SIMPLE THING // Eddie Munson

03

February 8th, 1978
Wednesday
Fremont, California

The sounds of laughter and clinking glasses echoed through the house, blending with the low hum of the television in the living room. Beth lay curled up in her bed, clutching her stuffed bear close, the noise from her dad and his friends making it difficult to sleep. The air smelled of cigarette smoke and beer, a familiar yet unpleasant scent that had become more common since their mom had left.

She glanced at the clock on her nightstand—9:43 p.m. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten lunch or dinner. She hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should risk leaving her room. But the gnawing hunger won out, and Beth quietly slipped out of bed, hoping to sneak to the kitchen without drawing any attention.

The hallway was dimly lit, the sound of her father's drunken laughter growing louder as she crept closer to the kitchen. Beth's heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to stay calm, focusing on the promise of a snack to soothe her anxiety.

As she reached the kitchen, Beth kept her movements quiet, opening the fridge as softly as she could. She grabbed an apple and some cheese, just as she was about to close the door, a shadow loomed behind her.

"Well, what do we have here?" a voice drawled from behind her, making Beth freeze. She turned slowly, clutching the apple to her chest, and found herself staring up at one of her dad's friends—Larry, she thought his name was. He was a tall, heavyset man with greasy hair and a leer that made her skin crawl.

Beth tried to step back, but the fridge was behind her, trapping her in place. "I-I'm just getting something to eat," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Larry took a step closer, his eyes raking over her in a way that made her stomach churn. "You're a pretty little thing, aren't you? How old are you now, sweetie?"

"Ten," Beth replied, her voice trembling. She wished she had stayed in her room, wished she hadn't been so hungry.

"Ten, huh? You're growing up fast," Larry said, his voice slurred. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from her face, his touch making her flinch. "Why don't you come sit with me and your dad in the living room? We can have some fun."

Before Beth could respond, a voice cut through the tension, sharp and angry. "Get your hands off her."

Beth's eyes darted to the kitchen doorway, where Billy stood, his face set in a hard glare. He was still in his jeans and a t-shirt, his hair slightly disheveled from being out, but his presence was enough to make Larry pull back.

"Oh, Billy, I was just—" Larry began, but Billy wasn't having any of it.

"Just leave her alone and go back to the living room," Billy snapped, stepping closer to Beth. His protective stance was unmistakable, and for a moment, Beth felt a surge of relief.

Larry muttered something under his breath, but he backed off, retreating toward the living room. Billy waited until Larry was out of sight before turning to Beth, his expression softening slightly.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice low.

Beth nodded, though her hands were still shaking. "I'm sorry. I just wanted something to eat..."

Billy's expression tightened, but not in anger—more like frustration. "Don't be sorry. You didn't do anything wrong." He gently took the apple and cheese from her, placing them on the counter. "But next time, just wait for me, okay? I'll get it for you."

She nodded again, looking down at her feet. Billy sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Come on, let's get out of here."

Billy led her back to her room, closing the door behind them. He told her to sit on the bed as he went back to the kitchen, returning a few minutes later with a plate of snacks—some crackers, a couple of cookies, and the apple she had grabbed earlier.