When I finished my letter to Megan, it was storming like hell, a week had passed since Iīd arrived at the Hanson place, it was monday the 9th. And I wasnīt home sick anymore, Zac was already fine, and Walker had been gone for five days, and had arrived just yesterday., I was realy getting desperate, about my pro with Zac and Tay, because I was begining to think that maybe they liked me too, but if they did, I was in real trouble... I didnt know which one I liked more.
Whatever, the thing I was really worried about RIGHT now...was the thunder-lightning storm, it had me nervous all around the house, and I had already embarrased myself TWICE, screaming like a baby each time a lighning struk. (I dont know why I freak out so much, Megan totaly loves storms and earthquakes, etc, and Iīve always lived in dangerous places.. but..) Avery and Jessica always laughed at me when I got scared, but I just canīt help it!! Just then a huge thunder was heard, I shivered and goosebumps crawled up and down my spine. Somewhere in the house I heard Avie going " Ooooooh!" to bug me, I smiled to myself. I began searching for some junk I had in some of my drawers, when I heard this scream right at my door, I shrieked and jerked my head up, bumping it with the top drawer, when I turned around I saw Zac laughing to death.
"Thats SO mean!! Iīm getting you now!!" I yelled chasing him. He laughed running away from my hands, I chased him `till half past the hallway, where another lightning struk, I ducked screaming, and the everything went pitch black. Everyone was silent too, and duh!! I got scared.. "Zac?..." I muterred. But all I could hear was breathing and then, just pure silence. "This isnīt a joke any more!" I cried, but nothing, my heart was racing, just then I heard several screams and, as I saw it, Zachary and Taylor JUMPED on me, while Ike was tickling me, my heart almost spilled out, I gave this horrendus screech, and kept on half screaming-half laughing and giggling from the tickles. "Uuuuu thunder.... the house is gonna get on FIRE" I heard Taylor saying, I struggled to get loose from the three of them, even if I realy didnīt want to, I realy loved being there, with all the hansons around me,
"Its not funny... you guys are mean..." I began, but then they all began tickling me again, this time I tried to tickle back, but obviously they were winning, thing is, in between laughs and war cries and all, the lights went back on. A huge cry was heard, and Jessica with Avery and Mac appeared, we looked up at them, it must of looked goofy, I was on my stomach, with my hair in a mess, now Isaac and Zac were fighting with each other, on the floor beside me, and Tay was about to tickle me, and I was about to answer. I noticed Avery was pale.
"Whats wrong?" Ike and I asked at the same time, we exchanged looks. Avery then let out what was heard like a muffled whine, I sat up. "The house is on FIRE!!!!" Jessica yelled, we were on our feet in seconds. "Honestly guys, to get Jess and the others in youre dumb joke.." I began, but Avery interrupted me
"ITS NOT A JOKE" she wined. All of us exchanged loks, as Ike asked where the fire was coming from. "I wanted to get a glass of water, for Mac, and when I got in, there was to much smoke to breathe, and then Avie came running saying there was smoke in the living room too, I guess Itīs spreading or something..." Jessica explained "And mommyīs NOT here..." Avery wailed again.
