Men Town, USA {Introduction}

Introduction

The 7th town in 3 years. And each time they get smaller. My whole life I’ve been moving around, almost like an army brat. If I could only be so lucky, but of course I’m not. The reason I move so much is simply because of my mama. Trouble seems to follow her everywhere. I know it’s because of her wild ways. The partying, drinking, and dirt-bag guys she goes after. I’m sure she has a few warrants out on her, too. Theft and forgery. It’s not just me and my mama either. I have a little sister named Danielle who just turned eight. Then there’s my little brother named Andrew, who is two. I am fully responsible for them both. Me, seventeen year old Mercer.

That’s me, Mercer. Nothing special, I know.

I didn’t have much of a childhood. Once I was old enough to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for myself, I was pretty much on my own. My mama always seemed to have more important things to do, like finding a new man with good sized pockets. Mama has always stressed the importance of having a man with nice pockets. Love doesn’t mean a dang thing, and that’s what always gets her into trouble. The men she chooses might have nice pockets, but their personalities suck.

There goes mama, talking to another strange man.

I have never understood why my mom had kids. Why she didn’t stop after me, or after my sister. Knowing my mom, it has something to do with child support, but how does she even know who our fathers are? Yes, fathers, as in more than one. Me and my siblings look nothing a like, but I love them to death anyway. I am sure we were all complete accidents. So maybe she just couldn’t find a way to get rid of us fast enough.

Danielle is a very smart and pretty girl. Always the life of some sort of party.

Shannon’s the cutest and happiest toddler I’ve ever seen.

All of us together. We spend a lot of time with one another.

This new town is…something else. Population maybe 150 people, with 85% of them being farmers. We’ve moved into a trailer in a small trailer park. It’s not that bad. There’s a small park in the middle of it, which is nice for the little ones. I wonder how long we’ll be here. I’ll give it four months tops. In a small town like this full with nothing but farmers, I’m sure mama will get bored soon. I haven’t had a friend in years. What’s the point of making them if you’re just going to leave them in a few weeks? So I’ve been known to burry my nose in books, and take to music. We don’t have a lot of material things, which is why I dearly cherish my violin, which I found at a yard sale five years back.

Enjoying the very rare moment of alone time to practice the violin.

Sometimes I don’t even know why I bother unpacking when I know wherever we’re moving is no where near permanent. But I always have a tiny bit of hope that this time, this place will be different…