---

 

This writing was accepted for publication in the 108-page perfect-bound ISSN#/ISBN# issue/paperback book “Idle Hands” cc&d, v344, the 4/24 issue Order the 6"x9" paperback book:

Order this writing in the book In the Moment the cc&d January - April 2024 magazine issues collection book		get the 426-page January - April 2024 cc&d magazine 6" x 9" ISBN# perfect-bound paperback book:

The Oxygen Thief

Doug Jacquier

    Jaxxon, without taking his eyes off the giant screen, his thumbs mashing the game controller, yelled ‘Where’s me lunch?’ Kylie yelled back ‘You’ll get it when I’ve finished feedin’ the baby.’
    ‘That bloody kid, that’s all you think about. I don’t even know why you had it. Should’ve gotten rid of it, like I said.’
    ‘Yeah, I remember. Why don’t you get off yer arse and get it yourself?’
    ‘I’m busy.’
    Kylie laughed loudly and Jaxxon stormed into the kitchen with his fist clenched. When he saw Kylie clutching the baby to her breast, he punched a hole in the wall and stormed out, muttering ‘Fuckin’ fat lazy mole’.
    ...
    Cheryl heard the gate clang before her grandson, Jaxxon, barged though her back door without knocking, dragging a pit bull behind him.
    ‘Leave that mongrel outside!’ she snapped.
    He snarled ‘He’s not a mongrel, he’s a pure-bred.’
    ‘Pure-bred killer more like it. Don’t let it anywhere near the baby.’
    Jaxxon took it out and returned, scowling.
    Cheryl said ‘Row with Kylie again?’ She didn’t expect an answer. ‘Do you want some baked beans on toast?’
    He grunted ‘Yeah’. Cheryl decided not to push the manners. When she put the food in front of him, no thanks emerged.
    She watched him as he shoveled it in. His tatts had now extended up from his full sleeves to high on his neck and were working their way over his shaved skull. Studs populated his former eyebrows and he had a ring through his septum.
    ‘Still getting some work from your brother?’ Jaxxon’s older brother, Jayden, had taken him in after Cheryl’s daughter, Jade, died from a bad deal and her husband took off. It still stabbed Cheryl to see Jade’s face in Jaxxon’s.
    ‘Nah, chucked it in’ Jaxxon mumbled. ‘Always bossin’ me round. Everythin’ I done he reckoned was wrong.’
    Cheryl heard ‘turned up late and left at lunchtime’.
    ‘Besides, I always drive you down the shops on Thursdays.’
    ‘Sometimes and today’s Friday. And the shopping’s done’.
    Jaxxon scowled and changed the subject. ‘Who’s that old bastard muckin’ around in your garage?’
    ‘That’s Derek. He fixes things.’
    ‘Why doesn’t he fix things at his own place.’
    ‘This is his place now. He lives here.’
    ‘What, in Mum’s old room?’ Cheryl’s face gave him his answer. ‘Geez, Nanna, that’s gross. He’s prob’ly just usin’ ya. Just wants your money and stuff. I’ll fix him.’ His puny chest swelled and his fists clenched.
    ‘You’ll do no such thing. He’s a good man and he has his own money. Besides, it gets lonely on your own.’
    ‘Pop’d be disgusted!’ Jaxxon sneered.
    ‘Dead people don’t get disgusted. Frank’s been dead for 10 years and you hated him anyway. Just like you hate everybody.’
    Jaxxon protested ‘I don’t hate you, Nanna.’
    ‘Well, that’s probably true, sweetheart’ said Cheryl, knowing it wasn’t, unless regularly putting the bite on his grandmother counted as love these days.
    Derek sauntered into the kitchen, nodded to Jaxxon, turned smiling to Cheryl and said ‘Any chance of a cuppa, darlin’?’
    Jaxxon stood up, brushed past Derek, and slammed the back door on his way out.
    He’d forgotten the pit bull.
    ...
    Late in the afternoon, as Cheryl and Derek sat on the back veranda, she looked at Jaxxon’s dog and said ‘He’d be better off if we had him put down.’ Derek said, ‘Which one?’ Cheryl said ‘You’re an evil man, Derek.’ But she laughed.

Copyright of written pieces remain with the author, who has allowed it to be shown through Scars Publications and Design.Web site © Scars Publications and Design. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted without express permission from the author.

Problems with this page? Then deal with it...