The Third Parent Page 2

  Dad rubbed his throat and coughed, baring his fists again, preparing for another strike if necessary.

  Tommy shook his head, chuckling, “Hehehehe…”

  “Get out of my house,” Dad growled. “Get out RIGHT NOW!”

  “It’s never easy in the beginning,” Tommy said softly, “but you all learn eventually. One way or another.”

  Dad took a step toward Tommy and cocked his fist back, but this time he didn’t have the chance to follow through. Tommy sprang forward with alarming speed and ducked low, plowing an elbow into my dad’s chest hard enough to knock him to the floor, the air leaving his lungs in a painful gasp.

  Katie screamed and buried her face in my mother’s side as Tommy leaned down and picked up my dad by the hair. Without pause, he threw him into the wall with terrifying strength. My dad crunched against the hard surface and went sprawling to the floor once again. As he tried to stand, Tommy was back at his side. Effortlessly, he bent down and picked up my dad with one hand lifting him off his feet and then slammed his body violently back to the ground.

  Gasping and dazed, Dad tried to get to his feet, but Tommy kicked him viciously in the stomach, dropping him like a sack of sand.

  Smiling, Tommy leaned down. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be. It’s not worth it in the long run. And let me assure you, Michael, it’s going to be a long run.”

  Breaking from her trance, Mom dashed for the phone hanging on the kitchen wall. Tommy calmly turned to her as she practically crashed into the wall, hands fumbling for the receiver, fingers tangling in the long cord.

  Instead of stopping her, Tommy walked to my side and looked down at me. I felt a numb kind of dizziness pour over me as I stared up at this terrifying man, his perfect features shining down at me, his eyes like cobalt spotlights.

  “Don’t be afraid,” Tommy said softly, smiling down into my pale face. And then he spun me around by the shoulders and pressed my back against his body, his strong hands resting on my shoulders. He reached down and took one of my hands, his fingers gripping my thumb.

  “Penny,” he called gently to my mom, “oh, Penny, I wouldn’t do that.”

  My mom, one hand on the receiver, looked over at us and her eyes bugged out of her head, her mouth working silently. She looked into my eyes and I saw terror engulf her as she realized this monster had her son.

  “Put the phone down, Penny,” Tommy instructed.

  Mom sputtered, frozen.

  Tommy gripped my thumb. “If you don’t put it down in three seconds, I’m going to break his finger.”

  “NO!” my mother screamed, slamming the phone back onto the wall. “No, don’t hurt him!”

  Tommy released my thumb but kept his hands planted firmly on my shoulders. He rustled my hair and I felt sick.

  “Good girl. See? We’re starting to learn how things work,” Tommy said smoothly. “Now, why don’t we all go into the living room and calm down a little bit.”

  “Let him go,” Mom croaked. “You let Jack go right now!”

  I stifled a cry as Tommy ran his hands gently over my face and down my arms, his touch like cold velvet sprouting goosebumps along my skin.

  “There’s no need for hysterics,” Tommy instructed. “Let’s just all take a breath and go sit down on the couch. There are some things we need to go over.”

  Dad was slowly crawling to his feet, a labored, pained look on his face. “Just leave…us…alone…please…”

  Tommy shook his head, sighing, “Haven’t you gotten it through your head yet? I’m not going anywhere and the sooner we all understand that the sooner we can stop all this unnecessary drama. Now, everyone go sit down on the couch. Please.”

  No one moved. The air cracked with violent tension.

  Tommy’s voice hardened and he pointed to Katie, addressing us all, “If you don’t do what I say, I’m going to hurt her very badly. Please don’t make me.”

  I heard my mom suck in a harsh breath between her teeth as Tommy’s threat splintered our resilience. Instantly, she went to Katie and wrapped her arms around her, guiding them both to the couch. They sat down, tears running down their cheeks.

  “Good,” Tommy said. He turned to my dad. “Michael?”

  Slowly, my dad complied and went to sit next to my mother and sister. His eyes were hard and full of fury, but there was also a very real fear in them now.

  “It’s going to be ok, people!” Tommy suddenly laughed, his hands still on my shoulders. I felt his body rock against me, my shoulders pressed against his stomach.

