Chapter 5: Stuck in the Basement
Mikey Appleton: March 11th, 1964
I sit in the living room, I had an early dismissal today; which is both a curse and a blessing. Even if I don’t have to deal with Todd and his squad, I still have to deal with my parents back at home anyways… I’m pretty happy about this comic I bought! I just took a quick little trip to the bookstore, I definitely can use some of the art as inspiration for Mighty Man & Techno-Girl! As the bus stops right on my station, I happily walk out the bus and to my house. I just hope that I don’t somehow make my parents mad again. It’s until I see my mom that I remember something…
“Oh Mikey! The change? Can I have it?”
“O-Oh… T-The c-change?”
“Yeah Mikey, where is it?” My mom asks, already getting annoyed…
“I-I-I d-don’t h-have it…” I ask shyly.
“What do you mean you don’t have it? Mikey! You always know you need to give me your change! Where the hell did you spend the money on Mikey?”
“A C-C-Comic…” I reply, defeated already knowing what my fate is.
“You and your stupid comic books Mikey!”
“B-But mom… It was o-only 12 cents…”
I notice she starts to creep up on me, I back away to the basement door…
“You know what Mikey… Just go in the basement…” My mom explains seriously.
“B-But… I-It’s too s-scar-”
“Just go in there before you end up with bandages on your face!”
Hearing that I immediately open the basement door and slide in . Well… like expected I ended up in the basement again… I hear some schoolmates mention how they have a timeout corner in their house, for me it’s the basement… I slowly creep down the stairs, already scared of anything and everything down there. It’s dark down there, just like my mom and dad’s hearts; other than an orange yellowish light trying its best to imitate the yellow color of the sun. As I make it down to the bottom, I feel like I’m shaking more in fear. My parents usually just keep storage down here, like old plates and what not. They say it’s not even scary, probably even to the tougher classmates like Todd and his little squad would say that. But for me, I just cry… I just can’t… I just fear, I just fear…
Why are my parents like this? Why do they pick on me, punch me, yell at me? What did I do to deserve that? Why does Todd always pick on me? What good does he make from that? Why can’t I always just stay with Cherry? Why does she have to take a different bus than I do? I just… I just… I just don’t know… Why am I so shy? Why can’t I just have normal confidence? Why can’t I just publicly show how much I love comics and superheroes? Why does mom have her perfume as beer? Why does dad have to call me “shy boy”? I just don’t really know…
Well, if I want to prove I’m not just a “shy boy” I better show that I’m not shy at all. I have to face my fears as they say. I stand up and begin to pace around the room. It would be very spacious if it wasn’t for the fact there’s several boxes. If I can recall from other times I got locked up in here that there is a big box of books. There’s some from when my parents were young, and even my grandparents as well. Some books from the 1800s, I mean it’s cool I suppose. Though, the lightswitch is at the top of the stairs and I know I’ll be in more trouble if I dare to turn it on… In other words, we also have some photos in boxes; mostly from school but also some newer ones from our own camera my parents or relatives bought. Well, it’s alright I suppose, I’ll just be with my thoughts.
Well… about Cherry… I know it's a little bit late from Valentine’s Day, but maybe I can make her a card… I mean it wouldn’t hurt to try it at least. Even doing the mandatory Valentines Cards for my class, even trying to add a little more detail and care to her card just resulted in my dad going,
“Oh! The shy boy loves Cherry does he!” In his usual mocking voice, right before doing the usual slap on my face and blowing the smoke in my face.
I mean, if I’m just a little quick on it I could finish it and not get picked on by my mom and dad… Well, maybe I can do another heart like what I did in valentines except it’s bigger and better! Well, I better have to wait til my parents tell me it’s ok to leave to do so. I don’t know if it might be an hour or so.
A couple of minutes laters
I wait at the top of the stairs, the door here is thin enough to where I can hear the living room. Usually it is just my parents watching the news, some show, or just them talking. I mean it’s kind of entertaining when it’s a show or the news but when they’re just talking… Well especially if it’s about me… It’s not all nice. And oh… It sounds like my mom is crying?
“Look Dennis… I-I just don’t know anymore…” She says in between sobs
“It’s ok Josie, just calm down. Maybe there’s still a chance.” My dad replies, sounding genuinely caring.
“I-I’ll try too… but it’s just I’m stuck with the office job…”
“Yeah, it’s not exactly ideal but we still make money both for our expenses and just to save on other stuff.”
“Yeah… you’re right Dennis…”
Huh… that’s interesting… I never really heard my mom cry, or my dad comforting someone… Is kinda strange, as I always knew them for being the exact opposite of those things… If only…
I hear them exchange a kiss, aw… how sweet I guess…
“Well… thank you sweetie…” My ma, now comforted, says.
“You’re welcome Josie.”
“Though… I still couldn’t live out my dream… I just can’t anymore because of that thing!”
“Look honey, we were young that day… too naive and in on ourselves after we got married.”
“Yeah… you’re right, it was just an accident.”
Accident? What happened? Did they get into a car crash? Did they forget to enlist for something? What exactly was that ‘accident?’ Oh well, it might not be important to me; it’s just better to continue listening.
“But it’s ok Josie, it’s not like he’s ever going to get anywhere in life.” My dad says, while snickering.
“Yeah! Too shy to literally do anything!” My mom replies as she also giggles.
Wait… Is the accident… Me? What does that mean? What did I do? Oh well… it’s just one of their times where they talk behind my back… They never really seem to be really happy for me unless it’s something like my birthday or really any family event. But it’s not really like I see most of my family outside of just them everyday… Oh well, just look at the bright side, Mikey, just think about the next comic idea and what you’re going to write for Cherry. My parents turn on the tv, after a few seconds of turning it on, my dad asks my mom a question.
“Can I release Mikey now?”
“Sure Dennis, why not…”
Hearing that, I immediately got back to the bottom of the stairs; just so they didn't hear that I was again eavesdropping on them. As I hear the door up, I look up and my dad opens the door; looking down at me.
“Come on Mikey, you’re free to go back to your room…” He says, uninterested.
I get up, and I immediately head to my room, ready to make the card for Cherry.