Chapter 1

I didn’t want this.

I really didn’t.

But this was the way it was going to be.

Mick walked into my former bedroom. His brown eyes looked up at me. Somehow they didn’t seem as bright anymore. He didn’t want this either, but for him it was for a simple reason. He believed completely in the fact that he could trust his mommy and daddy to take care of his world.

He was in the process of learning that wasn’t true. A rough way to learn it.

“Come on bud! The fish aren’t going to wait for us!”

“OK Daddy!”

My almost six year old son, Mick, came running with his little back pack. We were going fishing again. Mick and I went fishing once a month and had since he turned five. He’d learned how to bait a hook last time with our special fish catching formula. It was special because he and I made it together. It was just made up of white bread and night-crawlers smooshed together with a little water to make bait balls of various sizes.

We stuck a hook into the worm/dough ball and dropped it into the water. The blue gills, bullheads, rock bass and crappie loved the stuff. Mick used small portions of bait on smaller hooks and caught a ton of small panfish. We threw most back but kept the bigger ones.

He watched with great concentration when I baited my big hook and tossed the bait way out into the water. I was usually rewarded with bites from big crappie or large-mouth bass. Sometimes I’d get a small pike that would come in to see what it could catch from all the smaller fish gathered to take a shot at our bait.

During this trip I was going to teach Mick how to cast and how to weight the bait so we could try to catch some big catfish. He thought the bullheads were cool and didn’t believe me that there were some kinds of catfish that got over a hundred pounds. I was hoping to catch a few eight to ten pounders.

My wife Deb was always invited, but always told us to go and have a boys weekend. I loved the time I spent with Mick and he with me. I could see this being something we could do until Mick got old enough to do it with his own son.

The drive to the lake was filled with sing-a-longs to the music on the radio and answers to any questions a little boy could think of. His innocent logic was always insightful. He was my only child and our time together was my classroom to being a better parent for my next child.

One time I hooked myself and was aware enough of Mick’s presence that I didn’t swear. I did, however, say “Darn it!” really loud. Mick watched intently as I washed the wound with some liquid soap, then dried it. Mick helped me put a band aid on it. Later that day when he poked himself with a hook, he copied me, word for word. I hugged him and cleaned the wound and put on a band aid.

The first time we caught and kept a fish, Mick was trying to understand the concept of killing the fish. I was explaining to him that God made the world that way. As I was trying to find the right words an Osprey swooped down and plucked a fish out of the water and flew up to its nest. From our place we couldn’t see the young in the birds nest, but you could tell that the big Osprey was feeding its young.

“You see Mick. The big fish eat the little fish, the birds eat the fish. When we cut up the fish we throw the parts we don’t keep into the water. That feeds other fish and crayfish and even tiny, small things called bacteria. However, son, we never, EVER, kill a fish or anything for the fun of it. We either let the little ones go so they can become big, or we keep them and eat them.”

“OK,” was my child’s simple answer to an explanation of a most complex ecosystem.

We always cleaned the fish and then packed the fillets in ice for our trip home. The trip going home was usually more quiet than the trip to the lake. This was because Mick napped on the way back to regenerate his batteries so he could give his mom the appropriate amount of childhood energy when we got home.

The last time we went fishing, as I said, I was going to teach Mick how to cast and he was so excited to fish like his daddy. We got to the lake during a light rain and we were just getting our wet weather gear on when there was a tremendous blast of lightning and thunder.

Mick jumped and looked at me for an assurance that he was going to be OK. I looked in the direction of the storm to see a solid black wall of clouds. The radio had been playing music and I immediately pushed the button to the local radio station that served the small towns around the lake. This was a big storm and it was going to be very intense.

“Well son, it looks like no fishing today. Sorry. I guess we better head back.”

“OK, Daddy. I’m sorry. I know you were looking forward to teaching me.”

“Yes, I was. But we can practice in the back yard with just some bobbers.”

“OK.”

“I think that we need to stop for a chocolate shake at the Hungry Head so we don’t feel so sad. What do you think?”

“Will it make you feel better, Daddy?”

“Will you have one with me?”

“Yes.”

“Then I will feel better.”

“OK, let’s go!”

I started the truck and we headed for the small town on the county road we traveled to get to the lake and home. The Hungry Head was a sub sandwich restaurant that had an old fashioned soda shop in it. Mick and I ran in through the rain and wind and took a seat. The waitress came over with a big smile as Mick wiped the rain off his face with some napkins from the dispenser.

