I almost shook my head and said that I lost hope, but then Max and Jane entered the ward. Jane’s blonde hair used to be longer, and I almost couldn’t recognize her from her bob cut.
As for Max, with her messy short black hair and shaky smile, she reminded me of a semi-homeless person, and it was good to see her. They both came to me and hugged me on each side. Then they pulled back.
“Sorry, we couldn’t come sooner,” Max said. “There was some traffic on the way.”
“Oh, the rush hour.” Jane shook her head and rubbed my arm with her hand.
Max looked at my mom and asked, “What did the doctor say?”
“The new medication had some side effects,” I explained. “Like, we figured it would happen…and it did.”
“Aw,” Max said, “Do you want us to stay the night with you?”
“I’ll make you hot chocolate,” Jane chimed in with a soothing voice.
“Thanks, but you don’t have to,” I said. “You have your own lives to worry about.”
“It’s not a bother at all,” Max replied. “We came here to see you, after all.”
“Hot chocó with marshmallows,” Jane teased.
I smiled. “That means a lot to me, I appreciate it,” I said.
“What are friends for?” Max asked.
“Mac and cheese?” Jane mocked.
“You do love my mac and cheese,” I stated.
“Yours is like, the best,” Jane chimed in.
“Let’s go to the cafeteria and talk,” Max offered. “You need some coffee to get through the night.”
Chapter Five
I stayed at home with my siblings while Dad took my mom to the doctor’s office again for a change in her medication. We didn’t want another madhouse repeat.
Downstairs, the dining room was filled with glass and broken plates scattered on the floor. Amelia brushed with her broom, while Adam collected the broken pieces of glass and china from the floor and tossed them in the trash bag. I organized the cabinet and placed new plates. Amelia and Adam were quiet, so I tried to make the situation manageable by talking about school and celebrity gossip.
“Did you guys listen to France’s new song?” I started while I organized every plate in the cabinet.
Adam glared at me, then continued cleaning, and didn’t speak.
“France, I love her,” Amelia stated with a strained smile. I knew she tried to forget about yesterday, but her face showed otherwise. I was worried that they would get traumatized with what had happened to Mom, so I stayed strong for them.
Responsibility wasn’t a new concept, but being a role model was. They needed one. I needed to show them that there was nothing to be concerned about, and that life would go on.
“Mimi, remember her last song?” I said excitedly, and started singing, “I’d buy a bucket full of ice cream, and lay on the sandy beach.”
“I’d look at the sky, and dance with the seashells,” Amelia happily continued while she brushed the floor. She swayed her hips and danced with the broom, and then mimed singing into an invisible microphone. I did the same, and we started hopping and dancing with our song.
“The turtles tell me no lies, like anyone else,” I sang along.
“We dance to the rhythm of the sea!” Amelia replied in an off-key voice.
“We dance!”
“We dance!”
“We dance!”
“Till the dawn breaks!” Amelia finished.
Adam shook his head and grumbled “Please, don’t do this in public places. Especially not with me around.” He rolled his eyes and dragged the trash bag to the kitchen, walked with tensed shoulders, as if expecting the fight of his life.
Amelia and I laughed.
My phone rang. It was my father. I picked it up and said, “Hey, how’s Mom?”
“She’s doing fine. The doctor changed her medication again.”
“Which ones?”
“The old ones,” he answered. “Anyway, I’m coming home. Take care of Adam and Amelia.”
“I will.”
“Celia?”
“Yes?”
“Please, don’t worry about your mother. I know you think about her a lot, but try to stay strong. You’re a very strong girl, and I love you. I love you all.”
“I know, Dad.”
“I don’t want you stressing about our life. Go out and have fun, life’s short, okay?” he said.
“Okay,” I said with tears in my eyes, and I tried not to sniff on the phone, so he wouldn’t know I was crying.
He hung up, and then checked to see if anyone had texted me. Kent had.
Kent: Hey, boo
Kent: How’s your mom, now?
Amelia saw my tears and asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yes, Mimi, I’m fine,” I sniffed. “You can go and play upstairs. I got some texts to make.”
“Okay,” she said and hugged me. Then she ran upstairs.
I texted Kent back to update him about what was happening at home.
Me: My dad took Mom to her doctor and changed the meds again
Kent: new ones?
Me: No, old ones
Kent: I want to see you
Kent: can we meet up tonight?
Me: As much as I like to, but I can’t
Me: I have to make sure Mom is okay
Me: I need to be here for my family
Me: I’m sorry
Kent sent a sad face sticker
Me: Next time?
Kent: Sure
I sent a text to our Cheetahs group.
Me: OH, no :(
Max: Celia, ARE U OK?
Jane: Talk to us, baby
Me: I refused to go out with Kent
Me: He must be mad at me
Max: What makes you say that?
Me: He didn’t even say he loves me
Me: And I felt some tension between us
Me: Do you think he hates me?
Max: Who hates you?
Max: If he does, then he’s a jerk
Jane: You’re wonderful, Celia :)
Me: I’m so stressed right now
Me: I’m worried about my family
