Svlad was cold when he got back home. He opened the door with his key, and tried to sneak silently round to his room but-
"Where do you think you are going, boy?" Svlad's father, Paul shouted. He was smoking, but Svlad ignored that.
"Up to my room. Doing my homework."
"Homework, what homework? You never get homework!"
"Yes, I do."
"Don't back talk me, young man!"
The rage in his father's eyes were all too clear now. Svlad winced, and he knew what was coming. A beating.
"Dad, please, no." He pleaded, but it wouldn't have a chance. Svlad made the mistake, now he was going to pay for it.
Paul stepped forwards, brandishing the belt he had had in his trousers, and stopped when the bell rung. Svlad sighed a sigh of relief. He was safe. For now.
If Paul remembered later, and asked him, he'd have to practice lying.
Where have you been - easy. Out with a friend.
Who is the friend, can they give me an alibi - less easy.
Svlad would have to take his chances and hope for the best.
He ran up to his room, ignoring the insistent knocking at the door, and locked it. Then he peered out the window, and saw his Mother.
Katherine Cjelli was not much better than her husband, but she didn't beat Svlad, or let Paul beat Svlad. So he was safe, for now.
Lucky, too, because Paul hadn't forgotten. When Svlad came down for dinner that night - a bland meal of bread with cold meats - he could see the rage still in his father's eyes.
He ran upstairs and thought about Riggins.
What was his interest in him? Why Svlad, of all the people? Was Riggins worried about his parents, would Riggins take him away?Svlad wasn't sure f he'd like that. Riggins seemed like a nice man, but things change.
It was his birthday in a few days. Riggins hadn't shown up for a few days - he was busy.
Busy. But with what? Svlad knew that he had other duties, on top of watching him. In fact, was that even a duty? Watching a little boy? Weird. Sounded like a stalker, but Riggins was a friend. A formal friend, but the closest Svlad had got.
Svlad wouldn't get any presents from his parents, or maybe one at most. At school the teachers made it a big deal, and he got a lot of attention.
He hated the attention.
It scared him. He was a lone person, not popular. He didn't understand how the others survived.
Svlad wondered what Riggins would do. Would Riggins even know what day it was? Probably not. Well, he wouldn't mention it. Don't want to bring attention to himself.
