My Mother’s Boyfriend Beat My Nine-Year-Old Brother With a Belt—Then a Stranger Called Our Kitchen Phone and Said, “Stay Away From the Kids”
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Chapter 2 / 27
Chapter 2 - The voice
Nobody used our landline anymore.
It sat on a charging base because Mom insisted emergencies were easier with a fixed number.
That afternoon, it rang so violently it sounded impossible.
Gary froze.
Mom stared at it.
I was still holding Ethan behind me.
Gary’s fist remained twisted into the collar of my shirt.
The phone rang again.
And again.
I grabbed it.
“Hello?”
A man said:
“Brooke?”
I did not recognize the voice.
“Who is this?”
“Put me on speaker.”
“No.”
Then his voice changed.
Not louder.
Harder.
“Gary Holt is in the house, isn’t he?”
Gary released my collar.
The man continued:
“Stay away from the kids.”
Gary’s face lost all color.
Mom whispered:
“Oh God.”
Three knocks hit the front door.
Not frantic.
May you like
Deliberate.
Then the handle turned.
