7 : Monday, October 7 th at 6:18pm
APRIL’S POINT OF VIEW
Clearing her throat, she handed me the book. “Read it. Out loud, and don’t stop until I tell you to.”
I took the book in silence, letting my eyes drift to the page she had opened. Only it wasn’t just a book, it was a journal of secrets that I could never forget....
“ Today was Friday. I used to love Fridays. Fridays used to be my favorite day of the week. The best thing about a Friday was that Mommy was home. She didn’t work late on a Friday. She picked me up from school and tucked me in at night. This Friday was supposed to be even better because it was my birthday. Today, I was going to be nine. Mommy said that meant I was a big girl now, but I was already a big girl. Steve said I was all the time. He said that’s why he liked it when Mommy went out because now that I was a big girl he was going to teach me how to become a real woman. Steve’s games were super top secret. We couldn’t tell anybody. I didn’t like Steve’s games though because sometimes they hurt. Sometimes they were short games. Those ones weren’t too bad because then Steve took me for ice cream, and I got to pick a new toy. I didn’t get ice cream or a new toy if it was a long game...I hated those ones.
But I don’t like Fridays anymore, and it’s all Mommy’s fault. She’s not supposed to work on Fridays or on my birthday. She isn’t even supposed to work late at night, but she says we need more money because we don’t have enough. Mommy went to work today. Steve said today’s game would be extra special because it was my birthday, and Mommy would be gone all night. But it was really bad because it hurt a lot, and then Jay Jay came home from his friend’s house early. Jay Jay was really mad with Steve. He was so mad that he took one of Mommy’s cooking knives and cut Steve with it. Jay Jay said I don’t have to play any more of Steve’s games now. He said we get to play a new game instead. When Mommy comes home, we get to pretend that a scary man came in and cut Steve and put him to sleep. I like this game because it doesn’t hurt. I’m really glad that Jay Jay made Steve go to sleep.”
Chapter 8 : Seven Days Earlier
APRIL’S POINT OF VIEW
“Hey, good first day back?” Aiden asked, walking into the living room.
“Noisy,” I chuckled and turned down the volume on the TV.
“So unds fun. I spoke to Leah today,” he started nervously.
“O K.”
“About whether or not she …you know…liked me.”
“Right, and?”
“And she quite politely told me that I wasn’t her type and that I was too old.” I started to laugh immediately.
“That is hilarious. She’s only four years younger, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, she’s twenty -one. She made me feel old .”
“You are, babe. Well, compared to us younger people anyway,” I teased.
“Oh, is that right?”
I nodded my head and tried to suppress my laughter.
“OK , you asked for it,” he said before pinning me down on the couch and tickling me mercilessly. I let out a scream as I tried to fight him off, but of course, he overpowered me easily.
“OK, I take it back,” I said between laughs.
“So easy to find your kryptonite,” he whispered inches from my lips.
“Yeah, I wish I could find yours as easily,” I joked.
“You did. I’m about to kiss it,” he said before his lips met mine. “Right, let’s get take-out and watch movies all night,” he said, jumping up.
“Trying to live out your teenage fantasies?” I teased.
“Yes, I miss those days. We spent more time together then,” he smiled.
“I know, what about starting a date night?”
“Like every week?” he questioned.
“Yeah, we could go see a movie or some thing, but it’ll be our night. Nobody else, just us. What do you think?” I asked.
“I like the sound of that.” He smiled down at me. “ Let’s start tonight, Chinese takeout?”
“Yeah, sounds good to me.”
* *
APRIL’S POINT OF VIEW
Clearing her throat, she handed me the book. “Read it. Out loud, and don’t stop until I tell you to.”
I took the book in silence, letting my eyes drift to the page she had opened. Only it wasn’t just a book, it was a journal of secrets that I could never forget....
“ Today was Friday. I used to love Fridays. Fridays used to be my favorite day of the week. The best thing about a Friday was that Mommy was home. She didn’t work late on a Friday. She picked me up from school and tucked me in at night. This Friday was supposed to be even better because it was my birthday. Today, I was going to be nine. Mommy said that meant I was a big girl now, but I was already a big girl. Steve said I was all the time. He said that’s why he liked it when Mommy went out because now that I was a big girl he was going to teach me how to become a real woman. Steve’s games were super top secret. We couldn’t tell anybody. I didn’t like Steve’s games though because sometimes they hurt. Sometimes they were short games. Those ones weren’t too bad because then Steve took me for ice cream, and I got to pick a new toy. I didn’t get ice cream or a new toy if it was a long game...I hated those ones.
But I don’t like Fridays anymore, and it’s all Mommy’s fault. She’s not supposed to work on Fridays or on my birthday. She isn’t even supposed to work late at night, but she says we need more money because we don’t have enough. Mommy went to work today. Steve said today’s game would be extra special because it was my birthday, and Mommy would be gone all night. But it was really bad because it hurt a lot, and then Jay Jay came home from his friend’s house early. Jay Jay was really mad with Steve. He was so mad that he took one of Mommy’s cooking knives and cut Steve with it. Jay Jay said I don’t have to play any more of Steve’s games now. He said we get to play a new game instead. When Mommy comes home, we get to pretend that a scary man came in and cut Steve and put him to sleep. I like this game because it doesn’t hurt. I’m really glad that Jay Jay made Steve go to sleep.”
Chapter 8 : Seven Days Earlier
APRIL’S POINT OF VIEW
“Hey, good first day back?” Aiden asked, walking into the living room.
“Noisy,” I chuckled and turned down the volume on the TV.
“So unds fun. I spoke to Leah today,” he started nervously.
“O K.”
“About whether or not she …you know…liked me.”
“Right, and?”
“And she quite politely told me that I wasn’t her type and that I was too old.” I started to laugh immediately.
“That is hilarious. She’s only four years younger, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, she’s twenty -one. She made me feel old .”
“You are, babe. Well, compared to us younger people anyway,” I teased.
“Oh, is that right?”
I nodded my head and tried to suppress my laughter.
“OK , you asked for it,” he said before pinning me down on the couch and tickling me mercilessly. I let out a scream as I tried to fight him off, but of course, he overpowered me easily.
“OK, I take it back,” I said between laughs.
“So easy to find your kryptonite,” he whispered inches from my lips.
“Yeah, I wish I could find yours as easily,” I joked.
“You did. I’m about to kiss it,” he said before his lips met mine. “Right, let’s get take-out and watch movies all night,” he said, jumping up.
“Trying to live out your teenage fantasies?” I teased.
“Yes, I miss those days. We spent more time together then,” he smiled.
“I know, what about starting a date night?”
“Like every week?” he questioned.
“Yeah, we could go see a movie or some thing, but it’ll be our night. Nobody else, just us. What do you think?” I asked.
“I like the sound of that.” He smiled down at me. “ Let’s start tonight, Chinese takeout?”
“Yeah, sounds good to me.”
* *
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