Kwissy

          “Kaleb,” my stepdad Leonard called out from downstairs. “Boy, get down here!” I could tell by his tone that he was upset about something. I finished the comic book I was reading before leaving my room and going downstairs to the kitchen. He was standing there holding a full trash bag. “Boy, didn’t I tell you to take this trash out this morning?”

          “I was going to,” I explained. “I’m meeting up with my friends later and I was gonna take it out on my way out later.”

          “Oh, you’re meeting up with your friends, huh?”

          “Yeah.”

          “Not anymore. You’re grounded.”

          “For what?”

          “For not doing what I say. Now take this trash out right now.”

          “This isn’t fair.”

          “What?” He took a step towards me. “I didn’t hear you. What did you say?”

          “I said…” I stopped myself and gave up. “I’m sorry.”

          “Yeah, that’s what I thought you said. I don’t know what’s been going on with you lately, but you better cut it out. You’re not in college yet. You’re still living under my roof which means you do what I say. You got that?”

          “Yes, sir.”

          “And don’t even think about going to your mother to get off of punishment. The baby is gonna be due in a few weeks and she doesn’t need the stress.”

          “Yes, sir.” I took the trash from him and stepped out of the kitchen patio doors.

          I will forever hate the day my mama met Leonard back when I was nine. He was the worst stepdad anyone could ask for. Not only was he mean to me all the time, but it also seemed like he made it his mission to fuck with me on a day-to-day basis. In the beginning, I had hope that their relationship wouldn’t last and it would go back to how it was, just me and mama. However, by their eighth anniversary, I gave up. And then mama got pregnant so I knew there was no chance in hell they’d get a divorce anytime soon.

          So after taking the trash out, I went back upstairs to my room. I texted my friends and told them I wouldn’t be meeting up with them at the arcade. I was so mad that I could barely see straight. My whole fucking day was ruined for nothing. Instead of playing games at the arcade and then getting pizza with my friends, I was gonna be stuck up in my room reading comics. Life truly sucks sometimes.

                                       Me (Kaleb Moore)