The Molly Sutton Mystery Series, books 1-3

Chapter 37

Chapter 371991Vincent hated school. He was only six but his classmates mocked him mercilessly for his grubby clothing that did not fit. He could not read and did not seem to understand the concept of reading, as though he had never seen books before. His first teacher had recommended testing but he was deemed intelligent enough not to need any special services. Everyone at school, teachers and fellow students, thought him dull, and before long the teasing moved on to someone else and Vincent was left alone.

In some ways the isolation was worse. At school he was among other people much of the day but they did not seem to see him, did not reach out to him or involve him in what they were doing, and the pain of this was torture for the young boy.

One day he walked home from school by himself as usual. His father was off doing farm chores he said, but Vincent knew that meant driving the tractor to a field out of sight of the house, and drinking himself into oblivion. His mother was home, however.

His mother was always home.

When she caught sight of him that day, her eyes glittered and he knew that was a bad sign. She ran to him shrieking and slapped him on his bare legs, yelling about how he had failed to make his bed that morning. He did not cry but stoically stood still and waited for the first burst of rage to pass.

He knew it was only one in a series. That was how it always went.

Vincent had an older brother, but he had run away as soon as he could and was never heard from again. No one ever came to the lonely farmhouse at the end of the road—no friends, no relatives, not even any salesmen passing through.

Vincent was trapped there with his mother who beat him and rained insults down on his small head, and there was nothing for him to do but endure it. On that particular day, at six years old, Vincent felt his hatred for his mother grow inside him like it was a separate being, taking over his body. He welcomed the hatred because it made the beating hurt less. It gave him strength.

He knew that he would make her pay someday. He would make someone pay.

All he had to do was wait.