The Last Laugh

***

I'd turned into a servant in that house. Weeks passed by and things got worse.

Aunt Christina had fired all the employees that uncle Ken had employed and replaced them with people that were loyal to her. All the former employees I could depend on that were my friends were fired.

Aunt Christina would starve me and beat me up often. I was dirty, pale and hungry. I looked more like a slave than anything else. Nobody wanted to touch me, approach me or even speak to me. The new employees tossed me around as much as they wanted to. I'd gone from the little boy with a satisfying lifestyle to the dirty ranch boy. I didn't even have the right to see Heather. I hardly did. I was always outside working. And whenever I cleaned the house, she was always at school.

***

One day, I was starving in the stable and I began sobbing to myself. I prayed to God to help me. I prayed for my dad or uncle Ken to help me. I was hopeless.

Someone came into the stable. I looked up. It was Sawyer.

"S– Sawyer, please. Can you bring me something to eat??" I begged weakly through my tears.

She didn't move but just stared at me.

"Please..."

"And why should I do that?" she asked coldly, folding her arms.

"Please," I cried, "I– I haven't eaten since the day before yesterday."

"That's cuz mom punished you. It isn't my fault if you didn't do the laundry properly. My clothes weren't properly washed."

How could a nine year old be so wicked?

"Sawyer, please." I crawled to her feet weakly. I managed to grab her ankle.

"Aaaah!!" she screamed all of a sudden, "LET ME GO! You're dirty!"

I didn't let her go. I was starving and I kept on begging. I was only 12 years old and I hadn't eaten for three days. I was desperate.

"Please..." I cried weakly.

"MOOM!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. Fear took over me and I let her go.

Too late. Aunt Christina appeared angrily with a leather belt in her hand. Sawyer reported everything. Aunt Christina turned to me, as furious as ever.

"Why you dirty little bastard! How dare you???" she growled raising the belt high above her head.

"Noo! Please!" I begged but the belt came down hard on me, hitting across my face and head. I screamed at the unbearable pain.

"Pleeaase!!" I cried painfully. She didn't stop. She started flogging me with the hard leather belt, on every part of my body. Everywhere. I couldn't open my eyes or see anything as she flogged me in total rage. I screamed and screamed for help. She didn't stop. Sawyer stood watching with a satisfied look.

PLEASE!

she

Aunt Christina stopped flogging me and

they were as swollen as the rest of my face. I saw Heather with a painful look in her eyes. She was sobbing as she looked at me, her hand covering her mouth in shock at my sight. She was only ten years old and had just

are you doing to him?!" she

I tell you to stay in the house?? Didn't

been doing to him?! The last time I saw him he was fine!" she screamed

dare you shout at

Christina's eyes widened in shock. Her

you?" Aunt Christina growled. Heather stepped

likes him, mommy!" Sawyer

Aunt Christina turned to me, "So you've

shook my head in

"N– noo." I trembled.

and the next thing I felt was the hard belt across my face

and ran towards her mother, trying her best to

pushed Heather aside, causing her to fall hard on the floor. And that was when Heather

carried her daughter, "Follow me with the belt!" she told

continuously. I was red, black and blue. She'd hit me so hard. My legs,

gave me a little

***

be okay. I was only twelve but I believed I loved her. I wasn't sure though if I could call it love. But what I was sure of was that I really

*

me did. Everyone had gone to sleep. I thought of going to look for left over carrots from the horses' manger but I was too weak to move.

felt a soft hand caress my cheek. I slowly opened my eyes and saw Heather sitting by

Heather?" I

"Yes..."

I slowly sat up.

I asked,

came to see how you

"Won't you be caught?"

I– I

looked at

I also brought you

noticed by  her side. She opened it. There

she was here with me. She'd sacrificed her sleep

I feed you?" she asked nervously,

managed a little

"Yes. Please."