Devil's Children

A cool breeze acompanied the deep red setting sun to the ending of an ordinary summer's day. As the screen door screeched open and slamed shut again, a new character appeared on the porch. He stumbled across the old floorboards that echoed beneth the house with every step. His face was that of what a black man's face would have looked 75 years ago. He seemed humble and afraid upon appearing, but always the thoughts of devilish deeds behind th cold brown eyes. He placed the tray which he had been holding on a small tabel next to his mother's chair. She never said thank you for after a time she had come to expect such a thing. She had been spoiled by daily pampering for years. She simply shoed him away once the task was completed until she requested something else which she would then screem his name at the top of her lungs untill he appeared.

She was not always this way. Once upon a time, many years ago she was the love of the neighborhood. She and her husband were always the one's to barbeque and throw parties. There home was always the center for any celebration be it Christmas or 4th of July. These happy times went on for years untill they were blessed with a son. The pregnency came unexpetedly, but was still welcomed with open arms. At the time the father was well employeed by an emerging computer dealer. At the time the mother was very happy and well taken care of by her husband. It would have seemed a story book scene for a baby to grow up and become a productive member of society. But it wasn't. The pregnency went flawless. Young John Tyler was born into the world healthy and alive. Some jokes were made about the boy's birth mark. they said if he would have been born 300 years ago, he would have been thought of as a devil child.

John's father was very dedicated to being as much involved in his son's life as possible. He had read many books on fatherhood as well as motherhood. He prided himself on being very understanding and selfsacrificing. But, though these were his best qualities, these led to his downfall. John was gifted to have a father as such as this one. No weekend was as anticipated more than John and his father. They fised, played catch, boxed, wresled, jogged, played checkers, and anything else a small boy could wish. But this time spent with his son was killing him. Every weekend he had to work twice as hard to make up for the lost time on weekends. Because of this dedication his old neighborhood friends abondoned him in persuit of drinking. John's family was no longer invited to parties or celebrations. Because of this child they had become the outcasts.

When John was 10 his father woke him up for school just like any other day and got ready for work himself. Before leaving to catch the bus, John looked back and said goodbye to his dad who was sitting at the table drinking his coffee. That was the last time seeing his father. During dinner while John and his mother anticipated him getting home an officer knocked on the door and told his mother that her husband was dead. A drunk driver hit him head on going over 90 mph. John and his mother were forced into incredible debt. They moved out of their nice home into an old, three room, tin roofed house out in the country. The years to come would be so hard that John's mother began to blame him for all the bad things which have happened. She condemned him for the mere reason of being born. She called him the Devil's son because the hell he had brought to the family. She shamed him for his birthmark on his arm which she used to justify herself. She would not allow him to attend church with her, he was not allowed to be seen with her, and he was not allowed to speak directly to her all because he was the Devil's son.

Now, 5 years later, John is now reduced to a spinless servant to his mother When his mother is not demanding attention, he dreams of his old life with his father. He tries to see how he was responsibe for his death, but comes back empyt handed every time. Every waking moment of his life, John is haunted by the idea that he is responsible for his father's death. This constant burden finally takes its toll on him. He awakens one night from one of many nightmares he has in which he sees his father pointing his finger toward John yelling " YOU KILLED ME!" John can no longer take the pain and responsibility of murder. He decides to end his suffering. But he thinks twice. He realizes that he'd be leaving his mother behind alone. He concludes the only humane thing is to also end her sufering as well. As he writes his letter to the world, he breaks down and weeps in tears of joy that soon it will be all over. He signs the letter The Devil's Son.

John places the note on the floor and loads the gun. He silently walks into his mother's room and up to his mother's bed. As john's eyes adapt to the darkness, he realizes that his mother's bed is empty. As he places his hand on where his mother sould be laying, a gun shot fires from the dark corner of the room and John falls to the ground. A note is placed next to John's bleeding head. Another shot is fired and John's mother falls to the ground. When police find the bodies, there not certain which one committed sucicide. They find two notes; one signed The Devil's Daughter, the other signed the Devil's Son.