Clementine

Chapter 3

(Renee hasn't come back. Nothing's the same. It's been two days and we haven't heard from her. Miss Henry is always holding the phone and her picture, hoping someone will help us. This place used to be like a home to all of us. But even in two days, everything can change.) I get up and follow my usual morning routine. I put on my clothes and put my hair in my signature braids. I walk out and grab my jacket. I walk down the hall to where I normally say hi to Renee before walking with Brady to breakfast. I stop dead in my tracks and slump against the wall. I close my eyes in attempt to trap my tears. I sink down to the floor and cry my eyes out. (Even though Renee got on everybody's nerves at one point or another, we all love her. I can't imagine how terrible things would be if..Renee didn't come back.) Evan walks up to me and sits down. He doesn't say anything, but I know why he's sitting next to me. And he knows it. So it doesn't need to be said. He takes my hand and smiles encouragingly at me.(I can't even look him in the face. I can't help but spare myself the pain of hearing anybody even say her name.)He gathers me in his arms and we sit in silence. Brady, Amber, and snookie walk over one by one and sit down and join in on our hug. We all stay like this until miss Henry comes down the hall. It only takes one look and all of us are crying together. Miss Henry is the first to say anything, "So, are we all going to sit around like a couple of bums or are we going to do something?"
Snookie smiles and says, "we could watch a movie?"
(Nobody says anything but everyone was thinking the same thing. I would do anything to get this subject out of my head.) miss Henry stands up and carries snookie to the front room with the tv. Amber follows quickly but, Evan and I don't get up so fast. We remain seated and he looks at me. I don't want to have the 'I'm sorry Renee is missing' talk so I get up as soon as possible and walk with the others. (It's weird avoiding Evan I've hardly ever talked to him much less try NOT to talk to him. It's always been Brady whose given me lectures and I had to avoid.) Snookie wanted to watch a scooby doo movie, but Brady picked out a sitcom to get us all laughing again. I'm pretty sure Brady got more votes, so sitcom it is! Before the movie has even gotten through all the previews, snookie and Amber are asleep. (But, who wouldn't have thought they wouldn't be at 11:30 at night?) Brady gets up to get popcorn, miss Henry has to go to the bathroom, and Evan just got bored and went to his room. So that leaves me. (I try to focus on the tv screen, but Renee pounds her way back into my thoughts. I need a distraction I tell myself over and over. Distraction! Distraction! Distraction!) I get up and walk down the hall to check on miss Henry. (I don't know what's going on, but I assume 45 minutes in the bathroom would be enough.) I knock on the door, "Miss Henry? Are you okay?"
No response...
I knock harder, "Miss Henry!? Is everything okay in there?"
Nothing happens, so I put my ear to the door. I can't hear anything. I sprint down to Evan's room. I pound on the door and talk hushed,
"Evan! Miss Henry isn't answering and I think something's wrong!"
The door opens and he peeks his head out,
"What are you talking about?"
I try to calm down and fill him in on the situation.
"I went to check on miss Henry and I can't hear her. She won't answer and there's no noise coming from inside."
He steps out and we both run to the bathroom. He knocks on the door,
"Miss Henry, can you open the door for me please? Miss Henry is everything okay? Do you need help?"
More of nothing. I can't take this. I kick the door once, twice, three times, four times. It flies open, and I almost fall. Evan covers his mouth and tries to stifle his sobs. I look down and miss Henry is in the floor. I can't see anything but blood. There's not one clean speck in that room. I scream at the top of my lungs for Brady. He comes running towards us yelling to calm down and that the kids are asleep. He looks in my eyes and knows exactly what happened. He already has tears streaming down his face before I step aside, revealing the late miss Henry.