"Ok.... we gotta get outa here NOW!" I yelled. "Whereīs the fire at??" My brother Zac asked, I saw the fear in his eyes, even though he had a `braveī face, I eyed Johanna, se looked kinda like Zac, but she also looked pretty, I didnīt have much time to think about how I was liking Johanna, because Avie grabbed my arm. "Itīs coming from downstairs, from the kitchen, we were gonna get a glass of water, but it was all black with smoke, and there was fire an..." she began babbling,
"Actually, we didnīt see the fire, we ran here instead to tell you all, but you were all playing..." Jessica interrupted ironically. I saw Johanna blush, I felt my cheeks hot too, then Ike began "Ok.. ok...um.. we have to run downstairs and get out ...cīmon, Iīll go first to see how bad it is.." he said, walking quickly towards the stairs , I saw Avery grab Johannaīs hand and squeeze it, she smiled at her "Itīll be fine dont worry, weīll be out in no time" she said giving her a quick hug, I saw her so pretty... I was going first with Ike, but we both stopped "Shhhit..thereīs way too much smoke" I said, the stairs looked all black with smoke, we all began coughing, Zac was holding Mac tightly I saac looked at me "We need to call the firestation... NOW. Johanna, can you call them?" He asked Johanna, she was sweating now, probably from the heat, I passed my hand over my forehead, I was sweating a lot too. "Okay... cīmon Jess" Joey answered taking all three of my little brothers. "Zac you go with her, just in case" Ike ordered, I eyed him, I would of wanted him to tell me to go, but, I had to go with him to check out the fire, we began running down the stairs carfully, but the smoke was such, I could barely breathe. "Ike, I canīt breathe!!" I exclamed in shock, my brother, who was a bit in front of me, turned around covering his mouth and nose with his hand,(I was also covering my face) he began pushing me back upstairs "I canīt either... run up Tay, hurry!" He said coughing, so we did. When we reached the top of the stairs, we were coughing so hard my throat began aching, wobbling from side to side, we reached my parents room, were the phone was. I saw Johanna on my parents bed, with the phone, Zac was calming Mac down, he was crying. "Thereīs too much smoke to even try going down the stairs, are the firemen on their way? " Isaac asked. Johanna said no with her head. "The lineīs busy..." she said, about to cry. "I tīs okay theyīll answer " Zac said calming her, they looked at themselves in the eye, she smiled, I felt fire inside of me... and then I realized that my brother probably liked her, thats why he wanted to know if I liked her!!
I dialed the firestationsī number again, this time It wasnīt busy I looked at the rest and smiled " Its connecting!!" I said everyone smiled relieved. I was about to cry, yes, but I was holding it just fine, I think. "Hello, Tulsaīs fire department, how may I help you?" some one answered in the other line, it was a lady. "Um.. hello.. we have a fire.." I blabbed, not knowing what to say, I looked at Tay and Ike making signs with my hand asking what else to say. "Tell him our direction" Ike said "Ok, are there any injured, describe me how the fire is" the lady ordered. "Nnno.. there arenīt any injured, we havenīt seen the fire yet, the whole staircase is so full with fire that no one can go down, its totally black with smoke, It unables us to breath," I said. "And in what part of the house are you?? How many people are there.. tell me your address and weīll be there in five minutes" The lady said, I let out a bundle of breath "Ok..weīre in the main bedroom... and its seven of us.. please hurry, the direction is.." I was about to tell her when some sort of "BUZZZZZZZZZZ" was heard and then a crak and snap, and the phone busted, "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah" I yelled dropping the phone. Iīd felt electricity pass my hand, I held it carfully and couldnīt help a sniff. " My hand.." I said. "What happened? " Tay asked as he and Zac approached me to see my hand, Ike also checked it. "The phone cable must have busted, electricity went through your hand didnīt it?" he asked, I nodded. "But Iīm okay...it doesīt look like a burn.." I said bravely. "Itīs pretty red... does it sting?" Taylor said, I nodded. "Sort of" I said. "When I got a burn mommy put some ice on my hand" Avery said. "Oh...I think I smell smoke.. the smoke couldnīt be spreading this fast could it?" Jessica said. Well it did smell like smoke. "We have GOT to get out of here before anything bad happends.. cīmon lets see if we can get out a window or something..." Taylor said. " But there isnīt any window that anyone could jump out without hurting themselves!" Jessica exclaimed. "Sheīs right you know... all we can do..is.." I began. "Run downstairs out the front door in a flash.. and hope little smoke gets up our lungs..." Zac said. Avery let out a wail. I looked at her biting my lip. Suddently, I felt fear, but real real bad fear, the kinda fear Iīd felt when my problem with my leg had just started. And believe me, thatīs what you can call FEAR. I wondered if I would just die there, and then I thought how would it be to die burned up... I was scaring myself so badly, that my legs began to wobble, I felt my blood go cold, and I got dizzy... I told you, when you get me scared, I get real freaked. Its frightening. I was wearing that day a pair of dark green corduroys and a tee shirt that said "planet hollywood" on front. It was sorta oversized.(it was real cold outside, because of the rain, but inside there was heating, so I was warm. ) I had to sit down on the bed again, I felt my hands freezing, and I put them on my boiling cheeks. My hair fell over my shoulders. Taylor sat beside me, he put his arm over my shoulders.
