This story includes themes of nonconsent, humiliation, provoking, insults and revenge
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I was on my way home from college with my friend Greg, he lived in the house right next to me. Tired after a long walk from school, we finally arrived at the neighborhood, I walked towards my house and he walked towards his. I knocked and my mom opened the door, it smelled really good, she had cooked a tasty Syrian food that we used to eat in the home country. I waved to Greg and shouted that we would hang out over the weekend. Mom leaned forward through the door and shouted, ''You stupid bastard.''
We walked in and I was ashamed as usual by her disrespectful and wicked attitude towards my friend Greg. Mom has treated Greg terribly and bullied him for a long time, ever since we were little, in first grade in elementary school.
Mom and dad got married in 1995 in Damascus, Syria, when they were 18 years old. Mom's name is Alia Haddad. Mom was and still is a good looking woman, she participated in three different beauty competitions/pageant where she won all three, between the years 96-98. Two were in Syria and one was in Lebanon. So mom is a three times honored beauty queen. I really wish her personality and attitude were as good and nice as her looks.
Mom and Dad moved to the United States in 2000 and gave birth to me in 2001. Dad is a successful businessman and runs a business here in the US, mom is unemployed. Mom cares a lot about her looks, she has been training in the gym since we came to the US, to keep a good body. She trained her buttocks and thighs to make them bigger and better.
It was Saturday and I was preparing myself for an evening out with Greg and other friends. We were going to a festival in town. Mom asked me where I was going, I told her I was going to the festival, it made her wonder with whom.
I said, ''Mom, I'm going out with my friends, can you stop treating me like a child?''
She replied, ''Will Greg go out with you too? I hope not, how the hell can you continue to hang with that bastard. Oh, what I hate him.''
''Mom, you need to stop with that terrible attitude of yours. What's wrong with you? You've been on Greg's case since we were kids. You've been bullying that poor guy for such a long time, and he has never responded back to you or shown any sign of anger. He is a good guy, let him be, please,'' I said with a pleading voice.
''The guy is a loser, he doesn't deserve to be friends with a guy like you. Why did you even befriend an American from the beginning, why not hang out with your own kind?'' mom said angrily.
I replied ''But why exactly him? Of all my friends, it's just him who you bully and treat badly. What has he done?''
''Because I never liked him from day one. Since I first met him, when you and him went to elementary school. He looked like bad news, and I hated him at first sight,'' mom said.
I couldn't cope with her hate speech so I just went out and went to the festival with my friends.
After the festival, around 11pm, I invited Greg to my house. Dad was out with his employees at a work meeting and would not come home until early in the morning. We came in and started playing a wargame in my playstation 4. Mom came into the living room, put her hands on her hips, and stared with anger in her eyes, at me and Greg.
''Why didn't you inform me that you would bring guests home?'' mother said.
I didn't say anything. "Is there any problem, Mrs. Hadad?" Greg said.
I replied, ''No, no, of course not Greg, you're very welcome and can stay for as much as you want.''
''Is he? I think he should leave my house immediately,'' my mother said in a determined voice.
''But Mom, please! Show the guy some respect, he's in our house,'' I said at the same time as I was incredibly ashamed of my mother's actions.
Greg said, "No problem, I'll leave. Sorry if I bothered, Mrs. Hadad."
Mom took a few steps forward, "Go to hell and leave my son alone, you ugly, poor bastard," mom said while making jokes about him.
I didn't talk to mom that night. When I laid in bed that night, I began to think about and remember everything bad and evil my mom has done to Greg. When we were little in elementary school, when mom came to pick me up, she always used to comment on Greg's appearance and looks in front of all the other students. She used to talk about how ugly he looked, how big his nose was, how stupid he is, and she invited other students to tease him. My mom bullied Greg everyday and every time she picked me up from school. I always felt sorry for Greg, but he said nothing about it.
Once when Greg was waiting for me on the porch, my mom came out and threw big garbage bags at him and demanded he throw the garbage.
Another time, I asked Greg to come over and help me with my homework. We were sophomore students back then. Mom all of a sudden told Greg to mow the grass. He said he would like to do it later, but he couldn't now because he was helping me with the homework. Mom got furious and started screaming, she walked up to us and spit on Greg's face and gave him a slap in the face. I was shocked and tried to explain, but Greg said it was nothing. He showed no signs of anger or sadness. He helped with the homework and then mowed the grass before going home.
Another time, just after we passed junior year in high school, I arranged a barbecue party at home, I invited my whole class and relatives, mom and dad were also present. In the middle of the party, mom got an outburst at Greg, screaming at him and uttered offensive words to him, in front of everyone.
Greg once came over to our house because he needed help, he had hurt his back and had to go to the emergency room, he has no car, so I had to take my mom's car and drive him to the hospital. I started the car and was about to drive, but my mom rushed out and demanded that I get out of the car. I explained the situation to her and that Greg was really hurt. She said it didn't concern us and that Greg should seek care himself. Greg got out of the car and walked up to us, he very politely asked if it was ok for me to drive him to the hospital because he was in need of care. Mom then started screaming at him and asked how he dared to ask for something like that and she ended the attack on Greg by giving him two slaps on his face. He walked away, very sad and hurt.
Mom had so much hatred and anger towards him that it was not reasonable, he had done nothing. After we graduated from high school in May this year, I took the opportunity to invite Greg and three other close friends. We had the house to ourselves, mom and dad were out, and apparently wouldn't come home before night. We ate and played video games all evening, we had a great time. The others went and Greg stayed a little longer. We sat at the dining table and talked, then I heard the door open and mom came in.
''Well, well, what do we have here?'' mom asked with a calm voice.
''Hi Mom, no big deal, I had invited some friends over, they left an hour ago. Greg is going home soon," I replied.
Mom stared at me for a minute and then said, ''But darling, you have to notify me before you invite people home, you understand that?''
Then Greg said, ''It's not his fault Mrs Hadad, it was me who asked if we could have this day here with our friends.''
Mom looked at him with wider eyes, ''Shut up! Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you talk to me, you damn freak, you should leave my house now!'' Mom screamed at him.
''Mom! You can't talk to him like that, that's rude.'' I said.
Greg rose up to his feets, and told me it was ok. He was preparing to leave, then mom went to the dining table and picked up a plate and threw it on Greg's forehead, making him bleed, I drove him straight to the emergency room, they had to sew stitches. I then drove him home, I apologized for my mother's behavior, but he said it was not my fault and that he did not want to cause a big deal out of this.