  And that’s when the phone rang.

  We all looked at each other as the familiar jingle echoed through the now silent house. We all waited, unsure what to do. My heart was crashing into my chest and I kept expecting to wake up.

  Tommy suddenly pushed me forward, his voice cool and commanding. “Go ahead, Jack. Answer the phone.”

  I stood frozen, staring at my mom and dad, eyes wide and unsure. I felt like I was going to pee myself.

  “Go on,” Tommy instructed, “but remember: If you say anything naughty, it’s not going to be pleasant for your sister.”

  “Go ahead, son,” my dad said, his voice shaking.

  I slowly walked to the phone like I was in a dream. The plastic yellow brick continued to sing on the wall.

  I reached up and answered, pressing it to my ear in a death grip.

  “H-hello?” I croaked.

  For a second there was nothing but an odd static…and then a voice filled my head, a soft, but strained male voice that trickled in through the receiver like a summer wind.

  “Let me speak to Tommy.”

  I licked my lips and looked over at the strange, doll-like man. I extended the phone to him, hands shaking.

  “I-it’s for you.”

  Something flickered across Tommy’s face, but it was gone so quickly I couldn’t decipher what it was. Slowly, he walked to my side and took the phone. Staring down at me, he put it to his ear and listened.

  He said nothing for a couple seconds and I could faintly hear the voice on the other end speaking.

  Tommy’s face never changed, but he slowly shook his head. “Hehehehe…” And then he hung up.

  “Who was that!? What was that all about!?” Dad cried from the couch. “What is going on!? Who ARE you!?”

  Tommy ignored him. Whatever the call had been about didn’t seem to have any lasting effect on him. He placed a hand on the back of my neck and guided me toward the living room where my family waited, tense and afraid.

  My mother held her arms out to me, but Tommy didn’t let me go. Instead, he took us to the big overstuffed chair that sat opposite the couch. Smiling, he sat down and pulled me up onto his lap. My hands balled into fists, terrified and shaking. I didn’t like this man, didn’t like the way he looked or talked to us. I didn’t like how he had beaten my dad, breaking the calm Saturday afternoon with shocking violence. And I especially didn’t like sitting on his lap, a worm of wriggling unease coiling through my stomach.

  Tommy, sensing my fear, placed a hand on my leg and stroked the back of my head. “Easy, champ, just relax. We all need to relax.”

  “Get your hands off of him,” Dad growled, trembling where he sat.

  Tommy gave him an annoyed look. “Calm down, Michael. Mike. Can I call you Mike? I think I will, it’s more familiar…” He traced a finger down my cheek, causing me to bristle. “More intimate. Now, all I want is to sit here and talk this out like rational people. Can we all do that? Yes? Let’s all nod our heads, ok? Great.”

  “Please don’t hurt Jack,” Katie cried, meeting my eyes and exchanging a look of sibling comfort.

  Tommy looked taken back. “Hurt him? Dear girl, that’s the last thing I want to do. You and sweet Jack are the whole reason I’m here!”

  “What are you talking about?” Mom asked. “Just what do you want with us?”

  Tommy wrapped his arms around me and laced his fingers across my stomach. He perched his chin on my sho
ulder and stared at my parents. “I’m here to help you raise them.”

  My parents exchanged an uneasy look before my father shook his head. “We don’t want your help. We don’t need it. We’re doing just fine, now please…please would you just leave us in peace?…I’m begging you…”

  Tommy raised his head, voice hardening, “Mike, if you ask me to leave one more time I can’t promise I’ll remain so composed.”

  Dad stared pleadingly at Tommy but kept his mouth closed.

  “There’s a couple rules I want to go over,” Tommy announced. I could feel his breath on the top of my head and it felt like a poisonous cloud descending over me. I looked to my sister for comfort and she held my eyes, lip quivering.

  It’s ok, we’re going to be ok, they said. I wasn’t sure I believed her.

