Chapter Text
Chapter 1
It had all started with a letter Sal had found crumpled up in the bin addressed to his father.
Sal knew he shouldn’t read his dad's mail, but why was it thrown away?
Carefully he picked it out of the trash and quickly went to his room and locked the door. Hoping his dad wouldn't find out, Sal could only guess what might happen.
Henry would be cross sal wouldn't blame him. His father blamed him for a lot of things, and it was the norm for Sal.
As soon as he was sure he was alone, he took out the letter. The writing was messy and looked rushed.
‘Brother, why don’t you visit me anymore? It is so lonely here on my own. Please come and visit.'
There was an address at the bottom. It was hard to make out, but it looked like it came from New Jersey.
Sal dad never said anything about having a sibling, nor had sal met them, so was this a prank or was it real?
His dad would have the answers, but Sal was scared about how he could react. The only other person Sal could tell was Larry. Even if he couldn’t help, Sal felt safe with him, like he could tell him anything.
Rather than use the walkie talkie he grabbed his phone and started texting.
Sal: Hey larry is it ok I show you something?
It had been a good 10 minutes, and Sal hadn’t had a reply. Larry was probably busy. It wasn’t right for Sal to disturb him, or maybe his text gave him the wrong idea.
Perhaps he should try the walkie talkie?
But was it right to let others read his dad's letter?
Thinking about it, Sal could get Larry in trouble.
His dad must have a good reason to throw it away.
He was just about to send another text till his phone buzzed. It was from Larry
Larry: Hey Sal, sorry I didn't respond straight away. What did you want to show me?
Sal: It was a letter I found addressed to my dad from a sibling. It was in the bin.
Sal paused; it wasn’t right to involve Larry in this.
Sal: Don’t worry about it. I shouldn’t get you involved or of looked at that letter.
Larry: Dude, if I found a letter from an unknown aunt or uncle, I want to know who it is from and why my parents didn’t tell me. Do you want to come over? you don’t have to show me the letter if you don’t want to
Sal smiled. Larry was always so thoughtful and kind around him. A light blush came on his face, and he was glad Larry couldn't see it.
Larry: Sal?
Sal: sorry for the delay. I would love to come over. But promise me you won't say anything about the letter to no one. Be there in 5
Larry, I promise. Now get your ass over here.
Sally was just getting ready to see his friend when his dad saw him. Sal’s heart started racing; he knew he was in trouble.
"Where are you going, sal?" Henry asked
"Just to see Larry" sal was getting worried as his dad's eyes went to the letter.
"I see, and what's that?" Henry took it off, Sal. "Did you read it?"
"I was curious dad, I'm sorry. Do I have an aunt or uncle?" Sal asked.
"Yes, and I want you to stay the hell away from her. She's nothing but trouble."
Sal didn't know what to do "can I see larry? I promise I won't show him the letter."
"You were planning to show him my mail?!" Henry was getting angry. "The answer is no sal; how would you feel if I read your mail?”
Sal was in tears; his dad was right. He shouldn’t have looked. It was invading his dad’s personal life, but sal felt his dad was in the wrong as well. He was keeping family members away from him.
“How would you feel if your father kept secrets from you or blamed you for everything ?” Sal was on the verge of tears. “Is she awful news, or are you that ashamed of me?”
His father tried to speak, but Sal cut him off. “I will admit it was wrong of me to read the letter, but you were wrong to keep my aunt a secret from me. It seems like you are embarrassed by me. Go on, say it, dad.”
Henry was in shock Sal had never spoken back to him.
Sal was surprised at himself. Now he had made his dad upset.
"I'm sorry" Sal looked down.
“I’m sorry to Sal”, his father sighed. “I was wrong to keep her a secret from you. Go and see Larry.”
"Thank you, and I'm sorry for answering back. Are you going to be ok?” Sal asked
“Yes, go and see your friend.”
Sal left the apartment. He met Larry halfway in the corridor. He immediately ran up and hugged him. Larry, of course, hugged back.
“Sal dude, where were you? I was starting to think you’d forgotten.”
“Sorry, Larry, my dad found out", sal started “larry, what are you doing?”.
Larry was looking up and down at sal as if he was trying to find something. Sal was confused at his best friend’s actions, but then it clicked Larry was looking for bruises.
“Where did he hit you, Sal?”
“He didn’t hit me. He was cross, sure, but he didn’t hit me.” Sal replied, “I think he felt bad for keeping my auntie a secret from me.”
“You’ve got an aunt?”
Sal nodded. “I think my dad was trying to keep me safe from her, and he did say she was trouble. But I still want to know more about her and why my dad doesn’t talk to her. There must be a reason.”
Larry rubbed the back of his head. He wished he knew what to say to Sally. “Sorry, sal, I wish I knew what to say.”
Sal just hugged him.
“It’s ok I don’t know what to do either. Can we just cuddle and play video games?”
Larry smiled. “Sure thing Sal.”
The two went to Larry bedroom to play video games.