Parable Journal

So Long Patricia

Copyright Miranda Hanchar – January 2013 © Published in ‘Torrid Literature Journal’ Volume 5

Andie Mitch-Sal and Patricia Georginson were heading home from school. They were discussing how different school was now that they’d moved up a grade. The homework was harder, but the grade was more fun. Neither girl could believe they were in grade twelve; this was their last year…maybe even their last time to see each other as they both wanted to pursue their dreams.

Both of their families knew each other when they were in high school and still are great friends.

Every Monday night they met for Bible study, and often had dinner together.

“You’re coming over tonight, right?” Andie asked.

“Of course.” Patricia answered, shifting her backpack to her other shoulder.

They kept talking until they were at the cross walk. Andie pushed the button to go across and was not paying attention. A car was coming too fast to stop and Patricia had to think fast. She was scared that Andie might get hit. She yelled at Andie to get out-of-the-way. Still Andie didn’t know what was going on because she put her headphones on: but she heard a car hitting something. Patricia landed on the cement. Andie turned around fast as the noise was very loud. The car driver shut his door, stood there in shock. Andie on the other hand was scared, and speechless. Her best friend was lifeless on the ground. Andie looked at Patricia’s bag and grabbed her cell to call 911.

Andie was gasping for breath; she felt she lost a part of herself.

“Patricia! No! Listen to me. Everything is going to be okay!” Andie was crying and hollering; she desperately wanted her friend back. The driver stood there and out of anger; he took his cell and smashed it against the cement.

The ambulance came and Andie moved out-of-the-way. Not knowing what to do next, she phoned Patricia’s parents and then her parents.

“If she died, I will never forgive myself,” Andie said, as the ambulance drove away.

Both families came to the hospital and waited patiently; they both prayed for Patricia to be okay.

“Mr. and Mrs. Georginson?” the doctor called to them.

“Is my baby okay Doctor?” Mrs. Georginson had red puffy eyes as she spoke to him.

“I’m sorry. She’s not responding.”

“Can you try again?” She was desperate.

Andie was behind Mrs. Georginson and was listening in hoping he can help her best friend.

“We can try again, but there’s no guarantee she will make it,” the doctor went back into the room and started to work on Patricia.

The family formed a circle and was praying; Andie didn’t want her best friend to go. It was their last year together.

After a couple of minutes have passed, instead of the doctor it was the nurse Sherrie who was helping the doctor. She told the news.

“I’m sorry,” Sherrie said, patting Mrs. Georginson’s shoulder.

Mrs. Georginson broke down in tears. “You don’t need to pay for the bill;” The nurse walked away and gave everyone a hug.

Everyone was speechless that night as they still were going over to do a Bible study at the Mitch-Sal’s house. No one spoke a word until Andie broke the silence.

“Stop!” Andie yelled.

“Honey what’s wrong?” Mrs. Mitch-Sal was clueless.

“I killed her. I was listening to my music and not watching what I was doing. I crossed the street and next thing I knew she was on the ground,” Andie cried. She fell and went into a fetal position. Not knowing that everyone was looking at her; Mrs. Georginson was speechless and went over to her.