Cry-Baby

Chapter 8

I woke up around noon and found my phone with a text from Dani asking for the details of my date. I smiled. I decided I'd text her later and ask her to sleep over. Placing my phone done I left my room to get some breakfast/lunch.

My parents were already dressed up with their suitcases and luggages resting on the couch. "Good morning." I smiled exuberantly as I made my way to the kitchen.

"And a good afternoon to you too." My father called fixing his tie.

"How was your night?" My mom followed me to the kitchen and sat down with her elbows on the table and palms on either side of her cheeks. Although her childish self was annoying I couldn't help but smile while rolling my eyes.

"It was nice. We just saw a movie and we had good fun." Seeing as there was Captain Crunch I decided to eat this.

"Any kissing involved?" My mom wiggled her eyebrows. I frowned. She was a good moment ruiner.

"No mom. It was just like hanging out with a friend." I didn't even look at her as my stupid face blushed. This conversation was awkward. She laughed.

"Okay, don't hate me. But Brenda really likes your company." I looked over confused. I hardly spoken to her but why would this in any case make me upsey? She understood the look on my face and decided to keep going. "She always wanted a daughter and especially one that is good." My mom smiled at herself seeing how she apparently raised me this way. But go figure to Brenda. Her son turned out to be an @ss.

"I'm not following." I sat across from her and took a huge spoonful of cereal in my mouth.

"Well." My mom continued looking like she wasn't trying to rush to the end. "She wants to know you more and since we are so close I thought that would be a great idea." She smiled but quickly stopped and I realized she still had more to say. She looked down now and I got nervous.

"Amanda! We should really go soon." My father called from the living room. He was a very punctual person.

"Yeah hold on!" My mom said back annoyed. She was the opposite. "Well anyways, I thought it would be a good idea that you guys do hang out more. And I hate leaving you alone on the days me and your dad work."

"You feel bad?" I could not believe it. Ever since I was old enough not to have a babysitter I've been alone when they work and I knew they didn't prefer it but it was never a problem.

"Yes!" My mom said like I had offended her. "I care about you. But that's besides the point. I kind of told her that you would sleep over tonight so you could get to know each other." My mom rushed out the last part and my mouth dropped. She. Did. Not.

"No." Was all I could manage to say. I knew for a fact that he would be there and there was no way in hell I would be there as well. I got up to put away my bowl. I couldn't even look at her, I couldn't even believe her.

"Come on. What's the issue?"

"I don't like her son." I said simply not daring to look at her.

"I'm not asking you to talk to him. Just her. She has a guest room you could sleep in and you probably won't even see him."

"No."

"Alexa, don't do this. She planned a fun night and everything. I know hanging out with moms isn't the coolest thing. But it would mean a lot to her. She can't have a daughter and she was so excited that you would be going, it would crush her if I tell her you didn't want to."

"Tell her I'm sick!" I pleaded not liking the guilt trip my mom was forcing upon me.

"Please." My mom said and there was a moment of silent tension in the air. She sighed and got up out of her chair. "She said she would come over at 6 to get you. If you want to tell her your sick, that's on you, but I beg you to reconsider." She exited the kitchen and I stood there stunned.

When my dad called goodbye and they finally left I was able to move again. I stormed up to my bedroom slamming the door like they could hear. Why was my mom even making plans without me? She always did this! I texted Dani saying I would tell her another time since it was apparent she wouldn't be sleeping over.

It's not like it was a big deal. I hated Clyde not his mom. I groaned into my pillow. I couldn't just not go.



When I opened the door Brenda was smiling brightly. Her dimples shown brightly looking stunning on her. I couldn't help but smile back although I was just pissed when the doorbell had rung. Her eyes were light brown and I wondered if Clyde's dad had the same menacing green eyes that he did.

I grabbed my bag and phone real quick and locked the door behind me. "I'm so glad you are staying over tonight." Brenda beamed down at me. She hadn't come in car and I was glad for the walk. I needed to release the anger from my mother which wasn't hard because she was a charming lady. I wonder how Clyde turned out so horrid. "We are going to watch movies tonight." She continued and I found I actually really liked her.

