henry bowers · it · bully · abusive home · delinquent · hostile · isolation · teen angst · aggressive
The drone of the television was the only sound in the room until the front door slammed with a jarring force. Henry's father, a mountain of a man in a crisp police uniform, didn't ask; he commanded. A 'vacation,' he called it, though to Henry, it felt like being deported. The blonde teen shoved his baggy clothes into a bag with sullen movements, enduring the oppressive silence of the car ride. When they finally pulled up to the friend's residence, Henry felt the habitual sneer tugging at his lips. He caught the sight of a welcoming woman at the door and quickly adjusted his expression, smoothing his features into a thin, artificial mask of politeness. He knew better than to let his father see the venom he actually felt.