[BreakABone]

Haha this is rather start/stop, but I lost a bit of my momentum when I
realized so few people actually read it, but at the end if I have a
story to tell can only tell it and hope someone reads it.
-----
4
The hands on the clock appeared to be going backwards at this point.
They weren't moving any faster that much was for sure. Raf watched
with such focus for there were mere minutes which separated him, and
to a lesser extent, his classmates from a class-less summer.

And what a summer Raf expected it to be. His mother and father had
already told him of some of the fun getaways they were going on, and
of course there were his friends from around the neighborhood. It
would be a magnificent summer indeed.

While he looked forward to many adventures this summer, there was
still one thing that consumed his mind like no other. For in the
middle of the summer, Raf would turn 10. To think he would finally hit
double digits made him want to squeal just a little bit. The
celebration would be huge, his parents had already sent out the
invites to his closest friends.

He looked up at the clock once more, there was only 10 seconds between
him and freedom. 5 now...4...3...2...1... RING! The sweet sound of
freedom, Raf thought to himself.
-_-_-_
Time sure does move fast when you are having fun, Raf thought as he
rolled out of bed. He then realized what a cliche saying that was, but
could a thought be cliched? He was only speaking to himself as long as
he did not express it to anyone else, he felt he would be in the
clear.

That was not important right now he thought. The summer was half over,
and he had done a lot. He had visited some really nice beaches with
his parents. He even had the chance to swim with a dolphin now that
was quite the experience.

There had been a stock of great movies this summer. Sadly, Raf was
unable to see some of the more mature rated ones, but he took note. He
would try and sneak into them when he went to the theatres with his
friends.

The amusement parks had been his favorite part thus far though. As far
as his young mind could decipher, there was no greater sensation in
the world. The slow build-up as a roller coaster climbed to its
highest peak. The rush of the wind against your face as you were sent
hurtling back towards the ground. The constant ups and downs and loops
de loops, it was truly an amazing experience each and every time.

As he was fixing his hair, his eyes landed on the calender he had on
his desk, which had today circled and underlined in red, gold and
blue. Yes, the summer was half over, which made him a little sad, but
it also meant it was his birthday. The excitement for his party had
surpassed even the thrills he felt on the roller coaster.

He had not decided which would be his favorite part, the presents? The
party? No! It would be seeing all his friends again, he had missed
most of them more than he expected, and it would be great to see them
outside of school.

He left his room, and slowly descended the stairs to the first floor.
Through the banister on the stairwell, he was able to catch glimpses
of the decorations that his mother had begun to hang up.

He climbed down the stairs a bit more and through the opened door of
the kitchen, he could see the birthday cake for him resting peacefully
on the table. He was certain it was his favorite, chocolate cake. Yum
yum.

He then saw his mother underneath the steps putting up some more
decorations. Without looking up, "Happy birthday honey now go wash up
and get dressed."

How did she always know, he thought. "Thanks mom." And he turned to
head back up the stairs. Then it dawned on him that his father did not
echo his mother's sentiments, "Where's dad?"

His mother sighed just a little bit, "You know your father's thoughts
towards cake so he went out to get a birthday pie. Who has ever heard
of a pie for birthday?"

Raf laughed as he went back upstairs. He did not care if there was pie
or cake as long as it was for him.
-_-_-_-_
As Raf turned the water off in the shower, he swore he heard someone
moaning or crying or something but by the time he was out of the
shower the sound had died down so he assumed it was only in his head.

He started to get dressed in his room and played with his hair to get
a more adult look, he was 10 now so he was a big boy.

That's when he heard it. There was a soft tap upon his bedroom door.
"Come in," he said. He waited a few seconds and no one entered. He
assumed it was just his mother trying to get him to hurry up. So he
stopped messing with his hair and put on the outfit she had bought for
his party.

As he was buttoning up his shirt, he heard a soft knock on his door
again. "I'm almost ready mom, I'll be out in a second!" He shouted
back.

Then he heard it again, there was the low crying sound coming from out
his room. This time he was certain it was not in his head.

He slowly approached his door, and opened it up a crack. What he saw
frightened him just a bit, his mother was lumped on the floor across from his door. Tears raced down her face.

Raf finally knew what fear felt like, he had never seen his mother like this before. "Mom, what's wrong?"

"Get dressed..." She teared up not even seeing that he was dressed, "It's your father."
-_-_-_

That's it for now.