“You look like you need something to eat,” she said to Mick.

“My daddy and I need chocolate shakes, please.”

“And do you both want a small, medium or large shake?”

Mick looked at me and I raised my eyebrows and shrugged my shoulders.

“My daddy needs a big one and I need a medium one, please.”

“Perfect. I’ll have them out in a few minutes.”

“Thank you,” Mick said before the waitress left. She looked at me as I glowed with pride. I mouthed ‘Thank you’ to her before she walked away.

“Mick you did very well with your order. Thank you for the large shake.”

“You needed a big one to make you feel better.”

We sat there and watched the weather outside. A couple of the thunder bolts shook the window that protected us. Each one eliciting a big ‘Ooh’ from both of us. I timed my shake consumption to coincide with Mick’s. Our simultaneous final slurping sound was both satisfying and humorous.

The waitress came back and gave the bill to Mick. He looked at me and then at her. I saw a moment of panic on his face before I took the bill.

“Mick since you ordered I’ll pay this time. OK?”

“OK, Daddy. Next time I’ll bring my allowance.”

I handed the waitress my card and when she came back she thanked us and we ran out in the rain and jumped into the truck. We laughed because the rain suddenly increased as we walked out of the shop and it almost stopped as soon as we got in the truck. The drive was a little exciting since the wind had us weaving around the road. Soon Mick had slipped into his energy conserving nap.

When we got near our home there was something wrong. A car was parked in my driveway. I pulled up next to it and looked at Mick. I don’t know why, but I reached up to press the button on the garage door opener, missing it on purpose.

“Mick, stay in the truck please. My garage door opener isn’t working. I’ll go inside and open it and then drive us inside. OK?”

“OK, Daddy.”

“I’m leaving the motor running so don’t go driving off!”

Mick giggled at the joke and watched me as I got out of the truck, holding onto my hat as the storm rose in intensity. I ran to the front door and unlocked it, quietly entering my home. I heard nothing immediately, but as I walked towards the stairs to the bedrooms, I did. I walked up the stairs, avoiding the known squeaky spots and walked towards the noise coming from my bedroom.

I opened the door and found my wife and a man fucking on my bed. Before I could burst in and beat the two of them to death, I remembered my son and pulled out my phone and began the video function.

“What the hell is this?”

“Oh shit!” was my wife’s reaction.

“Fuck!” was the man’s.

While the two cheaters tried to cover up, I walked over to the man’s pants and took out his wallet. Without looking at it I took his driver’s license and put it into my pocket.

“You need to get dressed and get out of here,” I addressed the guy. “My son is in the truck outside and I don’t want him to see a naked man running out of the house. Deb, you need to get dressed and get ready to act normal around my son.”

I tried to keep my voice level while I continued to video the pair.

“Paul...”

“Stop. Move! Both of you. NOW!” I raised my voice, cutting off anything she had to say.

The man stood up and I got a good picture of his hard dick waving around as he pulled on his underwear and shirt. He grabbed his pants and stopped to look at me.

“Can I have my license?”

“No. I need to know your name and address. If you are married I’ll be over tonight.”

The look of horror on his face told me he was, indeed, married.

“Deb, get out of bed please.”

She got out from under the sheet she was covering with, exposing her naked body for the video.

“I’m going to go downstairs and pull the truck into the garage. When I do that,” again addressing the guy, “you will go out and get in your car and be gone before my son can see your face. Move!”

I walked out the door and he followed at a safe distance. I went to the door to the garage and entered closing the door behind me. I opened the garage door and braced myself to run to the truck.

“Wow! That is some cold rain! You doing OK, buddy?”

“Yes, Daddy.”

I started the truck and pulled it into the garage. I hit the remote and closed the door behind the truck.

“Great! Now it works!” I looked at Mick with my eyes wide open in surprise. “Come on, buddy, let’s go and get a warm shower and then we can watch a movie.”

“OK, Daddy.”

We got out of the truck and I stopped at the door to remove my shoes and waiting for Mick to do the same. I was hoping that I was giving Deb and her guy time to make my home look normal to my son. I took off my coat and hung it up on the hook by the door, Mick did the same. I couldn’t stall any longer, so I opened the door and we walked into the kitchen.

“Deb! Your fishermen are home!” I called out.

