Out of the Fire Chapter One

by Erica in Saskatchewan

Chapter One

My mom walked out on my dad for basically one reason, she thought he was cheating, but in truth the reason he was lying was for a very different reason. I found out two years after my mom left when I asked my dad if he really was cheating. (Hey I was curious). But he answered me with an answer that shocked me out of my wits and proved to be very dangerous information to know and led to the decision that changed my life.

Wait! First I have to tell you a bit about myself. My name is Sue short for Susan Rae Walters but my dad calls me SW (pronounced Sue so it really has no purpose). I am short for my age but I love to run, swim and rock climb, usually I have to convince coaches that I have what it takes because of my slight figure. My hair falls halfway down my back and is chocolate brown with natural streaks of lighter brown. My eyes are also brown but more of a dark brown however they always look a little lighter because of my contacts that I wear almost 24/7 (I hate glasses). As for clothing styles I’m not different then any other teenage girl, I love to wear jeans and an Abercrombie t-shirt but always jump at a chance to hang out in sweats. Also social status, well put it this way, I am not unpopular and once and awhile I catch you-know-who looking you-know where.

So back to the story. On that fateful day my father explained to me who he was and made me realize what I was. “Sue,” my dad had sighed, “I am tired of telling lies to people I love, hurting them although the truth will probably hurt you more. You have to promise not to tell anyone of this conversation not even your mother if you see her again.”

I had nodded eagerly but also wary because my father is/was a very playful guy and seeing him serious wasn’t usual. I remember putting my hand on his knee and whispering to him “It’s okay daddy, I’ll remember.”

My dad had sighed again, “Sue, I didn’t ever cheat on your mother, how could I she was the perfect woman. I wasn’t lying though I was at work, just not at the work your mother knew about. Let me tell you a story,” he had said.

“Does it have a happy ending?” I asked him.

“Not one that I can see,” and he patted my head and started the story, “when I was fifteen I made some bad choices and got into a job that I couldn’t get out, that I still can’t get out of. I was employed by a man by the name of Damian Johnson, it was a terrible job and although I was paid lavishly I felt terrible.”

“What was the job?” I asked him curious but still a little scared of the answer. My dad shook his head as to clear it of bad memories.

“It was, it was,” my dad stammered, “A crime.” I opened my eyes I wasn’t expecting this.

“But dad!” I had whispered in dread.

“Yes Susan, I am a Criminal.”

*

Okay, Okay relax my dad is a criminal but no he hasn’t killed anyone. Jeez people get so worked up. Not all criminals kill people, my dad is kinda like a hired hand a minion. Let me explain about the criminal network. First there is a criminal mastermind, basically he is the really lazy person who lets everyone else do the dirty work and takes all the credit. Then there are the heads/overseers who basically hire the minions. Then there are people like my dad who are hired hands who plan whatever the heads tell them what to do and organize the minions (these people are the ones that you see on wanted posters). And finally there are the minions, they are the ones that just want a bit of money and have no virtues. Fun fact; my dad is wanted in five countries each under a different name.

So this conversation changed my life because two days after that little scene I asked my dad if I could be a criminal too. He fought me and fought me but finally caved in and that’s what I am down. Just like my dad.