I recall going to Atlantic city in the early morning and my mom knowing he was intoxicated let him drive and saying "your to close to that car!" I knew he was drunk from the last night, and after many miles they she drove the car and he became the passenger. It caused a lot of pain, frustration, anger, and heartache in my early years. I also recall him coming home from work and seeing stumbling, drunk into the house, and falling on the couch. I recall him urinating in the kitchen sink, I recall him saying he would take me to a baseball game, but it never happened. I can remember a lot of things that happened. Although they may deny it, it happened.
My stepfather had two children from a previous relationship that we got to know a little bit, for we went on trips like the ice capades at the spectrum, to eat, and just coming over as company. There was family from his side, as well as friends from both sides. I recall the fun we had making home movies both inside and outside the house. The neighbors were great and there were no real problems like today. But getting back, there were several incidents, which happened while company was at the house. One night we verbally went at it and he grabbed me by my shirt, I told my mom but to no avail, and I told her I was leaving. Guess what, she said go.
So I left the house only to go around the corner to talk to some friends until maybe 11:00pm. When I got back she was waiting at the door and slapped me right across the face. The next time he shook me violently, ripping a button off my shirt, my mom did not see that because it happened in the back shed. Well he went into the living room with his drunk self and I made up my mind to leave this situation. As I walked pass the tv there is a bowl of some kind on top and I wanted so bad to just pick it up and hit him with it, but did not. I got on the 34-route trolley with only school tokens and put it in the box. I ran away for real this time! I went to a place called yes (youth emergency services) and stayed there for a week. I recall the wilfredo benetiez- sugar ray leonard fight on that night as I was being interviewed by one of the workers.
I told her what had happened, and she reassured me that she would not know where I was for 24 hours. Well the next morning the worker called me to her desk and to me that at about 1 or 2:00am my mom called, crying and what have you asking am I there. She told her and they talked for a long time.
Now what I'm about to say is true; my mother said to this worker that I'm trying to break up her marriage!! Can you believe it? A thirteen year old boy? How? You would choose a drinking man (and I now understand that it is a disease) over your own flesh and blood? And not tell the truth on top of that? Well that made me angry and hurt and to this day I cannot forget it.
