Nick and I had been getting along pretty well for a week, but I could definitly tell he was still expecting me to jump at him with some trick. Finally, I noticed him lightening up.
"Hey Nick!" I screamed down the hallway at school. A few heads turned to look at me, the idiot, but I just continued walking to him. "Niiiiiiiiick!" I sang and I jogged up to him and grabbed him around his neck and pulled him backward.
"Ow, ow, owwwwwwww!" I let go and smiled. "What do you think just because we talk after school means we can do it during school?" He had a mean look on his face as he rubbed his neck. But then he just smirked and finally laughed with me.
"You fruit."
"Nah, I think I'm pretty straight."
"Oh my goodness! Did you hear about Courtney?"
"Why? What happened?" he asked. I watched as his eyes light up, knowing something bad happened.
"She got in a fight, and got suspended." Nick's mouth dropped open. "Yeah, but she kicked that other girl's butt! Supposedly Courtney bumped into the girl and didn't say sorry. But you know how highschool is, gossip doesn't stop."
"But Courtney? Fighting? I have to laugh, the little shrimp!" I gave him a look and the bell rang. I slapped his back and walked to my first class after waving good-bye.
I was just starting my warm-up when the office rang into the classroom.
"Mrs. Alexander can you please send Amanda Petri down to the office?" I rolled my eyes and stood up. They probably want to know where my book fee is for the library that was due a month ago. I left my bookbag in my chair as I went to get a pass from the teacher.
"Hurry up Amanda." I nodded and planned to take my time.
The walk was long and drawn out, but I did finally decide to get yelled at by the principle. As I entered the lobby, I saw my father there.
"Dad? What are you doing here?" I asked confused. He faced directly at me and I saw his eyes were red and puffy. "What's going on?" I searched his face but he didn't say anything as he signed me out.
"Thank you." He gave a quick smile to the secretary and sighed as we headed to his truck.
"We have to go to the hospital." He said calmly.
"Why? What's going on?" I was about to ask if it had something to do with Courtney's fight yesterday, but my father would not cry over that!
"Your mother. She's been in a car accident."
"Oh my gosh! Is she okay?" He didn't say anything but entered the key into the keyhole to the family truck.
"We don't know yet. All I know is that...that she's in a coma and we can't even see her."
"A coma!?!" I screamed. "What kinda of car accident was it?"
"One with a truck. A big truck." I saw my father's eyes grow large as he described the vehicle.
"You mean, like a truck, like this right?" He turned to me and shook his head and I could see he was holding himself together with a string.
"No, I mean like...like a truck, an everyday truck."
"An eighteen wheeler?" I almost snickered, but I realized he was serious. He was dead serious.
"There were other cars involved so the damage shouldnt have been that bad for her."
"Shouldn't have? Does that mean it was?" I looked at him for a moment and I realized he wasn't going to say. I silently prayed for my mother to be alright during the entire twenty minute ride to the hospital.
We arrived and hurridly went to the front desk and asked if there was any new information on Carolyn Petri. Room 279 B."
"No sir, I'm sorry but there isn't."
"What do you mean there isn't any?" I asked. "What's happening? Is she just lying there dead? Is she awake? What's going on with my mother!?! I wanna know now!"
"Amanda, let's go. We can't do anything if they don't know anything."
"I nodded, trying to hold back the tears." People were staring, but I didn't care. My father was not telling me anything about my mother, just that she was in an accident. Wow, lots of information there.
I was steaming with anger that I couldn't let out. I had to keep it together and not embarass my father anymore than what I had already done.
I flopped down in a chair in the back of the waiting area, away from everyone, including my father. I spaced out into my own train of thoughts without control.
A car accident. My mother. Me, Amanda Petri. Fifteen. Tenth grade. Girl. Not only child. Brother, Jakob.
"Jakob." my thoughts were interupted by me questioning the wherabouts of my brother. "Where is he?" I planned on getting up and going to ask my father but my body wouldn't move. I was just too exhausted to do it. I was curious, but I knew that there was probably a good reason why he wasn't there.
Why me? I'm still growing up! I knew my mother's time had to come, but she is young and...and I didn't expect her to go until I was her age! No, she's not going to die. She's not dead yet, and won't be for another good twenty years. Yes, that's it, keep up the positive attitude and I can hold myself together. I love my mother and I know God will protect her and keep her here for my sake and my father's. We need her. We NEED her and can't live without her! How would we last if she was gone? Who would cook dinner? Who would wake me up when I would sleep in? Who would come in my room and steal my clean towels before I could use them? Who would pass me in the hall, smelling of the scent of fabric softener with the mix of perfume? And...and who would I call mom. Who would I say "I love you mom" too? I certainly wouldn't call a step-mother my mom. I have one mom and I intend to keep it that way. Yes, she's going to make it through this, we all are.
