After the Event Read Online Free PDF Page B

though. If I was bad, hell even if I wasn't, he would take his cigarette and press it against my skin.” The old man shook his head and looked out in the distance. “Said it would help me learn to deal with pain because that’s all that life is. Course he only did that when he had too much to drink. When he was sober he would pretend as if it never happened, pretend he didn't even see them.”
                  Alec took a step back. He knew what the man was trying to do. “No offense it-”
                  “None taken, I know you could give two shits about my life, but I wanted to let you know I understand. I hated my father, almost as much as I loved him. I know what it is like to hate a man not only for what he has done but for the things he hasn't. To hate him for the promises, the ones he speaks of and the one's his actions make. I know what it's like knowing things are never going to get better, but hoping with every ounce of your being they somehow will. Worst of all I know what it's like to hate a man, not only because of what he's done, but because he has caused you to be filled with so much hate.”
                  Alec looked down at the ground.
                  “My father has been dead over 30 years and not a day goes by that I'm not reminded of how much I hate him. You want to know the sad thing though?” Alec looked back up at Jack. “There's not a damn day where I don't wish I would have given him another chance.”
                  “You don't know shit about my situation.”
                  “Every situation is different Alec, I understand that. I'm not telling you to go running back to your father and jump in his arms. I'm not even telling you to go back and give him a good wallop across the head. I'm just telling you I understand what it's like to be consumed with hate for someone you should love. I understand the guilt behind that, the disappointment.” Jack ran a hand through his hair. “The only thing I ask is for you to remember one thing. No matter what happened it wasn't your fault.”
                  Alec walked off the porch towards the woods. “No, it's his.”
     

Ben
     
                  Ben always enjoyed this part.
    He paused and listened to the sounds around him just like Trent taught him. He could hear the leaves rustling all around him and the birds calling out from the trees, but nothing else. He started to take another step when Trent tapped him on the shoulder. Ben involuntarily jumped and attempted to turn around at the same time, which caused him to end up butt first on the ground.
                  Trent stood over him with a smile on his face. “Why didn't you hear me?”
                  Ben was embarrassed and always cried when he was embarrassed. He looked away and told himself not to cry. “I don't know.”
                  Trent must have noticed. “Don't worry about it, practice makes perfect. I didn't learn in a day.”
                  Ben got up and wiped his eyes. “I was listening. I don't think my ears are very good.”
                  Trent let out another laugh. “There isn't anything wrong with your ears. All you could hear were the leaves right?” Ben nodded. “I made sure to only move with the wind was blowing strong enough that all you could hear were the leaves. You can trick someone's eyes as well as their ears.”
                  Ben wiped himself off and sat down on a nearby tree trunk. “When are you going to teach me to hunt animals?”             
                  “One thing at a time. Did you tell your dad about me?” Ben shook his head no. “Good. You're learning fast. As long as you do what I say you will be blending into the woods and hunting wild animals in no time.” Ben couldn't help but smile. “So you're dad only has one