“HIS WHISKEY”

"Shh.. Daddy is sleeping" mama says. We have to be quiet. We don't want to wake daddy. So I go back to my room and listen to my music. My brother retreats to his room to play video games. Mama sits on the couch in the living room staring at the walls. She tries to hide the fact that she has been crying again. We don't ask what is wrong anymore because we know.

I saw daddy earlier going to his truck and getting his bottle. He doesn't see me. He takes a long sip of an amber colored drink. I think I remember mama calling it "his whiskey". I don't like daddy drinking "his whiskey". He is mean to mama when he drinks "his whiskey". He calls her bad names and yells at her. Mama tries to reason with daddy but it doesn't work. Sometimes mama gets mad and yells back. Daddy gets angry over everything when he has "his whiskey".

I see mama changing. She doesn't enjoy the same things anymore. She looks tired. Mama use to sing and dance. Mama use to play with us now she just tries to keep daddy out of "his whiskey".

I spend a lot of time in my room alone. I like being alone though. It is quiet. My brother likes to yell at mama like daddy when daddy isn't home. Funny thing is though he doesn't have "his whiskey". He just gets mad at mama and yells at her. I feel sorry for mama. She looks older now. Her eyes don't sparkle anymore. She looks sad. I wish daddy could see what he is doing to mama. I wish daddy would pour out "his whiskey".

I go to the living room and mama is still on the couch. She has been crying again. Mama sees me and hugs me tight. She says "go on to bed sweetheart. You have school in the morning". I tell mama I love her and go back to my room. I get in bed. I can't sleep. I am thinking about mama. I hear mama talking to my brother. He slams the door to his room. I peak out of my room just in time to see mama sigh and head back down the hall. "Goodnight mama" I whisper but she doesn't hear me.

Morning comes and it is a new day. I went to school and it was school. Mama picks me up from school. Everything seems better. Mama has on makeup and doesn't look so tired. We sing to the radio. After dinner daddy gets home and has to take a phone call from work outside. Mama helps me with my homework. I go outside to find daddy and ask him if he had a good day at work. Daddy is at his truck with "his whiskey " again. Mama had followed me outside. Mama's smile fades and I disappear back into my room. It is quiet here.