Tough Love

My father called celery... salary, and Valerie... Valaria. What he called me was nobodys business. He used to lose his mind and say unkind things to people. It don't upset me any more for now I'm older memory is a cold case. His two faces, one white.. then black, were frightful. A third face was that of a child who needed help. Once, they carted my father off in a straight jacket. I don't think he ever knew it was me who grassed him up. My mother was faint hearted at the time and left it to me. I jumped at the chance. Madness had gone on for long enough. Tough love? No love... I was glad to do it. Couldn't wait. Better late than never. Who's clever? I was fifteen at the time. A lot of sniper fire from sane people could have dug my grave. Conflict carries on relentlessly.