  “First off,” Tommy continued, “Let’s not get any wild ideas about the police. We don’t need them. We’re going to be just fine here…together. If one of you tries to call again…” he met my parent’s panicked eyes, “and I’m mostly speaking to you two, but if ANY of you try to call the police then I’m afraid I’m going to have to take drastic measures. One of you will have to be punished. So please, don’t make me do that; I don’t want to do that. I want us all to get along and be one happy family, ok?”

  “This is crazy,” Dad muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.

  Tommy suddenly reached down and jerked my hand up, holding it out for all to see. He gripped my thumb and I cried out in fear, babbling, crying for my parents.

  “Do I need to break it?” Tommy said loudly. “Is that what I need to do for you all to understand that you’re not in control anymore?”

  “No! No, please don’t hurt him. PLEASE!” Mom cried, half standing. Katie held my eyes whispering silent words of comfort to me, tears running down her cheeks. I felt myself crying, terrified that this monster would at any second break my thumb. The anticipation was agony as Tommy glared at my parents, my finger hostage in his grip.

  “Mike?” Tommy said, raising his eyebrows, “Well?”

  “I’m sorry,” Dad said quickly, “Please don’t hurt him. I’m sorry…you’re the boss, ok?”

  Tommy dropped my finger and I quickly clutched it to my chest, trembling. I wanted to run to my mom, fall into the protection of her arms, but I didn’t dare.

  “Boss?” Tommy said, rolling the word around in his mouth. “No…no I don’t like that. I’m not your boss.” He sighed and massaged the side of his head with two fingers. “You people still aren’t getting it. I’m here to help you. I’m here to help you raise your two beautiful children. I’m not your boss, your master, or anything of the sort. I’m like another parent. And as a parent, I have rules that need to be followed. Simple, easy rules.” He pointed to Katie. “Do you remember the first rule?”

  Katie jumped at being addressed and then nodded, “We can’t call the police.”

  “We don’t need the police,” Tommy said. “Good memory. I’m really proud of you, Katie. I know this is probably really confusing and frightening for you, but I’m not a bad guy. I’m going to help you. I’m going to help you grow up to be a beautiful, smart, successful woman.”

  “O-ok,” Katie responded, not quite sure how else to answer. I looked at my family longingly from my prison on Tommy’s lap.

  “Excuse me,” I dared, “Can I please go sit with my mom and dad?”

  Tommy looked down at me, positively beaming, “Well, well, look at the manners of this young man. Of course, you can, champ. But only because you asked so nicely.” But before he let me go, Tommy leaned down and kissed the side of my head.

  “Good boy,” he whispered in my ear.

  His voice felt like a snake slithering into my ear and I scrubbed it away as I slid off his lap and practically ran into my mother’s arms. She sighed with worried relief and hugged me to her chest, kissing the top of my head and squeezing me close.

  Tommy clapped his hands together bringing our attention back to him. “Now that we’re all a little calmer, let’s finish going over the new rules, ok?”

  We all said nothing, a jury of silenced peers.

  “You probably shouldn’t talk to people about me,” Tommy continued. “It just wouldn’t be right. During my time here I’ll keep to the confines of this house while you all go about your day. But know this…if you do happen to confess to another about my presence here…” he smiled, shaking his head, “boy, it’ll get nasty. And if you think you can outsmart me or try to escape…well…that would be your loss. Why abandon such a wonderful home? Why give up such a pleasant life? I can’t stress this enough. I’m here to help. So just live life like you normally would, avoid the police, don’t run your mouth to your friends or co-workers, and we’ll all get along fine.”

  He raised a finger. “One last thing: if I tell you to do something, you need to do it. It’s for your own good. Every person comes across tests in their lives. Tests that determine the type of person they are or will be. Endure these and you will come out a better person.” He looked at my parents. “And if either of you try something, if you try to get rid of me before my time here is done…well…it will be your children that suffer. Remember that when you get the urge to call the police or friends. Remember that if you confess to them, I’ll know. And before anyone can do anything, it will be the little ones that pay the price. Ok? There’s a lot of fingers between the two of them and I can assure you…that is just the tip of a very deep and dark iceberg.”

  “Whatever you want,” Dad said, his face a grim sheet of stone. “It’s whatever you want. We won’t say anything so long as you don’t harm the children.”

