Robert’s eyes were glued to the sight outside his window. It was so precious, he wanted to savor the moment forever. There was his eight-year-old daughter Mary. Her glowing smile brightened the whole bus, her blond hair swaying so gently. Although Robert could not hear beyond the glass window, he could tell someone just cracked a joke by the sight of Mary laughing. That award-winning smile, it was contagious. Who ever was sitting next to her beamed. Three seats down from this ray of light and laughter, was his adorable son, John. John—only six-years old—had jet-black hair that sprouted out everywhere and framed his little round face. His hollowed-out smile (due to the fact that his two front teeth were missing) made everyone laugh. He was sitting next to a boy who could pass for the young twin of the new president Franklin Roosevelt.


His children looked so happy to be with their friends. At the house, there wasn’t much to do. Robert was busy with work and Patricia didn’t get home until late. the neighbors were more then a quarter of a mile away and one was a Mexican so his kids couldn’t hang out with him. They were still to young to realize that many of the families that go to their school have it better. Everyday after school, they come running through the door, projecting the energy of their smiles throughout the whole house. Robert never understood how they could be so happy. They would engulf me and their mom Patricia in hugs, if she was home from cleaning the Chester’s house, and tell us something new they learned at school. He remembered the time Mary came home from school about two months ago.


“Daddy! Guess what I learned in school today?”


“What?” cooed Robert, clearly intrigued.


“ We learned that there is a problem with the economy. My teacher told me how all the banks are going bankrupt and it’s getting harder to find and keep your jobs. Daddy, are we going to loose all of our money?”
Robert just stared at her. Beyond being one of the most depressing days for him, he was angry at the school system for teaching his child about this.


“Of course we won’t sweetheart. We will stay a family forever,” Robert explained. He scared that Mary would continue to be worried over the economy, however, the next day he did what he had to sway her attention. After school, she ran into his arms and told him about how she learned to write in cursive; worries averted.


Robert snapped out of his daze when he heard the bus take off. Tears welled up in his eyes. Receiving such adulation from his children, guilt tore him apart. How was he going to tell his children he didn’t have the money to send them to school anymore? Why did he have to be the one to shatter their little hearts of gold?


At 1:30 pm, while Robert’s kids were still in school, Patricia walked into their house. Robert gave her a big hug, but she pushed him away.


“What’s wrong, Dollface ?” questioned Robert as Patricia cast an annoying glare at him.


“ Everything is just fine.”


“ Patricia, what is wrong? Please don’t be a pill , just tell me!”


“ I think I’m going to get fired, Robert. While Cleaning the Chesters’ house I touched something I wasn’t supposed to. Robert, I don’t make a lot of money, but it’s something that I can contribute to the family. We are middle class now, but with the economy… I’m just worried, worried our family will fall apart.” Patricia began bawling into her hands very boisterously. Robert commiserated with Patricia.


“ Patricia, I love you and even though these times are rough, our family is strong enough to withstand anything. We can get through this together.” Robert then left Patricia but five minutes later she was still wailing. Robert had no choice. He began brandishing Patricia until she stopped crying. She looked flabbergasted because Robert had only done that to her once before.


“Robert, I just need some alone time. Please leave this room!” Patricia demanded. She soon began forcing out tears again.




At exactly 4:00 his kids stepped through the door, and Robert, decrepit by his old age, found it hard to bend down.


”Daddy, today I learned how to write lowercase letters. It was hard at first but I’m really good at it. Can I show you daddy? I’m going to go get some paper.” John rapidly stated. He began writing a, b, c, d, and e then stopped to think about the f. Robert couldn’t even look him in the eye. The longer he waited, the harder it will be to tell them.


“Kids, can you please come in the living room.” His kids came in, more beatific then ever. Robert took a deep breath, girding himself.


“You both know the economy’s having a bumpy ride and that ride is causing a lot of our money to go away. I’m afraid, as of the time being, I’m going to take you guys out of school. This is probably a good thing though. Now we get more family time, I can see you right when I get home from work.” Robert tried to sound eloquently, but by the looks of his kids, he didn’t think it worked. His kids began to raucously berate him.


