A Little Life

Months turned into years and soon it had reached Roger's third birthday. Julijana had not planned to do much with her son. They would be spending the day at her parent's home and then returning back to the apartment for a quite night.

Roger could now walk like other normal children, and he had just started speaking. Julijana never understood why it took Roger so long to say his first words, or why he barely ever said anything after that.

Her son had started preschool, but he spent most of the time sitting in the corner by himself and watching his peers play. His teacher had commented that Roger had a serious sharing problem and he had gotten into a fight over glue with a classmate.

At home, Roger was still the small boy that his mother adored. He tried his hardest to help his mother in ways that a toddler could, which would mostly be dragging the few toys that he had into a corner of a room until they piled up.

But today Julijana wouldn't be bothered by his strange behavior. It was his birthday and it should have been a special day for him. Roger had a fun time, playing with his Aunt May and Uncle Arthur. His grandparents watched him fondly as they talked with his mother.

Julijana and Roger headed home late that evening. The bitter October winds blew down the colorful Autumn leaves as the pair walked home. Roger kicked at leaves and his mother walked home thoughtfully.

When they reached the apartment Julijana deposited Roger down on his new bed. Roger fell asleep and Julijana went into her living room. She was sitting on the couch, reading, when there was a loud knocking on the door. Julijana, puzzled at who could possibly be visiting her at ten thirty, went to answer the door.

Before she could reach the door, it was slammed open. Julijana gasped and moved back quickly. A tall figure, with dark eyes and golden blonde hair that framed a muscular face, walked slowly into the apartment. He looked around, kicked the door shut, and smiled at Julijana.

"Sid," Julijana whispered.

"Hello," Sid responded moving forward slowly. He paused and picked up a toy train that lay on the floor. "Who does this belong to?" he asked as he turned the train over in his hands. "My son, I suppose?"

"How...how did you..find out?" Julijana asked in sheer puzzlement.

Sid sighed and placed the train on the floor again. "The hospital gave me all the information that I needed," he explained. "It also helps to have a cousin working there, too. She told me of my son. I think she said that his name was Roger, or something along that line."

Julijana's eyes filled with tears. "What do you want with him?" she asked.

"To see him," Sid responded as he advanced upon Julijana. "Now, you can make this easy for me and just show me where he is. Or we can make this hard."

Julijana hesitated. When she didn't answer, Sid sighed and walked over to the bedroom door and kicked it open. Julijana screamed and rushed forward.

"Please don't hurt him! Please!" she screamed, trying to throw herself in front of Sid in an attempt to block him from entering the room.

Sid looked at Julijana and shoved her back. He entered the darkened bedroom and immediately spotted the small bed in the corner. He approached, slowly and quietly. Once reaching it he knelt down and peered at the figure lying there.

Sid's expression softened as he looked at his son for the first time. Roger, who had awoken when the bedroom door was slammed open, clutched his blanket under his chin and peered frightfully at the stranger above him.

"Hey there," Sid whispered, a hint of laughter at his son's fearfulness playing in his voice. He reached out a hand and ran his fingers through his son's hair. Roger squirmed to get away from the intruder. Sid laughed, amused by his son's actions.

"It's okay," Sid whispered. "I won't hurt you. I'm Daddy."

Roger peered at his father. "Daddy?" he repeated.

"That's right," Sid answered. "Daddy."

Roger looked at his father again. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, he recalled a story told to him by his mother about fathers - how must of them were good and others were bad; that without his father he wouldn't be. Putting aside all the faint memories of hearing that his own father was dangerous, Roger held up his hands to Sid.

Sid smiled and picked his son up. Roger wrapped his arms around Sid's neck as his father carried him into the living room. Julijana, who feared to follow her ex - boyfriend into the bedroom, shrieked when she saw Roger in his arms. "What are you doing with him?" she screamed.

"Holding him," Sid responded. Roger smiled and waved at his mother. His mother had started crying in a sudden panic.

"Mommy!" Roger cried out. He squirmed out of his father's grip and ran to his mother. He tried to give her a hug, but it didn't work out.

Sid turned to leave. "Julijana," he started. Julijana looked up. "I'll be back for him."

Sid left, and Julijana started crying again.