Showers in the afternoon

Charles waited in the shadows.

His breath got heavier. In the closed space behind the dresser, he stood silently. There was complete silence in his bedroom now. He should have left the fan on, for he was sweating profusely. The sweat beads ran the length of his spine, creeping in his underpants. But, his teacher had forbidden him to keep the fan and the lights on, when not in use? Why should he then?

 

He dared to peep from his hiding place. Getting his head out a fraction from behind, he shot a glance at the door. It was still locked as he had done it himself moments ago. He took a quick look at his mickey mouse watch. It was nearly time.

His heart beat increased. He was feeling scared. He felt suffocated and had to draw air in through his mouth. But out of fear, he clasped a hand to his mouth, to prevent any sound escaping his lips.

Still as a statue, he stood and waited.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching the door. He knew it was him. He felt a chill in his spine and his hair stood on end.

The door locked creaked open.

He closed his eyes and prayed for his Mama.

“Come on, good Charlie,” said Matthew, his elder cousin brother, standing at the door.

He knew that any moment now, Matthew would crouch behind the dresser and pull him out. After all, how many times could he hide at the same place again?

“Come out, good boy,” said Matthew.

He hoped that Matthew would leave.

A hand emerged from the darkness. It grabbed hold of Charles’s neck and was pulled out violently.

“There you are,” said Matthew gleefully. He had a smile on his face, but it was a smile of horror.

Charles knew what was coming.

“Why do you hide from me?” asked Matthew, sweetly. “I am your elder brother, aren’t I?”

Charles was too frightened to look up. He kept his head down. The thing that he was dreading the most was finally upon him.

“Why are you frightened? I am your brother, aren’t I?” said Matthew, again in the sickeningly sweet voice that made him cringe.

Charles tried to say something. But his voice was not audible enough.

“What is it?” said Matthew, moving his ear very close, uncomfortably close to his lips.

“I don’t like what you do to me, everyday,” mumbled Charles.

“Awwww, my nice brother,” said Matthew affectionately and he licked his lips.

Charles stumbled and fell over his soft teddy bear lying on the floor. He knew what Matthew will do now. This is how it started – everyday in the afternoon; when his mother would go to her classes and his father was at work. They had asked Matthew to tutor his cousin. But Matthew never taught him anything. He always made him take a bath with him. But what could he do? Matthew was taller than him and even elder to him than 5 years.

 “Time for your bath,” said Matthew.

His hands started groping around his navel. Within 30 seconds, he took off his clothes and stood naked in front of him.

“Come on,” he said cajolingly, “Be a good lad.”

And thus it followed the bath and then the pain, the excruciating pain that he felt every time.

He had tried speaking to his parents about this. But they always rebuffed him, especially when Matthew told them how stubborn Charles was at studies and would barely listen. They had even given permission to Matthew to hit Charles if he was not listening to him. He never thought Matthew would do that. However, one afternoon he beat Charles when he refused to have a bath with him. His parents never listened to him!

Till his dying day, Charles never forgot those showers in the afternoon.

Claustrophobia