Rise & Fall Of A Don

Chapter 23

Tommy Pov

As I observed the two. I became more and more upset. She was withdrawn with her own son. She was somehow cordial to him. Too fucking professional. She said all the right things, but it was emotionless. This bothered me because if Pamela James was one thing it was affectionate. From the time she claimed me as her son I had it. Everyone called me a mama's boy. I don't give a damn.

I love when my ma say, "hey, Tom, Tom. Come give me a kiss."

I smiled just by thinking about it. I need to go to her for a visit. I want her to meet Jensen so he would know how an affectionate mother is supposed to be.

"Elbows off the table, Jen," her tone was biting. It was controlled with no emotions.

"Yes ma'am."

I sat there in silent rage as this little boy begged his mother to love him. To show him some affection.

"Mom, Tommy bought me a gaming PC. It came with all kinds of games. Max and I downloaded some cool ones as well."

"No zombie ones. They make you have nightmares."

"Yes ma'am." He got up and was going to leave until his mother stopped him.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to go play my game."

"Did you ask to be excused? You're supposed to ask for permission in this world, do you hear me? You don't just go around taking liberties because you want to." He jumped.

"Yes ma'am."

"Now, what are you supposed to say?"

"Can I be excused, mom."

"Yeah. And don't be around here talking to everyone. Everybody ain't friendly."

He had tears in his eyes when he nodded and ran upstairs.

I stared at her silently then made my way upstairs. When I reached his room, he was inside crying. I sat on his bed.

"Your mother is projecting. She doesn't mean that."

He sniffled and wiped his nose. "What's projecting?"

"She's taking her life experience and pushing them off on you."

"Oh, auntie Hope says the same thing. It's ok. She can do that if she needs to."

"No, she is an adult. She's supposed to rise above it. You know, you remind me of myself when I was your age. My mother was on drugs. She sold everything in the house. Would sell food stamps instead of buying food. Many nights I would go to bed hungry. She would use me to help her take her drugs."

"What do you mean?"

"Some drugs require belts, pipes and needles to use. I used to tie a belt around my mother's arm while she injected the drugs into her body with a needle. I was four when I first started doing it for her."

"Then what. What happened?"

"She let one of her boyfriends beat me up. Crack my ribs and all."

He gasps. "You got beaten up before. But you're so strong and big."

I chuckled darkly because it was far from funny. "I wasn't always this way. He was way older. He beat me so badly that the police had to be involved. And that's when my life changed. A nice lady from my neighborhood took me in and raised me. She's the reason why I'm a strong adult. You will be too. Your mother isn't anything like my mother was. Your mother is just going through a tough time. She's trying to keep you safe."