The Impressionist Read Free

Please!”
    I moved to ignore her.
    “I’ll call the cops, Adam! I swear I will!” Her eyes locked onto mine, narrowing. Gone were the tears, now replaced with fire, a mother’s fire.
    Believing her every word, I stopped dead in my tracks only a few feet from Josh’s bedroom door contemplating. The simmering rage inside of me was at the point of eruption. With clinched teeth and fists, my temples and neck throbbed. I’d never considered myself a violent person but things were changing fast. At any second I was going to blow and the harm caused from the shrapnel would not be pretty. “Aaaaaaahhhhh!” I screamed so loudly, I was sure every neighbor on the block could hear it. Blowing past Paige, I bolted out the front door slamming it behind me. With my hands shoved deep into my jean pockets, I exploded on a half-deflated soccer ball that was laying in the front yard. The second it launched from my foot I realized it had become a projectile that could do serious damage to something or someone. Once again, I’d reacted before thinking. Fortunately, the ball arched in the air and across two driveways eventually rolling to a stop underneath a neighbor’s minivan. “Safe from at least one lawsuit,” I mumbled as I stormed down the street.

2
    There was a crisp, fall breeze stirring the leaves that Saturday morning. It was a great day to get some air. If my head hadn’t been so clouded with anger maybe I could’ve enjoyed it. Still, I had to get away and driving was out of the question because I’d probably run over somebody! I knew one thing for sure. I didn’t want to go back in that house. So I walked. It just so happens that our neighborhood is located about six or so blocks from Indian Mounds City Park. Unusually nice, it’s the city’s biggest one and a much-needed reprieve from the concrete jungle. It had been one of the perks for us moving to the area. Wearing an old pair of Nike running shoes, my favorite UM sweatshirt, and too upset to do anything else, that’s where I headed.
    Indian Mounds boasts of numerous paved trails weaving throughout a canopy of trees and gardens with periodic fitness stops along the way. The main trail circles around a tranquil sixty-acre lake complete with an assortment of duck and geese. On any given day a plethora of die-hard fishermen line the banks casting their lines. During the summer months, wind surfers and small sailboats abound. Dotted strategically around the area are playgrounds and picnic tables with barbeque pits. At the park’s entrance there’s a fifty-foot totem pole overlooking five historical Indian burial mounds, thus the name. Across the boulevard is a convenience store where I stopped to pick up a drink before hitting the trail.
    Once inside the store I marched up to the cooler, opened the glass door, and reached for a Dasani but jerked out the Red Bull instead. Yes, that’s what suited me at the moment, a triple shot of caffeine! When I spun around to head to the cash register, I ran smack dab into Eric from church. I nearly knocked him over. He was standing right there! I couldn’t believe it! What are the odds?
    “Hey, Adam,” he said beaming like he’d just won the lottery or something. He was dressed to the hilt in running apparel—tight, long-sleeved, dry-fit, fluorescent green shirt, black tights, and high-dollar matching shoes. “How you doing, brother?” he asked. “You okay man?” No doubt he could tell something was up with me. Hiding my emotions has never been one of my strong suits. Still, I put on the best religious face I could.
    “Great!” I said, “Couldn’t be better.” I lied.
    “Good to hear.” He zeroed in on my Red Bull. “You know that stuff’s bad for you?”
    “Yep, but the kick is ridiculous!” I said moving to go around him.
    “I get my kick from the Lord, brother!”
    “I’m happy for you,” I mumbled under my breath.
    “What’s that?”
    “Nothing,” I said over my shoulder.
    “So how are Paige