Over 30 years ago

  Young Aquarius wakes up in the middle of the night. Yesterday was Jeremiah's eighth birthday. The boy's father, Leonard Clayborne, had come home to see his only son on his very special day. For Jeremiah, it is always a special day when Daddy comes home.

  For several months, young Aquarius' father has been spending more and more time away. Driving trucks for many days and nights on end. Yesterday, Leonard Clayborne had made an exception, coming home to spend most of the day with his family. It had been the happiest day of Aquarius' life.

  But now, there are strange sounds coming from the living room below. Sounds which mean Mommy and Daddy are lying together on the living room couch. How can this be? Daddy has already left in his big truck.

  Tiny Aquarius likes to watch when Mommy and Daddy lie together. He will often stand near the dark entryway as they make weird motions and sounds. Sometimes, Mommy will be on top. Other times, Daddy is on top. The sounds are different when Daddy is on top, more grunts and shuffling. When Mommy is on top there is more for Aquarius to see. They do not wear clothes while lying on the couch together. On every occasion, young Aquarius has been able to view his mother's naked body from his position just outside the entryway, her chest heaving as his father moves rhythmically beneath her.

  Tonight, it is not young Aquarius' father who lies beneath Claudia. It is another man. A much bigger man. He and young Aquarius' mother are locked in a fierce kiss. Claudia's upper body is bent forward as she kisses her forbidden lover, hands raking through his dark brown hair. One of the man's strong hands caresses Claudia's back, his other hand squeezing one of her large breasts.

  Aquarius daringly steps closer, curious as to who this new man could be. He has seen him before. Yesterday, in fact. Yes. At church. The man sitting behind Daddy. Jeremiah has seen the man there before. More than once, Aquarius has seen his mother glance over her shoulder, casually smiling at the man now making her mouth and body do strange things.

  After service, the large man had shaken his father's hand. As he has done many times before. Young Aquarius' eight year old mind struggles to remember the man's name. He should know it. The man is very familiar. Shrugging off the desire to know who lies beneath his gasping mother, Aquarius settles in to watch the strange happenings.

  Claudia straddles the unfamiliar man's waist, as he thrusts deep within her. Breaking off their turbulent kiss, and rearing back, she allows him to fondle her breasts with both hands. Moaning deep in her chest, Claudia begs her lover to go deeper. He has no desire to deny her request. Placing one large hand on Claudia's waist, the big man increases the angle and force of his thrusts.

  "Yes. Please. Oh, please."

  Claudia's body shivers and she forces both eyes to open. Bringing her head level, she peers drowsily down at the large man lustfully groping and squeezing her breasts.

  "Mmmmm."

  The man underneath Claudia reaches up a hand and cradles her face. The man's voice is like that of a mountainous character Aquarius once saw in a television movie. Very deep, and quite scary.

  "Tell me you love me, Claudia," the big man says. "I need to hear you say it."

  "I love you," Claudia sighs, chest rapidly rising and falling from the energy of their unbridled copulation. "I love you."

  Claudia's eyes close yet again, and she presses a hand to her left breast. It is a good thing she is not able to view the malevolent expression which explodes onto the face of the man thrusting deep inside her. Otherwise, she might have been frightened beyond all belief. The man's voice becomes a deep growl. He grips Claudia's waist with both hands and pushes himself further inside her warm place.

  "Lying whore!" the man growls. "You think you can trick me? I saw the way you looked at me today...In church. The way you kept sneaking glances at that sorry excuse of a husband of yours. If you ever tell Leonard about you and me, I'll make you sorry. I mean it, Claudia. This whole thing was your idea. I won't lose my family because of some crazy, half-breed bitch!"

  Claudia's eyes are now open. She stares down at the furious man still intimately wedged between her legs. Shaking her head, Claudia struggles to control her growing fear.

  "I don't...I don't understand. What are you talking about? I love you,--!"

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  The big man slaps Claudia hard across the face with a large hand. She holds the cheek he struck and sobs, shock taking her voice. Pulling Claudia's hair, the man draws her down to his level. He yanks her head to the side and kisses her forcefully.

  Young Aquarius backs away from the darkened living room entryway. He turns and speedwalks up the stairs. The increased sounds of his mother's moans and sighs reaches his youthful ears, followed by the big man's loud laughter.

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  Four Days Later

  "Jeremiah! Come in for lunch. Jeremiah, did you hear me? Jeremiah? Baby?"

