When Daddy Isn’t There

“Shit!”

Rasheed Blaire pulled his hand back quickly and flicked his wrist frantically to try and abate the pain. He had burnt his finger on the stove while preparing breakfast for his little sister.

“Rasheed!”

He turned and saw his mother, Claudia, with his three year old sister Mia on her hip.

“Sorry Mom.”

She set Mia down in her chair and turned to him. “I don’t like when you swear.”

“I burnt my finger.”

She walked over to him. “Let me have a look.”

He pulled back. “Mom I’m not a baby, it’s fine. It just hurts a little.”

Claudia looked at her son for a minute before she stepped back. “Okay.”

“Mia’s breakfast is ready.”

Rasheed turned to pick up his backpack from where it rested on a chair around the table. He leaned down to kiss his sister on her head.

“Do you have enough money?”

“Yeah Mom, I’m good.”

“Don’t forget I need you to do the food shopping tonight. I’m working late at the hospital.”

“I know. Is Grandma going to stay with Mia until I get back from school?”

“Yes. She’ll leave as soon as you get back because she has church service tonight.”

“I remember. See you later Mom.”

He didn’t wait for her reply before he was out of the house. He took a deep breath once he was outside. It wasn’t that he disliked or even hated his mother, but he didn’t like being around her for too long because he hated to see how broken she was.

Ever since his father walked out on them three years and eight months ago, she had not been the same. She didn’t laugh or joke anymore, and his mother loved to laugh. She was the funniest person he knew. He got his sense of humour from her.

Rasheed knew his dad was a bailer. He came in and out of their lives as he pleased. He left before he even knew he was going to have another child. A daughter, who was growing up without her father. But then again, almost every child in the neighbourhood was growing up without a father or a father figure.

It used to hurt him not having his father in his life. But now, at the age of thirteen, he thought he was doing well. He had just started his second year of high school and his grades were decent. His mother had high hopes for him. Hopes that he would get the education she never did and get out of that place. To have a good life.

But Rasheed vowed he would never leave his mother and sister while he lived well.

“Rasheed!”

He turned in the direction the voice was coming from and saw his friend Rick running up to him, his school bag flapping by his side.

“Hey Rick.”

“I’m glad I saw you. I didn’t want to walk by the chip shop on my own. Gary and his gang might be there.”

Rasheed rolled his eyes. “I don’t have nothing to do with Gary.”

“Word on the street is that he’s recruiting new members for some big job.”

Rasheed stopped. “He is?”

“Yeah. So, be careful what you say if anyone from his gang approaches you. It’s best not to walk alone…or be by yourself on the street at all.”

“Well, I’m not going to let him scare me. This is my neighbourhood too.”

Rick stopped and pulled on Rasheed’s arm, making him stop too. “You don’t get it. Once Gary decides to recruit you, you have no choice but to join.”

“Is he God?”

Rick frowned. “No.”

“Then I don’t give a shit.”

A loud noise comes from the direction of the small convenience store as they walk by it. Rasheed turns in time to see a boy being kicked by an older guy.

“Next time Gary tells you to pay up, pay!”

Rasheed made to walk over to them, but Rick held him back. “There’s nothing you can do Rasheed. Let’s just go to school.”

Rasheed didn’t argue, but he didn’t feel right leaving that boy alone. He also knew that this would not be the last time he would see something like that happen. Not now that Gary was recruiting again.