I was rushing home, I knew I was very late and mom would be having a fit. But the game was too absorbing and exhilarating to leave midway. My pulse still raced with adrenaline, body was hot and sticky from the game the cool evening breeze did little to soothe…I needed a cold shower…yet there was a euphoric lightness in my head which justified the trouble…the sweat…the grime…it was all worth it!
I entered quietly from the back door. I could hear mom in the kitchen and the blaring TV ensured that dad was safely planted in front of it reading the news paper. I thought it quite a waste really, watching and reading the news at the same time, as if he was looking for a disparity, looking for an argument with which he could bore mom. The routine hasn’t changed ever since I can remember him. I reached the staircase and was greeted by Bruno, a giant of a dog, my best friend. I hushed him and we quietly padded up the stairs. And just when I thought I had made it, a sharp call made me stop dead. “And where do you think you’re going young man?” I turned around and saw mom at the foot of the staircase with hands on her hips…looking murderous. “And what’s your excuse this time for coming home at this hour??” she asked. “I…umm…I mean…” darn it! Why cant I lie…it’s so darn easy for other people! “Did you get what I asked you to get??” she questioned knowing the answer too well. I quietly shook my head. She gave me that i-am-very-dissapointed-with-you look. I shriveled under the gaze. “You know your father was looking forward to getting that piece for his collection and you know he asked you specifically to get it? How could you be so irresponsible, your father will be very disappointed.” She sighed. I kicked myself inwardly.
I went up to my room after mom discharged me. The euphoria had all but worn out. The game had sidetracked me from the job at hand. Mom didn’t even ask me to shower despite muck hanging on to every fold of my clothes and skin. I decided I had to get the job done. I could not disappoint dad again. Without changing my clothes I went down the stairs and out the door. The cool breeze had now turned chilly and without the heat of adrenaline pumping through my veins I shivered a little. I made my way along narrow alleys which seemed right out of old Dracula movies but save my mother’s glares nothing has ever scared me...ever. I knew where this particular article was found, not in any shop but in a house in the neighborhood. I went up to the door and knocked lightly. The door was opened by this girl with milk white skin and beautiful golden hair caressing her face and her petite body. I real life Barbie I thought. The street light lent an ugly glow to her beautiful face giving it a ghastly look and she looked at me with big surprised looking eyes. I knew I had a tough job at hand persuading them to part with a prized possession. Polite persuading was the 1st step…so I asked politely… “May I come in?”
I walked through my front doors with a new feeling something more, much more than what I had felt a couple of hours ago. There was a great sense of achievement, a pride which lent a new kind of euphoria. My body was exhausted…it was a long day…but I hardly felt it. I walked in the living room…the TV was still blaring and dad stood before it…transfixed by what happened in the world outside. “I’ve got it dad…I have got it!” I said excitedly. He didn’t respond he never does. Mom came in and looked at me with watery eyes brimming with pride. “My son!” she cried, “Your father is very proud of you whether he says it or not…I know… ” I was happy but I yearned for a word of praise from dad…it wasn’t an easy job. But I’m a grown man I didn’t need gratification from him to know I had done a good job. I smiled. “Where did you keep it?” she asked. “In the garage” I responded. Lets get to work at it right away…dad wants you to work on it on your own. He has faith in you. He is so proud of you!” she beamed. I could sense tears welling up in my eyes. I finally earned his trust…I would do the job so well he would have to be proud of me. I blinked them away. I made my way to the garage.
“…..the police are baffled at this cruel massacre….” The garage was filled of life size dolls…my dad was an expert doll-maker before…they all looked so real…like life size Barbies… “….the couple is brutally murdered while their daughter is still missing, a fifteen year old blond girl with a petite figure….” I had asked them politely for their daughter but they seemed so shocked at the proposal so I had to adopt harsher methods. “…a night dotted with bloody murders when another body or maybe two were found mutilated in an alley way, a calculated cold blooded act…as if someone was playing with their bodies…” If only dad would get up from his couch and see me…I was doing what he loved…albeit differently. But he never gets up from there and speaks only to mom…and mom is standing in the corner watching me…her eyes wet and unfocussed…she was dad for me then… “….the amount unprecedented gore and carnage on both the events seemed to be linking the two apparently unrelated cases. We fear it’s the work of a psychopath at the lack of a likely motive…” …the news still blared from the drawing room TV…but I a hardly heard…a new adrenaline rush had gripped me…as I worked feverishly…I was finally making my father proud…I was making dolls….
