never escape his troubles? I had thought I escaped mine a few days ago.
I glanced at Peculiar's cot from the window. "He no longer needs it. Now he walks. And besides he thinks he's an adult already."
'An annoying baby that fucking walks!' I screamed out loud in my heart but I was sure no one heard me. I wept.
This wasn't the life I wanted.
***************
I hissed, I watched mother. She too looked different. Restlessness had drained all the blood in her veins. She had lost weight, lots of it.
I shouldn't have left her to carry the burdens alone. That was harsh.
She looked pale and desolated. I watched her in her gaudy gown. I had forgiven her but it wasn't really easy to let go - to forget my pain.
I just couldn't forget all she did.
Peculiar was drumming. Making a loud disruptive sound. Sounds that made me think of crushing him with my hands. I did give it a second thought.
His blood shouldn't be on my hands. I imagined the kinds of troubles that awaited mother and I. I knew them but wished they wouldn't happen.
We wanted to say things but couldn't. Talking would result in more destruction. I had done it before and didn't like the outcome since it culminated in quarrels.
First day of Walking and so many bad outputs had been recorded.
I had planned to resume work but seeing the condition of my home, I set aside the idea.
Mother no longer sang melodious lullabies like a nightingale for him. That was her way of punishing Peculiar for his troubles but she still cared to brush his teeth and Peculiar wasn't grateful at all. According to mother, a grandchild of hers shouldn't go about with dirty teeth.
There was this one quality Peculiar possessed that marvels me - even with his grumpy attitudes, he still maintained a wonderful hygiene.
Mother was tired, I could sense it. She knew there was this dark spirit in him but feared that I might kill him if she told me. I despised evil things and she thought of poor Peculiar's welfare if I found out. And I never did until...