Page 32 of One Wild Ride

I glanced around my home. It’s not a prison. It’s not at all like the prisons they show on TV. Besides, even if my mother only takes me out at night, I still get to go outside to visit places close by. Prisoners don’t get to do that.

My eyes fell to the golden present in my hand. I tried to tear a piece of the paper but my mom heard me.

“Alexander! I told you to go to your room.”

I scurried off and turned down the smaller hallway that led to my room. Once inside, I climbed up the dragon ladder next to my soft bed. The colorful checkered covers still unmade from when I hopped out earlier this morning, excited to see what Santa had brought.

Not even waiting to sit up, I started to rip at the paper. Gold flew around me and pieces of the present fell in my face. They were sharp so I grabbed one. It was a colored pencil. Taking a closer look, I saw Santa had given me a drawing kit. But some of the pencils were broken from my dad stepping on it earlier.

That didn’t stop me from smiling. I had my very first art kit. That made me an artist. Now I could draw anything I wanted.

Taking the pencils and packet of chalk called pastels, I hopped from my bed and ran to my desk. It didn’t take me long to have a clean sheet of paper in front of me. I knew exactly what to draw.

Time seemed to pass quickly and before I realized it, my mom had come into my room.

“What’s that, Alexander?”

I turned to her with the biggest smile. She would be so happy when I told her what I drew.

“It’s me and you.” I pointed to the small people in the corner of the page. “We are pointing at a plane. Daddy’s on the plane. It’s his trip. Because I want to stay with you.”

My mom ran her fingers through my hair as she stared at the picture. Her eyes seemed to glaze over and I noticed her cheek was swollen and red.

He hit her again. I hated when he did that. Now I was glad I drew what I did.

“It looks like Daddy’s plane is flying into the sun.”

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