We got into her house laughing at a joke she told and all the lights were off. "Let me give you a mini tour and show you to where you'll be sleeping." She said as she turned on the lights. She led me upstairs to where the rooms were. My house was a lot smaller, my room being on the first floor. The guest room was really nice. Small as expected but it could have been someone's actual room easily. She then showed me to the bathroom which was right beside another door. "This is Clyde's room." She said and didn't open it. We kept walking and she showed me into her room which was huge. Bigger than my parent's room.

"Wow!" I said looking at the kingsized bed and the huge television that hung on the wall. The dresser was massive and the walls were a pretty lavender color. She just smiled back at me.

"Let's go eat some pizza." She led me downstairs with as much energy as a child. We ate at her dining table that looked perfect with a glass cabinet behind it that held some fine china plates and cups.

"Your house is beautiful." I said politely to her to start conversation.

"Thank you. Yeah, I got it soon after my husband died, with some of the money from life insurance. Well back when life insurance gave me money." She started and I could tell there was a story when her eyes got dark.

"I'm sorry to hear about-" she cut me off

"Oh don't worry about it. It's all in the past." She looked a bit sad and I really wanted to know what happened.

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened to him?" I said quietly not trying to upset her.

She smiled sadly at me but then nodded her head. "This will be the first time I've told this story in a long time so excuse me if I get emotional." She grabbed a paper towel to prepare herself and I felt my heart drop. This story didn't seem too peaceful at all.

"It's fine." My voice sounded clipped. I didn't want to make her upset by telling me this story, but she did seem like she wanted to say it.

"This was 8 years ago. Clyde is 17 so he was," she counted on her fingers, "9 years old. John, my husband, had a few mental issues. He wasn't necesarilly a bad person, but he wasn't the best either. The doctor told him to stay away from alcohol and drugs which made him go, in a sense, crazy. He was really good at staying away from it and I tried helping him when he wanted alcohol since he liked to drink before the doctor told him how serious his condition really was.

Well one night, we had a fight and he left. I was sad but my brave little boy stayed up with me watching movies. His dad finally came back but was drunk. And he was more drunk then I've ever saw him. His eyes were not the same, his already intense eyes were different, darker." She paused, her eyes were closed and I could see the memory coming back to her, "I knew in that moment he had snapped. I told Clyde to go upstairs and he tried. John grabbed him by the sleeve and pulled him back. I completely freaked and yelled at him. I told him not to touch my son like that ever again. He hit me hard on the jaw and came again in the stomach." She wiped a spare tear with the towel.

"I fell to the floor and Clyde went at him. John punched him right in the face. What kind of grown man punches a child in the face? He hit him again and I cried out. I was too weak to get up. He grabbed Clyde by the collar and started cursing at him. He told him that he was a mistake and that he wished I got an abortion. He said that he was worthless. He told my Clyde that he wasn't worth anything and that he should kill him himself. He hit him again hard and left.

I looked at my once happy boy and he looked so different. I reached out for him and he got up and ran to his room." She wiped more tears and I looked at her in shock with no words. "The next morning I had gotten the police report that he drove off a bridge and died. I cried. I was angry with him and hated him. But I loved him. He was only bad from the alcohol and I remembered how much good our relationship was.

When I told Clyde he didn't looked fazed. His eyes was swollen and he looked a mess. I cried even more and that day I held him close to me as we watched t.v. He didn't say anything and I felt him slipping. He was slipping away right in my very arms." She wiped more tears again, but then didn't look so bad besides the red nose and puffy eyes.

"I had been a stay-at-home mom and needed to get a job fast. The funeral was expensive and I was lucky to have the help from life insurance. I had gotten a part-time job and I had saved a good deal. I bought this house with my saved money promising to give Clyde a good life. However, Clyde had gotten into so much trouble. That day caused him to grow into a man way before he deserved. It was heartbreaking for me. Some days he would come home looking terrible and wasted and there wasn't anything I could do. It was like I had hurt him as well. And I did. I couldn't be there for him. I was young and stupid. John had done most of the heavy lifting.

