Family is Forever (Sequel to Running on Insulin)

Chapter 65

It sucked getting back into the swing of things after Spring Break.  But once I got back to school and was hanging with my friends, and telling them about the week in California, and heard about their holidays, it was better.

"I heard Tyler was in the hospital," Jill said. "What happened?"

"Tyler wasn't in the  hospital. I was," I said.

"What happened?" Morgan, one of my group of friends, asked.

"I drowned in the ocean," I said.

"Holy crap!" Morgan said. "Are you  okay now?"

"Well, I'm not dead," I grinned.

"How do we know you're not a zombie?"  Blaine asked, another of my friends.

"I don't think I am. Although, I have to admit, I've been craving brains a lot more lately," I said, and pretended to try to open his skull.

"You're nuts, Joseph," he smiled at me, as he pushed me away.

We finished up our lunches and went to class when the bell rang.

The rest of the week pretty much droned on the same as any other week.  Dad was away a bit more, or rather, he was home later a bit more, and Uncle Josh flew out to Ohio a few times while they were getting ready for their tour. I didn't get to see him as much as I would have liked, but he stayed with us, so I got to see him a bit.

At the end of May, Dad and Josh left on tour, and it was just Mom and I.  She took me shopping to get some clothes for tour, and because I was outgrowing my clothes.

"You're a weed, Samantha Joseph. I swear, you've grown six inches since Christmas," she smiled.

"I'll try to stop," I said.

"Please don't," she grinned at me. "I like that you're growing. It means you're healthy. Healthy people grow."

She pulled me into a hug as we went to pay for all my new jeans and sweaters.

We also had to buy me some luggage, since other than the suitcase I used to go to California, which was one of Mom and Dad's, I didn't have anything but my backpack. So Mom got me some duffle bags.

"These are great, because on the bus, there isn't a lot of room, and these can literally just be folded up and shoved in a closet."

"There are closets on the bus?" I asked.

"Well, it's not like the closet in your room, but there are storage compartments and stuff. You'll see. It's hard to explain. But believe me when I tell you we'll literally be living on top of each other. You'll probably be so sick of us by the time we get home in September."

"How long is the tour?" I asked.

"Well, the tour ends at the beginning of August, but, and I wasn't supposed to tell you this, but Josh and Dad are filming a music video in Iceland, so near the end of August, we're heading to Iceland for that."

"I can't go to Iceland," I said. Mom frowned at me.

"Why not?"

"I don't have a passport."

Mom looked at me and then started laughing.

"Do you  not think we'd get you a passport before taking you into another country? You and I are going to go to the Passport Office tomorrow. I got the forms today, filled them out, we're going to go out for dinner tonight and get your passport photos taken, and then swing by your doctor's office to get them signed and take the form in tomorrow. Well, I will. After I drop you at school."

"That sounds like a lot of work just for a booklet."

Mom laughed again, and hugged me.

I did some homework, and then Mom and I went to Walmart to get my passport photos done and swung by the doctor's office, and then we went for dinner. We went to this chicken place Mom liked, and it was pretty good.

Once we got home, Mom sat with me while I finished up a little more homework and then I went to bed.

In the morning, we did our usual routine of breakfast and getting me off to school. Mom said she was taking my passport application in.

As the day wore on I started feeing kind of gross.  My head hurt, and my throat started to hurt.  In PE, I felt like I was going to throw up, and so I ran to the bathroom, where I actually did puke. My teacher let me lie down in her office, since it was the last class of the day.

Jill carried my bag out for me at the end of the day and walked me to Mom's car.

"Hey guys, Sam," she said, getting out of the car and running around to me. "What's the matter?"

"I don't feel so good, Mom," I said. She put her lips to my forehead.

"Honey, you're burning up.  Let's get you home, okay? Jill, thanks for helping her out to the car,"

"No problem. Feel better, Sam. Let me know how you're doing."

I nodded at her as Mom got me in the car and closed the door. I laid against the cool window for the short drive home.

"Okay, sweetheart, we're home. Let's get you up to bed, okay?" Mom said as we pulled into the driveway.

Mom walked me into the house and up to my room, helped me change into pyjamas and tucked me into bed.

"How are you feeling, baby?" Mom asked.

"Crappy," I said, coughing. 

"Feel like throwing up?"

"Not right now, but I did at school,"

"Okay. I'm going to make some soup, okay? I'll come check on you in a little bit, and see if you're hungry? Try to get some sleep, alright?"

I nodded and curled up under my covers.

I fell into a fitful sleep, feeling hot and cold all at the same time. I think Mom came in at one point to ask if I was hungry, but I wasn't sure.

"Sam, honey, you have to eat something, sweetheart," I heard from somewhere far away.