Behind The Glasses

Chapter10

  “Where are Master Hunter and Master Chase today Miss Harper?” Gary, the security guard, asked politely as I arrived for training the next day. “Family incident” I replied smoothly, Gary nodded in understanding; he understood our family had a lot of misunderstandings. He had learned that it was better off not knowing.

   “Nice glasses Miss Harper” Gary smiled, I thanked him, smiling in return; finally my glasses had arrived; I slipped them on, they just seemed to fit. They belonged.

   Inside I look at the two bikes we have, both of which needed work on. Many years ago, when Michael, Chase and Hunter raced; they all insisted I learned how to race too. They also insisted I learned how to check a bike over and fix many basics; none of them wanting to fork out for a bit of work to be done on the bike, work which could be easily done if you knew how. So I had learned how to tinker and fix bikes too.

   After an hour training on the track I wiped over the bike, cleaning the whole body, for hours I worked on the bike; not noticing I was being watched the whole time. “They could do with a lick of paint” a voice said from behind me. I turned ‘the boss’ or rather, our new sponsor, (Evan’s dad) was the speaker. “Pardon?” I replied.

   “There is a big race, the Morgtown Derby in a couple of months; you’ve lived round here, you’ve heard about it right?” the boss stated, not waiting for me to reply he continued, “Of course you’ve heard of it! Everyone has heard of it. Anyway, you will race in it; I’ve already entered you and I want both you and the bikes looking their best? Got it? Yes, right; get cracking then”.

   And so I was left speechless by the boss; daunted by the fact I had never competed in anything as big as the Morgtown derby. I finished my work on the bikes, making a mental not to pick up some more bike paint; I ordered it on the way out; only to be daunted by the thought of going back to the house; where I was held almost a prisoner; it hadn’t been a home to me for years.

   I moped back to the house, not only did I have to look after myself now, but Michael too; now he was out of hospital he needed caring for 24/7. Hence I hadn’t been to school today, nor did it look like I would be going any time soon. Entering the house I shut the door quietly behind me, I checked on the sleeping Michael, taking the opportunity to painlessly change his drip; before heading back downstairs to make dinner for him and myself. It was lonely in the house, the only sound the dull hum of the washing machine out back.

   I was woken at two in the morning by Michael screaming, he was in agony where he had rolled over in his sleep, the needle from his drip had come out; then somehow gone back in funny; he was in agony. I hate needles, so having to take the needle out and put it back in properly was beyond gross. Then he insisted he was hungry and that his drips needed changing; as I was now his personal servant I did everything he told me. He woke me then again, just after I got back to sleep, at five in the morning; he needed the toilet. To say the least it was embarrassing for the both of us.

   The next morning I debated going into school, just to escape Michael and the house; but the screaming that woke me last night remained in my recent memory. I couldn’t leave him just in –case that happened again Michael could be in that agony for hours! “Dr Stryden how long is it going to be like this?” I sighed down the phone some time the next afternoon; I had already given him a general overview of Michael’s current condition. He seemed perfectly fine. But it wasn’t physical problem’s they were testing; it was physiological.

    “Just a couple more days and then we’ll have enough data to conduct a full on investigation; then you only have to wait a couple of weeks before you get a diagnosis and his results” DR Stryden replied brightly. He then continued to drone on with technicalities I did not care for, eventually he hung up, I had drifted off to sleep against the wall.