Iggy sighed as he put his head on his desk. Nothing had been going right these days. He was struggling to maintain good grades in school. His mom had left them a few weeks ago. Everybody in the family seemed disconnected from each other, as if they were their own families living together in one house. Iggy lifted his head and reached for a picture frame, showing the entire family together for their annual family portrait. Everyone seemed so happy then. Nobody would have ever expected that things would go downhill. Tears came to Iggy’s eyes as he looked at the picture. “Why couldn’t everything stay the same? Why did everything have to change?!” Iggy thought.
He put the picture down and put his head on his desk, sobbing. All he wanted was for someone just to put his arm around him and tell him everything would be okay. All he wanted was someone to actually care about him. But, that would never happen. Nobody seemed to care about anything these days.
Just then the door burst open. It was Bowser, red in the face with rage and holding a piece of paper. “IGGY! WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THESE GRADES?!” he screamed.
Iggy put his head up and sobbed, “I-I’m s-s-so-sorry, D-D-Dad! I-I-I’m t-t-try-trying as h-hard as I-I c-c-can!”
“If you were trying as hard as you could, you’d be achieving straight A’s! You’re not trying, so don’t even say you are!” Bowser screamed again, not even taking notice to the fact that his son was crying his eyes out.
Bowser threw the paper with Iggy’s grades on it to the floor and left, slamming the door on his way out. Iggy burst into tears. He’d never felt so alone. He just needed someone to talk to, but who was there? His father definitely wouldn’t be much help. Ludwig seemed to prefer a life of solitude, rather than talking to anyone. Lemmy had been dealing with everything pretty well, unlike everyone else, so he wasn’t sure if Lemmy would understand. Roy had been more violent than ever nowadays, so Iggy wouldn’t dare go to him. Wendy has retreated to her own little world, and didn’t seem to want anyone to join her. Morton hadn’t been talking much lately, and when he did, it was never what he used to say. Larry, well, it’d be kinda awkward going to his youngest brother for help. There was no one. Nno one he could pour his heart out to. No one he could tell his problems and feelings to. No one who would just to stand by him when he needed someone.
Iggy continued crying. He jumped when the door opened. Standing in the doorway was Larry, holding a phone. “Hey Iggy! Mom’s on the phone!” he said.
He walked over to Iggy and handed him the phone. “Thanks,” Iggy muttered, taking the phone. “Hello?” he mumbled into it.
“Iggy? Hello. How’ve you been?” Clawdia casually asked him.
“Fine,” Iggy mumbled, not sure if he should tell his mom that he was miserable and tell her everything he was feeling.
“That’s good. Could you put Ludwig on the phone now?” Clawdia asked.
“Sure,” he mumbled, and got up.
Iggy walked to Ludwig’s room, and knocked on the door. “Come in,” he heard a faint voice say.
He opened the door, and went to where Ludwig was sitting, reading a book. “Here. It’s Mom,” Iggy said, trying to hold back his tears.
Ludwig took the phone, and motioned for him to leave. Iggy turned and walked out of the room. On his way back to his room, he turned a corner too sharply, and ended up head-butting Roy. “Ouch! Sorry!” Iggy said.
“GET OUT OF THE WAY, YOU WASTE OF SPACE!” Roy screamed at him, punching him in the eye and knocking him down.
Suddenly, Iggy broke down. “WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE SO MEAN TO ME?! WHY CAN’T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT I’M HURTING AS WELL?! WHY CAN’T YOU JUST BE NICE TO ME AND ACTUALLY CARE?!” Iggy screamed right back at Roy, sobbing.
He ran past Roy and straight into his room. As he ran down the hall, he ran into Lemmy, knocking him over. “Hey! What’s the rush, Iggy?” Lemmy asked, curious.
Iggy didn’t holler anything in reply. Lemmy walked over to Roy, who was standing dumbstruck from Iggy’s breakdown. “What’s wrong with Iggy?” he asked.
Roy shrugged, shocked, yet uncaring. Lemmy ran down the hall and to Iggy’s room. He knocked on the door. “Iggy? Iggy, you okay?” he asked.
He heard no response, just Iggy’s cries. He opened the door, and found Iggy at his desk, head down. “Hey Iggy, what’s wrong?” Lemmy asked.
No reply.
He put his hand on Iggy’s shoulder. “Hey, come on. Tell me what’s wrong Iggy,” he said.
Iggy looked up. He looked Lemmy right in the eye, and saw a hint of understanding. Then, he said, sobbing, “Nothing has been going right! Everything has been awful! Mom left, I can’t maintain good grades, and nobody seems to want to be together anymore!”
He put his head down and continued crying. Then he felt Lemmy put his arm around his shoulder. “It’s okay, Iggy,” Lemmy said, softly.
There was no response from Iggy.
“This has been hard on all of us. Dad has been more demanding of us since Mom left him. Yesterday as I was walking around, he was in Ludwig’s room yelling at him for a C on a test,” Lemmy said.
“Really?” Iggy asked, lifting his head up.
Lemmy nodded. “And he’s been screaming at me to bring up my grades as well,” he said.
“You’re not doing well in school?” Iggy asked.
“Nope. I guess Dad is trying to get us to be perfect so he can show Mom that he is taking care of us and we are growing up right,” Lemmy replied.
“Is that why?” Iggy asked, no longer crying.
“Well, maybe. Or maybe because he’s still trying to get over the fact that Mom left him,” Lemmy said.
Iggy wiped his eyes.
“Don’t worry, Iggy. You’re not alone. We’re all trying to adjust to this. True, we’re all kinda disconnected, but it’ll get better. We’re going to have to stick together if we’re going to get through this. And don’t worry. I promise that no matter what,” Lemmy put his hand on Iggy’s shoulder, “I’ll be there for you.”
Iggy smiled. He didn’t realize how much Lemmy understood. “Thanks,” he said softly.
Lemmy put his arms around Iggy for a hug, and then left the room. Iggy sat back down and picked up the picture of his family’s portrait. He looked at each family member. “They’re still healing, just like me. They feel the same way. They just choose to show it differently,” Iggy thought.
He put down the picture, and got up. “I’ll go see how Morton’s doing. Maybe he needs someone to brighten up his day,” Iggy thought.
They’re still healing, and need someone to help them. Just like Lemmy helped him.
The End
| If you would like to send some feedback
to the author of this submission, please complete this form.
What's your name?
What's your Email address?
How do you rate this submission?
Does this submission belong in Little
Lemmy's Land?
Would you like to see more from this author? Comments and suggestions:
|
