Enough is enough

The door slams, his vocie booms.

He's home.

What will it be this time?

Money, me, mom, chores, or the other kids.

Chores!

Dishes not complete.

He yells, he screams.

He says we will not eat.

Go to bed, go to bed.

You're sleeping on the floor

no blankets or pillows

or you'll be out the door.

I say make me, with out food I will not go.

You have the count of three

One... two...

I do not move

A pencile

A kick

Then the water, warm and wet.

I yell Stop! then the punch

1...2...3...4...5...6....

I am wet and I'm sure his head hurts.

MOM!

She can't help you.

Fed up through the years and the tears.

No, but a phone call

911

He's drunk, I'm wet

Can you send someone?

I'm shaking, mom's crying

Minutes pass, seconds tick

Lights flash

A knock at the door

I tell my story of what happened before.

Question after question

Hour after hour

A card passed

Good byes said

He disappears from sight

No contact since Wednsday night.

School as normal

Can't think, don't want to

All I want is sleep.

Social worker come

I tell my story again.

Put him in counseling so we san go back to normal.

Normal

No

Never again.

He's lost his power

Fear!

Attorney's called

Court on the 4th.

Will things be normal then?

No.

Fear, no longer his power.

Now

Money!

Mom needs his money if we are to keep are house.

This where his new power lies.

He will not provide as long as I reside.

seven monthes over many unhappy years.

My obligation, so my family can survive.

A new house and new rules.

Thanks to me they will not suffer.

For them I give

He has his power.

Court day

ruling is, he can come back

Only he is back

I'm gone.

To Bay Shore

To live with my grandparents.

To be normal no more

No, never again.

Enough was enough.

But was it worth it.