I got into some bad stuff too, and due to some legal stuff, life insurance left us. I was only lucky I didn't have too many house payments left but things got so much harder. All these knick-knacks were from back when John and I had money and I thought about selling them and the house. Clyde wouldn't let me and somehow brought me money for the bills. I know he didn't get it doing good stuff but what could I do? However with him I finished college and now have an amazing job that is enough to support us.

When I was finally up on my feet I told Clyde to stop getting the money he was getting. He got very angry and we got into a huge fight. I know he feels the need to bring in some money and doesn't even know how to get out of the business he is in. He won't admit that though." She chuckled but I could tell she doesn't like what Clyde is doing. "It's mostly for the second reason. He would be much happier in a job that doesn't pay much, I can see it in his face. I am his mother. He just doesn't know how to stop what he's doing." Right then the back door that was after the kitchen slammed open to reveal Clyde with a big paper bag in his hand.

He looked between the two of us with a really pissed expression. He shut the door hard and quickly stalked past us and up the stairs. I looked at Brenda shocked. "Today is the anniversarry of that night. He's always especially mad on this day." She said giving me a sad smile. "I'm sorry about him." She looked down at her watched and gasped. "I'm dragging out the night with this story and we still need to watch our movies! There's more to it but I'll stop depressing you. Come on." She got up and pushed me to the living room.

I was still speechless.

A little while into the first movie, she had gotten up to make popcorn and rootbeer floats. "Here." She handed me my drink and set the popcorn between us on the couch. "I wanted to thank you for listening to my story and I hope I didn't scare you away." She revealed her dimples but her eyes looked a bit scared, maybe since I had been so quiet trying to process the story in my mind.

"I'm so glad you trust me enough to have told me." I smiled back honestly, "And you by no means scared me away." She didn't look to convinced and I went over and pulled her into a tight hug. "Your story is safe with me." I whispered in her ear and then she gave me another beautiful smile.

After the second movie, and second round of rootbeer floats and popcorn, it was evident that Brenda was tired. It was only a little past 11:40, but I understood. She led me to the guest bedroom and retreated to her own. I changed into my pajamas and layed on the bed thinking about the story.

Clyde was just misunderstood and had a terrible past. Whatever business he was in was probably why he had gotten beat up that one time.

I tried to sleep but just kept tossing and turning. Maybe it was the foriegn house and bed, or the story that was still repeating itself in my mind, or possibly my bladder that was full of root bear and soda. I checked my phone, it was 3 am. I grumbled and rolled out. I quickly made my way to the bathroom and released my bladder.

I felt so relieved afterwards. Heading back to the guestroom I noticed the door to Clyde's room was slightly open and a dim light came from within. My curiousity caused me to walk over and ever so quietly look inside. He was sitting crossed legged on his bed with a bottle of some type of alcohol in his hand. He placed it beside him and ripped up some money dropping it on the floor. I was shocked and couldn't help but stare for a moment. Then when I saw him look over I quickly tried to go back to the guestroom.

"Alex!" I heard him yell and I stopped. I stayed there for a moment but then turned around and went back.

"Yes?" I asked still behind the mostly closed door.

"Come here." He slurred and I knew he was terribly drunk. Timidly I made my way over to the base of his bed. He pat on the bed next to him and looking in his dark dilated eyes I couldn't say no.

I crawled across him and sat with my legs stretched out. He didn't look up at me, he grabbed more money and ripped it up. After he grabbed a twenty it became too much for me. "Stop." I said loudly and he looked up at me angry.

"Don't come into my house and tell me what to do!" He yelled and his balled up his fist making his knuckles white. "You don't own me! I do what I want!" He slurred in and angry yell. He yelled a bit more and I was terrified. He finally looked into my eyes and almost instantly all of his features relax and he looked broken.

"It's okay." I said, unsure what was best to say.

"Why would he do that to me?" He asked and I knew he was talking about his father. "And then he went and died! I never got a chance to even say anything back!" Clyde was so distant in that moment. It was like he was there, back when he was 9. He took another sip of his whiskey I presumed. I grabbed it out of his hand and he didn't fight it. I placed it on his night stand and repositioned myself. "I'm not f#cking worthless! I'll go to college and I'll show him!" He slurred badly, "But I can't show that f#cker. He went and f#cking died!"

