HAPPY Christmas

I’m all hugged up under my big Spiderman duvet, I can’t sleep as its Christmas eve, I don’t know the time cause I can’t even read;
My big Sister whispers from the bottom bunk “let’s go see the presents, hold my hand and I will take the lead”

We creep hand in hand down the stairs and make our way to the big red door;
But when my sister turned the handle and it opened it wasn’t father Christmas that me and my Sister saw.

It was Mummy and Daddy, Daddy was making Mummy cry;
He kept smacking her in the face as he screamed out that he wanted her to die.

Daddy looked like a huge bear, his face was red his hair was wet;
I felt my Sisters hand shaking in mine but Daddy hadn’t noticed us standing there yet.

Daddy slaps and punches Mummy until I see blood and her eyes just roll away;
She slumps to the ground in a heap as I scream out “MUMMY I LOVE YOU, PLEASE GET UP AND SAY THAT YOU ARE OKAY”.

Daddy’s face turns but his so big I can’t even see;
Before I know it my Sisters lying on her back as Daddy then lays his fists into me.

He has punched me in the eye and nose, there’s so much blood I couldn’t even see;
My older Sister is screaming for help, she’s crying out “PLEASE PLEASE PROTECT ME”.

Through the blood I see my Daddy kicking my big Sister as his fists beat down so hard on to my eye;
I am only 5 years old but I was so afraid that me and my Sister were about to die.

This next bit makes me shiver to remember but a struggle that I’ve had to bare;
My Daddy smacks us both till were standing up then drags us upstairs by our fucking hair.

He throws us onto his bed, I cuddle up to my older Sister as we both shake in fear;
I look into my Sisters eyes, she’s petrified and blood has now replaced her tear.

My Daddy takes off his belt, it had a huge silver Harley Davidson belt buckle, I pray he doesn’t use that end I mean I pray, I beg, I wish but none of it helps, the buckle smashes me straight into my back and knocks me flying;
My Sister starts to scream as we hear our Mum banging on the locked bedroom door crying.

Daddy ignores our screams and he doesn’t seem to hear our Mum banging at the door;
Then he smashes the buckle into my Sisters face and she fly’s down to meet me on the bedroom floor.

We scurry under the bed to just get away;
My Mum’s still screaming and banging, I pray that she is going to save the day.

Daddy’s arms run under the bed trying to get me and my Sister out, we both cry for forgiveness we even try to beg;
Then my Sister screams out so loud as my Daddy grabs a hold of her leg.

Daddy pulls and pulls, I hold my Sisters arms back, my Sister digs her nails into the carpet, she’s trying everything to keep out of harm’s way;
Then she starts to scream again as I watch her finger nails just bend and completely tear away.

I grab her hands, we lock eyes once more, she’s crying, she’s praying, I just wanted to get her out of there;
I remember all I could think is its Christmas morning and she’s only 7 years old, why is life so unfair.

Just then I hear a huge bang, Mummy shouting and Daddy just lets go, we hear them running down the stairs and a car screeching away;
Then I hear nothing but silence, I’m shaking, but I turn to my big Sister to check that she is okay.
We hear someone walking up the stairs, my Sister cuddles me, so scared with who it might be;
Then someone kneels down and smiles, were saved it’s our beautiful Mummy.

We both crawl out from under the bed as she cries and wraps her arms around us as her lips tremble out “I am so sorry all that was meant for me”;
I look past all her blood, tears and pain and kiss her on the cheek as I whisper out “Happy Christmas Mummy”.

Barry Mowles