His Once Innocent Son (eBook)

Esteban Guillermo Zanetti (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2023 | 1. Auflage
198 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
979-8-3509-1591-4 (ISBN)

Infos

When Frank is reunited with his only son after a decade apart, he learns that he has been selling his body for money. Frank must decide if he will stand by his son's choice or risk being left out of his life forever.

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Frank is a middle aged man who is reunited with his son, Jared, after a decade apart. Having not seen his son since he graduated high school, Frank is horrified to find out that Jared has been selling his body for money. He must decide how much it means to have his lone child back in his life and how much he could tolerate. Will his love for, and guilt of missing out on years of, his son be able to withstand the newfound profession as well as further revelations? Frank must decide if he will stand by Jared's choice or demand his son change profession and risk being left out of his only son's life.

Textauszug

Chapter 2

Frank spent the next morning trying to think more about the interview than his son’s revelation. When the time arrived, he dressed in his son’s nicer clothes. The shirt was a tad big but once tucked in, looked much better. He combed his hair to be professional and then checked with Jared to ensure he looked good enough.

“Shit, I haven’t been on an interview since you were a toddler!”

“You’ll be fine,” Jared encouraged. “You’ll do great, but good luck anyways.”

“Thanks, kid.” They both smiled, but that faded when there was a knock on the door.

“Who is that?” Frank wondered as he simultaneously heard Jared whisper, “They’re early,” under his breath.

“Dad, time to go!”

“Son?” Frank inquired as they both walked to the door.

“Well, I knew you would be out, so . . . it’s a client.” Jared tilted his head and shrugged.

“Oh . . . oh!” Frank understood as the knock repeated.

Jared opened the door where a beautiful young Black woman eyed a shirtless Jared with lust. Then her gaze fell on Frank and her jaw dropped.

“Family member,” Jared insisted, “who was just leaving.” Then to Frank he said, “Bye!” Jared pushed his father forward.

“Yes, excuse me, miss.” Frank nodded to her. He passed by, looking at her slender figure, one he would have chased when he was younger. “Bye, son,” Frank called as he stepped over the threshold, and she walked inside. Then the door slammed shut and locked behind him.

Frank stood frozen in shock until he remembered why he was leaving. He went to the bus stop. He was trying to focus on the job description he had written down to be ready. Yet still the image of the young woman crept in his head. Knowing what was happening in his son’s room—the thought seemed to paralyze him. His beautiful, innocent boy was no longer that. He was a handsome man who others wanted so much that they were willing to pay him for his service. A thing he had done for years—going to strip clubs with coworkers, or alone. Finding the right dancer, paying for a private room. Sometimes taking them to the car. Only instead of his son paying others, it was the reverse.

Just then he heard a screech and a bus was pulling up before him. It was his. He got in line, went in, paid, and headed for a seat. He had to refocus on the interview. Then he saw an older woman in the second row. She had wrinkled skin and white curly hair under a bonnet. As he stared at her, imagining her and his son, she caught his eye. He looked away and saw a young woman, just slightly more bodied than the girl he had passed in the apartment, and then an older middle-aged woman. All he could think was whether they had all slept with his son. Frank could feel his mind racing and could not control it. He found a window seat at the back and stared blankly out the window, seeing none of the scenery—only the tears falling down his cheeks in the reflection.

“Are you alright, sweetie?” a soft voice called. He looked to see a heavy-set woman sitting next to him, staring at him, concernedly.

“Yea.” Frank quickly wiped his face.

“Hang in there,” she said kindly.

“Thanks.” Frank smiled. He took a deep breath and realized he had no idea how much time had passed. He asked her when to expect his stop, and she mentioned they were about ten minutes away. Frank tried to compose himself. He got off at his stop and walked a block to the grocery store. Once in the store, he was able to focus on the interview, which he had with a young girl who had streaks of blue in her hair. They said he could start on Monday for training. He would do stocking and registering as needed. Frank was proud and excited until halfway home, when he pictured his son at home, and it all came back to him.

Frank was almost afraid to open the door, but when he did, there was nothing. Jared was not home, and his bedroom door had even been left slightly open. Frank hesitantly peeked in but to his confused relief there was no sign of what might have occurred. To relax, he turned on the tablet device and began watching shows on a streaming service. Laid out on the couch, still in the dress clothes, Frank fell asleep, exhausted from the stress of the interview and the dilemma with his son.

