When Charlie Comes Home

When Charlie leaves, the knives go back in the block and the doors stay unlocked. When he comes home, Dad patrols with a bat and Mom keeps her phone close by.

Old Baseball

I hate it when my brother Charlie has to go away.

The house changes whenever he leaves. Mom stops locking the bedroom doors, Dad puts his shaving kit back in the bathroom, and the sharp knives return to the wooden block beside the stove.

They both sleep better too.

I can tell because the floorboards no longer creak late at night as they take turns checking the hallway. When Charlie is home, Dad patrols the house after midnight with his old baseball bat resting against his shoulder. Mom keeps her phone beneath her pillow and wakes at every sound.

Without Charlie, the house becomes quiet.

Safe, they call it.

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Quick answers about When Charlie Comes Home

What is When Charlie Comes Home about?

When Charlie leaves, the knives go back in the block and the doors stay unlocked. When he comes home, Dad patrols with a bat and Mom keeps her phone close by.

Is When Charlie Comes Home free to read?

Yes. Every story on RapidTale is free to read in the browser, with no sign-up and nothing to install.

How long does it take to read?

This story runs 2 chapters — most readers finish in one sitting, and you can stop and return to any chapter using the contents list.

Who wrote it?

Nimra Khan — original fiction published on RapidTale.