pale blue paint. He spent hours in there sanding the walls, then painting the base coat and two coats of the powder blue color he let me choose.
We did it while she was at work. We even put the crib together that Dad hadn’t gotten around to doing earlier and tied a blue ribbon around it. I was only three at the time, and Tyler was two, but I guess Dad figured you got to make the most of the situation in front of you.
I know it wasn’t much, but damn, Mom loved it. She cried and cried happy tears.
“Oh Tyson, you and your father are so thoughtful. I love you, my big boy,” she said hugging me tight. I felt so much joy and love from her. It was such a small gesture, but it’s something I’ll never forget.
“You really have helped shine a light and show me how exciting a new baby will be. A boy or girl doesn’t matter. As long as he is healthy and well loved, that is the most anyone can ask for,” she told me, and I know she really was convincing herself.
“I love you, Jimmy. Our three sons will be amazing,” she gushed to Dad as they embraced. We have never had a lot of money, so having a third child in the house did make money tighter, but we managed. We always did.
Thomas really brought brightness to our lives. He was always a very happy and smiling baby, and he hardly cried. Thank God for that; I think we would have struggled otherwise. Especially since we are all so close in age, Mom had her hands full.
Dad was good with Tyler and Thomas—he would bounce them on his knee and sing to them. It wasn’t until he got laid off from his timber mill job that he started to drink excessively and his persona changed to aggressive.
I have never seen him lay a finger on Mom, though. That is one thing I would never allow. He would be a dead man. He has come close and threw a chair that was inches from hitting her. It makes me worry that Tommy’s explosive temper is similar to his. I just hope it stays under wraps.
Work is slow, not too many customers today, so I keep busy by rearranging the paintbrushes, hammers, and screwdrivers. I also collect a few more tools and the timber I will need for my new project at home. I’m making Tommy a bookshelf. He is starting a nice book collection, and I figure a cool shelf would be helpful for him. Any incentive to keep a fourteen-year-old boy reading is what I’m looking for. I remember one of the books I had at his age and there were no words only naked women.
He is a wide receiver on the varsity team and has won a few trophies. A classy shelf would be better than the tiny desk he displays them on now.
Tom really loves football. He is a natural, but he also has a brain. God knows he will struggle fitting it all in when the games start. Coach is pretty meticulous with training schedules; it can get gruelling, but throw in exams to that mix and it’s chaos.
I’m kind of glad about Dad’s rule that we are not allowed to go to parties until we turn fifteen. Thomas hates it. Dad tells us it’ll rot our brains and other kids are a bad influence. I tend to agree when I think of some of the shit I have seen.
“Those kids drinking and smoking God knows what are nothing but trouble,” were Dad’s exact words.
I’m pretty sure Tommy has been to one party when he was meant to be staying at his friend’s house, but I’ll let it slide for now. I’ve always got one eye on that kid.
I don’t want him to end up on the wrong side of the tracks—pressure plays a big part in society these days.
It’s after ten when I arrive home from work. I check on Thomas, who is asleep with a book in his hands. I am assuming Tyler is at least in his room since the door is closed like always, so I shower and collapse into bed.
****
The next morning, I hit snooze on my alarm. I’m feeling wrecked from training and working. When the music blares for the third time, I decide I had better get up—responsibility is never fun.
I attempt to wake Thomas, who honestly would sleep all day if