That Fateful Night:
My mother sits there in our dorm in silence. She doesn’t say a word. All she does is sit at her desk and stare into outer space. I’m too nervous to approach her. “It’s the meds they gave her,” dad told me. I’d look at him nervously. “How long is she going to be like that?” I asked. “At least, three or four days.” he answered. That made me shutter. I did that for two reasons. One, it freaks me out when she’s like that, and two, I’m worried about how she’ll be when she comes to. It reminds me of that night Bethany was murdered.
7/7/94
The night started out as normal for us. My parents were going out on a date. My mom was looking pretty with make-up on her face for once. Her hair was back in a ponytail. She was actually smiling for once. “You look pretty mommy!” I told her when she was done putting on make-up. Mom smiled and said, “Thanks Stanly.” Then, she lightly kissed me on the forehead. “Take care of Bethany for me.” she said. “Yes mommy!” I told her. My mom smiled at me. Then, she turned to dad. “You ready?” mom asked him happily. “Yes, Annie!” he said proudly. Then, they stood together as lovers. “Now kids,” dad said to us. “The baby-sitter will be here in a minute. Can we trust you to stay good until she arrives?” “Yes!” we called in unison. Mom and dad smiled at us. “Good!” dad said. “Love you, see you in the morning.” Then, they left on their date.
Oh, someone came alright! But it wasn’t the baby-sitter! Our door was forced open and three men in black jackets and jeans walked in. They looked at us like hungry wolves to a piece of veal. Bethany and I became scared. The head man signaled to the other two men to move forward. They did so and grabbed my sister and I. The following events changed everything!
The men seized me and beat me until I was out cold and bleeding. Moments later, I woke up in the closet. My body was sore all over from the beating I had taken earlier. I tried to get out but the door was blocked off. I began screaming and pounding on the door. I hoped that someone would hear me. Luckily, someone did. I heard footsteps on the outside. I pounded even louder. The door finally opened and there stood my dad. I had never seen him look so worried before. “Stanly!” he exclaimed. “Are you alright? Where’s Beth?” Then, we heard a violent scream from upstairs. It was my mother. “NOOO!!!!” she screamed out. Fearing the worst, dad grabbed me, and we fled up the stairs.
My mom was sitting in the bathroom doorway crying loudly in distress. “What’s wrong momma?” I asked in concern. Then, dad and I looked up ahead. I saw dad’s face going pale. I looked and became scared. My little sister was dangling in the bathtub with her little hands tied behind her back. She was naked and badly beaten. The water from the tub was overflowing. Bethany was dead.
My mother was destroyed from that night onward. It was my luck that she would take it out on me for years to come! Thus, the beginning of our hellish war.
Step Two