Deranged Writer's Afterword

'What is love ?'

A question that has been asked or at least wondered from the dawn of time.

As people of science say....is the feeling of love just a chemical reaction or is it something more...

John didn't care about any of this until he fell in love himself at the tender age of seven, her name was Jessica, one of his classmates.

At first John was confused as he couldn't understand what exactly he was feeling....every time he saw Jessica, his heart would pound as if it could burst at any moment.

John wanted to confess but when he was with her...he couldn't even open his mouth...he was a mess.

Not knowing what to do, the young boy went to his father...the man he 'loved' the most for advice.

~~~~

"Eh ?....you like a girl ?.", the gruff man asked John.

John nods his head a little shy.

The gruff man taps on his plate making a rhythmic sound that slowly played throughout the room.

" What's there to think about, son ?"

A woman enters the room carrying food, the aroma from the food distracted little John a bit but he forced his attention back to his father.

His father stares at his wife who had just entered the room with a playful smile on his face.

" If you like a girl...just confess...like I did with your mother.", said the man pulling his wife, who had kept the the dishes on the table, closer to him and lands a kiss on her cheek while she smiled at his romantic gesture.

John smiled as he saw the love his parents shared for each other.

To him, it was the most beautiful thing in the world.

John's father lets go of his mother and she takes her seat next to him.

Before getting into their dinner, his father warns his son,

" But before you confess...you have to be sure that you really love her....without love....you won't be able to do right by her."

"Yes, papa !", the young boy shouts while vigorously nodding his little head.

Just like that the Levinson family finally start their dinner.

But John's father stops eating the food after taking a single bite, he smiles at his wife and says,

" Marilyn....the food's cold.."

" I'll reheat it, hon-",Marilyn starts to speak but-

" Why did you serve me cold food ?", the man asked gently.

" I didn't mea-"

'Phalt !'

The sound of his plate crashing into the wall interrupted Marilyn.

The Levinson's rescue dog, Carrie runs starts licking of the food that had spread all over the ground.

John's father stands up and slowly takes off his belt and transforms it into a makeshift whip.

"Bend over, honey.", the man gently nudged his wife's shoulder.

Marilyn's eyes shake in terror but her body listened to his command.

Even though the food tasted good to John, he watched as his father punished his mother but instead of fear...he felt nothing.

After all it was all his mother's fault.

It's only right to be punished if you do bad things.

John's father continues to beat his mother even after John himself had finished his food.

John waited patiently for his father to be done with his mother.

After another ten minutes or so his father finally tires himself out. John frown seeing all the blood.

The frown on his face deepened even further when his eyes fell on his mother who lay there silently crying.

'So....ugly. 'the young boy thought feeling disgusted.

"Papa...could I get some dessert ?", the boy playfully asked his father.

"Of course, son...you're mother will get you some ice cream."

Hearing the man, Marilyn crawls back to the kitchen and somehow manages to back with an small plate of chocolate ice cream.

Seeing his mother struggling to reach him, John runs over to his mother and gives her a gentle smack on the head.

"You'll get blood on my ice cream, mummy....you're silly today." , the boy snatches up the plate from his mother's shaking hands and goes to take his seat beside his father.

Seeing his cute son eating ice cream, the boy's father couldn't help but the pat the boy on the head.

" Good boy...", his father whispered to his son with a light smile on his face.

~~~~

After a few months.

----------------------

" Did you do it ?", John's father asked his son while driving.

The boy remained silent for awhile...but then said,

" She behaved badly....so I punished her."

Hearing his son, the boy's father chuckles to himself as if he was enjoying something.

John had confessed to Jessica after building up his courage and all he got back was an 'ew'

So, he taught that bad girl a lesson during their camping trip.

Instead of using a belt....John used a sharp wooden branch that he found.

Jessica was currently in the hospital suffering from internal bleeding and bruises all over his body. The police got involved and it was clear as day who the culprit was

But due to his father's influence he escaped the clutches of the law.

"Good boy...", the boy's father whispered.

~~~~

After two years...

_______________

"Don't open your eyes, son."

Today was John's thirteenth birthday.

John was being led to where his 'gift' was.

After reaching their destination, his mother gently removes the blindfold on his face and John involuntarily gasp as his eyes fall on his 'gift'

His 'gift' was currently sleeping inside a cage peacefully..

It wakes up hearing John's father's voice...

John ignored everything his father said and didn't take his eyes off his 'gift'.

His 'gift' had smooth black fur and emerald eyes that seemed to sparkle.

It was a panther.