Quietly Rose whimpered as she sat on the stool in the corner. She could hear the voices; they rose louder than she thought they needed to be. Covering her ears she cried out to get his attention. He took a glimpse at her, but just as quick turned back to her mama.
She screamed again, this time he did pay attention to her. He ran to her and kicked the stool out from under her. She fell three feet to the ground hurting her already sore bottom. Mama was right behind him, pulling him away, but she wasn’t strong enough as he kicked Rose, blow after blow, tearing at her chest and stomach.
Mama stopped trying to help, Rose heard Mama’s footsteps up the stairs and running through the attic. And then, Rose watched him continue to beat her, but she was no longer feeling anything, it was just like being a rag doll.
Mama ran down the stairs and Rose caught sight of something black and shiny. And the thunder rolls, he fell forward, his legs pinning Rose to the floor and his blood seeping into the carpet.
Rose cried out for safety, and Mama pulled Rose from under his lifeless legs.
“Rose, Mama loves you and what I just did was wrong, but that mean man won’t be here to ruin your birthday next year. Believe me,” she said as tears rolled down her face, “you won’t be beat up for your fifth birthday.”
When the thunder rolls, Rose is reminded that her mother took a life to save Rose.
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