Untitled 10292024 - Writing Prompt

Writing Prompt: If you leave the room, you must switch off the lights there. One evening, I forgot, and ...

"Dude! You can't be serious." Colton said.
"Trust me when I say this. I am completely serious." I replied, shrugging my shoulders.
"Man!" Colton exclaimed loudly. "That is seriously fu"
Mrs. Heatherstone whipped her head toward the boys with an admonishing look.
Colton looked sheepishly at the tall, older woman. "Um, sorry!"
Mrs. Heatherstone sighed deeply, straightening her tweed jacket, then shaking her head, returned to watching over the crowd of teens.
Bobby chuckled at his best friend, "Dude, your loud mouth is gonna get you detention again."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." he scoffed, eyeing the older woman. "But seriously, that's completely messed up."
"Don’t I know it. I have the bruises to prove it. But what am I gonna do?”
“Go to the police. Or the school. Somebody!”
“And tell them what? My stepfather is beating me! And my mother?” Bobby whispered loudly. “You know damn well that no one would believe me. You know who he is.” Bobby raised his hands, “He’s the pillar of the community.” Air quoting with his fingers. Who do you think they would believe? A fifteen-year-old who has been in his fair share of trouble, or an upstanding citizen who donates billions of dollars to the community.”
“Billions? Like with a ‘B’?”
“Well, whatever it is. All people see in this town is his fake smile, platitudes, and dollar signs.”
Colton’s head snapped back. “Platitudes?”
“What?”
“I’m just shocked.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t think you knew any three-syllable words. Good on you.” Colton mocked.
“You’re an...” Bobby stopped and looked around to find Mrs. Heatherstone on the other side of the quad. Turning back to his best friend, growled out, “ASSHOLE!”
They stared at each other with slitted eyes, then burst into laughter. Colton slapped his hand on Bobby’s shoulder, causing Bobby to wince in pain.
“Oh shit, Bobby, I’m sorry. I forgot.”
Bobby held his shoulder while squeezing his eyes shut. “I was right.”
Colton looked confused. “Right about what?”
Bobby looked over at him and deadpanned, “You’re an asshole.”
Colton chuckled a sigh. “I know. I am sorry, though.”
“I know. It’s okay. I’ll live.”
Colton stared at his friend for a long minute, clearly worried. “What are you going to do?”
“Nothing.” Bobby sighed heavily, “What can I do?”
“Tell someone!” Colton said a little too loudly, causing Bobby’s eyes to widen and look around frantically.
“Dude!” Bobby exclaimed through gritted teeth. “Shut the F up.”
Colton looked down and then back at Bobby through lidded eyes. “Look. I’m sorry. But I’m really worried about you.” Looking around to make sure no one was listening, then continued, “Hurting you like that because you left your bedroom light on while you took a piss is seriously F’ed up!”
“I know.”
“No. You don’t know. I can’t lose..” Colton choked down a sob. Taking a deep breath, he looked into Bobby’s eyes, “I can’t lose you too. I just wouldn’t survive another death.” A tear escaped Colton’s eye and streamed down his cheek.
Bobby placed his hand on his friend’s. “I know. I miss your brother, too.”
Colton nodded his head in agreement.
“He was the coolest person in your whole family. He was kind, funny, smart, and the best-looking. Nothing like his little brother.” Bobby grinned.
Colton laughed, “Jerk.”
After a moment, Colton turned toward his friend and, with an earnest look, said, “I mean it though. I would not survive a day without you. I don’t know what, but something has to change before something terrible happens.”
Bobby heaved a deep breath. “I know you’re right. I just can’t figure out what. If I did say something and, by some miracle, people believed me, that would break my mother. And to be honest, I could care less if we ended up living in the trailer park dead broke, but I really don’t think my mother would survive it. It’s not just me I’m worried about. Actually, I’m not worried about me at all.” Bobby paused. “What do you think Bill would do if I told someone about what is happening? What do you think he’d do to my mother? How do I protect her?”
Colton scowled, then replied, “How do you protect yourself? You know, it’s not like you’re protecting her now.”
Bobby’s eyes popped wide.
“I mean,” Colton continued quickly, “It’s not really your job to protect your mom. It’s her job to protect you. You’re the kid, and she’s the adult.”
Bobby jumped up, slammed both palms on the table, glared at his friend, “You don’t know what you’re talking about!” and stormed off.
“Bobby!” he called after him. “Wait! Please!” Colton sat down with a thump and put his face down on his folded arms.
After a few minutes, Colton heard Mrs. Heatherstone’s voice. “Mister Conrad, your lunch is over. It’s time to get to class.
Bobby sat there, head still on his arms on the table, and shook his head no.
“Mr. Conrad. I am not going to tell you twice.
After a long moment, Colton raised his head to look at his English teacher. His eyes were red and puffy. His lower lip quivered, and he nodded his head yes. Stifling a sob, he took a deep breath to try and compose himself and rose to his feet.
“Sit.” She said tersely.
He looked at her questioningly.
“Sit down.” She said. Then, more softly. “Please.”
Colton wiped his face and sat.
Mrs. Heatherstone sat down beside him and inhaled deeply. From what I caught, this is not about your brother.”
Colton shook his head, looking down at his hands, fidgeting on the table.
“Okay. So, why don’t you tell me and get it off your chest.”
