The raindrops ran down the screen and onto the brown siding. Droplets ran off the house and formed a puddle in the grass below. Birds flew through the rain and sang a haughty song. Two robins rested on a low branch belonging to a pine tree in the meadow. They hopped back and forth in their shelter from the rain.

The raindrops slowly began to evolve and grew into a storm. The wind joined the symphony and blew the storm to the east. A squirrel scurried across the ground and raced up a tree to find shelter. A young rabbit raced to his burrow and jumped into it, which rested at the base of the squirrel's tree. Then the storm was tamed once again and only raindrops fell.

A window on the brown sided house slid up and a head popped out. The hair was coal black and hung wildly around the face. The bangs slipped down the face and covered one eye. The boy sat on the window and looked out the window. He stepped onto the roof and looked down to the ground.

His jeans were worn at the knees and his shoes needed burned. A cool breeze brushed his chest and he knew he had forgotten his shirt. With a sigh, he opened the window enough to slip into the room. His room only had a worn out bed of a few sheets and two pillows, a three drawer dresser, and a worn out sofa chair. Soft music from downstairs told him that the family was still visiting with their appetites satisfied.

His feet walked quietly over to his bed and he picked up his shirt. With one stiff motion, he slipped the shirt on and returned to the window. This time, he climbed down to the ground and looked around. He made his way across the wet ground and headed to the gravel road. He stopped at the edge and looked both directions.

When he didn't see anyone coming, he sighed and looked down at his shoes. He shoved his hands back into his pockets and took a deep breath. Then he looked up and headed back to the house. He climbed back up to his room and slipped into his room. Then he closed his window and removed his shirt.

The rain had left spots on it and he hid it at the bottom of his basket of dirty clothes. He walked over to his bed and sat down. Then he reached down and slipped off his shoes. His head rested on his hands and he fell back onto his bed. When his eyes drifted closed, he took a deep breath and a cold chill ran through him.

He jerked the covers over him and brought his knees up to his chest. His eyes fell closed once more and he fell into a light sleep. When footsteps stomping up the stairs woke him, he opened his eyes and looked at the door. The doorknob quickly turned and a woman walked into the room. Her face was puffy and red, which meant only one thing to him.

Her red hair surrounded her face and made her hazel eyes stand out awfully. The woman scurried over to his bed and jerked the covers off. He felt her hand grasp his small arm and then he was jerked to his feet. He had to look down his nose just to look at the stubby woman in front of him. She put her hands on her hips and he watched her hand twitch.

He waited and the blow came, causing him to look to the side. He remained still and let her blow her steam off on him. When the last hit came, he looked at her and saw her lips twisted upwards in a sickly smile.

Then she said, "I hope you know better know."

He nodded and said, "Yes, Mame."

She shook her head and said, "I honestly don't know how your parents put up with you. You are a rather uncontrollable child."

He kept his gaze downward and she left the room. When the door closed, he sat back down on his bed and sighed. His head rested on his hands and he looked out his window.

'Someday all of this will be over...'

PGS