The Story Behind Pink

The years ticked by. The families that were interested in Andrew found more suitable families for their daughters. Time passed. Hope faded.

The loss was starting to wear on the relationship between Mr and Mrs Edward. The secret was starting to destroy their marriage.

By the time they were finishing up their last cup of tea, on their beautiful couch, Mr Edward decided to give this old story one last final probe.

He was tired of taking heat that was not his fault. If anything, his theory was that Mrs Edward had gotten rid of the pink car out of fear the son’s attraction to the car was going to make him gay. Those were the years of intense homophobia before people understood that it was a genetics deal instead of a color influenced deal.

What still needed answers was how Andrew got his body so beat that it changed his entire approach to life. If that could be solved, maybe a door to his heart could be re-opened. Once that door opened, then, and only then, could they know what Andrew was thinking about.

With a heavy sigh, Mr Edward braced himself for the fight that would inevitably erupt.

“Honey, what are you thinking about?”

“I’m just enjoying a cup of tea with you, dear”

The acidity of her tone was not lost on him. It cut deep. She was thinking about Andrew again.

“Did you like the new blend?”

“Oh.. It was new?”

Oh that burned. That was definitely a jab that served as a warning. Mrs Edward was not in the mood to be poked and prodded about her thoughts regarding what she perceived as the failings of her son.

“Let me be a bit more direct…”

“You best not!” she let slip between gritted teeth as her hands clutched her cup of coffee very tightly.

“What did you do to Andy the weekend his car vanished?”

Mrs Andrew threw the cup of tea as hard as she could at her husband. How dare he insinuate that she had done wrong to her son? How dare he suggest she would cause her son any harm?

Part of her was impressed with how quickly he adjusted to catch the cup without spilling his own over himself.

Tears were hotly welling up inside of her. This secret had nearly destroyed her. Speaking it would ruin her marriage. She could not afford to have his love gone from her. She had fought hard to keep things normal in their home. Why would he ruin it now? They were so close to the finish line? Once Andrew got married, they were home free. They had won. They could now face retirement peacefully, granted they were years away from that.

“Why did you beat him?”

That question came out way too calmly. First of all, how did he know? Second of all, did he really know? Was this a stab in the dark to break her? Was this a calculated move? Who had spoken to him? Where was this coming from?

“What makes you think I beat him?”

“This is not the first time you beat him senselessly”

What?!?!

“Watch yourself Mr” she warned as the venom slipped off her tongue.

“The first time, he was a little boy. Something happened at church. You never explained to me what happened. Yet, you beat him into a bloody mess. Why?”

So, this is how the day of judgment comes on a person. This is how hell feels like? This is what it means to have your sins find you out?

“Whatever do you mean?”

“Don’t play coy. Not today! Tell me the truth”

There was no way she was going to even discuss that with anyone. She’d rather go to hell first. She had not done enough the first day. That is why there was that second day.

“Fine. You don’t want to speak on the first one. Talk about the second beating. Now!”

The edge in his throat was not a warning. It was a command. The same command she had heard after the first beating. The remembrance of the pain of her spanking that day made her shift uneasily in her seat.

“I know you’re going to hate me, but… I want you to know. I love you. I love my children. I always have and always will”

“Skip the introductions”

“Um… OK”

Tears began to roll down Mrs Edwards face. She knew the confession was going to ruin her marriage. Her life had come to an end. There was no way her hubby would forgive her. Now, once this story came out, there was no way she was going to be able to save her son. Her husband was going to get in the way and make matters worse. Time to face her demise.

“So… what had happened was…”