Medda's home for troubled kids

Chapter Eight- Morris

Triggers: Mention of abuse, panic attacks, seizures, and vomiting

"Hey Morris." Oscar called, standing in the doorway to their bedroom. Morris looked up at his brother with a small hit of confusion in his eyes.

Weisel said showing any sign of confusion was an act of cowardice. But Morris always knew that no matter how hard he tried, Weisel always saw him as a coward.

"We're playing cards downstairs, c'mon." Oscar beckoned; Morris stayed frozen to his spot on the bed. "It's just gonna be us, Jack, Race, and Albert. Davey might watch though."

Morris wavered in his spot on the bed before finally standing up and walking downstairs with his brother, maybe one game wouldn't hurt. Plus, he hadn't left his room all day and Oscar kept going in and out making it rather lonely.

He froze for a second at the sound of laughter before slowly starting to walk again. Oscar wanted him to play cards so he was gonna play. Even if he panicked right after he at least wanted to make his brother happy for a bit.

"I'm kicking your ass this time, Race." Albert said from the dining room.

"What's the point of you getting so competitive about it if Race is going to beat you anyways?" Davey asked.

"Because there is going to be a time where I finally win." Albert replied defensively.

Morris smiled to himself and sat down next to Oscar. Jack expertly shuffled the cards and dealt them out before the game officially started. Morris had never been any good at poker, but he did find the game interesting at times.

"See you're still losing." Davey interjected as the game went on. Morris had already striked out and Albert appeared to be next in line.

Albert playfully shoved Davey. "Shut up Davey, at least I'm actually playing the game."

The game continued, Albert being able to hold his own long enough to regain a standing that didn't put him at risk of striking out on his next turn. Morris liked it. It wasn't often recently that he had moments like this with everyone else.

He was scared they would do what Uncle Weisel did, pretend to be nice so that he would open up. Weaknesses were the way to get at others, Uncle Weisel taught him that.

"Ha, I won!" Albert cheered, shaking Morris from his dark thoughts. Apparently while he was spaced out both Jack and Oscar had striked out and Race made a bad move that screwed him over.

"What you taking it easy on him for." Jack joked. "It's just gonna inflate his ego."

Race stayed silent; his eyes trained on the table. "He doesn't need to go easy on me for me to win." Albert shot back.

"Tony?" Jack asked, Race still hadn't moved. At least he hadn't until he slumped over in his chair, falling off to the side. He would've hit the floor if Jack hadn't caught him.

'Sign of weakness' Morris thought, watching as the scene in front of him unfolded. He saw Jack on the ground taking a dish rag from Davey and Albert taking his sweater and putting it under Race's head.

"Morris," Oscar called, why did it sound so far away? "Morris!"

Morris flinched, staring right back at his brother. "Sorry."

"It's okay." Oscar rushed out. "Okay, you need to go get Medda, she's in her office. You need to go and tell her that Race is having a seizure."

Voices were starting to overlap as Morris made his way down the hall towards Medda's office. Halfway there his head started to feel like it was full of cotton and his eyes blurred around the edges. Morris felt his heart start to speed up as he sank down against the wall closest to him.

"You're pathetic." Uncle Weisel's voice rang through Morris' head. The Boy covered his ears and drew his knees up to his chest. This whole situation reminded him of his uncle. A person Morris felt like he had spent his whole life trying to get away from, but he couldn't escape. Everything reminded him of the years he and Oscar spent at that house.

A small sob escaped Morris' throat as he covered his ears in the hope of drowning out the sound of Uncle Weisel's voice ringing through his ears. He wanted it to stop, but as he continued to panic the voice got louder and louder.

Weak... weak... weak... we-

"Morris?" A voice spoke up. It was Ms.Medda. "Hey sugar, take a deep breath."

Morris tried, his throat feeling like it was sealed shut. Why couldn't he breathe? What was happening to him?

Morris opened his eyes and stared at his knees, refusing to look at Medda. He needed Oscar, where was his brother? He was just with him, where was Oscar? He looked up and saw Medda in front of him and removed his hands from his ears, heart still racing. But at least Weisel's voice was starting to fade away.

"Oscar"

"Ms.Medda!"

Morris and Davey's voices overlapped. Morris looked down the hallway and his heart sped up again as he realized what happened. He panicked and forgot to tell Medda that Race was having a seizure.

"Ms.Medda, Race had a seizure." Davey rushed out. "It was a pretty bad one, he still hasn't come to yet."

Morris saw the concerned look in Medda's eyes spread across her features as she followed Davey away down the hallway. Morris didn't want to be left alone. So, he stood up and hurried down the hallway back to the dining room. He found everyone again and breathed a small sign of relief.

However, before he could get a good look at the scene as it was now, someone had grabbed him and slammed him against the nearest wall. It was Albert, his face red with anger and a furious look on his face. If that look could've killed, Morris was sure that he would be dead on the floor. He had never seen Albert this angry; he didn't think anyone in this house had.

"What the fuck Morris!" Albert yelled. "What is wrong with you. You could've killed Race, what were you even doing down there. What kind of sick person are you, huh!"

Oscar grabbed Albert by the collar of his shirt as Morris folded into himself, wrapping his arms around his abdomen. "Back off Albert, it was an accident."

"This is both of your faults!" Albert snapped, shoving Oscar off of him. "If you hadn't sent him for Medda then she would've come sooner! Why don't you two just stay in your room it would be better for everyone!"

"Boys!" Medda called into the room. Oscar, Morris, and Albert all looking at her. She was kneeled down on the floor next to Jack and Race. Race having now regained consciousness and thrown up twice apparently from the looks of things.

"All three of you upstairs, now. It's no one's fault what happened, so all of you apologize to each other and then go upstairs." Medda said.

Albert huffed and rushed out a quick apology, Oscar doing the same. Morris remained quiet, still folded into himself, Albert was gonna hit him at some point, he knew it.

"You gonna apologize, or no?" Albert hissed; his tone showed that no matter what it was going to take some time before Morris was forgiven.

"I-I'm sorry." Morris stuttered out, moving closer to Oscar. The three went upstairs right after, Albert slamming his door in anger.

Oscar was calmer about closing their door, but Morris could tell that he was also upset. "Morris, what happened?"

Morris looked at his hands, although he was starting to feel calm enough to talk now that it was just him and Oscar in the room.

"I'm sorry." Morris replied. "I just, it all reminded me of when we were with Uncle Weisel and I panicked. I was so scared, Oscar. And now this is all my fault and Ms.Medda's gonna send us away and even if we did stay none of them are ever going to forgive me, and they'll never forgive you either because I was too scared to say something."

Oscar knelt down in front of Morris, putting a hand on his knee. "Hey, deep breath. Medda's not going to send us away, she knows it was an accident and so does everyone else, even Albert. Crutchie's told me everyone gets tense like this when this happens. Everything's going to be okay, alright."

Morris looked Oscar in the eyes and couldn't help but believe him.