Hell to the Uh Oh

Tina

Tina called her parents immediately. She wasn't waiting for the school day or a free period. She needed them and she needed them now. She paced as she waited for the ringing to stop and for her mother to pick up. She was glad more than ever that her parents worked from home.

Her dad owned a shop under their house and her mother had her shop in the back. He sold Korean wares and novelty items while she had ready made designs and fitting areas in her part. The way it was set up allowed them to stay close to home when Tina was small.

The ringing stopped. "Mom? Dad?"

"Tina! What are you calling for?" Xian's jovial tone was a welcome change of pace. "Need for me to drop something off for you?"

"No. Baba, I need you." She let the tears fall.

"Tina, what's wrong?" His tone switched to concern.

"Marcy fell at practice. And it's bad." She wailed. The bathroom was empty but she wouldn't have cared if it was chock full of witnesses. She was going to cry until everything was better!

"Fell? What do you mean? How is it bad?"

"We were practicing this number that required her to fly through the air to the top of the pyramid but the person that was supposed to catch her moved and she fell so far. When she hit the ground,-" Tina stopped. She couldn't erase the sickening sound but she couldn't speak it either.

"Dear- What else is happening? Where is she now?"

"A hospital. They said we couldn't go because we're not family so we have to wait until after school. I don't think I can. People are saying things already and they expect for us to just sit through class?!"

"You'll have to." Xian told her. "Where's Mike?"

"At the hospital with Quinn, Mercy, Puck and Mal. I can't imagine how he feels. They're so close, you know. If she doesn't make it, what can I tell him? What can I say that will possibly make this better?"

Her father hushed her before she got hysterical. "Tina. Don't go there. Stay with your friends, go to class, wait for the end of the day. Your mother and I will come get you and take you to the hospital. We'll see what's going on. As for Mike, just be there. Words won't mean as much as being there."

Tina nodded though she knew he couldn't see her. "I can do that."

"I love you, Tina."

"I love you, Baba."