  Tommy nodded approvingly. “Wonderful to have your consent, Mike. Penny? Penny, you look rather sick. Are you ok? Do you understand what I just said? Penny, nod if you understand.”

  Mom swallowed hard and then nodded.

  “Can you say it, Penny?” Tommy goaded, “can you tell me you understand?”

  “I understand,” Mom croaked.

  Tommy winked at her. “Oh, you’re going to be a fun nut to crack.”

  “Why are you doing this?” Katie suddenly asked and we all froze.

  But Tommy just smiled and outstretched his hand to her. “Come here, child.” Katie shrank into the couch but Tommy waved his hand insistently, “Come on, it’s ok. I’m not going to hurt you. The hurting is done now.”

  I reached out and gripped Katie’s hand, silently begging her not to go, but she slid from my sweaty grasp and slowly walked over to stand in front of Tommy. I could feel my mother tense against me, her breath hitching in her chest.

  Tommy leaned forward in his chair and placed his elbows on his knees so he was staring into my sister’s eyes. “How old are you, Katie?”

  Katie looked back at us on the couch before answering, “Nine. I’m nine.”

  Tommy nodded, smiling warmly. He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “So young still. So innocent. What a blessing you are to this family. Do you know that? That you’re a blessing?”

  Katie shook her head, hands behind her back.

  Tommy placed an open palm against her cheek. “You’re going to break a lot of boys’ hearts, I think. With eyes like those…”

  “Don’t talk to her like that,” Dad growled, fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned white. “Please…Tommy…she’s just a child.”

  Tommy’s eyes fluttered across Katie’s face and I saw his tongue slither out and wet his lips. “Yes…just a child…hehehehe…”

  “Come back here, Katie,” I pleaded. “Come sit next to me.”

  Tommy sat back in his chair as Katie returned to her place by my side, our hands finding one another. I felt a little better with her back next to me away from the strange intruder.

  Tommy watched us and smiled approvingly. “Do you love your sister, Jack?”

  I gripped Katie’s hand tighter. “Yes.”

  Tommy exhaled, “Mmmm…good…that’s good to hear. You should love
your family. You only get one.”

  Mom shifted on the couch, her voice strained. “So…so what now?”

  Tommy snapped his eyes over to her. “Well, from what I’ve gathered, you all were about to make dinner, yes?”

  “Dad was going to grill some burgers,” I said quietly, eyes on the floor.

  Tommy clapped his hands together. “Great! Well…carry on, don’t let me stop you. I know this interruption in your evening has probably made you all very hungry.”

  We didn’t move. Food was the last thing I wanted right now. My stomach felt like a pit filled with sloshing muck. My little world had been so severely shaken that I felt sick, bile rising in the back of my throat. I glanced at Dad, at his wounds. A purple bruise was beginning to blossom along the side of his face like a flower in the spring sunlight. He was wringing his hands together and staring at the tips of his fingers. He looked unsure, scared, and most of all, he looked pained. And that terrified me.

  “Come on, come on,” Tommy said, standing and waving at us, “no need to look so glum. It’s a beautiful day out and I don’t want to spoil your evening plans. Come on, up we go!”

  We rose as one, casting glances at one another. My mother gripped my shoulder with an iron grasp like she was afraid I would suddenly vanish. Katie was at my side holding my hand. I was glad for it, glad for some semblance of comfort. I felt like crying but dared not to. Something told me that would upset this strange man with the smooth face. Tommy Taffy.

  “Jack, come out with me,” Dad said, motioning toward the kitchen. “Help me grill the burgers. Katie, stay with your mother.”

  “That’s better!” Tommy said cheerily, crossing his arms and watching us disperse back to our stations.

  I stayed next to Dad, his hand guiding me to the kitchen table. He scooped up the plate of abandoned, uncooked meat and miserably went to the back door. I snatched the sweating bottle of beer from its lonely spot and followed. I cast a look over my shoulder at Mom and Katie and my sister gave me a sad little wave. For whatever reason, it felt like it was a goodbye. I bit my lip as tears once again threatened to erupt from my eyes, but I managed to bravely hold them back.