"Hey, its gonna be okay, weīll find a way to get out" he said. "Donīt get nervous, its just gonna make things get worse, keep calm.." Ike said. "Iīm sorry, Its just that..I just felt the same fear I felt whe...when...ugh, letīs just get out, weīre loosing time.." I said. We ran around the house for like half a minute or so, when we were totally sure there was no way out, we decided to run to the top of the stairs. "Okay, hereīs the plan, weīll go down in pairs, Iīll go first, so I can leave the door open for the others, Iīll go with Mac, Then Tay with Avery, Then Johanna, then Jessica with Zac, guys we gotta do this real fast, Taylor, count to 10 and run right behind me, then all the others can come, cīmon Mac." Ike said. I coughed, even at the top of the stairs, the smoke got in my nose. Isaac took off with a weeping Mac. I sighed. "Okay Avie, lets get outa here.." Taylor said grabbing her hand, they ran down, and I ran behind, I felt my eyes sting, and I ran faster, I was getting real close the end of the stairs, when I felt my leg hit the wall, pain struk me, and I fell over, rolling the last ten stairs. I gave a terrible shriek. I felt my whole body numb, and then this horrible pain, the smoke made me feel sick, I tried to get up but it hurt to much, I realized I was on my back. Then everything went black.
I was with Avery running don the stairs when we heard a horrible scream, "Johanna" I muttered, "Ave, run out know" I ordered my scared sister, she obeyed, I lost sight of her since it was so smoky. And I almost tripped over Johanna, she looked uncounsious.
"Oh no...." I muttered. I kneeled beside her, I shook her softly, but she didnīt react, I was breathing too much smoke and was getting dizzy. I turned my head to the opened door. "IIIIISSAAAAAC!!!" I yelled, just as my older brother ran in. "Taylorrr!!! Johanaaa!! Where are you!!" he scram. Then he saw us. "Shit.. Tay, how did this happen?" he said kneeling beside Johanna with me. "I... I donīt know..I she .." I babbled.
"We kneed to get out of thsi house..." My brother said, he pushed me aside lightly, and then slipped his hands under Johannaīs legs and back, and he picked her up, he walked fast to the door, and I followed, real sick and about to puke because of the smoke.
Once out, Isaac walked to the part of our garden where the rest of my brothers and sisters were. He carfully let her down, and holding her head up began talking to her:
"Johanna... are you okay?? What do you feel? Jo...." it was useless. She was on her back, breathing with difficulty, with her arms spread beside her body, and I noticed she was shivering. She was uncounsious. I was about to say she was shivering, but Zac beat me. "Sheīs cold.. sh..sheīs trembling... we need to get her warm." He said. I saw he was real scared by Johanna. Isaac took off his brown leather jacket ad covered Johanna with it. "Whereīs Jessica?" I realized my sister was gone. "She whent to the neibours house to call the firemen, and 911." Ike said. We looked at our house, from the outside, there was no sign of fire, or smoke, only if you looked at the front door, since it was open, now you could see smoke coming slowly out of it. Just then Johanna wiggled a bit, and let out a loud moan, that was full of pain. All our heads turned to her. All my siblings and I were surrounding her, she opened her eyes a bit, I saw total pain in them.
