Father Dear

To my dad.

I hear the front door slam.

His loud footsteps echo off the walls.

Just by the sound of his steps I know he's upset.

I hear him scold my sister loudly.

His voice pounds in my ears.

The volume begins to slowly rise as my little siblings deny him.



I hear my brother begin to cry.

A sound I know all too familiar.

He sniffs his nose loudly and tries to silence his sobs.

I hear him being scolded again.

Much harsher this time.

My brother whimpers in submission.



I hear him continue to yell,

And I wonder where my mother is.

She hasn't come home yet.

I hear my brother sob again.

I feel sorry for him but stay in the other room.

Out of sight, out of mind.



I hear him start on my sister.

It is her turn for punishment.

She is older than my brother but younger than me.

I hear her reply quietly but she doesn't cry anymore.

She is used to his anger.

Where is my mother?



I hear his hateful footsteps coming down the hall.

The hairs on my neck stand.

It is now my turn.

I hear him approach behind me.

When he talks his voice is quieter,

But the tone remains.



I hear the rage deep within him.

I wonder again where my mother is.

Why hasn't she come home to save us?

I hear him return to the living room.

He begins to yell again.

What a surprise.



I hear my sister whine in protest when he turns off the T.V.

He tries to help my brother with his homework.

Which we all know is a mistake.

I hear my brother start to cry again.

When he gets frustrated and yells some more.

Why isn't my mother coming to save us?



Finally, I hear my brother's door slam.

I hear my sister go quiet.

I hear my father enter my brother's room.

I hear more crying and my brother plead.

Then

I hear nothing.

Author's Note

I managed to save a couple of them but yeah...

Reviews

[i.am.the.sun.]

i never had this growing up, and i'm so glad, but it still pains me to know things like this go on happening. while this isn't your best, it's almost a show stopper since it's such a close to home piece - you don't know whether to clap or to think twice about why your eyes are watery and why you've shifted your position so many times. good job, but i'm sorry you have that experience to draw on.

[Ralphy]

Wow, I could almost feel that...the emotions was intense and the writing superb

[Brianna Brie]

Intensely emotional piece of writing. For sure this is a secret, one kept all too often. Thanks so much for sharing it with us as for many can probably relate to some degree or another. Good luck in the Tell Me a Secret contest. Brie

[Laughing Lunatic]

Lots of emotion very sad ending.Vivid and well written.

[poddar kushal]

this is touching. i can almost see the picture you are drawing.

[Marie]

Great job.

[Legion]

So sad. I feel for them. I have something I will send you that is very similiar. It is a song of mine called "The Whip".

[pal]

Father is mind and mother is heart. The combination works perfect n in balance. Children need both.. move from one to another. Seeking and drawing revitalizing selves.

Father too has heart, but his mind acts so stronger.. fail to express.

Very nice poem Caine

pal

[George Love]

I could tell where thsi was going, mostly because of my background as a medic. This is very pointed, leaving just enough to the imagination to keep the reader interested.

[Duane Klinger]

I was able to connect with the writing, having gone through all of this. it was a well written piece from which one is able to gather true, raw emotion. it is things like this, the stuff I've been through, that fuel my writing, the anger the hate. it is my hopes that you have not gone through this, and if you have, know that you are not alone and there are people in the world that can help'
all the best