THE COMEBACK OF ALARICK

t.

with his arms crossed around his body as he faced off

epeated, as he had been doing in the past five days since his father had infor

iends here to go make friends with sheep on his uncle's ranch? Who still does ranching as a full-time occupation anyway? Stupid ranch! Stupid cows! Stupid Unc... No, h

had been sick for a long time before his father told him one day wh

thout going out while her body was racked with coughs and the doctor was always coming and going till people could almost believe that the man lived in their house. Maman

en we can go see her later before the burial," his Parpa had replied in hi

t housekeeper, cook, and caregiver, called him, did he answer. He slammed the door of his mother's room and went back to lock it from the inside before curling on the spot where his mother had lain for months. He folded his body tightly as he curled up on the bed. He hated his father at that moment for the fact that he couldn't even feel the heat of his mot

dare

he knock on the door, even after hearing the

up and open the door. The undertaker jus

it open, and with a sulky loo

lishment of the undertaker. Nor did he let go of his anger until they were shown

her laid a hand on his shoulder. Jo

before to see on his father's face. His eyes were red-rimmed like he had been cryin

his shoulder before telling him to go

d been in the past few months that he had watched her deteriorate from t

kay now? Maman, are your lungs no longer bad?" Jordan felt his father

her called, and

handkerchief or another as she placed the material against her mouth whenever she was coughing. The hand lay p

ls all that pain. Where she would..." he cleared his throat. "Where she could smile again and look down at you in happi

the tears that fell from his father's eyes before the man quickly s

r me to be happy? For us to be happ

y," he said as he hugg

ad made for him. He cried when his father finally realized that he had hurt his toes when Molly said she found trails of blood w

ressed, and he woke up to see the stocky man t

said as he sat up and rubb

To think my nephew does not know me," he said as he stood up, his frame blocking the ray of light that shone into the r

ace. Not much, but he knew that th

h them with their squalling bald baby, Chione. They were nice to Jordan, and Uncle Law told hi

verything here and go and live with them? How could he leave his soccer team, his almost-girlfriend Peina, and his

s sake. He might even spend t

go," he

knew that his belligerence stemmed more f

before he grew up around the influences that were already penetrating everywhere in the state. Just yesterday, his friend's lastborn left home to join one of them after he had been scolded for being spotted among the

u are going, and that is that. I would not repeat mys

ng me away because you are scared. I

er announce

ew that he was totally serious. There was no

e passport from his father's hand. "I don't need you to go with me. I know the way.

pain, as it always did whenever anyone men

eeling sorry for him. Yet he couldn't help but note how much older his father had gotten. It was as if he ha

ather. "Just so you know, I hate this, a

ed his arms to his son.

in a tight hug before he released him and turned him towards the

nd saw the telltale wetness in his eyes. He forgot all his anger

as he replied, "I love you too, son.

atched the security officers check his son and pass him

ef, despite the v

was gone. There