" Whe....where am I ??wha..?" she began babling, it was taking her time to talk. "Shh..you fell down the stairs..but youīre fine know.." my brother Zac said, he amazed me, he was realy talking in a comforting way. Then Johanna raised her hand to her forehead. "I FELL!!! Oh my gosh.. mm...my LEG!! Itīs probably happening know...." she began geting exhasperated. "Calm down Joey...thereīs an ambulance on its way..youīll be okay.." I said taking her hand. She held it tight. "What hurts?" Ike asked. He made her raise he head, laying it on another jaket (Zacīs)
" My head...my arms...but my legs.... oh no!!! I canīt FEEL my legs.. oh no...oh no!!" she began yelling, wiggling and trying desperately to get up. "No..no Joey... stay still.. calm down... Joey..." my brother and I began trying to make her stay still, but then she closed her eyes again, like dismayed, and she let go of her strong grip on my hand. "She...she passed out...didnīt she??" Zac said, with a shaky voice. Isaac put his arm acros his shoulders. "Itīs okay kiddo, she probably got too shocked, itīs better that way, she wonīt be so freaked. She īll be okay, really." he said. "I hope so.." Zac said. He was so worried. The ambulance didnīt take too long to get here, all my siblings were freaked out. They were to be taken in another ambulance to the hospital they were taking Joey to. They gave her a shot, to calm the pain, and put a neck thing for her not to move any part of her body. The doctor called the hospital at a moment. "We might have a case of spine injury, so have all the x-ray and operating equipment when we get there" he said, Isaac and I heard, "Oh my god Isaac.. I hope she didnīt...." I began but my brother hushed me up, Zac was coming. "What??" he said, obviously realizing we were talking about Jo, Ike and I looked at each other. Zac frowned. "Fine, donīt tell the dumb younger brother, but just for the record, I can handle whatever you were saying, and I care about Johanna too!!" he said before turning his back at us and walking away. Isaac sighed.
"They always think I canīt take emergency junk.." I was thinking as I walked to the ambulance. My two brothers were behind me. The doctor came in a hurry and stood before us. "Okay, we need to get this girl to hospital now, who will come in the ambulance with her?" he said quickly. Then, Taylor and I said a the exact same time "I will" and we stepped forwad. We looked at each other, I Shot him a dirty look, he shot me a wierd `screw it allīone. We looked at each other in silence. The doctor turned to Isaac: "Well I think it should be you, since you are the oldest. Now please get in the ambulance, you two get in the other one with your brothers and sisters, and lets get going, I donīt want this girl to get any worse" he said , Ike seriously got in the van next to Joey, before he did that, he looked at me, then at Taylor like asking "hey, whats going on?". So Tay and I did, get in the van with all my brothers and sisters. Taylor didnīt talk to me so I didnt talk to him either. The ride to the hospital was silent, except for my brothers and sisters talking.
I had been in the van for a little while, at the back with Joey (the doctor and the guy riding the van were up front) when I felt Johanna wiggle, she squirmed her eyes before opening them, she tried to get up, but she was tied to the bed with belts, and got kinda desperate, I took her hand. "Shhh Joey...its okay..." I said. "Where am I ...OH!! JESUS!!! My leg...ow ow ow!!!" she tried holding her leg but she couldnīt, I tightened my grip on her hand "Isaac.. my leg hurts a lot....it.." she began "Shh.. donīt talk too much.." I began "No you donīt understand..If something goes wrong with my leg, then then all the hard work Iīve been going through all these years.. with the doctors and all will be ruined, my bone will never get better.." she sobbed. I looked at her in a comforting way: "You just had a bad fall, your bone is probably fine" I said. She was silent for a while, then she actually began crying. " I donīt want to be paralitic all my life Ike... and I donīt wanna die..." she said. I didnīt know what to say, I sighed. "You are not going to be paralitic, and definately not going to die, just calm down, weīll be there in a second, with all the others, then theyīll start cheking you, your leg probably just needs a bandage..." I began. She had sweat all over her face, till the point of having locks of hair stuck to her cheeks and forehead. She just sighed and moved her hands.
