C h a r m e d
My eyes gently fluttered open. I sat up and rubbed my aching neck. I did not remember falling asleep but I must have. A book slid off of my lap, my Geometry book. Now I vaguely remember I was lying on the couch doing my homework, my geometry homework, and I must have fallen asleep. The television was lightly fluttering making small buzzes every now and then. I hopped off of the couch, stretched and finished off with a huge yawn. My stomach rumbled loudly, like a bear. I laughed at the thought and then realized how pathetic it must've sounded. I opened the fridge and leaned in seeing what we have to eat, Pasta. I slammed the fridge angrily, I hate pasta! I found some old pizza and heated that up in the microwave. My neck ached like crazy I must have slept on in funny. I checked our odd Roman numeral clock that I had learned to read overtime. The reason it's odd is because, well I think it's backwards. Mum says she does not see it but when I went to Zack's house I saw his clock and it looked completely different to ours. I figured that our clock was the one that was backwards since my whole life is backwards, that and I learned it at school. I heard footsteps down the hall and turned to see mum's tired face appear, 'morning mum.' I say. She yawned.
'Morning, what are you cooking?' She asked, hovering her nose over the kitchen bench. '
Just some old pizza,' suddenly mum seemed very uninterested. The microwave let out a very loud BEEEEP and I jumped. The pizza was so chewy, but I ate it anyway. I sat down at the table with mum.
'Birthday's coming up,' she says while reading the paper. I snorted, 'surprised you remember.'
Mum sighed, 'oh honey.' She got up and started to make a coffee. 'What do you want?' Mum asked.
'I want dad back,' I says very quietly. Mum turned to me and I bit my bottom lip. She come over to me and hugged me, 'I know you haven't had the-'
She paused, 'normal upbringing.' I sighed, 'Mum, I'm scarred. For life! I miss Dad very much. Nothing will change that!' I practically jumped off of the chair and ran into my room.
Ten minutes later I heard mum knock at my door. I looked up from my soaking wet pillow, wet from tears. ‘Go away!’ I sobbed. Of course, she came in anyway. ‘It’s ok,’ she tried to reassure me. I sat up in bed and she came and sat next to me. ‘We have to move on, that’s life. Dad’s alright up there. One day we’ll join him.’ Mum kissed my forehead. ‘I know, I just miss, him.’ I fell into tears again and by the time mum got up she was soaked herself. Mum left and closed the door behind her. I sat there for a while and smiled to myself. ‘Love you Dad.’
I ran down the street and trudged through the rain. I almost slipped over but I think my adrenalin saved me. ‘Wait! Wait!’ I called. Chasing after the bus was bad, but missing the bus was even worse! I saw Zack and a few other familiar faces waiting at the corner. I thought I was going to make it so I slowed. That was a mistake. The bus showed and kids started hopping on. No! I was going to miss it! Zack was the last one getting onto the bus and he hovered in between the doors. I saw him talking to the bus driver, obviously having an argument. Thank gosh Zack is there for me! Finally I reached the bus panting and trying to catch my breath, it came in rapid rasps and loud whispers. I leaped onto the bus and Zack chased after me. I heard the bus driver mutter something about he doesn’t get paid enough to deal with this and then closed the doors. ‘Thanks Zack thanks a lot. You really saved my butt there!’
‘Yeah and I keep on saving your butt, and I will for the rest of my life!’ He stated. I frowned at him, confused.
‘What? What do you mean?’ He laughed at me like I was a useless piece of sponge, which I kind of am but that’s beside the point!
‘I mean that I’ve been saving your butt for ages now! I’m getting sick of trying to make your life better and perfect!’ He told me. I couldn’t believe it. My mouth dropped.
‘Perfect, you think my life is perfect?! At least you have your Dad!’
‘At least you have your mum!’ I was silent. Zack’s mum and dad split up when he was three, I think, and then Zack had to choose between them (who did they think they were?) because they refused to talk to each other. At the time Zack didn’t understand really he was only three so he just said Dad. He hasn’t seen his mum since. I know, sad. Tears stung my eyes.
