Page 41 of Shattered Dreams

Harrison lifted his head, wiped his nose on his arm, and crawled into my lap. I wrapped my arms around him and let him cry. When his sobs slowed, I brushed his hair aside and murmured in his ear. “I know how you feel. My daddy was the same way.”

He looked up into my eyes and nodded.

“Yeah. It sucks. And being the big brother, you take more than the others, because you know in your heart it’s your job to protect them.”

He nodded again, and I pulled a rag from my pocket.

“I’m not sure how clean it is, but it’s better than your arm.”

Little hands that were trembling took the rag from my hands and while he cleaned up his face, I remembered when I was around his age, and I saw my dad put a whoopin’ on ma.

“Thank you, mister Richard.”

I looked down at the little boy. “You’re welcome, Harrison. You think you can finish eating lunch?”

“I think so.”

We came out from underneath the table, and Jo was wiping her face.

“Rich …”

“It’s all good. We’re fine.”

“I’m okay, mama.” He smiled. “Did you hear Richard? Daddy ain’t allowed to talk to us that way no more.”

“Any more.”

“Any more what, mama?”

Laughing, Jo brushed his hair from his forehead. “It’s any more. Not no more.”

“Same thing.” He shrugged.

Jo looked over at me and smiled as she mouthed, “thank you”.

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