I entered quietly from the back door. I could hear mom in the kitchen and the blaring TV ensured that dad was safely planted in front of it reading the news paper. I thought it quite a waste really, watching and reading the news at the same time, as if he was looking for a disparity, looking for an argument with which he could bore mom. The routine hasn’t changed ever since I can remember him. I reached the staircase and was greeted by Bruno, a giant of a dog, my best friend. I hushed him and we quietly padded up the stairs. And just when I thought I had made it, a sharp call made me stop dead. “And where do you think you’re going young man?” I turned around and saw mom at the foot of the staircase with hands on her hips…looking murderous. “And what’s your excuse this time for coming home at this hour??” she asked. “I…umm…I mean…” darn it! Why cant I lie…it’s so darn easy for other people! “Did you get what I asked you to get??” she questioned knowing the answer too well. I quietly shook my head. She gave me that i-am-very-dissapointed-with-you look. I shriveled under the gaze. “You know your father was looking forward to getting that piece for his collection and you know he asked you specifically to get it? How could you be so irresponsible, your father will be very disappointed.” She sighed. I kicked myself inwardly.
I went up to my room after mom discharged me. The euphoria had all but worn out. The game had sidetracked me from the job at hand. Mom didn’t even ask me to shower despite muck hanging on to every fold of my clothes and skin. I decided I had to get the job done. I could not disappoint dad again. Without changing my clothes I went down the stairs and out the door. The cool breeze had now turned chilly and without the heat of adrenaline pumping through my veins I shivered a little. I made my way along narrow alleys which seemed right out of old Dracula movies but save my mother’s glares nothing has ever scared me...ever. I knew where this particular article was found, not in any shop but in a house in the neighborhood. I went up to the door and knocked lightly. The door was opened by this girl with milk white skin and beautiful golden hair caressing her face and her petite body. I real life Barbie I thought. The street light lent an ugly glow to her beautiful face giving it a ghastly look and she looked at me with big surprised looking eyes. I knew I had a tough job at hand persuading them to part with a prized possession. Polite persuading was the 1st step…so I asked politely… “May I come in?”
I walked through my front doors with a new feeling something more, much more than what I had felt a couple of hours ago. There was a great sense of achievement, a pride which lent a new kind of euphoria. My body was exhausted…it was a long day…but I hardly felt it. I walked in the living room…the TV was still blaring and dad stood before it…transfixed by what happened in the world outside. “I’ve got it dad…I have got it!” I said excitedly. He didn’t respond he never does. Mom came in and looked at me with watery eyes brimming with pride. “My son!” she cried, “Your father is very proud of you whether he says it or not…I know… ” I was happy but I yearned for a word of praise from dad…it wasn’t an easy job. But I’m a grown man I didn’t need gratification from him to know I had done a good job. I smiled. “Where did you keep it?” she asked. “In the garage” I responded. Lets get to work at it right away…dad wants you to work on it on your own. He has faith in you. He is so proud of you!” she beamed. I could sense tears welling up in my eyes. I finally earned his trust…I would do the job so well he would have to be proud of me. I blinked them away. I made my way to the garage.
“…..the police are baffled at this cruel massacre….” The garage was filled of life size dolls…my dad was an expert doll-maker before…they all looked so real…like life size Barbies… “….the couple is brutally murdered while their daughter is still missing, a fifteen year old blond girl with a petite figure….” I had asked them politely for their daughter but they seemed so shocked at the proposal so I had to adopt harsher methods. “…a night dotted with bloody murders when another body or maybe two were found mutilated in an alley way, a calculated cold blooded act…as if someone was playing with their bodies…” If only dad would get up from his couch and see me…I was doing what he loved…albeit differently. But he never gets up from there and speaks only to mom…and mom is standing in the corner watching me…her eyes wet and unfocussed…she was dad for me then… “….the amount unprecedented gore and carnage on both the events seemed to be linking the two apparently unrelated cases. We fear it’s the work of a psychopath at the lack of a likely motive…” …the news still blared from the drawing room TV…but I a hardly heard…a new adrenaline rush had gripped me…as I worked feverishly…I was finally making my father proud…I was making dolls….