“I’m never going to see my cronies again! You can’t do this! I don’t know how long this motif has been going around, but I am staying in school.” Mary scolded.


“So am I daddy.” John started, “ You can’t torment us like this.”


Mary then started again. “ Do you even hear yourself? Oh yeah, of course we would love to leave school. You are such a twit !” The tone in her voice was caustic. Robert knew how detrimental he was being to his kid’s education, but he didn’t have a choice. Robert reluctantly got up and walked away, leaving his kids to yell at no one. Mary got up, patted her skirt down, and stomped away.


It was conspicuous how his family felt about the economy but then thoughts started popping into Robert’s head. Wouldn’t he be much better off on his own? His family was going to fall apart and that would be devastating. Robert could still save himself. If he left tonight he could live in a cheap hotel, traipse around town until he found a new house. Thing would be better off. His whole family was mad at him anyway. He was going to do it, he was going to leave.


Robert’s suitcase was packed with food, two pairs of pants, his favorite shirt, a top hat and a few trinkets that could help him along the way. He had to leave the house before sunrise or someone might see him. His hand was on the doorknob when he stopped. This was his family. His loving family. Even though Robert didn’t earn a ton of money, it had been enough to support his family. Patricia only earned a Lincoln for the whole week. That pittance is not enough to support a family. Was John going to try and get a job at the age of six? Would Patricia leave as well? Robert snapped out of this daze when he looked at the clock. Time was pressuring him. He could see the faintest ball of light rising up from the horizon. Robert cursed under his breath. He didn’t no what to do. If he were to stay, they would just keep selling items in their house, until nothing was left. No one in his family could handle that. With one last look inside the house he stepped out and gently closed the door. He made the right decision; at least he hoped he did.
…





Robert finished calculating the money he earned today, as he started walking back to his hotel. One month had gone by since Robert had left and he was really earning some big bucks. He felt adventourous ever since he left his home. He had been staying out late drinking with his friends and recently saw the new movie, Gone with the wind . He tried not to think about Patricia because every time it made his eyes water. He continuously told himself that he made the right decision because it bettered life for him. After getting to his room, he sat down, and felt around his suitcase for his favorite snow globe. While doing this, Robert felt a small piece of paper. He pulled it out and immediately fought back tears. He began thinking of his family and didn’t try to stop himself. Their house must be such a mess while his hotel room was pristine. Robert was a very halting man, and Patricia loved him for it. He took his family for granted and betrayed all of them. He was the transcendence one in his family. Without even pondering over the subject of coming home, he threw every thing in his suitcase and walked out. Who knew that a piece of paper that had an a, b, c, d, and e on it could move a person so much.


After an hour or so, he reached his old house, which cast an eerie feeling throughout his body. He couldn’t believe this was imminent. He had never been away for such a long time. The chance of his family taking him back was slim, but he had to show he still cared. He dawdled up the steps and closed his eyes. He knocked three times, every time it felt harder and harder to move his hand. His eyes were still closed when he heard the cries of a young girl. There was Mary, her blond hair matted and her eyes glossy. Her smile revealed her yellowing teeth and there were bags under her eyes. A few steps behind her was John. His hair uneven and his gaze distant. His smile revealed the start of his new teeth growing in. Mary and John ran up and hugged him so tightly he began gasping for breath.


“ I love you guys,” muttered Robert. Where’s you mother?” he then asked a little louder.


“ Ever since you disappeared, Mommy has been home late. Robert felt relief when he heard Patricia was okay. John then started crying, his ethereal heart not able to contain the events that just happened.


“ Daddy are you ever gonna disappear again”? Robert looked his children. This is what he lived for. His kid’s happiness meant everything. A smile from then was worth more then a thousand dollars.


John spoke with tears in his eyes, “never again kids. Never again.”