He woke up to the sound of the blender. Frank rose up quickly, his head spinning. He shook it off and looked to see his son in the kitchen.

“Sorry.” Jared scrunched his face. “I was afraid that would wake you up.” He ran it one more time. “But how was the interview?”

“Good, good,” Frank answered, standing up, still groggy. “I start Monday, as a matter of fact.”

“Awesome! That’s great news.” Jared smiled as he started the blender one more time before pouring.

“What is that?”

“Protein shake; want some?”

“Sure.” Frank had not eaten since breakfast and realized how hungry he was. “Where were you? When I got back—”

“I went to the gym.” Jared poured a cup for his father and slid it over. “Took a shower there, so I’m all good to go.”

“Go where?” Frank drank some of the shake. It was tart and yet bland and a weird combination of flavors.

“Over there to the couch,” Jared said as he washed the blender cup after pouring his own. Then he walked over to the couch.

“Is this all you do? Do you not have friends?”

“I have a couple.” Jared shrugged. “They work during the week, so I usually see them on the weekend.”

“Are you going to meet them? It is Friday.” Frank took another drink and coughed. “What is in this?”

“I mixed some frozen vegetables with the protein powder. And sometimes we go out, sometimes we don’t.” He drank a hefty amount. “We should celebrate your job.”

“Yes, I’ll take you to dinner.” Frank oddly found the taste growing on him.

“No, thanks—no offense, I’d rather not look like we’re on a date.” Jared shook his head.

“Who is going to think we’re on a date?” Frank questioned.

“I mean I’m not ten anymore; it wouldn’t be obvious we are family.” Jared was already starting his game again.

Frank rolled his eyes. “Fine, then I’ll order pizza. But first I need to change.”

“You can use my clothes in the dresser.” Jared gestured behind him. “We must get you some clothes.”

“Yes, well, I wanted to travel light, in case I had to get you out of here quickly.” Frank walked into his son’s room. “Though, I could have used newer clothes anyways,” he mumbled to himself. He arrived at the dresser, and as he opened a drawer, he saw a small trash can against the wall under the window. On top was a ripped condom wrapper. Frank looked away, afraid to find anything else. He grabbed another shirt with the picture of a cartoon character and some sweatpants before going to the bathroom to change. While in there, he took many deep breaths to try and calm himself. He nearly broke into tears but was able to hold them off this time. Stepping outside, he looked at his son and realized how innocent he appeared playing video games, same as when he was a teenager.

They ordered pizza, had some beer, and watched movies until at some point past midnight, Frank woke up to find himself sleeping on the armrest of the couch and Jared sleeping with his head rested on Frank’s chest. Frank wrapped his arms around his son and kissed his forehead. “You’ll always be my little boy.” He closed his eyes until he fell back asleep.

There was a loud rap on the front door that woke both up. They both rubbed their eyes as they stood up. A pizza box and several beer bottles littered the living room table. Jared, who still wore his post-gym tank top and shorts, went to the door. “Who is it?” he groaned.

“Your mother!” a cold voice called loudly from the other side.

“Oh shit!” Frank groaned.

Jared unenthusiastically opened the door and Lisa burst through. Early hours were her prime time, unlike what could be said for Frank. Her neck-length golden hair swept behind her as she came upon the scene. She was dressed in a light jacket and dress pants. “I ask for your help and what do I see? The boys had a party last night.” She chuckled and sneered. “Look at your clothes . . . you think you are his brother? You are his father! Act like it!” She spun on her heels. “Jared, are you done being a child—immature and disgusting? I have found a school near where John works. We could get you a real job there.”

“Mom, I told you—” Jared looked tired and unprepared for this assault.

“I will not have my son live like a pig,” she snapped.

“Lisa, please,” Frank said softly, trying to calm her, though rarely had he succeeded since Jared was a young child. “Leave the boy alone . . . no, leave the grown man alone. He can make his own choices.”

“He is no man; he is a child with the way he behaves,” Lisa scoffed.

“Oh, come on, at his age, I had a nine-year-old son. You as well,” Frank argued.

“Oh?” Lisa glared at her ex-husband. “Are you telling me you accept his choice?”

“No.” Frank shook his head. “I do not accept it.” He now looked at Jared rather than Lisa. “But I love him too much for it to stop me loving him . . . if that makes sense.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Jared smiled, and Frank knew it was...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 9.11.2023
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Kinder- / Jugendbuch
• ISBN-13: 979-8-3509-1591-4 / 9798350915914