She said it so gently that it took Colton by surprise. Mrs. Heatherstone is not a tender woman. She’s a no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point, fierce woman that no one, not even the other teachers, give her any flack. “Uh, I, um, I, I can’t.” Colton swallowed hard and glanced in the direction that Bobby went.
Mrs. Heatherstone looked pointedly at him. “I’m not able to help if I don’t know what’s going on.”
Bobby started shaking his head no.
“Look.” She held her palm toward him, “I know something is going on. I’ve been a teacher long enough to deduce that this is not over a little disagreement between friends.”
“Uh. No.” Colton looked around awkwardly. “I can’t...”
Mrs. Heatherstone raised an eyebrow. “Can’t or won’t?”
Colton sputtered, “I, well, oh, um.”
“Listen. I know something is going on with Bobby. I hope it’s nothing too serious that can’t be helped before it’s too late.”
That statement, before it’s too late, was too much for Colton to withstand. His face scrunched up, and he burst into tears, throwing himself into Mrs. Heathersone’s arms. She held him and let him cry for a moment before speaking again.
“It’s going to be okay.” She patted the back of his head. “Tell me what has you so upset.”
Colton mumbles through sobs.
“Okay.” Mrs. Heatherstone gently gripped Colton’s arms and pushed him back a little. “Take a deep breath and get yourself under control so we can talk about this.”
After a few minutes Colton was able to bring himself under control. “It’s really bad, and I don’t know what to do. I’m so scared.” Colton started to cry again.
“Okay. Okay. Come on. I can’t help until I know.”
Colton pressed his palms to his eyes and inhaled deeply. Raising his hands above his head, he blew out a breath. “Okay. Bobby...” he breathed again, “Bobby’s gonna hate me, but I’d rather be hated than lose him like my brother.”
Mrs. Heatherstone stiffened and thought to herself, this sounds worse than I thought. “Go ahead.” She encouraged.
“Um.” Colton glanced at the doors to the school. “Bobby.” He sighed, “Bobby’s in trouble, and I’m afraid he’ll get killed.”
She took a breath, “What do you mean?”
“It’s his stepdad.”
She furrowed her brow, “What about him?”
“He, um, he’s been beating Bobby.”
“Are you sure about this? That is a very serious accusation.”
“Well, I haven’t seen him do it, but Bobby’s been confiding in me.”
“How long has this been going on?”
“I don’t know exactly, but remember when Bobby’s arm was in a sling? That wasn’t the first time. That was the first time that it was that bad. Bill doesn’t usually leave any marks that people can see. I mean, right now, he can’t even lift his left arm above his head all because of a stupid light.”
Mrs. Heatherstone looked horrified and then confused. “A light?”
“We have to do something. I can’t lose him.” Colton broke down again, “I can’t. I can’t.”
“Okay. Okay.” Mrs. Heathersone attempted to calm him down.
Just then, they heard the doors to the quad sham shut. They both turned to look and saw Bobby walking toward them. When the three of them locked eyes, Bobby stopped dead in his tracks with a horrified look. Bobby stood frozen in place, slowly shaking his head left and right.
“Bobby...” Colton choked out. And Mrs. Heatherstone stood.
Bobby’s head started shaking No faster.
“Bobby, it’s okay. Please come here for a moment.”
Bobby took a step backward, continuing to shake his head.
“Please, Bobby.” Mrs. Heatherstone took one small step.
All Bobby could muster was a whispered plea. “No.”
Mrs. Heatherstone stood stock still. “Bobby. I am not angry with you. No one here is angry. We are only concerned for you.” She raised both palms out toward him. “Please, come sit and talk with us.”
Bobby looked directly at Colton, “You... you told? How could... I trusted...”
Colton jumped up from his seat, tears streaming down his face. I can’t lose you too, Bobby.”
“No. No. You... NO!” Bobby took two steps back toward the door he came through.
“Bobby, please.” Mrs Heatherstone took a few steps toward him.
That triggered Bobby, who spun around and bolted for the door. In his panicked state, he stumbled and fell against the door. Bobby cried out in agony, scrambled to his feet, and tried to push through the door twice before realizing that he had to pull the door open.
Mrs. Heatherstone started to run as best she could on heels, calling out to him.
Bobby gripped the handle and pulled with all his might. The door came flying open, and Bobby fell on his back. He looked back, seeing Mrs. Heatherstone was only a few feet away, and headed toward him. Jumping off the ground, he flew through the door and straight into Mr. Charles.
“Grab him, Mike, please.” Mrs. Heatherstone called out.
Mr. Charles, a very fit young man with cat-like reflexes, scooped Bobby up in one arm, lifting him up. “Whoa, there, young fella. What’s the hurry?” Mr. Charles said in his slow southern accent.
“No. Please.” Bobby screamed through fits of sobs. “Please. Please. I gotta. I can’t. Please. He’ll kill me. You.. don’t... under... stand...”
Mrs. Heatherstone caught up and stood in front of Bobby. She reached out with both hands to calm him down. “Bobby. It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m right here. It’s all okay.”
Bobby gripped both of her hands with panic in his eyes and cried, “No. Please. It's okay. I’m fine. Really. Just let me go. And I’m fine. Really. It was my fault. It's always my fault. I’m stupid. I need to learn. Really.”
The words flooding out of Bobby’s mouth shocked her.





This is a work in progress. Sorry for dropping it here...