The Final Chapter

Chapter 4

Parkat and I continue our trek to school debating our plan to research what could possibly be making the books so persuasive. I already know that whatever it is it wears off over time after reading "Live or Die" by Iris. I rush to my class to avoid being reprimanded again for being tardy, while I do I look around and notice that there are very few people walking around the hallways compared to a week ago. I make it into class and am surprised to find that there are only eight other students in the class. I sit down and wait for our teacher to walk in so I bring out a book and start reading. I sit in the corner of the classroom so no one really ever notices me and the principal walks into the room and announces "Your teacher committed suicide today and we could not get a hold of anyone who could sub for this and multiple other classes, so I expect you all to be on your best behaviour and occupy yourselves with something at least somewhat educational." The principal leaves the room and we all just stare blankly at each other. The bell rings to signal the end of the period and we all get up and leave. I head to gym since my next class is wellness, I walk sluggishly and slowly not wanting to find out just how many more people committed suicide. In the middle of my trek to the end of the hallway. Ding ding dddiiinnnggg, I hear the bell that signals the announcements and stop and listen as the voice drones " All students must report ot the cafeteria for a total head count and attendance, thank you." I enter the cafeteria and realize that just two days ago this room wouldn't hold the entire school, in fact, whenever there was a assembly they had to use the stadium and even then we would have to do it by grade level. When all of the students arrived the principal steps up to the podium and announces "I would like to thank you all for coming to school today when there has been so many problems. I appreciate the fact that you all are here today and have not passed on with the others. The scientists have agreed that the most possible theory is there was a gamma ray bursts in the Raynet star patch and those susceptible to the radiation would have such confused thoughts to the point that they couldn't bear it any more and decided to pull the plug." I shout out " but wouldn't we be gone to if it was truly a gamma ray burst." No because some of us have more controlled minds that others that can just either ignore the distraction or learn how to deal with it." I see sme kids in the crowd agreeing with the  theory but others were still skeptical, including Pakrat and I. A few hours later we are released from the school and I find Pakrat right outside the schools double doors. " I still agree with you on the fact that the book caused the suicides but what proof do we have. Those are reputable scientists and we are nothing but school children." I listen to Pakrat rant for a few minutes until he stops then I say " but what is stopping us from conducting tests of our own." "and where are we going to get the equipment" says Pakrat. I say "we can start small like finding out which country was hardest hit with the suicides, What group of people are comitting suicides, and if we find enough small information like this we will easily be able to present our idea and not be scoffed at." I see Pakrat with determination glinting in his eyes "well what are we waiting for" he says as we dash for the public library. After we get there we sit at a table and make a list of what answers we need to our questions to gain unquestionable evedence. I start reaserching on the census website on what country the suicides were the greatest in. I must have gone through about a hundred maps before I find the answer and as expected it was the U.S. I tell Pakrat we start recording our data, all to soon the library is closing so Pakrat and I leave and I ask him "do you have ime to stop by the bookstore with me because I want a fresh copy of the book to use when we get our lab tests done." he replies "Why not we can split our money and buy it." the bookstore was only five minutes away so we were able to get there three minutes before it closed. "hey mister were is The Saddest Story" I say. An attendant leads Pakrat and I to a shelf at the back of the room and leaves us without a word. I grab a copy and notice for the first time how weird it was that this book was wrapped in really thin plastic that will break open without any extra necessary force than usual. "Do you think that there is some kind of gas in there" Pakrat says "yes I do." we part ways at the downtown intersection and I finish my walk to my house. I enter the house and I smell the familiar smell that meant my mom was smoking weed again and I enter the house as quietly as possible. I start walking to my room and I feel a sense of dread every step I take closer to my bedroom. As I pass my moms room the dread is so intense that I can't stomach it and I enter my mom's room hoping she was out cold so I could throw up in the toilet. When I finish I get up and walk past my mom and see her, not breathing with The Saddest Story lying on her still chest. I then walk back to my room and I don't even feel sad over my mom's death. I calmly take out a book and start to read and then I turn out the light and go to sleep. I wake up the next morning and get ready to go to school but when I turn on the radion it turns out school is canceled until they can figure out our schedules. I head out of the house and I Hear "hey, wait up" I turn to see Pakrat running toward me I wait for him at teh street corner. "hey are going to the library" I ask Pakrat "yes, aren't you" "no I am heading to the mountain to think." we walk in silence toward the intersection and I start heading beyond the city limits to the mountain and the lake. "what happened?" I finally notice that Pakrat wad walking beside me and I respond "my mom died yesterday and I found the book lying on her chest." We walk in silence until we get to the lake surrounded by trees. I sit down and I close my eyes. "Where are you staying" Pakrat asks "alone" I answer. I sit still sitting on the edge of the creek "you should come live with us." I nod my head and start walking with him to his house.