‘I’m sorry...’ I says now feeling bad.
‘It’s, okay, me too.’ I forced myself to smile at him. We moved into an awkward position and hugged each other. Then the bus jerked to a stop. It sent us flying forward and we hit our heads, hard, on the seat in front of us. I rubbed my head angrily ‘shit! What was that?!’ Children were screaming and carrying on.
‘Now kids, try to stay calm!’ the bus driver ordered. I stood up and Zack gripped my arm, ‘where are you going?’ He asked. ‘To see what’s going on!’ I snatched my hand away and headed toward the front of the bus. I stopped dead in my tracks. I was frozen. ‘Lori,’ I heard Zack call. A wave of nausea passed through me. I think I’m going to be sick! ‘Z-Z-Zack, g-get over here,’ I called. In the blink of an eye he was at my side. I think he was frozen for words as well since all he was doing was squeezing my shoulder. I started to shake. The bus had crashed. And it was bad! Tears slid down my face and I wanted to call out for my mum. The bus driver was bleeding. I could see it. ‘Back away. Back away, nothing to see here!’ He says pushing us back. I slapped back to reality and sat back down in my seat. I just want it to be over. What’s going to happen? I’m so confused, and I think Zack is too. I pulled out my mobile phone and dialled in my mum’s number. ‘Pick up, pick up!’ I whispered angrily. It rang and rang but no one picked up. ‘Ugh’ I grunted and hung up. Concerned faces started popping up at the bus doors. They didn’t look like teenagers though, they looked like parents. I tried to look for my mum and Zack’s dad but I couldn’t see very well. One by one student’s were being let out of the bus. The fire brigade was there louring the bus driver onto a gurney. And then it hit me again.
Tears slid down my cheeks as I leaned back from the gurney. Someone came from out behind me, I jumped as they tapped my shoulder. 'I'm sorry to ask, but would you please step away from the van.' I stepped back and watched the ambulance drift away into the distance.
I tried to keep my cool. I needed to get my mind off of this, but how? Zack tapped my shoulder. ‘Hey Lori, can I use your phone?’ He asked. His face was white, with a sickly green tinge. I think Zack was just as scared as me, and everyone else on this bus. ‘Sure,’ I says and handed my phone over to him. He nodded his thanks and started to dial. If only mum were the one waiting on the outside of the bus, I’d feel so much more relived. But all we can do for now is stay put. I saw Zack’s dad lean on the window, he was looking as worried as Zack was. Zack leaped out of his chair and dropped my mobile on the floor. It landed with a smack and the screen cracked. I picked up my phone and tried to turn it on. 'Shit!' I exclaimed trying to turn on the phone. Great Zack just ruined my only chance to connect with my mother. Zack was let out of the bus and then I was called up. I frowned, maybe mum was there! I approached the front of the bus and looked hard outside the windows. I couldn’t see mum. A fire-brigade man came up to me
‘Is this man your legal guardian?’ he pointed to Zack’s dad, Anthony.
‘Oh, oh yes,’ I says trying to play along. I thought about any random man just coming up and saying they knew me. Weird. The man escorted me out into the cold and next to Anthony. He spoke to Anthony about somethings and gave my mother ring. This time she picked up.
'Debra said that she knows you and it's okay for you to take Lori.' The man said. He walked off to escort others. ‘Th-thank you,’ I stuttered. ‘Where is mum?’ I asked. ‘She’s working; I’m picking you up, is it ok if you come back with us?’ Anthony asked. I nodded, ‘thank you again,’ I repeated.
Zack’s house was warm and comforting but something told me that even if it was 0 degrees outside if I was with my mother it wouldn’t matter. ‘Your mum’s coming to pick you up in ten minutes,’ I just nod.
After a long ten minutes someone finally knocked at the door. I was the first one there. Anthony came along in a few minutes and opened the door. ‘Mum!’ I yelled and jumped into her arms. She was warm and comforting. ‘I missed you mum, I was so scared.’ I whispered into her chest.
