A Family Podcast (english)

Chapter 27

Jackson

"JACKSON!" Coulder's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. Annoyed, I yanked the headphones out of my ears and stopped. This kid could be so annoying. I looked for him along the shore, but he wasn't there. He was on all fours on the ice, far too close to the middle of the lake.

"Coulder, go back! The ice isn't frozen in the middle" I called out, startled, and started moving again.

This idiot. Why did he follow me?

"Jackson" Coulder's voice this time wasn't as loud as before, but I was close enough now to hear the fear in his voice. A dreadful feeling came over me. Oh no. No, no, no. Please, not this.

Coulder looked at me, and then he was gone. Just like that. The ice cracked and creaked, and all that remained was water where my little brother had been just moments ago.

I almost stumbled as I picked up the pace. Coulder resurfaced and gasped for air.

"Coulder! Oh my god" I slid across the ice as fast as I could.

"Jackson... Jackson, help me" Coulder screamed as he kept going under.

In a panic, I grabbed a branch lying at the edge of the lake, never taking my eyes off Coulder, who desperately tried to pull himself up on the ice, but it kept breaking apart.

While still sliding, I crouched down and crawled on my belly to the point of collapse. The ice beneath me creaked ominously, but I did my best to ignore it. Then, I pushed the stick across the ice towards Coulder.

"Hold onto the branch. I'll pull you out!"

Coulder clung to the wood, and I slowly crawled backward on the ice. The ice cracked a few more times, but eventually Coulder managed to pull himself onto the ice.

Only when I was sure that we both had solid ice beneath us, I let go of the stick and crawled towards Coulder. I pulled him up and hugged him tightly.

"Are you okay?" I cupped his face and looked at him in panic. "Did you hurt yourself?"

Coulder shook his head, tears streaming down his cheeks. He was soaked to the bone and shivering.

Both of us jolted as the first firework shot into the sky, exploding in blue and purple sparks. Coulder started crying even harder. Shit, what was I supposed to do now?

I took off Coulder's jacket and then pulled my own jacket off my shoulders to give it to him. Hopefully, it would keep him from getting too cold too quickly.

Coulder was shivering so violently that he couldn't zip it up, so I helped him and then pulled him to his feet. I pulled him behind me towards the grassy area where I had left my things. Swiftly, I took off my ice skates and put on my sneakers. Then, I grabbed Coulder's hand and pulled him along. He was freezing and seemed somewhat absent. I needed to get somewhere warm. I decided on the nearest house with lights on and rang the doorbell.

A thin woman opened the door and eyed us suspiciously.

"My brother fell into the lake. He needs to warm up, please!" I pushed Coulder in front of me.

The woman looked at us, startled, before stepping aside and welcoming us in.

"Oh dear, come in" I ushered Coulder directly into the living room and placed him in front of the heater.

I thanked the woman profusely, and she nodded.

"I'll fetch some towels and something dry for him to wear from my son" and she disappeared upstairs.