Continued Childhood

After the events with my father, I quickly resumed my life as a first grader. It was a fun year and it was a great year for my parents. They seemed so happy and that made me happy in spite of what I witnessed. My Aunt Katherine was nowhere to be seen at the family home and I didn't see her until Independence Day that summer and the whole encounter was awkward.

It was simple enough, my mother's parents had a barbecue at their house. The whole family, including my cousin Charles, was there and it was a good time until Katherine lured my father into one of the guest rooms upstairs. No one but me seemed to notice they were missing and I was too afraid to ask. After a couple hours they returned and the party continued as normal. The only reason I say that this party was awkward is that even at that young age, I knew that my mother would have been devastated if she had witnessed my father and aunt's behavior. Towards the end of the party, my father could tell I was disturbed by something.

"Son, what's wrong"?
"Where did you and Aunt Katherine go"? I asked.
"Are you still upset about that? Conrad, It's nothing and you'd do well to forget about it's very existence."
"Daddy, it's hurting Mommy!" I exclaimed.
"Mommy doesn't know and she never will. What she doesn't know won't hurt her any at all."

Even at my young age I knew it was just... so wrong...
Then, at the age of seven, I raised a hand and slapped my father across the face and he put me over his knee and gave me a spanking like no other.
By now, family members were noticing the commotion.
"James, what are you doing? What did Conrad do?" Grandma Shirley asked.
"He slapped me!" My father replied.
"Conrad James Thompson!" My mother shouted and it was at that moment she grabbed me by the ear and the three of us went home. I don't think I had ever seen my mother that angry. I could tell she was embarrassed. Her fair skin had a red hue in the cheeks and there seemed to be a fire in her emerald green eyes.
"Conrad, why would you slap your father like that?" She asked.
"Well Mommy I was mad." I replied, a little nervous.
"Honey, why were you so mad? Whatever it is you can talk to me about it."
I stepped back, unsure of how to proceed. I weighed the options, telling my mother why I was really upset and seeing that anger directed in the right direction or lie and protect my parents' marriage and spare my mother's feelings. For a seven year old, I was making a large decision.
"I SAW DADDY IN YOUR BED WITH AUNT KATHERINE!" I screamed so loud my voice echoed throughout our house. I was so relieved I remember sweating feeling like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders and this secret had finally been lifted.
I waited for a reply from my mother, but there wasn't one she simply sat on the floor paralyzed with shock, fear, and betrayal. Her only response was after a time to grab me and some extra clothes for the two of us and put it all in the car. She walked out of the house and when she came out she had a black eye and my father stood in the front yard with a clear red mark in the shape of my mother's palm. We drove away while my mother wept. I felt like it was all my fault and I too began to sob.
"Conrad, none of this is your fault and you did the right thing and I'm proud of you. Honesty will take you far in this world while deception only gives you things to be taken away later. Always be honest and your life will be rich and full.I love you so much baby boy." Her voice trailed off and she continued to weep.