Tragic Backstory

There was a young man and woman who loved each other very much. They were just recently married, and it wasn’t before long that they had a son a year later, who they named Marco. He was an energetic young kid who made everyone smile. When Marco was 3, his mother was pregnant again.

“So, mommy, there’s a baby in there?” he asked, pointing to her belly.

“Yes. There’s two of them in there, so now you’re going to have both a baby brother and sister.”

He was 4 when his siblings were born. He stood on a box to reach over the cradle, dangling his fingers near their hands. Both babies grabbed on his hand and he smiled at them. But as this was happening, he could hear his parents arguing in the next room. He could only catch parts of what they were saying, and they didn’t make much sense.

*the … sections represent sections that Marco couldn’t catch*

[Father] “… having an affair? But why?”

[Mother] “That’s right. It’s because you … and … the two children aren’t yours … and you!”

[Father] “So now … so … divorce …”

[Mother] “THAT’S RIGHT! I’M DIVORCING YOU!”

Marco saw his mother come in the room and he greeted her. But she just pushed him to the floor and grabbed his brother and sister from the cradle and left the house, slamming the door behind her. Marco was much too shocked to even move from that spot. His father entered the room, and his face was reddened slightly, and it was obvious that he was crying.

“Dad, what happened to mommy?”

“You’re much too young to understand, Marco. But mommy’s in love with someone else so she’s not going to stay with us anymore.” He hugged his son tightly. Marco saw that his dad was sad, and wanted to make him happy. But all Marco could do was smile, and hope everything was going to be alright.

Over the next 16 years, his dad had gone through 5 girlfriends. The first didn’t even last a year, the 2nd lasted 3 years, the 3rd lasted 2 years, the 4th lasted 10 years (she was in Marco’s graduation picture) and the 5th was there when he went off to college.

Marco was 20 was his younger brother, Harry was born. When he decided to drive down and visit his family, he was surprised. Instead of Harry’s mother (the 5th girlfriend) there, there was a different woman. Marco let out a small sigh. This one was girlfriend #6.

Afterward, he and his father didn’t contact each other. It wasn’t until 6 years later that he got a call from his father.

“Um. Marco. You don’t mind taking your brother off my hands do you?”

It was a gruesome 12 hour drive one way to his father’s house. He cringed slightly, wondering how he was going to deal with having work and a child to take care of. But he agreed to it.

After arriving at his father’s house, he saw his brother. Harry had a look of intense boredom on his face. And then Marco took a look at the woman by his father’s side. She had raven black hair, and wasn’t much older than he was. She had a look of disdain on her face as she surveyed Marco and Harry. Marco gave a small smile and her look turned to that of disgust. Girlfriend #7. After staying at the house for a day, he learned that this woman dislikes children, and thus why Harry had to leave.

As Marco drove home with Harry in tow, it was silent and awkward. The boy had chosen the seat right behind the driver’s side, so Marco couldn’t quite look to check up on him. Several thoughts ran through his mind. How was a 26 year old to deal with a 6 year old brother? And it was like they were complete strangers too.

They stopped at a rest stop so Marco could stretch his cramped limbs. Harry sat there on the bench, kicking sand.

“Err… Hey there. How are you?” Marco was trying to start a conversation but the expression on Harry’s face made him immediately regret it.

“…” Harry glanced down at his shoes, like they were the most interesting things in the world.

“Aww… Come on. You can talk, can’t you?”

“…” Harry glanced up and his gaze met Marco’s. “Yes. I can talk.”

Harry suddenly stands up and walks to the car. “Hurry up. Let’s go.”

This is going to be a long drive, he thought.

They had been living together for 2 years. At first, they ate nothing but microwave dinners and Marco’s failed attempts at cooking. But as time went on, Marco’s cooking improved, though they still eat convenience food simply because Marco comes home too late to cook (which is a shame, because his cooking is quite good). Harry and Marco are on much better terms, though he is constantly calling Marco an idiot.

His father called and told him that girlfriend #7 is pregnant. His call was to invite Marco and Harry to the baby shower, but he could tell by the way he said it that he was asking out of courtesy, not because he wanted them there. Marco replied he was much to busy to go and hung up. Leaning on the refrigerator, he pressed his thumb and forefinger on his eyelids and sighed. “My father is a fool. He’s so in love with mom, that he’s desperately seeking another woman like her. It’s… it’s impossible… But… I don’t blame him for it. I hope someday he’ll see that he’s happy,” he thought.

Harry walked in. “Did dad call?” he asked.

“Yeah. But it was nothing important. Dad’s an idiot.” He smiled and Harry smiled back.