At home, Mom fixed some chicken breasts, dinner rolls, and spinach. I got myself a plate and kissed her on the cheek. She smiled as I took a seat. That was when Dad walked in.

"Evening dear," Mom said.

"Evening darling, is dinner ready?"

"Nah, you missed it," I said sarcastically.

"Honey, it is ready."

Dad sat down.

"One of these days Michael James, one of these days you're gonna get it."

I ignored him and continued eating. He always looks like he had a rough day at work. The hell's his problem? After a few seconds, Mom spoke up.

"I have great news dear."

"Do tell."

"I have a job interview tomorrow."

"What?"

"A job interview."

"A 'job', darling? Your job is a wife and mother. Your job is to clean the house, bring me my dinner when I come home from work. Be the mother of my child."

"Darling, I have the right to my own living."

"Let's just eat our dinner."

We ate our dinner. Gladly, Dad kept his sexist mouth shut until I got done eating. I was about to get up to put my plate in the sink, Dad snapped his fingers and made me sit back down.

"Haven't taught you nothing have I son?"

"No, not really."

"You leave your plate for your mother to wash these dishes."

"Dad, it won't hurt to clean up after ourselves every once in a while."

"Michael's right."

"You shut your mouth, the men are talking."

"I'm just saying that I would greatly appreciate it if you did."

"That's not my job around here."

"Dad, just cool it ok."

I went to put my plate in the sink.

"Michael James Watson, you sit back down-"

"Too late now, the plate's in the sink already."

I sat back down.

"I told you before, this is not your job in this house."

"You know what Dad, as members of family, it should be!"

"It's not your job to question my traditional beliefs. I come from a place where women and children are men's property. Being a man of the house is being like a king of the castle. You are eighteen, still a child. I always raised you to be a real man."

"Dad, you clearly don't know what a real man is."

"Alright Mr. Know It All, what's a real man to you?"

"A real man treats a woman with nothing but respect, a real man helps out around the house especially with a baby! I think you're one of the worst examples. You treat her like a servant. 'I'm the king and this is my castle-"

We were interrupted by the phone ringing loudly.

"Keep your mouth shut. Hello? Gerald my boy! How are you this evening? Fine fine. He did what!?"

Crap, that prick did mean what he said.

"Thank you very much. Bye."

He hung up. I bowed my head down.

"Don't play innocent with me, the librarian told me what you did."

"Did he make up some sick story to make this all my fault!?"

"No, he said you broke his nose."

"He didn't tell you the whole dang story did he? He was bullying my friend."

"You mean Amy?" Mom asked.

"What? A lady friend Michael James!? I keep telling you not to have friends who are females."

"What are you gonna do, get out your long belt?"

"As a matter of fact, I will!"

He undid his belt. Mom tried to stop him.

"Darling don't!"

He slapped her. I gasped.

"Look what you did you ungrateful boy?"

"You're blaming me for this!?" I yelled.

"You-..."

He sighed.

"I give up."

Dad sat down as he put his belt on the table. Mom was crying. I bent down next to her and whispered.

"Let me take over for a bit ok?"

I kissed her on the head. She smiled. I walked to the sink to wash the dishes.

"Doing your mother's chores I see? Doing women's chores is a sign of cowardliness, a real man ain't a coward. That tells me you're a coward...a sissy."

"If I was a sissy, I wouldn't be breaking bones for disrespecting women. Would I?"

"Alright.-"

"Darling, don't do this please."

"I said shut your-"

I slammed a dish that was in the sink, it broke...probably.

"Shut up!" I screamed.

Dad's eyes widened.

"What did you say to me?"

"You know damn well what I said Dad!"

He walked to me with the belt.

"You are the most ungrateful child any parent has ever dealt with."

He gave me a big swat on the ass with the belt, I took a swing at him with my fist. The first time I ever punched my father in the face. My eyes widened out of fear of my own father and satisfied at the same time.

"How dare you strike your father!"

"Who's the sissy now!?" I asked.

"Pack your bags Michael,"

"Why? Kicking me out of the house?"

"No, something better, you are going to military school."

I ran to my room. I packed my clothes in a duffel bag, not for that, I am running away from home and I'm never coming back.