Eli

She picked him up that night at six.

"Did you have fun?" she asked, as they were pulling out of the parking lot.

"No."

"Oh, lighten up, Eli. I'm sure you'll have plenty of fun once you get used to it."

Eli shook his head. "You don't understand, mom."

"What don't I understand?"

He looked up pleadingly. "I have to kill those monsters. If I don't, bad things will happen."

"Bad things?" she asked, skeptically.

Eli nodded quickly. "The monsters are the reason that bad things happen," he explained. "The little one's can only make little things happen-like stubbing your toe, or getting a paper-cut. But the big ones can make really bad things happen-like broken arms, or car accidents. Which is why you have to let me fight them, mom. If no one kills them, they'll just-"

"I don't want to hear anymore about that, Eli," she interrupted. "Just forget about monsters, and swords, and buckets, and whatever else. From now on, you're going to the boys club after school, so you'd better get all of that other stuff out of your head."

Eli, recognizing his mother's tone, gave up on arguing. He frowned and looked out the window and didn't speak for the rest of the ride home.

* * *

That night, while Susan was in the kitchen preparing dinner, she sliced the side of her finger while cutting the salad.

"Ow," she blurted. She stuck the finger in her mouth to suck away the blood.

Thomas looked up from his paper. "What's the matter, honey?"

"I wasn't paying attention and I cut myself."

"Are you okay? Do you need a Band-Aid?"

"No, I'm fine."

Later, after they'd eaten and Susan was clearing the table, she dropped one of the glasses. It shattered on the floor. She cursed under her breath, then went into the hallway to retrieve a broom. Thomas, having heard the crash, walked into the kitchen to see what had happened. He wasn't wearing any shoes as he did-so, unaware of the mess at his feet, he stepped right on a large shard of glass. He leapt back, shouted a profanity, then sat down to pull the sliver from his foot. By this time, Susan had returned.

"What happened?" she asked.

"I came in here to see if you needed help, and I stepped right on a piece of glass."

* * *

The next morning, there was yet another careless mistake. When Susan awoke and sat up in bed, she saw Thomas emerge from their bathroom, holding a wad of toilet paper to his face.

"What's wrong?" she asked, groggily.

"I cut myself shaving," Thomas said, angrily. "I've been so damn careless lately."

"Here. Let me see," Susan said. But when she tried to get out of bed, her leg became twisted in the sheets, causing her to flop to the floor.

"Honey! Are you all right?"

Susan eventually untangled herself and muttered, "Yeah."

* * *