Page 117 - Reason To Sing by Kelita Haverland

Chapter Twenty

Mean Mike

The immense heaviness in our house continues to weigh me
down. It’s brutal living here without Mom. Sometimes, in the
middle of the night, I lie awake planning my secret escape.
Vian and I have been left with the wicked stepfather. I’m
not exaggerating when I tell you he is one of the meanest
and angriest people on this planet. This man is like a sizzling
volcano just waiting to erupt. And when he does? Look out.
The lava he spews is hot, cruel and violent. These episodes are
ugly and frightening. And you never know when they might
happen. He might be on the phone with people who work for
him. Bam! No warning. He can blow in an instant. That’s when
Vian and I go rushing to our rooms.
Sadly, there is no escaping his rage. His name-calling,
bullying and roaring obscenities penetrate every wall. It’s
unconscionable how horribly he treats his employees. I feel
defeated just listening. Vian and I keep waiting for the day
that he becomes so enraged his huge head and fat body literally
explode. So far, no such luck.
If he’s not cursing the Russians because they’re going to
take over the world or cussing out the government for anything
and everything they do and don’t do, he is degrading his own
son and daughter. His own flesh and blood! It doesn’t really
matter who he’s angry at because everything seems to infuriate
him. Heaven forbid we ever interrupt him while he’s watching
the evening news at the dinner table. While he pigs out on his
double helping of chicken fried steak (his favourite), Vian and

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