He looked so badly broken and I pulled him into a tight hug not wanting to see him fall to pieces. His shoulders shook under me and I felt my shoulder get wet. He grabbed me back and was full on crying in hysterical fits, "Why would he do that?" He whispered and I almost missed it in his slurring and sobbing state.

After a little while he had calmed down to soft sobs in my lap as he fell in and out of conciousness. It was already 4:15 am and I could tell he was worn out. I combed my fingers through his thick soft hair on the top where it was longest. He seemed to like it and he was very calm. This day must have been a hard day for him with so much happening in that one day many years ago. And he was forced to think about it everytime he looked at the date. My eyes watered thinking about the pain he must of went through but I forced myself to be strong for him.

I was tired but knew I could keep myself up. At 4:35 he was finally lightly snoring and I gently moved his heavy head off of my lap. I turned off his lamp that had the dim light and stepped through the torn money to make my way back to the guest room. Sleep found me easily and soon I was in a deep sleep.


I woke up at 10:30 to the smell of bacon. I changed quickly and brushed my teeth before flying down the stairs. Brenda flashes me her famous smile and I see her cooking eggs.

"I hope you like turkey bacon." She says as she pours more eggs onto a frying pan. And I'm surprised. I personally love turkey bacon.

"YES!!" I say excitedly and dance in my chair. She laughs at this. After she's done with the eggs she puts 3 plates on the table followed by orange juice. "This looks amazing, thank you so much!" I grab my fork and start to shovel the food in my mouth. I really should learn some eating ettiquetes.

Clyde comes down squinting his eyes looking crazy grumpy. His hair is completely wild and I can't help smile at that. I did that. I decided to sip my orange juice to hide the smile. "Clyde, your hair." Brenda says shocked, and I spit my drink back into the cup. They both look at the small mess I made on myself as I cough to clear my lungs of the juice I inhaled when I snorted in an disgusting type of laugh way. "Sorry," I cough again, "It went down the wrong tube." I make a small lie.

"Don't lie. You did this." Clyde snarls and flings some eggs at me. It hits me in the middle of the forehead. He laughs louder than I've ever heard him laugh before. I notice just how well his dimples look on him. I scrape the eggs off my forehead trying to keep a scowl.

"I don't see the issue. Your hair looks great." I say honestly. He can pull off the messy bed head hair. Damn this boy. He can pull off everything. He's a good looking kid who knows he's good looking. How gross. He combs through his hair flexing some muscle and his own scowl returns.

"Mom. Aspirin." He whines as he holds his head with one hand, eating with the other. Brenda looks like she's trying to figure out the whole hair situation, but with a shrug of the shoulders, goes to get some meds.

After the meal Brenda and I hang out for a little while as Clyde left even in his hungover state. I leave soon after and relax on the couch. I look at my phone and see a new message from today.

I unlock it to see it's from. Julian?

Hey. 2mrrw cud u come ovr 2 tutor me?

I say yes of course and he says he'll pick me up tomorrow to go to his house and I give him my address. I watch some Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy feeling both happy and sad. I just saw two sides of Clyde. He really is a complex person. I just wish he didn't have such a crazy past haunting him. And worse he was feeling trapped with not being able to resolve things because his father died that same day.

He had actually cried in my arms. Which was probably due to the alcohol and I'm not even sure he remembers what exactly happened. But still, he has all of this to deal with and just weeks ago I was analyzing Johnny Bravo like that was a serious matter.


Author's Note: Now I know you weren't expecting Clyde to cry. Now what's going on in that pretty little head of yours? This chapter dropped the onliest bomb but it had to be done. And rather earlier than later right? Yeah I hope you follow, I usually reread my chapters but this one is just so much I'm leaving it. So excuse most mistakes if any. Yeah this chapter wasn't the happiest so I had to end it on some happier terms. But again how do you feel? Comment and Vote :)