"Come on Travis you'll be staying with Auntie Janette
tonight" as he grabs his Scooby Doo stuffed animal and make his way to
Janette's car.
The time is 11pm and Travis was awoken from the shouting
match between his mother and father in the kitchen. "Please Lord do not
let them fight" he repeatedly prayed into his pillow. A soft knock
interrupted his prayer as Yelena his mother softly entered his bedroom. Travis
pretends to be asleep as his mother pause to collect her courage. "Travis
honey you will be sleeping at your auntie's tonight. She is on her way
now." Travis starts snoring as he feels her presence drawing nearer.
"Please Lord let her face be okay" he silently prays as he tightens
his grip on the covers. Yelena knows Travis is awake; he is too much of a light
sleeper for a 9 year old and she is agonized by the thought of her son seeing
her face like this; so she refrains from turning on the light and chose to use
the night light in the room to pack Travis' clothes. There is silence in the
room as the doorbell rang and a loud "you know I am not getting that
right" echoed from the kitchen downstairs from Tyler. Travis rolled to his left side on the bed
knowing who was at the door and finally took a glimpse at his mother who is
trying her best to use the shadow of the room to hide the huge black eye on the
right side of her face. Travis heart began racing as his worst fear came to
past and his prayers were ignored once again.
He is speechless and the "Mommy is okay honey" words from his
mother though spoken in hope to console and reassured echoed more confusion for
Travis. These words were too familiar. "But your face is…." "I know
hun mommy will be okay". Yelena is now holding back her tears as she
recalls telling herself that she will never tolerate a man putting his hands on
her and putting her children through such distress. "It's one strike
you're out" she used to say. The bell rang another time and Yelena cellphone
began ringing seconds after. "We will be down shorty…. No I am okay…. I
don’t need this right now Janette please…just wait in the car for Travis".
Inside Auntie Janette's car Travis makes one plea to his
mother as she kissed him on the forehead. "Come with us mommy".
"Mommy will see you tomorrow Travis" Janette quickly assured knowing
Yelena philosophy of loyalty towards her husband. Janette often reminds her
that it is a philosophy base on "blind loyalty" with a high price tag
but she knows this is not a good time to remind Yelena of that. She is frustrated
and angry but knows her older sister wants her to hold it in for the sake of
Travis. This is their fourth transaction within the past 8 months and Travis is
now aware of the routine her Auntie Janette goes by from the minute he gets in
the car to her house. "Travis I don’t want you to ever treat your future
wife like Tyler your father baby and I mean that".
"Travis!! Travis!!" screeched Maureen; his
girlfriend of 4 years. "What?? What’s the matter" Travis responded
trying to come back to the present. "Our therapist wanted to know your
biggest fear about marrying me sweetheart".
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