If attending school is the decision, I need to leave soon, or I’ll be late.
I call Michael using the phone in Mom’s room. Someone at the school answers. They go to get him, or so they tell me, but no one ever returns to the phone. I suspect my call has been forgotten before the message was ever delivered to my brother.
“Stupid school,” I mumble and hang up the phone. I consider calling Miri or Grandma, but I don’t want to be lectured to. Especially right now.
Phillip? Nah, I answer my own thought. He’s cute but clueless.
James and Jeanna? I sigh. Grab my book bag and head out the door to school. Arrive with only a few minutes to spare. Barely enough time to collect a hug from each of my coven members and make plans to meet at lunch.
Time passes at such a slow rate; I find myself constantly checking the clock to make sure it isn’t turning backwards. I want for lunch, not because I am hungry, but because of the time I’ll get with my friends. Then I want to bail.
Only, if I bail on the second half of my school day, what will I do with myself? What if Mom is still sleeping and I can’t get ahold of my brother? What if Luna isn’t ready to take my call?
I’ll end up curled in a ball on my bed in a complete state of misery, that’s what I would do. With the environment pressing heavily upon me, I decide the best option… for now… is to suffer through until the end of school.
At lunchtime, James, Jeanna, and I steal away for the far end of the campus. Find a spot where we are assured of privacy. The middle of the football field where there is nothing but dying grass around us. I pick at my food, tossing much of it to the grass in tiny pieces, and update them on everything. Absolutely everything. I tell them all about Luna, her dad’s death, her mom’s overprotective behavior, the men watching the house, the body being picked up, and services being paid for by parties unknown.
I assure them that Luna’s protection spell is in place, and partially powered with my brother’s energy. I also tell them I have no results yet to give regarding my own mom. With all that happened in Luna’s life last night, I didn’t get to talk to my mom, or even see her awake. I even inform them that the bokor, a.k.a. Chuks, called my house the other night… just in case I forgot to mention it earlier.
My head is so filled with stuff I honestly couldn’t remember.
“This is a scary and frustrating time.” Jeanna folds her hands together, weaving and unweaving her fingers over and over again.
“You can say that again.” I tear a piece of my sandwich free and stare at it. Chuck it at the birds that have begun to gather.
“Do you want me to try to talk to my brother about the bokor?” James leans forward and presses his arms into his thighs.
“How well do you trust your brother?” I ask, recalling Michael’s reaction to the inclusion of James’s brother John.
“He’s done some crap things, but I trust him.” He rolls back on his butt and drops forward, slapping his feet to the ground.
“Do you think he’d help us against the bokor—willingly—and be able to keep everything discussed a secret?” I toss several pieces of my sandwich and a small group of birds fight over the bounty.
“Fairly sure.”
“Only fairly?” I counter.
James is quiet for a moment. The fact that he requires time to consider his brother’s trustability doesn’t sit well with me.
“You know what?” I say, stepping in before James can deliver a response. “Let’s not involve John right now. He’s safer not knowing.”
“True that.” James nods his head, his upper body bouncing forward and back ever slightly.
The bell rings signaling the end of lunch. Five minutes to get to class.
“Welp.” Jeanna stands and brushes any clinging grass from her jeans. “I’m going to be late to class. There’s zero chance of me running.”
We all gather the remnants of our meals, toss them in the nearest trash can, and make our way to our respective classrooms to serve our terms till school day’s end.
When I get home from school, I can’t wait any longer. I punch Luna’s number into the kitchen phone.
“You just get home from school?” she asks.
“Just,” I answer. I couldn’t stand the waiting. “How are you holding up?”
“As best can be expected, I guess.” She heaves a breath. “The people from the place. The mortuary. Came to our house today.”
Since when do mortuaries make house calls like that? My gaze narrows. “And?” I ask.
“The burial will be tomorrow, first thing in the morning,” she says.
“So fast?” I balk.
“It’s so fast my extended family can’t even make it in time.” Her voice gives the hint of a whine. “My aunt and uncles on my mom’s side live out of state. They would need time to make arrangements. It’s impossible… and upsetting.”
“I’m so sorry, Luna.” I want to slip through the phone and give her a hug. Because the several I gave her last night aren’t enough.
“My grandparents will be there, and my uncle on my dad’s side. So at least there’s that.” She sniffles. “Mom says the time frame is because of the money. We don’t have the money for a proper burial, so corners are being cut. Primarily those that have to do with the embalming process.”
“Oh.” My body jerks back, and my eyes blink wide. That’s something I hadn’t heard of
