Tobias was ready to give up. The huge house he lived in felt bone-chilling all his life, and the pictures felt fake. Tobias Bell was born to his mother, a lovely African American jazz singer, and a stupid man who happened to be a mob boss. His "father" was a married man, a powerful man, and a respected man. At one of her performances, he met Tobias' mother, and they "fell in love." His mother was more in love; his father just wanted an affair. Soon, Tobias was born; it was just him and his mother for most of his life. His father wanted nothing to do with his bastard son, his wife hated him even more than her husband. Tobias loved music, wanting to perform like his mother one day… that was until he was nine, for that's when his father appeared again. It turns out his wife couldn't have children, so he needed a child with his genetics to take over his job once he was dead, and there Tobias was, already alive and well. Tobias was begged to come live with his father.
"If you come live with me, I'll make sure your mother lives comfortably. You will have no contact with her, but she will be so well off, she won't be sad." Tobias was told. Being the caring child he was, he agreed and spent the rest of that day crying with his mother before he left. At first, it was nice with his father. His wife acted nice, and his father told him he sent some of men to "take care of" his mother… that should've been his first hint, for just a few days later he heard some of his father's men talking about his mother.
"Excuse me, Sirs! Can you tell me how Mama is doing? Do you know if she's doing a show anywhere?" He asked, the childish innocence in his eyes. The men just started laughing.
"Don't you know? Your Mama's sleepin' with the fishies, kid, now scram!" One of the men stomped hext to him, causing him to fall backwards and scramble away. He didn't know what they meant, so he went to his stepmother, sniffing a bit from being scared.
"Miss, do you know how my Mama is? The men said something-" He was cut off by a loud slap ringing out. His stepmother had slapped him, a look of pure disgust, hate, and rage on her face.
"How DARE you, you ungrateful BRAT! If you weren't your father's only heir, i would've had you and that BITCH killed years ago! Be grateful you are alive! Now stop your crying!" She screamed, storming off. That was 11 years ago. Now, Tobias was the biggest coward in the whole mafia. He wouldn't even shoot a gun at the air he was so scared! It was the 20s, Prohibition had just started, and honestly, he was ready to maybe run off. He could go to England! Or maybe France! Nowhere in the States, they'd drag him back easily… and most likely kill him. So here he was, being dragged around New York by the young new members who thought they were so cool for joining the mafia. They went to speakeasies and watched shows. The singers reminded him of his mother often; every time, he had to get up to smoke and try not to cry. His stepmother still despised him, his father was nonexistent in his life. So, how was he being dragged to a circus, of all things, right now?! He groaned while being dragged, her honey blonde hair bouncing with each step. The streetlights of Harlem made his almond skin shine. The other men dragging him along were his age, young stupid boys who liked the idea of a thrill; it made him feel sick that they'd join something so bad because they wanted to feel and look tough.
"Tobias! Lighten up! You keep having that scowl; you'll never get someone!" One of the men said. Tobias just rolled his eyes, not in the mood, frankly. They just kept laughing and poking fun at him for being a sourpuss.
"We're here! Now, please Tobi, stop being a sourpuss!" one of them said, causing Tobias to bristle
"Don't call me that, you asshole" He said, shrugging the others off as the ran into the circus to explore, leaving him behind. He sighed and looked forward at the circus. It was bright and very colorful. He wondered how it even fit in the city! The circus was so loud, it hurt his ears. He didn't care for music much anymore, ever since… He shook his head, huffed a bit, and entered the circus.