Endure, by Mari Juniper
"What are you doing?"
"Reading."
"What for?"
Joe looked up, incredulous.
"You're not getting anywhere with this, you know?" said his sister. He stared and looked back at his book. She snorted and left. A few seconds later she came back, "Get a job, loser." As she left, he took a deep breath, unable to focus anymore. Not one minute passed and she was back, "That shit you're reading is too gay. You'll never get a girlfriend if you stay like this."
He got up and left for a walk. As soon as he put the key on the door, she yelled from their room, “Did you do the dishes?”
“Yeah!”
“We need to clean the house!”
“Not now, I’m leaving!”
“Where are you going?”
“Out!” Another deep intake.
“I’ll tell dad you’re not helping with the chores!”
He closed his hands in fists and aimed for the wall but gave up. Shaking his head he left, his sister still screaming after him, “Joe! Joe! Come back!”
He had forgotten the book. Frustrated, he walked aimlessly for about an hour. He remembered of the homework waiting to be done and came back home, heading straight upstairs. The sister was in their bedroom; she looked up from her magazine with a stern gaze, which he ignored. He took his school books to the living room and settled to work. He was halfway through the history lesson, deeply engrossed in the fall of the Roman empire, when his father arrived.
“What are you doing?”
“Homework.”
“Can’t you do it in your room?”
“I’d rather stay here.”
Joe hadn’t noticed, but his father’s jaw was set, his knuckles white around a beer bottle. “This is my living room. You both run around the house as if it was only yours. Won’t you give me some freaking space?”
“Uh…”
“Go to your damn room and let me watch some TV, for Christ sake!”
“But…”
“This is my house. I have the right to watch my damn TV when I arrive home! Just get out!”
Fist handed, Joe left and finished his homework on top of the washing machine. Rome had lost all its color.
The next week the history teacher delivered the graded papers. Joe was packing his things mechanically when he noticed a shadow upon him. He looked up to see Mr. Handmaker frowning.
“Is there anything bothering you, Mr. McAllister?”
“No, sir.” replied Joe, avoiding looking into his teacher’s eyes.
“I’ve noticed a change in your last essay.”
“I’ll do better in the next one,” whispered Joe, shoving the C- in his backpack.
“I’m concerned about you, son.”
Joe looked up the forty year old man’s brown eyes to confirm the genuine worry on his voice. Mr. Handmaker took the nearest chair and sat down, “Tell me. What’s changed?”
“I can't take it anymore,” replied Joe through the knot in his throat. He then told his teacher all about his family; how his father would come home frustrated and leash out on him; how his sister would constantly pull him down, distort things to put him under a bad light for his father, make his life a living hell. He had no friends and he felt he was the loser his sister said he was. He was considering dropping school to get a job, so at least he would be able to get his own place and some peace.
Mr. Handmaker heard all that in silence and kept like that for a while. The kid leaned back on the chair, taking the opportunity to arrive home a few minutes later. He had patience.
“A job…” the teacher mused aloud. “How about the library?” Joe looked up to the now standing teacher, a tiny spark lighting his eyes. “Here’s what we’ll do,” added Mr. Handmaker, “you’ll finish school.” Joe sighed. “While you do that, you’ll work as intern at the library. This way you’ll make a little money for yourself, which will provide your some measure of freedom.” Joe’s mouth opened unconsciously. “It’s going to be tough, because you’ll still have to do your chores at home, and I’m expecting a spotless academic record.” His gaze hardened for a moment, but softened back immediately. “Think about it, the whole afternoon away from your lovely sister.” He winked and Joe smiled for the first time that year.
After graduation he was still working at the library, now as a full time employee. The pay wasn’t too good, which prompted more “loser” qualifications from the sister and concerned scowls from his father, but by staying at his dad’s house for a couple of years he saved enough money for the first year of college. He worked hard and got his major in English language, top of the class, and some credits in history. While in University, he sent out some articles to a local paper, which led to a writing career in a national magazine.
He wasn’t happy, but at least he was away from home. One day he was researching an article at the library when a famous Hollywood director came in. The librarian had gone to the back for a moment and he got to help Ginger Halloway with her research. She was so pleased with the result that she invited him to the first day of shooting, and offered him an exclusive interview. He didn’t do too well with the interview, but when he was introduced to the casting director he was offered a small part on the movie, just for fun. Turns out he didn’t have talent for acting either, but while he was making a fool of himself he met Jane, Ginger’s cousin who wanted to be an actress.
Her smile purged the numbness off his heart. His calm demeanor and sad eyes won hers and they married quietly just before her career rocketed. He helped her keeping her sanity as she reached celebrity status, and she gave him warm moments he thought he’d never have. Eventually she also lifted the weight off his heart, to the point that he believed he had a good life.
There was a day, though, when Joe realized his life was not as fulfilling as he'd thought. When Jane gave him a daughter he learned what it meant to be alive. As little Jackie came to be, his heart gave out. Joe died of happiness.
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Note: For picture credits, please visit the author's website.
