The Devil's Apprentice by Patrick Stewart (polar express read aloud TXT) 📕

onto the carpet, he reached for the grey trousers that lay a foot away.

The blonde stared at him, still seeming bored and still completely naked, her legs spread apart. “It’s going to cost more if he’s fucking me too,” she said.

“I- I’m not her for that,” Alex said quickly. His gaze hardened as it returned to Andrew who was now wearing trousers and resting his back against the sofa. “I came because you told me you were dying. I’m out.”

“Alex, wait,” Andrew said, breathless. “Don’t leave!”

Alex took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. After years of consistent disappointment, he wondered why he even bothered. “You’re just the fucking worst, you know that? You told me you were dying… and then,” he pointed at the naked woman. “You couldn’t do it in the bedroom?”

“I’ve only got a couple of hours left,” Andrew said, breathing heavily. “I wasn’t going to waste it going upstairs.”

This was classic Andrew, making a mountain out of a molehill. Health wise, his dad looked perfectly fine - as fine as a lazy alcoholic slob could possibly look. Alex was tempted to leave. But in that moment, staring at his dad sitting on the floor, still huffing, his face red, his eyes downcast, his lips pressed together. He looked worried.

“What happened?” Alex asked, despite himself. He stepped into the room and was about to sit on the two-piece sofa when he paused midway down, his knees bent. “Is this clean?”

Andrew nodded. But as he had a habit of being a lying piece of shit, Alex glanced at the blonde. She was still lying on her back on the sofa, her legs parted, she tapped away at her phone. Without meeting his eyes, she nodded.

Alex sat down. “What makes you think you’re going to die today?”

“I’m sorry, Alex,” Andrew said. “I really am.”

“For what?”

“I took your mother’s death quite badly, you know… started drinking… and, you would cry so much, like all the time.”

“Yeah, as a child, how dare I cry, right?” Alex muttered.

“No, I didn’t mean it like that,” Andrew said quickly, his eyes widening. “It’s just… I guess I’m trying to excuse what I did when in truth, it’s inexcusable.”

Alex, who was slouching, sat up straight at that. He’d grown up hearing Andrew mutter excuses, usually after he’d shouted and cursed some. What he’d never heard Andrew do before was admit they were lame and shitty excuses. “You’re finally admitting you fucked up as a parent?”

Andrew stared at him. Alex noted the bloodshot red in them. “Yeah, I fucked up…” Andrew said. “She was so damned hot… tall, thick red hair. It was the middle of winter, but she wore the shortest silky skirt I’d ever seen. Her breasts were just divine. You should have seen them. I wanted to jiggle-”

Alex climbed to his feet. “Yup, I’ll probably see you later. Never.”

“Sit!” Andrew said angrily. “She was gorgeous, Alex. You have to understand, she had me under a spell. She was the-”

“Devil,” Alex cut him off. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard the story. His dad claimed to have made a deal with the devil. Alex smiled. It wasn’t a happy smile, but one in recognition of how it was still possible for him to be disappointed by his dad, after all these years.

“I swear it, Alex, on my life. She was the devil. She charmed me. She told me how she knew about my struggles. She said she’d look after you. She said she’d take good care of you.” Andrew shook his head in frustration, then sighed. “I was drunk when I opened the door… I didn’t fully understand what she was saying. And… and you were crying upstairs…. you cried so much…” Andrew shrugged his shoulders. His head slumped once more and he stared at his lap. “Maybe you were hungry…”

Alex almost felt sorry for his dad. He looked pathetic. He was half dressed. His skin was pink and patchy. There were hundreds of criss-crossed varicose veins showing across his face. His belly was enormous. Andrew was a sorry sight. Again, Alex smiled. At least a small part of the story was true. Though Andrew could afford to lose some weight, Alex recalled being hungry quite a lot growing up.

“This has got to be my weirdest client ever,” the blonde said. She was staring at him curiously. “I think your dad’s done for the day but he’s paid me for another hour.” She spread her legs further apart, “If you’re interested?”

“I uh… thanks but uh… no thanks,” Alex gulped.

“Well, if you change your mind,” the girl said nonchalantly, as if she’d offered him a ride home or something.

Her gaze returned to her phone, while Alex struggled to not stare at her naked body. He wasn’t an expert on naked women, but the blonde did seem to have a pretty banging one. Large breasts that jiggled as she adjusted her back on the sofa. Perfectly smooth skin, a flat stomach with a cute belly button, her hips…

Alex swallowed as he forced himself to look away. It didn’t help that he was a virgin… Small lunches, old clothes and hardly any toys, growing up he’d never really fit in with the other kids. He’d had confidence issues when it came to the opposite gender, something he’d been working on since he moved out.

Andrew now appeared to be resting. His eyes were closed, his breathing was deep but steady. Alex climbed to his feet. He was ready to go home and drink a whole load to forget the bizarreness that this was.

Andrew’s eyes opened suddenly. He stared up at the ceiling. “It’s happening. She’s coming for me… she’s going to come for you too.” Shaking, as if struggling against an invisible force, Andrew’s head turned towards Alex. “I’m sorry son… I-I r-really-”

Andrew’s head lolled back