The Unforgotten Arguement

This Story Passed English Higher1

Jenna sat there still and silent in the coldness of the one bedroom flat which she shared with her partner Scott and their five year old son Jamie. It was quite a nice place really. Together they had worked to make their home look warm and welcoming. Of course Jenna’s part-time job as a barmaid didn’t pay much and whenever Scott got a gig with his band - in which he was the drummer - he only received a small percentage of the money they had earned from that night, but together they had saved every single penny they made to bring up their son in the best possible environment they could manage. Tonight their home didn’t look warm. It certainly didn’t look welcoming. It was dull. Ugly. That’s what he had called her. So many hurtful names. What for though? What had she done? 2

Jenna sat motionless - if someone was to be watching her right now they would have thought she was a statue, a waxwork - her already tear-stained eyes were beginning to weep again. What was she going to do? Jenna was a naturally beautiful young woman. She had long, sleek black hair which rested at the bottom of her back; her eyes were big and blue they sparkled like gems and she had very sharp, distinct features; her body was perfectly slim and would make any girl envious infact Scott would often get jealous at the attention she got from other men. Tonight if you looked at Jenna this isn’t the girl you would see. Her usually sparkling blue eyes were soaked with the tears she cried, and her long black hair was tangled and matted. It tried to cover the bruise which rested upon her right eye. Tonight everything was different. 3

Jenna stopped mid-thought and let her eyes gaze up to the doorway. Jamie was standing there in his Thomas The Tank Engine pyjamas clutching a little brown teddy bear which his daddy had bought him for Christmas. He couldn’t go anywhere without it. The noise of the argument must have woken him up… the argument that had turned violent. Jenna let her mind wander back to earlier that evening. It had been a perfectly normal day. She had started work behind the bar at 3.00pm and finished at 8.00pm. Afterwards she had stopped to have a quick drink before returning home at the later time of 8.45pm. When she had arrived home Scott wasn’t in his usual place in front of the television, instead he was standing in the doorway staring right at her. Jenna eased past him and popped her head into Jamie’s bedroom to check he was ok. She could feel Scott’s eyes following her around the room, burning into the back of her head. Something wasn’t right. She tried to find out what was bothering him but Scott remained silent. Speechless. The rain was pounding off the windows like bullets being fired from a gun. Jenna was scared. 10 minutes later the silence was broken.4

“Where have you been? “ asked Scott, interested in what Jenna’s reply would be.“5

“I just stayed an extra 15 minutes to get a drink.“ Jenna replied6

“You Liar!”7

“What? I’m not lying it’s the truth.“8

“I seen you with him, that man. Your nothing but a liar.” 9

“I’m not lying.” sobbed Jenna 10

“I’m sick of your lies, I’m sick of you its about time you were taught a lesson.”11

Scott’s fist flew towards Jenna like a bullet. BANG! Darkness.12

This was only part of what had happened but Jenna couldn’t bare to remember the rest. The Kicks. The punches. The violence. She had almost forgotten that Jamie was standing there in the doorway. She knew that Scott would be back for him. He would never give up his son. Not for anything. Jenna couldn’t let this happen, she couldn’t let Scott take him and she knew he would. They had to leave. 13

Jenna told Jamie that they were going to go on a trip but like all five year old boys Jamie wanted his toys to go too and 15 minutes later Jamie was still deciding which toys could come and which ones had to stay behind. Jenna couldn’t wait any longer they had to leave. She grabbed Jamie by the hand and scooped him up into her arms and Jenna holding on tight to him ran down the four flights of stirs as fast as she could and out into the cold wet night. The raindrops were hitting the ground with thuds. Jenna had never seen weather like it. Not wanting to hesitate any longer she unlocked the old, rusty car she had been given for her 18th Birthday and began to strap Jamie into his seat but Jamie wasn’t ready to go.14

“Teddy” he cried 15

He had forgotten his teddy. The one that was always by his side. The one Scott had given him. Jenna tried to tell him that teddy would be fine, that he didn’t want to come but Jamie was ready for a fight. Jenna shut the car door and ran back up the four flights of stairs faster than she had come down them. She entered Jamie’s room and saw teddy lying at the bottom of his bed. She picked him up and turned to leave. The doorway was blocked. Scott was standing there glaring at her. She tried to get past but he put his hand up. Stopping her. Jenna pushed him and when she did he fell back his head crashing as it hit the floor. She ran. When she reached the car, Jenna began to hear footsteps running down the stairs, missing steps as they went. She jumped in the car and started the engine. Jenna hadn’t even passed her driving test but she had to get away. The car skidded as it left the parking space and Jenna began to drive uncontrollably. She looked into the rear view mirror and saw the image she was dreading to see. Scott was chasing her in a faster, more powerful car. It was over but Jenna didn’t want to give up hope just yet. She lost control of the car. This was the end.16

“I Love You Jamie!” She cried 17

And with that the car plunged into the watery depths of the river in front of them, 18

If you happened to be there that night. 10 minutes later the only remains you would see would be that of the little brown teddy bear.19

I Hope You Enjoyed This Story. Please Let Me Know What You Think20