"Which one?" The confusion at my reply fades quickly when she realizes what I’m asking.

"Whatever one you are comfortable talking about, or you can just tell me something else" She covers my hand with hers waiting for me to start.

"I had only been with them for about two weeks when he started to show his true nature to me."

"Spencer, Come in here!" Uncle Earl shouted that’s what he wanted me call him now.

"Yes sir?" I came into the living room wondering what he needed. I knew he had struck Nancy before, but I hadn’t seen or heard him do it since. I figured their argument got out of hand.

"Nancy went to the store to get groceries. Fix me something to eat, I’m hungry." He his eyes never left the TV. Being a ten year old, I hadn’t a clue how to make anything. My mom and dad always took care of that.

"I don’t know how…" My statement was left unfinished as he stood towering over me. His large rough hands dwarfed my arms as they squeezed around them.

Squeezing tighter, he shook me as he spit out his command into my face. "Get your ass in that kitchen and make me something to eat NOW!" Uncle Earl’s last word was screamed out. He was seething at me. Hatred and anger poured from his body directed at me.

Unable to speak at that moment, I nodded my head that I understood before he released my arms.

"Good. The faster you learn your place in this house the better. Women are supposed to serve men and tend to their needs before their own." He looked at his watch. "You’ve got thirty minutes to have my food in front of me." As if nothing happened, he sat back down and continued to watch the TV.

My arms throbbed from where his hands were. Tears ran down my face as I ran around the kitchen trying to figure out what to do. The clock on the microwave counted down the minutes for me.

In the pantry, I spotted a can of chicken noodle soup, and I figured that couldn’t be too hard to make. Following the directions on the can, I quickly made his snack for him.