reno james

little vegas, paradise, nevada

...harsh reality

Why is it whenever you think you’re about to get ahead -- in some way, shape, or form – you end up taking a step back… My whole life has been built around this “dance” – one step forward – two back… My parents instilled in me at an early age that I was going to College – that I wasn’t going to turn out like them.

Turns out though, school just wasn’t my thing… I opted out early – the corrupt school system just wasn’t working for me… Found myself the proud owner of a GED degree only a few months after that… When I brought it home, I found myself laughed at by my parents for my “Good Enough Degree”

And you know what I told ‘em?

“Damn right good enough…”

My mother looked at me like I had just pulled my dick out and slapped grandma with it… They weren’t use to me being such a dweeb, falling into line for them…

I’ll admit it, my heart was straight up in my throat… I had that uneasy feeling that comes with a broken heart, mixed with unbridled excitement…

I let my head hang back some, staring up at the nasty stained stucco ceiling… “I’m moving out too.”

“Oh talk sense you idiot… You aren’t going anywhere…” My dad yelled…

I stared at him… My icon, sitting there in a stained wife beater, with his gut hanging what seemed to be a mile over the top of his belt…

“I am Dad… I’ve had enough of this place!” I threw my arms out at my surroundings… “I don’t want to be confined in this prison anymore!”

My Dad got to his feet… I couldn’t help but laugh at all the chip crumbs as they fell from his chest to the ground…

“You shut the fuck up and get the fuck to your room you little shit!” My Dad bellowed…

“No Dad… You don’t own me anymore…” I muttered…

I felt like I was doing something wrong – finally confronting my father… I couldn’t even look at my mother – the look in her eye – glazed over… I shook my hands and stepped towards my Dad…

“Boy, I’m gonna kick your ass – sure as you’re standing there.” He roared.

“Throw a punch Dad… Knock me out just like you knock mom out all the time…” I growled.
“Reno, stop it now!” My mother cried.

“Stay out of this Mom.” I muttered.

“Boy, you are always going to be a fuck-up… Every thing I’ve done for you, all the advice, and you’re flushing it the fuck down the toilet.” He roared.

“I’m never getting ahead by going to some stupid community college Dad – I’m accepting it – you should to – I’ve got plans though – but they don’t involve living her with you guys forever and fucking supporting you!” I roared.

“Language!” My grandmother bellowed…

I turned to her a moment, before I felt a fist crash into my face… I stumbled backwards, as everything turned foggy a moment… Finding the wall, I leaned on it a moment as I fought the urge to black out…

“Are you done yet?” My Dad asked…

“Fuck you.” I muttered as I spat blood on him…

My mother tried to intercept him, only to be thrown to the side – slamming into the coffee table… My Dad turned to her a moment…

“Stupid bitch.” He laughed.

I ran forward, decking my Dad as hard as I could… He stumbled back as I lead in with a heavy left… I screamed as I jumped on him, tackling him to the ground… I tried for another punch – but he over powered me by grabbing my throat… He lifted me to my feet – choking me the whole way…

“You want to leave?” He bellowed as he dragged me to the door… He opened the door as I felt his thumb push into my neck… “Get the fuck out of my house and never come back!”

He screamed as he threw me out the door… I almost landed on my feet, however found myself flipping over, landing hard on the cold concrete with a smack… I rolled over, coughing hard, painting the concrete red with my own blood…

“I guess this is freedom…” I muttered…

That was almost two years ago…