Vito's teeth chattered as he tried to muster up the courage on how to tell his father that he was being sexually harassed.His mother was at work as usual and his dad sits in his office. He lets out a breath,walking slowly out of his room. The radio could be heard playing music. He knocks on the door waiting for an answer. The last time he opened the door he saw a woman on his father. Still no answer he knocks again,this time harder.

"COME IN!"

Vito pushed the door open to see his dad sitting behind his desk smoking a cigar

"What seems to be the problem?" Dave asked

" I - I have something to tell you."

"Speak then boy,What's the hold up?"

Vito swallowed his pride and let what he had to say out.

"Dad the reason why I stopped going over to Ms.Amos house is because she keeps hurting me." He whispers

"SPEAK THE HELL UP, AND LOOK ME IN THE EYES WHEN YOUR TALKING TO ME!"

Vito flinches and looks up from his size eight sneakers staring in his father's eyes

"Sir,she's been hurting me!"

Vito had started puberty so his voice was changing often.

"Boy what do you mean she's been hurting you slap the hoe back." He says before taking puff from his cigar

"Sir ,she's been touching me in places."

Dave chuckled and ashed his cigar out into an ashtray.

"You get the attention your father used to get when he was younger. You should be proud." He smiled

"I- I don't like it ,sir."

Victor could of swore he saw Dave's eyes turn black. He watched as his father viciously pushed out of his chair and walked in front of him.

"What did you say to me?" He grits

"Sir I- "

Vito couldn't have finished his sentence. Dave had sent his large hand across his face,leaving a red hand print that stayed on his face for weeks,along with a blood shot.

"YOU WANT TO RUN THAT BY ME AGAIN?!

Dave looked down on the floor staring at Vito.

"YOUR ACTING LIKE A BITCH AND I WON'T TOLERATE THAT!" He shouts

"ONE OF YOU NIGGA'S GET IN HERE!" He yells out

Vito holds on to his face,trying to hold his tears in. He wanted to cry but he knew if he did it would get worse.

A group of men walked in standing tall looking down at Vito.

"My son here thinks that getting touched by a woman is wrong. I need to show an example. Someone,anyone step ahead."

Everyone was nervous, not really sure what Dave's next move will be.

"Someone step out,no one is going to get hurt"

Someone stepped out and Dave chuckled.

"Little nigga get up"

Vito struggled for a while to get up. His face was hurting and his breath felt like it was leaving his body.

"I'm going to show you what will happen if I ever find out you like men."

Dave pulled his gun from his waist and shot directly between the man's eyes. No one flinched but Vito. He was traumatized, scarred mentally. He ran out of the room quickly straight to the bathroom to throw up the breakfast he had eaten earlier. As much as he wanted to he couldn't cry the needed tears. Everytime he closed his eyes all he could see was the man's face when the bullet went in him.

"I-I have to leave"

Each time Vito tried to get up to leave the bathroom he had to sit back down to empty his stomach again,this time only bile came out.

A creak beside him made him look up. He makes eye contact with his mother only to see her frowning.

"Mama"

"I'm sorry baby"

Maria stepped in and headed over to her precious baby boy. She bends down and places her arms around him.

"Son I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, we're going to leave soon,I promise" she whispered in his ears

"Leave that boy alone Maria"

Dave walked in grabbing her by her arm pulling her up.

"Come her Vito"

He shook his head quickly. He didn't trust his dad nor did he want to be around him.

"Did you just tell me no?" Dave asked raising his voice

"N-no sir."

"Stand to your feet."

Vito quickly standed up. His knees shook while his eyes focused on Dave.

"Here"

Vito watched as his father pulled a gun from his side trying to give it to him.

" I don't want it." Vito cries backing up

"Take the damn gun Victor."

"Mama" he cried

Maria nervously shakes her head and plants her hand on Dave's back.

"Dave that's enough just come to bed with me."

"Woman get off of me. Can't you see our son is turning."

"Dave come to bed." She whispered again

Vito watched as his mother started pecking his father's neck. Maria head jolted a little signaling for her son to leave.

"Dave just let him leave and let me make you happy."

"Maria get off of me."

"I'm going to turn you into a man whether you like it or not"

He pushed Maria to the side and grabbed Vito's upper arm.

"DAVE ENOUGH LET HIM GO!" she yelled grabbing ahold of Vito's other arm

That day was the first and last time he ever saw his dad put his hands on his mother. He ran out of the bathroom and straight outside to his tree house. He needed to be far away from his father and their house.

"I hate him,I wished he died."

Vito angrily kicks his comic books over. He smashed his small fist into the wooden wall and rips a photo of him and his mother down.

"I HATE YOU TOO!"

For days Vito never left his tree house. His father didn't care if he did and his mother tried to get him back inside of the house. She brung him all the things he needed and begged that he at least came in to shower.

"Why does he hate me so much?!" He questioned his mother as she dropped dinner off to him

"Baby...your dad has had a hard life growing up,sometimes angry people stay angry"

"Why is he my dad, how come Uncle Charles couldn't have been my father."

Maria hugged her son tightly and placed a kiss on the top of his head.

"I'm sorry baby."

"Mama when are we going to leave?" He questioned Innocently

"Soon baby soon"

Two weeks passed and he finally decided to go back in the house. The mosquitoes were biting him and he really was getting tired of hearing scary noise,especially the crickets.

"I see you found your way back in the house." Maria said

She pulls a pan of chicken out of the oven and lays it on the counter.

"Baby can you tell your father Dinner is ready?"

Vito furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head.

"He doesn't like me mama."

"Vito you stop saying that. Your father loves you."

She turns around and stares at him.

"He loves you son,no matter what he does or say,he loves me and you a whole lot." Maria said

"Mama he-he

"It smells good in here" Dave said entering the kitchen

He looks at Vito and chuckles lowly.

"You finally decided to stop being a big baby and come inside?"

"Dave leave.him. alone."

"I'm sorry baby."

Dave takes a seat at the table. He pulled a cigar from his pants and lit the end.

"You want to take a puff?" He questioned Vito

"I'm ten years old"

"Boy I know your damn age,I was the one who-

"Vito go into your room. I'll bring your dinner to you."

When Vito left the kitchen so did the silence. His mother and father argued for hours. So long that his mother had sent one of his dad workers to drop his food off to him.

"DAVE YOUR SON THINKS YOU HATE HIM!"

"MARIA IT'S NOT MY FAULT THE BOY IS A PUNK,HE NEEDS TO BE A MAN,WHEN I WAS HIS AGE I ALREADY KNEW HOW TO SHOOT A GUN AND SURE ENOUGH KNEW HOW-

"HE'S NOT YOU! HE DOESN'T WANT TO LIVE HOW YOU WERE"

"EXACTLY HE'S LIVING DAMN BETTER!"

Vito's small hands slapped against his ears,trying to keep from hearing the argument.

"I can't wait to grow up."

Notice any similarities between Vito and his father?

Do yall prefer I write in 3rd or 1st, honestly I struggle with writing in 1st because I think I write it terribly but let me know.