BookCulbHere

Marcus gloomy face with stressed lines on his countenance, made his way off the boat after it docked. Visiting his father, should he even consider him as a father after ten years of not seeing him?, was something he had never planned. If not for his mother's funeral he wouldn't have been back here. Old unpleasant memories where fighting with each other to surface on Marcus' mind causing him a terrible migraine.

Nostalgia crept up on me as I looked onto the forgotten floating rock. The place was absolutely horrible to grow up in. Completely backward and out of date, it was difficult as a child to try to keep up with the world whilst these people were hell burnt on being cavemen.

But my mom, god mom, she somehow made it heaven on earth. Tasked with the job of being mum and dad when my dead beat dad proved he could be nothing more than a drunk, she somehow managed to juggle 3 jobs, make my PTA's and come to all my football matches. My dad never even set foot on the school grounds despite that he didn't work. Never once did he come to cheer me during my matches. My dad never deserved her.

She was a queen and he was scum beneath everyone's shoes. And it hurt to realise that your father was a loser in the eyes of everyone as a child. It hurt even more when I started to see him as that too and it hurt even worse when my mom refused to see how worthless he was.

I couldn't live with the old man anymore. Not when he picked a fight with me every time he saw me. Mum finally let me move out, allowing me to pursue my dream as a musician. At one of my small time concerts I met my wife.

Mum was able to make it to my wedding but I guess my dad was too drunk to remember that his only son is getting married. Today I'm here standing in front of this old house I used to call home with my lovely two year daughter and my wife it was my mum's last wish that I bury her.

And I would do anything for her. I just wished it was anything but this though. The house had not seen paint in around 12 years. The porch was dropping, the flowers wilted and the window of the dining area had been broken. Though outdated, every house on the island was immaculate. Their brightly coloured roofs could be seen a mile away in the boat. Standing there in the weeds and overgrown lawn that was his childhood house, he could feel the old resentment and embarrassment settle in his shoulders making him tense.

"Oh my, what a state!" His wife muttered, as she tried to steady their daughter on her jutted hip.

"Yeah" he muttered back.

When we got to my parents house which looked like it would collapse any moment from now, he knocked on the door. I waited patiently for someone to answer. That someone being my dad. Hopefully he had not forgotten that they were arriving and gone to the pub ... At 7 in the morning.

Not that the bar owner would refuse to serve him. My father practically paid the bar owners daughters school fees. That didn't stop her from turning her nose up at me though.

I was lost in his thoughts that I didn't see his father standing in front of them. The Man's beer belly was truly magnificent. It could easily be mistaken for ... "Look daddy, he is pregnant!" His daughter echoed his sentiments exactly.

Her mortified mother shrunk in embarrassment and shushed the little. There was no need for that, she was merely a pure soul that reflected truth.

My fathers brown eyes shrink dangerously or it could be his withdrawal taking place, I don't know. From the way Marcus senior was able to stand, it was obvious that he was in a state that he was rarely found in; sober. Eyes gave way expressive mono brow and a balding head. His form was slowly curling on itself from age and alcohol abuse, but one could tell he used to be a formidable height and handsomeness.

There was no mistake this was Marcus' double ganger just that one was way older than the other. I could not deny it, but I certainly didn't have to like it.

With a tight Lip I uttered the words that I had not said I a while, "Father".

An awkward silence lulled. Anything and everything that could have made a sound had the potential to be thunderous. My wife finally coughed a little to break the tension that was building. I wasn't going to say anything and my dad was the master of the silent Treatment.

"Come in." His gruff voice echoes through the silent morning. He steps aside holding the door ajar, his other hand going through the tufts of grey hair that managed to hold on. Marianna fumbles through With me following reluctantly behind.

A cold sensation wafted down my spine, like I had crossed some invisible forcefield.

Just as I Excepted the wallpaper wearing off, bottles of beer were lying here and there and there was one mousy sagging couch that had never seen better days.

'It was a good thing I booked a hotel at the mainland,' I mentally patted myself.

Marcus sighed when they entered the room,"Eerm dad," he began, scratching the back of his neck in the process."This is my wife, Mariana and my two year old daughter Calla."

Hearing her name, Calla decided this was the part that she showed off her advanced speech ability." Mmm'name is Calla. Mm' 2 year old." Her hand showed 4 fingers though." Mmm' daddy name is Dad and mommy's name is mom. Our phone number is 012 567 654."

Feeling accomplished Calla puffed out her chest in pride and snuggled deeper into her mom's armpit; today's mission was fully accomplished.

Mariana chuckled." We can hardly keep up with this little one. Too smart for us, she is."

Dad don't say anything. He dull red rimmed eyes perused my wife's jet black hair and green eyes. Then moved on to my daughters blond hair an brown eyes, my daughter was my splitting image.

I guess he was just checking in order to give the verdict on his on opinion on whether my daughter was mine not. He certainly didn't think I was on those numerous drunk rumbles after midnight.

"You were never that quick at her age." He muttered.

"Well I didn't have a sober dad to help me develop quickly." I was quick with the shot. I could already feel the rage and temper I somehow lost when I moved out coming back with a vengeance.

The tension in the room was overbearing, steam was practically blowing from both father and son's ears.

Mariana stood there awkwardly not knowing what to do and Calla was happy in her world which was centered around playing with her moms long hair. Mariana knew something was going on between Marcus and his dad because any time she brought up the topic of his father Marcus would avoid it

A loud shrill jolted everyone from the suspenseful quiet.

"Ding dong!" Calla parroted, not even pausing from playing with her mums hair as she said it. She looked expectantly at the door as her grandfather went to open it.

Talk about being saved by the bell. Literally. It turns out it was the mortuary that had sent a car to come and get them for the funeral.

The ride to the grave yard was wayyyyy too long for me. Though I was seated the furthest from my father, I could practically feel the hostility Rolling off him in waves. Mariana seated beside me kept throwing me little looks my way. I vowed I would never raise my voice towards my family and right now it was all I wanted to do. So I shut my mouth.
The only sound in the car is the car wheels on the ground and calla who was singing nursery rhythms that didn't exist.

Being a child surely was a blissful.

The funeral itself was quick. Just a few people showed up because even though mom was a gem, she was married to the devil.

I couldn't cry when I saw her getting lowered into the ground; at least she was resting now. My father barely even looked at what was going on and the day his eyes decide to be dry is the day his wife of more than 20 years is being buried. The bastard.

After burying her the few we all went home and as we where all seating in the living room another knock came and dad went to open it. We thought he was a well wisher but he introduced himself as mum's lawyer.

We where wondering what brought the lawyer here. That's when moms insurance was reviewed. She had left us an equal sum amount of a small gold mine.

I kept looking at my dad. How eyes getting feverishly excited despite that he *had* just buried my mom.

I had to keep the money away from him or he was going to drink himself to death.

The lawyer having done his job left. Dad rubbed his jaw in annoyance, though half of the money was rightfully his, mum had given me control over it.

He knew I wasn't going to give him that money so he didn't even bother to play nice. "You will give that money to me or else!" father said to me.

"No I won't give you the money you will drink yourself to death. The money will pay for the house repairs and I will send money for groceries straight to the shop keeper. He will deliver you all your food."

Knowing that fight that was about to break lose, I immediately got up, grabbed my wife and child and headed for the docks. I was subjected to his harsh cruelty with no choice but I had the choice not to let my family experience the devil's wrath.

And I was going to take that choice.

Who gets the money. Marcus or his father