“Stop it.”

            “What is going on with you and Dad?”  He asked out of the blue and Paula sighed.

            “We’re having a rough patch.  This move has been harder on us than we thought.  I found a small apartment not far from your school…”

            “You’re moving out?”  He sat up and Paula brushed back the tears. 

            “I have to Glenn.  This isn’t about you guys, this is about me and your father.  I love you kids, you have to know that.”

            “Damn it.”

            “Glenn!”  She yelled and Glenn slapped her hand away, the anger brimming again. 

            “Don’t Glenn me.  Get out of here!”  He screamed, his face bright red, “Get out!  I don’t want to see you!  Get out!”  Paula stumbled to her feet, moving to the door, hands shaking as they wiped away the tears from her red eyes.  Closing the door and leaning against it, all her strength gone as she heard Glenn throwing his bedside table, and sent it clattering to the floor.   

~*SoN*~

            “Hey Dad?”  Aiden asked.  His father looking up from the modest supper they’d made earlier. 

            “Yeah.”  His father answered and Aiden smiled. 

            “S’okay if I take start going to see Zoe on my own?” 

            “I don’t see why not.” 

            “I’m gonna ask Ash if she can help me with something.  Put together some things for her.”  His father nodded, not saying a word.  The look of hope in his eyes was too much to bear.  “I’m gonna go change, I wanna go out for a while…”

            “Try and get home before sunrise this time?”  His father said and Aiden blushed.

            “Ok.”

~*SoN*~

            “Papi, where is Mami?”  Madison asked.  She was getting her clean clothes from the dryer. 

            “She is at work.  Took an extra shift.”  Madison nodded.  Her mother was always taking extra shifts.  She didn’t have a choice, her father was surely not bringing home any money.  Sitting on the couch, watching TV, a beer between his legs, ignoring everyone around him, not that Madison minded the last half of the equation.