MOMENTS THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW BETTER

Clarabelle stood up and placed her bag near the table. She was unaware of time and the situation for a second when her mother called her downstairs for lunch. Clarabelle flinched and said, "coming!"

As she was going downstairs, the doorbell suddenly rang. It was really odd that someone came by their house. Clarabelle froze at her spot. She was standing on the staircase.

She walked toward the door with a scared mind. Her mind was screaming something bad was coming. If she opens the door something worse will happen. She slipped one hand into her pocket. Fingers tightening in her pocket. With the other hand she grabbed the door knob and opened the door and jumped back on an instinct.

"Hey sweetie, why did you jump back? Are you okay?" Robert asked Clarabelle.

As she realized it was her father, her heart stopped racing slowly and relief washed over her face. She sighed and said, "Dad!"

She asked with a stupid smile, "you're home this early?"

"Yes honey!" Robert replied with a warm smile while he put his bag on the chair next to him. "I took a half day today. I thought I'd spend some more time with you all."

Clarabelle smiled back and replied, "That's really sweet of you."

"Come on! Let's have lunch together before it gets cold." Robert said with eagerness.

Robert went to the bathroom to freshen up while Clarabelle went to the kitchen to help her mother with the food.

After a few moments the Williams family gathered around the dining table. At that moment they forgot about everything else and enjoyed their lunch. For a brief moment, the atmosphere of Williams family seemed lighter than it had been all day. They enjoyed their meal in peace and happiness just for a second.

While serving the food, Margaret looked at Robert and asked, "How is your work going, honey?"

"Everything is going well at the restaurant." Robert replied with a smile on his face. He further added, "The customers really liked the meatball i served today."

Margaret smiled sweetly and gave a spoon full of lasagna to Robert.

Laughter filled the room.

After lunch, everyone was sitting on the sofa and chatting when Margaret cleared the table. Robert asked Clarabelle about her school when Jackson got up excitedly and said, "Dad! You know what happened today?"

Robert asked sweetly to his 14 year old son, "What? That cheerleader you liked came and proposed to you?"

"Dad no, that never happened ." said Jackson furious. "Today the teachers gave us weapons."

Robert was shocked and asked if he was serious. Clarabelle noticed the lack of sense and explained to her father, "Dad, actually after school the police arranged a session where they gave us a lecture about self defence and the Safety ----"

Her sentence was unfinished when Jackson eagerly said, "Then they gave us this." He showed his father a pocket knife that police have given the students.

Clarabelle's smile faded when she saw a knife in Jackson hand and asked, "A knife? Jackson teacher gave us pepper spray and a teaser."

Jackson laughed and said, "Clara, the teacher gave us boys a notifier and a pocket knife. Didn't you notice?"

Robert raised his eyebrows, surprised he took the knife carefully inspecting it with interest. "So they are really taking precautions now." "Good----. That's...... good." The words were vague and inattentive.

Robert snapped back and handed the knife to Jackson and asked it to keep safe and use it when it's absolutely necessary. Jackson nodded.

At that moment Clarabelle noticed a faint shift to Robert's expression. Just for a second, his jaw tightened. Something life rage and anger and desperation crossed his face. Before anyone can notice it disappeared.

"Dad?" Clarabelle asked quietly. "Something wrong?"

Robert looked at her, then smiled. "Nothing dear. Now let's watch our favorite slasher movie okay?" asked with enthusiasm.

By the time the movie was finished, evening had settled in the sky. Outside darkened, streetlights flickering on one by one. Dinner was quite, calmer then the night before. Yet the silence carried a heavy weight that Clarabelle couldn’t let go.

WRITTEN BY: TWILIGHT RAVEN

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