Anthology Final Submission: Home truths

Liam Cooper

Oliver stood at his mum's front door, rain dripping off his chin, and the cover which protected his suit from the downpour. He felt much more relaxed then his previous visit due to the whiskey he had consumed earlier to calm his nerves. His father answered.

"Oliver. Come inside your mum's in the living room."

"Hey Dad how are you?"

Oliver's chirpiness triggered suspicion in his father; however one glance at the subdued smile on his face from his mum confirmed his belief.

"Have you been drinking...after taking these!?"

She revealed three tabs of capsules that Oliver immediately recognized.

"We found these on the floor... Why did you never tell us?"

His father gave a sympathetic look.

"You know drinking doesn't help...your depression that is."

"I'm not depressed." Oliver exclaimed.  "I have a problem that's all. It's hard to explain..."

His mum took a seat whilst his father stood in the doorway equally embarrassed at the confrontation.

"Take your time son." His father moved to take a seat next to his wife whilst Oliver collapsed into the single sofa behind him.

"It's something ive always had you know. You remember my first proper job."

"The fruit stall, with Dale?"

His Dad smiled remembering fondly when his son first stepped into the world to earn his own pocket money.

"You remember Dale said he didn't need me anymore... Well I can explain that. Every time a customer came I would panic. This mental blur would fixate in my brain and I couldn't process a simple sum. I would hand people change not knowing if it was the right amount, I'm ashamed I know but I couldn't help it. It's not something you can easily explain. Anyway I knew from then on I had to earn a living some other way, and that's why I turned to writing."

Oliver trembled. Being this open with his parents was a rarity. However he also felt a release being able to finally reveal these truths from years of safekeeping.

"But I don't understand why you feel this way? We brought you up well, loved you, fed you... what was it... drugs?"

Oliver could not help himself. Like a spring that had been contracted for many years the pressure to bear all could not be resisted.

"It was you mum! All those years of not letting me fend for myself, of having to go through you before dad. You never let me do anything. I still remember crying to myself in my room because I wasn't allowed to play out with my friends. And you wonder why I'm reclusive!"

"Now that's enough Oli." His father was stern however not abrasive. "It's your Nan 's funeral tomorrow," I think we should all just get some rest ok?"

Oli's mum was taken aback by his outburst, tears welling up in her eyes and the tension lingered in the air like the smoking barrel of a gun. Oliver got up and began to leave the room in silence. However as he reached the door he turned to look at his mother.

"Could I have my medication back?"

"I was just... protecting you..."

She looked up at him with genuine anguish yet Oliver stood unflinching, his hand open. Slowly she opened her hand and passed him the pills. His dad then stepped out the way and Oliver turned and left the room.