Early one Thursday morning Cliff was awakened by the harsh and angry voice of his dad.  His dad was shouting loudly and he could tell, by the sound of his voice, that he was very angry.  A feeling of fear and panic gripped him as he crept silently down the stairs to see what the argument was about.  As so many times before his parents were having another intense argument.  His mother was gripping the door tightly and her face appeared as pale as a ghost.  Through tearful eyes she cried in dismay, “No! That can’t be true!”

Dad was accusing her of having an affair with his good friend Alek.  His dad was often intoxicated and because of this, more fights were brought upon mum.  He drank the entire night and arrived home to discover his mother sleeping on the couch.  His mum tried to explain to him that Alek was a real genuine friend, but dad was just determined.

He kept shouting that she was having an affair with Alek, every time he left the house.  She cried in disbelief as she pleaded with him to believe her story that she was patiently waiting up for him to come home, and fell asleep.  His dad still insisted that she met Alek that night.  Cliff now had a foreboding feeling in his throat, as his heart raced with anxiety.  This argument seemed the worst of them all.

His dad shook his mum vehemently.  Even in his drunken rage, Cliff never saw his dad strike his mum.  Instead he pounded on the wall and buried his head in his hands.  Cliff felt confused.  He had mixed feelings of pity for both his mother and father.  Her knew that his mum was innocent.  He felt so helpless he wished he could do something to stop this conflict, but he was only a boy.  He didn’t want to lose either of his parents.  He loved them both.  If only his dad wouldn’t drink, he thought to himself.

Dad was so fun loving when he was sober.  He waited anxiously to see what his dad would do next.  His dad lifted his head, and in a woeful sob he heard him say those dreadful words, “I just can’t take this s#@* no more!”  the sound of the door slamming echoed through the house and vibrated in the depths of his very soul.  He ran upstairs and buried his face in his hands, fearing the worst.  Questions flooded his mind.  Was dad too drunk to know what he was doing?  How could he do this to his him?  How could he so wrongly accuse his poor innocent mother and his loyal friend Alek, who was like a second dad to him?  He wondered if it was his fault.  Confusing thoughts flooded his mind.  Will his dad ever come back?  He was too young to understand what was happening.  “Oh Dad, don’t go…please.”  He breathed in silent desperation.