Hidden Meaning

A Story by Johnny Blade

A story of a man who must go through Anger Management to regain custody of his children.

"I have no choice." the judge said, "I award custody to Mrs Flannegan." "No, please!" Cried out Marcus, weeping for his children. "Mr Flannegan, it is done." Replied the judge, "However, I will rehear your case if you complete Anger Management. Court is adjourned." Marcus was devastated, but vowed to get his children back. Three days later he was in Anger Management for his first session. "Welcome everyone to Anger Management, my name is Jane and I'll be here to help you all learn the root of your anger and help you to overcome it." "Today we have a new member joining us so let's all welcome Marcus." Everyone said "Hi Marcus." and reluctantly he stood up. "My name is Marcus." he mumbled, "I'm here so I can get custody of my kids Sarah and Langston." "Why don't you tell us what brings you here Marcus?" said Jane. "I need to learn to control my anger." Marcus said, feeling a knot in the bottom of his stomach. "Yes, that's why we are here." Jane remarked, "What situation though brings you here Marcus? What happened because of your anger?" Marcus stood there in silence, staring at the floor. His stomach turning knots, his skin crawling, all he wanted to do at that moment was leave but he struggled to keep going, for his children. "Marcus?" Jane said in concern, "We can come back to it later if you'd prefer." "No." uttered Marcus, "No, I need to face it and get past it." "That's very good Marcus, take your time." Jane gently touched his shoulder. "I almost killed a man." Marcus said softly, "I would've killed him if I hadn't been pulled off by other people at the bar." "Hmm, so you were drinking?" Jane asked, "Do you usually lose your temper while drinking?" "I only had two beers." replied Marcus, "I was not drunk." "Then what made you angry?" Jane awaited the answer anxiously, "This is why we're here Marcus." "Something he said to me." Marcus said with eyes closed, "He spoke to me, and I wanted to kill him." "Words made you want to kill a man?" Jane confirmed. "Yes." Marcus said, starting to tear up. "What did he say to you?" Jane further probed. "I don't want to say." he replied while wiping a tear from his eye. "Marcus, I'm here to help you but I can't if you don't talk to me, and honestly if just words made you want to kill someone, I'm sorry but I don't believe it safe for you to be with your children." "Please." Marcus cried, "You don't understand." "Then tell me so I do understand, let me help." Jane sincerely pleaded. "He asked about Sarah, about Langston, he said he was sorry." "Sorry for what Marcus?" "Sorry for what happened to my wife, about Langston." "Your wife? What happened to her and Langston?" "She was...." Marcus started crying heavily, "My wife was raped, Langston isn't my blood." he cried uncontrollably. "Oh..." Jane said in shock, "I'm extremely sorry Marcus, we all are." she placed her hands on his shoulders, "I'm truly sorry, but why did that make you so angry at him saying he was sorry it happened?" Marcus got an angry look on his face, and through all the tears said "Because we never told anyone about it." Jane was truly shocked, she helped Marcus calm down and he continued going to Anger Management for three years, in this time he was awarded custody of Sarah and Langston and was able to reunite with his wife, she was heartbroken when she found out why Marcus had almost killed that man. The man who Marcus almost murdered was arrested on an unrelated case and later found guilty of committing nine rapes and two murders, he was killed in prison during a riot. Marcus did not continue going to Anger Management because he had to, or because of anger, but because of the bond he and Jane had formed. Jane often visits them and is now referred to as "Aunt Jane" by Sarah and Langston.