Lies and More Lies, part three

Dale had been without his shoes for four days. At first he didn’t mind. It was summer after all, and he rarely wore shoes in summer anyway. But when it came time for Leta to take him to visit his father, she knew he needed to have them. When she asked her husband to return them, he refused.

“Leech,” she cajoled, “you don’t understand. I can’t take Dale to visit his grandparents without shoes. What will they think of me? Of us?”

“Mrs. Hoose,” he said sternly, “you are the one who does not understand. A punishment is a punishment, and the boy will get his shoes back when I say so.”

 

“But he needs them.”

“That’s too bad. Now maybe he’ll think twice about being underfoot,” Leech retorted.

They were preparing for bed. This was a rare night. While he had spent a part of it out drinking, he was home early and less intoxicated than usual. However, he was quite irritable.

“What am I going to tell his father and grandparents?” she asked with exasperation.

“That’s your problem,” he said. “He’s not getting them back tomorrow, and that’s that.”

“Leech,” she said, now a little irritated herself, “you’re being ridiculous.”

They were standing near each other, close enough that she could smell him, a mixture of alcohol, cigarette smoke and dried perspiration. He needed a bath, but that was not her issue. She was in her nightgown, and he had removed his shirt and pants, which he had thrown carelessly over a chair.

Without warning, Leech grabbed the alarm clock and threw it at the wall near her, where it crashed and fell apart. His face was red with fury.

“This is my house, god dammit!” he snarled. “What I say is law. Your little brat is not getting his shoes back until I say so. End of discussion. If he doesn’t like it, he can leave. Now clean up this mess you made.”

After his pronouncement, he stomped out of the room. Leta watched him head to the stairs and then stride down them. Until he was out of sight and beyond her hearing, she had held her breath. Finally, she let it out and pressed her hand against the dresser to hold herself up. She took several uncertain steps to her vanity, where she dropped onto the stool. For several minutes, her mind was in such tumult that she could not hold onto a single thought. Did Leech mean to hit her with the clock? Would he try to hit her again?  Why was he so angry about those shoes? When was he going to give them back? How angry was he? How had she gotten herself and her children into this situation?

She could not permit herself to sit and question for very long. At any moment, her husband might finish his calming drink and return. If the alarm clock pieces were still littering the floor, she knew his reaction would be even stronger. He might even strike her. While he had not hit her, she sensed that this was not beyond his capability. The broom and dustpan, however, were in the kitchen, where her husband was. She would have to get them. She took a deep breath and left the room.

To be continued.