• Her decision made, Kaylee sat idly at her desk, waiting to be called down for dinner.

    Calone POV

    Calone stood up and left the room with the intent to complete his neglected homework. The thought was immediately shunted aside as he smelled what his mother had cooked for dinner: steak, his favorite.

    Mouth watering as the delicious smell drifted to him, he sauntered into the kitchen.

    "Smells great Mom," he said, sneaking a bite of mashed potatoes.

    His mother smiled. "Thank you sweetheart," she replied sweetly.

    She gave Calone a stern look as he made to eat another bite. Grinning, he snatched his hand away from the pot and went to clear his unfinished homework off the table.

    "Hmm...Your being responsible today, thats strange..." remarked his mother teasingly.

    He held up his hands. "I'm hungry Mom," he said innocently.

    Chuckling, she handed Calone some plates to set out. He reached out his hand and took them; they fell out of his grasp and fell. With a echoing crash, the plates broke upon the floor, sending shards of glass skittering wildy across the kitchen. Calone looked fearfully at his mother; she had a look of utmost fury on her pale face, a bad sign.

    "Im sorry Mom!" he cried, eyes wide.

    "What is wrong with you? You idiot!" she snarled, hand balled in a tight fist.

    Calone cowered and shielded his face with his arms. "I said I was sorry Mom! I didn't mean to drop them!"

    "Shut up! Don't you give me that garbage!" his mother screeched. She brought down her fist and punched him, hard, in his stomach.

    Calone doubled over, clutching his stomach. She came at him again, kicking him, slapping him and pummeling him with her small fists. And Calone cried out in pain as his mother, his own mother, beat him. The glass on the floor pierced his skin, increasing the pain.

    He felt one last kick, and his mother stopped, breathing heavily. He lay whimpering on the ground, trying to staunch the flow of blood from one of his deeper cuts from the glass.

    "That's what you get," snarled his mother, her face ruddy and chest still heaving, "Now get up! And clean this all up! If your not done in ten minutes your not getting anything to eat for two days!"

    Calone slowly rose, wincing from the pain, and limped over to the cabinet to get a broom. He glanced at the doorway, and saw Lance and Asha staring at him with terrified expressions. He looked away, thankful that they didn't suffer such brutal treatment.

    He gripped the broom firmly and began sweeping up the glass. He looked up to see his mother gazing at him, wearing a soft expression.

    "I like to see my children taking responsibility for their actions," she murmured and made to pat his cheek. Calone recoiled instantly; her hand hovered in the air for a moment, but she slowly lowered it, and with a sad little smile, walked out of the kitchen.

    Calone stared mournfully after his mother, remembering when she had been normal, non-abusive, loving, and kind. What had happened? Having no answer for this, Calone cleared his head, and countinued cleaning up the glass silently.