  Claudia steps off of the back porch and heads for the middle of the yard, where she last saw Jeremiah playing. Instead, she finds him drawing under the tree swing. With a proud smile, Claudia goes to her very preoccupied son. She drops down into a crouch beside him.

  "What are you drawing?" Claudia whispers.

  Young Aquarius jumps up as if hearing a crack of thunder. He looks guiltily up at his mother and yanks his drawing out of sight, hiding it behind his back. Claudia peers at Jeremiah in surprise.

  "What is that, Jeremiah? Why are you hiding it from me?" Claudia questions.

  There is a suspicious tone to Claudia's voice. What little she had seen of the drawing seemed somewhat inappropriate. However, the young mother is hoping she is wrong.

  "Let me see the picture, Jeremiah!" Claudia says, holding out her hand.

  "It's a surprise!" Aquarius lies, pressing the paper tighter against his back.

  "No it isn't, Jeremiah! I saw what you were drawing," Claudia also lies. "Let me see it. Now!"

  Young Aquarius bows his head and hands his young mother the drawing. Claudia's light-brown skin pales and she shakes her head in disbelief.

  "Why did you draw this, Jeremiah? Why did you draw this?! Why?" Claudia exclaims, tears running down her cheeks.

  "I...I watched you and Daddy...When you make weird sounds. I saw the big man. He made weird sounds too. I saw him hit you, Mommy. I didn't like it when he hit you. I was only drawing."

  Claudia crinkles up the drawing and shoves it into the pocket of her cooking apron. She will dispose of the picture once she goes back into the house. Leonard must never see it. Or he will surely kill her.

  "Jeremiah, honey. I need you to do Mommy a favor," Claudia says, kneeling in front of young Aquarius. "I need you to promise Mommy you will never draw anything that again. Promise me, okay?"

  "Why not?" Aquarius asks.

  "Because, if Daddy ever found out about the game me and his friend play...He might get very mad. Daddy only likes when I play that game with him. Will you promise Mommy not to draw those things anymore? You don't want Daddy to hurt Mommy do you, Jeremiah?"

  "No, Mommy," Aquarius says.

  The child's tiny heart clenches. He doesn't like when the big man hurts Mommy either. Daddy would be very mad too. Daddy yells at Jeremiah whenever he hits a neighborhood kid. So, the big man shouldn't be allowed to hit Mommy.

  "Good," Claudia says. "Let's go get something to eat. I made pie. Your favorite. Blueberry. Come on, baby."

  Claudia takes tiny Aquarius' hand and walks with him back to the house.

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  Three days after that

  The big man stands in the backyard, both clenched fists pressed into his wide hip. Young Aquarius watches from his window above. Claudia motions frantically. She is obviously very aggravated, her voice high and strained.

  "He saw us. There was nothing I could do. I came out into the yard and he was drawing that picture. I told him never to do it again. He said he wouldn't," Claudia says.

  "Why did you let this happen, Claudia? Why didn't you lock him in his room?"

  "Lock him in his...Are you serious? Lock him in his room? No. No. I am not doing that. I am not locking my son in his room just so you can get your rocks off. No," Claudia states.

  "So I can get my rocks off, Claudia? What about you? Are you not getting something out of this? Who exactly am I having sex with? A doll? Oh no...That's right...A dumbass."

  "What?"

  "You heard me, Claudia. All you had to do was lock his bedroom door. The kid is a selfish, nosy, annoying brat. He seriously needs help. You should have been more careful."

  "Me? You're the one who keeps coming over to my house. And you know what, I am sick of it. I want you gone. Ugh. Just go. I'm tired of you belittling me. And now, you're calling my son names. If I'm so stupid, find another woman to get you wet. And as far as this being my idea...You're a damn liar! When you tried to convince me that what happened between us was normal...I went along with you because I thought it was best for everyone. Even after you threatened my mother, I lied to myself. I told myself, you were right. And that I was just being silly. I made myself believe it. I was wrong. You're a sick monster. I hate you! Get away from me and my son!"

  Claudia whirls as if to run from the big man. He reaches out and wraps a beefy arm around her throat. His other fist, he slams into the side of her temple. Claudia goes limp, slumping against him.

  Lowering the unconscious woman to the ground, the big man reaches for the buckle on his belt. The sun is setting at his wide back, as the large man positions himself above Claudia. He straddles her waist, lifting up the bottom of Claudia's dress and apron.

  "Stupid bitch! Who do you think you're talking to? Deny me? Order me around? I don't think so."

  Aquarius watches as the big man enters his mother and pushes against her. Claudia lies motionless on the ground. Is this a game too?