Chapter 61
But none came. His father at last stepped away from him. “I’m done.” His father walked away.
Henry looked to his mother, who stood, cowering, near her chair. Her eyes were huge, and she had a hand to her mouth.
“Thanks, Mom,” Henry said in a voice barely above a whisper. “Your support means a ton.”
He rushed away. Once he got about a block from the house, he stopped in front of an Episcopal church and tried to catch his breath. His chest heaved and the tears ran freely down his face, even though he was beyond sobbing. He looked around to make sure no one was watching and rushed into the shrubbery outside the church, where he threw up.
The heaves went on and on, until nothing more could come up. Henry wiped his mouth and nose as best he could and stood on shaky legs. He felt marginally better. He was going to be really late! He couldn’t afford to lose his job, not when he didn’t know if he now had anyone else to rely upon other than himself.