Klempner – The Present

Mine…

My daughter…

Mitch’s daughter…

Alexanders’ words haunt me…

You locked her in the dark with the corpses of the murdered...

I try to escape into sleep…

… The stinking breath

The blood-shot eyes, wild with rage

The fist…

Da... No...

And a scream of anger. ‘Leave him alone you bastard! Don't you touch him! Don’t you dare touch him…’

The smack of knuckles into flesh and another scream, now of pain…

‘Mommy! Don't hurt Mommy!’

The figure so tall…

The screams of pain becoming shrieks…

The smack of knuckles into flesh…

The little figure grabs for something… Anything…

… He swings the big metal stick with all his might, aiming for the ankles… ‘Stop hurting Mommy!’

A scream of rage and pain. ‘You little bastard!’

‘Run, Lamb, Hide!’

dashing for the bedroom. His mother snatches up the

‘Bitch!’

screams again,

door slams.

out from under

on the door, top and bottom, then rushes across. ‘It’s alright, Lamb. He’s gone now.’ Crouching down, she rocks him in

Sobbing, ‘You’re bleeding, Mommy…’

Sweetie.

face with the cloth, squeezing warm

‘A bit.’

but let's have a sleep. We'll

tell

will.’ She’s talking all funny. ‘What story would you

one about the train to

bed then climbs in beside him. ‘Once upon a time, there was a little boy

‘Mommy?’

sleep now. You sleep too. It’ll be better in the morning.’ She pulls him close, humming as she strokes his hair.

*****

it time for breakfast?’ But she doesn't answer, doesn't open her

‘Mommy?’

*****

well open up. I know you're in there. Your car’s at the front. Open

minute the door bangs again, heaves; bangs and heaves, the

in. ‘What the fuck?’ Fanning against a buzzing tide of bluebottles, he stares down at the

wrappers licked clean, tins wiped, one trailing what looks like dried

one hand,

she?

boy drops his head, tears trickling.

that

sleep. She won't wake up and talk to me. I want her to tell

he pushes the bedroom door open,

the little boy and pushes him into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. ‘You stay in there. Don't you fucking move from

to the clatter and the cursing from beyond the

down to haul him up by the injured

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