“Good, I was getting hungry for some fish.”

“Oh oh,” Mick said to me looking worried. “I hope she isn’t mad when she sees we don’t have any fish.”

“Why would she get mad?” I asked.

“She’s been mad a couple of times after school. She is better when you get home.”

I wondered why that was the perception of my son. Deb came into the kitchen. She was wearing a t-shirt and sweat pants, normal for her, and she had her hair back in a pony tail.

“Sorry, there was too much lightning and we couldn’t fish.”

“Yeah, there was a big lightning that hit near us and it was really loud!” Mick related.

“Well, then I guess we will just have to have pizza for dinner.” Deb said tentatively.

“Pizza! Can we get garlic bread too?” Mick asked his mom.

“Yes, I think we can do that,” she said looking to see if I was going to do something.

“Yeah!” Mick was overjoyed.

“OK, son. Hit the shower and get warm,” I instructed.

“OK, Daddy,” Mick said, before speeding to his room like it would make the pizza get there sooner.

“I’m going to take a shower,” was all I said before I left Deb standing there.

The shower was warm and wasn’t soothing in any way, shape, or form. What I’d just seen was sinking in and the tears came to my eyes. Why? Who? How long? Shit!

Getting out of the shower I dried and went to put my clothes in the laundry basket to find that my pants were already in there. Deb had come to the bedroom. I checked the pocket and the guys driver’s license was gone. I pulled on some clean underwear and a t-shirt. Next came some jeans and a sweat shirt. I walked downstairs to find Deb sitting at the kitchen table.

“Give me his license or I swear to God I will start beating on you until you do.”

“You’ve never hit me.”

“I would never hit my wife, but you aren’t ... don’t take any bets.”

“Mick will see it.”

“Yes, he will, and he’ll hate me until he gets old enough to understand, then he’ll hate you for the rest of his life. Give it to me.”

She must have seen the look in my eyes or the fact that both of my hands were balled up into fists. She went to her purse and took out the license. Just then Mick came into the kitchen all excited.

“Pizza! Garlic bread, too! Whoo!”

“Relax, bud! Mick, I have something I have to take care off. Help your mom order the pizza and stuff.”

“Can I go with you?” He asked after looking at his mom.

“No, bud. You need to spend some time with your mom. You said that she has been mad when I wasn’t here. Maybe you two can talk and you can find out why. I’ll be back as soon as I’m done.”

I turned towards the garage door.

“Paul, can’t it wait until later?” Deb asked.

“No, Deb, it can’t. It’s apparently something that I should have taken care of much sooner.”

I punched the address on the driver’s license into my phones GPS and drove to the guys home. I pulled up in front of the nice middle class house with its’ two car garage. There was a basketball hoop attached to the garage.

I got out of the truck and moved slowly in the rain to the front door. I rang the doorbell and waited. Nothing happened, so I pushed the button and held it in. Finally the porch light came on and the door opened. There he stood.

He tried to come out onto the porch and close the door behind him, but I blocked him.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in and out of the weather?”

“No. Please don’t do this. You’ll ruin my family.”

“Like you did mine?”

His face went sad.

“Honey? Who is it?” A female voice asked from behind him.

“Nothing important, dear.”

“That’s not going to be true, you know,” with that I raised my voice and yelled as loudly as I could through the still partially open door. “I would like to come in and show you a video of your husband fucking my wife today.”

The guy stood straight up as tall as he could. He looked like he was in total shock. A few seconds later the door slowly opened behind him.

“What did you say?” she asked.

“I asked if you would like to see the video I took a little while ago of your husband and my wife naked and fucking in my bed.”

“Please come in,” she invited. He blocked my way until she grabbed the back of his collar and pulled him out of the way, rather violently.

I walked into the living room to find his wife and his teenage daughter. His wife was about six feet tall and his daughter a little taller than mom. That explained the basketball set up. The girl looked as shocked as her mother.

“Please come in and have a seat.”

“I’m not going to be here long enough to sit,” I said as I pulled out my phone and started the video.

I held it up to her face, with her daughter standing behind her. They watched the short video of her husband and Deb fucking and then breaking up as I announced my presence. After watching him starting to dress with a boner and seeing my wife get out of bed naked, there were no doubts.

“I have an almost six year old son,” I said sadly putting away the phone. “I have to get home. I’ll be filing for divorce on Monday and naming your husband in the suit. I’m sorry.”