Making Amends

Mendel's Day

I wake up in a circle bed. The ceiling has small lights trying to imatake stars. Oh how long has it been since I'd seen them?
I turn to get up and realise two things. One, I'm wearing a brace and two, Mom is sleeping right next to me. I scotch away from her and begin to get up. First things first. I need to elevate my foot. I sit on the floor and put my right foot on the bed.
Yesterday when we left the group we got a taxi to this hotel. The hotel has seven different themed rooms and I choose the jungle one. I gave Mom and Dad the romantic roman themed one and Malaya and Miriam the cave themed one.
I check my phone to check the time, 5am, but what catches my eyes first is the messages that Lacey gave me. I've keeped her number in my contacts because at first I couldn't bear to delete them. At that time she blocked me. As time went on I just forgot I had her number. I press the notification and it brings me to her messages.
"How are you doing? How's your ankle?"
I type back. "fine I had broken my ankle a lot as a kid" I sent it and put my phone down. Lacey was never up until six. It was a surprise that I woke up at 5. I usually wake up at 7:30 to 8:00. My phone vibrates and I pick it back up.
"What do you mean?"
"I reckless as child"
"You still are." Lacey sends me with a grumpy emoji.
I reply with a drunk smile.
"Y u up?"
"I couldn't sleep. What about you?"
"idk"
"What happened yesterday?"
"Miriam got mad"
"Duh." Lacey sends with an eye roll emoji."Why? And why did she punch you? You're already injured."
"idk, she do that lot"
"Why?"
"idk"
"This isn't going anywhere." "Remember to do RICE and do something about your head. I don't think she did anything long lasting, but still." Lacey sends to me and I wait a bit to see if she will send anything else, but nope.

***

I make my way down to the breakfast bar at 8am and get some toast with a blueberry muffin.
Two other people are setting and eating so I sit down on the other side of the room to them and lay my foot on the other chair.
I start eating my toast as Malaya enters with Miriam close behind.
Malaa looks at me, but she looks away. Not in disgust but ashamed. Miriam looks at me with a glare. I heard that she got a punishment because of what she did to me. We were going to go home home, but I insisted that we finished this. I just have to get through today and tomorrow and I can live.
We exit the van in silence after parking about in the middle of the parking lot.
"You ready?" Mom asks me to hold my shoulder. "We can always go back home."
"No, it's fine. I want to enjoy today," I respond.
"Okay."
We begin the walk to the entrance of the park, Mom and I being in the back. Malaya and Miriam keep on talking and chatting. I can't do that well since they are whispering, but they are talking about one of us because they both look back at Dad, Mom, or I.
We are halfway to the entrance when I feel my phone vibrate. I go check it and move it away to the left, away from Mom.
"Hey Mendel!" Lacey has texted me.
"Gi" text back with just my left hand.
"Are you at the theme park now?" Every year I choose to go to a theme/amusement/water park. I was planning to bring Lacey to one my freshmen year, but we broke up before it reached our birthday.
"Yyea"
"I wish I could be with you, but Mom wants me to work today."
I steady my hand to correctly choose the frowning emoji.
"Talk to you later."
"Byw"
I slip my phone in my tan shorts that I pick out just for today.
"Who was that?" My mom inquires.
"Uhh, a friend." I answer.
"Is it Bernard?" I shake my head.
"Oh, is it that girl from the cafe?"
I get quite and pink roses brighten my cheeks.
"Oh~" Mom teases with a smile.
"It's nothing," I say, trying to play it cool.
"That's what they all say."

***

After I pass through the three spoke gate thingy I join the rest of my family who are looking at two maps. Miriam and Mom have one while Malaya and Dad have another one.
"C'mon Mendel," Mom says, waving me over. "Let's see which one you want to do first."
I make my way over and go to Mom's left while Miriam is at her right holding that part of the map. She gives me the left side to hold and I do.
"I want to go on Outlaw '' I point to the wooden roller coast which is near the waterpark section of the park. "And the Galleon." I point to the Galleon which is a ride designed as a pirate ship that rocks up and down. At its highest speed it feels like you and go perpendicular to the ground.
Mom looks at my choices and nods her head. She accepts.
Now it's Miriam's turn. "I would like to go on the Raging River and the SawMill Splash." She points to one of the only water related rides that are not a part of the waterpark section.
"That's a good pick considering today is going to be sunny and hot. Good on you Miriam." A smile brightens up her face. When Mom is studying the map and looking at what two rides would interest her the most, Miriam sticks her tongue out at me, teasing me. I let her have it. I don't care now.
"Okay," Mom says, bringing our attention back to the map. "I think I want to go to the ferris wheel and the Sky Ride." The Sky Ride is basically a means of transportation. It brings you a bird's eye view of what half the park looks like.
"Mom, we will probably already go to the Sky Ride, so I think you choose another ride." I say.
"Your right Mendel. Thank you."
She focuses back on the map and Miriam stares daggers at me. I shrug them off.