"I cant even get my hair outta my face" She said, so I did it for her. She was so sweet, I felt so sorry for her, having all this problem with her bone being so young. "Honey can you feel youre feet?" The doctor suddently asked looking at us in the mirror. Joey moved her feet, and wide-eyed replied: "No...not really.." "Great... Dan, did you apply the anestesia in her leg? I told you it was supposed to be in the lower chest" doctor said to the person beside him, who remained silent. "Fine weīll do it when we get there." Doctor said. "Ike Iīm scared.." Johanna breathed to me. I didnīt know what to do anymore. "Just hold on till we get there, weīre real close now, youīll be fine honest.." I managed out. Then Johanna like, passed out again. And I thought. Why were my brothers acting so wierd, something was going on, and I wanted to know what it was... I wanted to see if what I was thinking was true.If it could be that both my brothers liked and were falling in love with the same person.
"No way!!" Zac shouted when I asked him if he liked Johanna. I crossed my arms in front of me. "Then why did you jump up when doctor asked who would go with her? I questioned.
"Well why did you?" Zac retorted. I kept quiet. "HA!! See!! You like her!!" Zac said. "Well so do you!!" I said, not knowing what else to answer. Zachary and I were arguing while the doctors studied Joey. Mom and Dad and Zoe had come back and found the note we left. Now both of them and Ike were in, and me and ALL my others siblings were stuck out waiting. I was begining to doubt about my patience with little kids. "I want to go to the bathroom" Avery, for the zillionth time said. I sighed, Zac, fed up by my sister too, droped his face in his hands. "Well go" I said. "You have to come with me" My sister comanded. "Ave, youīre big enough to go on your own, you know that". I said. "Yeah but I dont know where it is an..." she began "Ask" I interrupted. "Iīll get lost and scared.." she gave me puppy dog eyed, stuck her lower lip out and lowered her eyes. "Pleeeeease?" she said. I rolled my eyes "Canīt Zac go with you?" I asked. "Fat chance. Sheīs six, when I was six, I did my stuff on my own" he said. "Youīre just cranky, you usually help me when I ask you" Avery floped her eyelashes at my brother. "Ainīt workinīon me today, Taylor, just go" Zac said. "Fine" I stood up followed by Avery. "Whereīs Jessica anyways" I muttered. "Calling the neibours, dad asked her to" Ave replied. "Iīll wait outside" I stated leaning against the girls bathroom door. "Okay" Ave said. By the time she was out, and we were back, the hall was empty. I had proposed myself to be the first one to speak to Joey, and now it was all ruined. When we finally found the room. All my family was in it. "Shhh" my mother said as we came in. "What happened?" I wispered. "Her spineīs fine thank God, and her knee didnīt recieve much damage. Itīs probably going to hurt for a few days, her head was mostly injured, but with only bumps, sheīll have to wear a band around her forehead for tomorow." My mother informed me. I sighed happily.. Thank God she was fine. "She needs some rest now so please Iīll have to ask all of you to step outside, I recomend you folks get some sleep, we arenīt planning on letting her go untill tomorrow anyways, itīs pretty late. Oh, if you want, one parent is allowed to keep the patient company during the night. Only one." He said, then, he left. I looked at Zachary straight in the eyes, he narrowed them. I knew what that meant, he wanted to be the one to spend the night, but he wasnīt going to be able to, I was actually glad for that. Then, my mind went blank. Wait.. I also wished I was the one staying...too... Things were getting wierder and wierder. To be honest, I was begining to think Zac and I liked and were fighting over the same girl. And I was ready to fight and win too. I realised an evil look had covered my face and imediately changed it. I saw Zac staring at me, and looked away. If only Iīd known he had been thinking exactly the same thing I had.
