Warning: implied abuse
“C-could you get him, please?”
“Daddy says not to interrupt them when they are in the basement.”
“P-please, Rupert,” I start begging, as my whole body trembles. “I-it’s important!”
“But daddy will get mad at me, too. And Gene deserves it because he didn’t—”
“School work!” I suddenly exclaimed as this idea just came spur of the moment. “I need your brother because of school work! We have a school project coming up for tomorrow! Your dad won’t mind if I borrow him, right?”
There is a slight hesitation from the other line and I know that I am actually pressuring a seven-year-old kid to do my bidding. But Gene’s safety matters first.
Finally, he says, “Okay, I’ll tell daddy.”
“Thank you!” And I smile in relief.
Then I hear a soft thud of the phone being dropped
