Page 44 - The Muse 2021

Suddenly, my stomach dropped. My father was always in the hospital, he was a surgeon, so I never saw him. He never talked and was very strict. He had never dealt with my problems before, now would be the first time. Would he strike me? I had heard some fathers did that to their kids. Suddenly I imagined Grandpa Randal striking my mom. He was my mother’s father, and she never talked about him. I had always imagined him as a violent father. I could feel myself sweating and shaking. The door opened. There was my father. His face had no expression. He took me to his car without saying a word. As soon as he started driving, he started playing the sports channel on the radio. We were silent throughout the whole car ride.
When I got home, I was once again, scolded by my mother and laughed at by my brother. Then, Angela started talking to me.
“I saw the fight.” She said. “You shouldn’t let those bullies get the best of you. If you keep fighting and losing your temper, everyone will see you as the aggressive kid, and I know there is so much more to you than that. If you need someone to talk to, please remember, you always have me.”
Her words made me feel warm, but sad at the same time. I could feel my tears pushing through my eyes. Words cannot express how terrible I feel every time I remember this conversation. What she was trying to help me with ended up being what hurt her the most. I hugged her for a very long time.
“I am going to the Goodmans’ house tomorrow to have tea and cookies. They are excellent listeners. Maybe you would like to talk to them about what you are going through.”
The Goodmans were a sweet elderly couple. They once too had no place to live, the rent for their apartment was too high and they had become homeless for a few days until my grandmother took them in. She let them stay in one of her backyard houses for free, but they had demanded that they must pay her back in some way, so she gave them jobs. Mrs. Rosy was her housekeeper and Mr. Pedroso was her gardener and handyman. Angela loved to spend her weekend chatting with them over tea.
“Hello? Mrs. Rosy? It’s me, Angela! I’ve brought Geoffrey along so he can talk to you. He’s had some fights and problems with his friends, could you help him?”
“Hello my dear Angela!” exclaimed Mrs. Rosy. “And hello Geoffrey! My, you have gotten so tall!”
We drank tea and my sister talked to the Goodmans for a while, it almost seemed like they forgot I was there. But that was fine because I was never really a talker.
“I will be right back Mrs. Rosy. My mom wants me to help her with dinner, Geoffrey, why don’t you talk to Mrs. Rosy while I’m gone?” said Angela as she slipped out through the front door.
I explained to Mrs. Rosy the fight in the soccer field and at school. She listened intently and I suddenly understood why Angela liked to spend her weekends with her. Mr. Pedroso had walked in the room while I was talking, he took a cookie and sat next to his wife on the couch. He seemed very concerned with my story. When I finished, they both looked at each other with a tense and awkward expression, exchanged whispers and faced me.
“I’m not sure if anyone’s told you this before Geoffrey, but I’m only here to help.” he began. “From what you tell us it seems you have anger issues.”
These words struck me like the punch in the face I had taken on Sunday. Anger issues? A mental problem? It couldn’t be.
“How could I have anger issues?!” I shouted. “I am perfectly normal!”
“We were only trying to help dear, I am so sorry!” said Mrs. Rosy.
“I can’t believe I came to you guys for advice. And the cookies are not even good!” I said, while taking another
cookie from the tray.
With that, I marched out of their house, slamming the door behind me. But the words “anger issues” were stuck in
my head for the rest of the day.
As I walked into my house, Angela pulled me aside.
“Why would you yell at the Goodmans? They were only trying to help!”
“Because they said I have anger issues!” I said through my tears.
“It’s perfectly normal to have anger issues, you just need to know how to deal with them. It would make me and
you feel so much better if you apologized to the Goodmans. We can talk more after dinner alright? Also take a shower, please,” she said and left to go to her room.
As I was walking to the bathroom, Rodrigo passed by me and already, my volcano started simmering.
“Now not only are you starting fights, but you’re also being mean to old people? You’re such a jerk.” He laughed. “Oh, and you totally have anger issues. I think if you get into one more fight, Mom and Dad will put you in a hospital for mad people!” He burst out laughing.
My volcano exploded with those last few words. I picked up the nearest object and threw it at him. He dodged it, but the object crashed on the ground. He walked over to it.
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