Continuing with my YA coming-of-age mystery, Shades of Blue. (You can catch up on the earlier excerpts here.) Last week we found out just how much of a scumbag Sam's step-father is. As promised, here's more about why Sam doesn't want JoJo to tell anybody what happened to her and get him involved with the police. This part is right after JoJo sees the bruises on Sam's back and asks him if his mother knows about the beatings.
His head fell lower and he said, “She’s been drinking pretty heavy for a long time and... now she takes sleeping pills too. Some days she doesn’t even know who I am. She keeps calling me Keith—my real dad’s name. I guess I’m starting to look like him.”
Sam’s mom had never been a candidate for Mother of the Year, but I didn't know it had gotten so bad. “What does she say about Russ hitting you?”
“She’s the one who made me promise I wouldn’t tell anybody. She said if he goes to jail, he’ll tell them about her problems and say she’s not fit to take care of me, and I’ll get sent to live with my grandmother in Tennessee.” He looked up at me with tears in his eyes and said, “I don't want to have to move away, JoJo. That’s why the police can’t know about any of this.”
His mom is actually hiding more than just her drinking and pill problems, but that comes later. Can't wait? You could always go buy your own copy of Shades of Blue here. ;-) Please also check out the other Snippet Sunday folks and the Weekend Writing Warriors. Something for everyone among these talented writers!
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Amazing the ploys used to hide abuse. Sad that the victims fall for it!
ReplyDeletePoor Sam- sounds like both his parents are pretty terrible. Hope he finds a way out.
ReplyDeletePoor Sam! I want to hug him and take him away from his parents.
ReplyDeletePoor Sam, he's really trapped by the situation all right. Pulls at my heart strings big time. Really a well done excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThis selection ups the pressure very effectively.
ReplyDeleteI feel for Sam. I hope he finds a way out of his situation.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt.
Better the devils you know... I hope she can talk him into telling, since it will likely only get worse.
ReplyDeleteAh, such a good book! I finished it on Friday, and have to take time to write a review! :-)
ReplyDeleteOh glory! I gotta read this. It's on my Kindle, I just have been writing (like a good author). So much pain. Great snippet, Joyce.
ReplyDeleteI feel so bad for him. I know he doesn't want to go, but staying isn't good for him either.
ReplyDeleteI work with kids who make trade-offs like this all the time. You've done a great job of capturing the heartbreak they both feel and instill in us.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, this happens every day. Very true to life.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, his mother needs a good shake. Someone really has to tell social services.
ReplyDeleteOh, this was absolutely heartbreaking. The end definitely pulled my heartstrings. Fabulous writing!
ReplyDeleteOMG ! Such responsibility on his shoulders. I feel for him ... the lies, the truth, the heartbreak, and the pain .... GREAT post. so much emotions in so little words. brilliant!
ReplyDeletePoor kid. He would be better off in TN, I'm sure. Great snippet. :)
ReplyDeletePoor Sam! It breaks my heart every week with his dilemma. I really hope they find a solution, but I know the odds of that are never good. It almost always turns into "too late".
ReplyDeleteMan oh poor sam.
ReplyDelete