Chrissy Moone

Chapter 21

I fell into Aunt's arms, Maxie joining us in a three way hug.

This was the fifth hug of the afternoon. From 12 to 3o clock  Aunt had given me enough solid food to last me a life time. After our hug Maxie climbs onto my lap.

"I've got loads to tell you, Chrissy." Maxie begins solemnly.

"Go ahead," I say, rubbing my temples. "I'd love to hear your news."

Maxie launches into a big tale of how Johnny stole his biscuit and Juliet got it back and gave it to Maxie and now Johnny is mad at him because Johnny likes Juliet but Juliet and Maxie are best friends.

I sit back and smile at his innocence.

"That's terrible, Maxie," I begin. "Absolutely terrible. But don't worry, Johnny is just angry. He thinks that you and Juliet like each other, but really you're just best friends. You should explain to Johnny that you and Juliet are just friends."

Maxie nods at my advice, taking it all in. The sound of chimes echo through the room.

"I'll get it," I say, skipping over to the door. Juliet is standing there, her brown curly hair in a bun.

"Hello Juliet! Are you here for Maxie?"

"Yup," Juliet nods. "Is he allowed out?"

I call Maxie's name and he immediately runs to the door.

They do their secret handshake, a very complex greeting.
  "Hello, Juliet!"
  "Hello, Maxie!"

Maxie turns his head to me.
  "Can I go outside, Chrissy?"

  "You can once you finish your lunch. Juliet, you can come in." I respond, holding the door wide open for the youngsters.
  They run into the kitchen with wide grins. Maxie sits in his seat and wolfs his lunch down, eager to play with Juliet.

Once he's slurped up the last bit of soup, he runs into the utility room to get his scooter. Juliet follows him to get her scooter.

Juliet lives in the estate next to us, which is a very rough area. Her scooter would definitely get robbed if she left it at her gate, and there's no place indoors to put it in her house, so she leaves her scooter in our house.

  They both scoot out of the house gleefully, yelling farewells.
I smile and drink my tea. My head pounds with pain but I push it aside and take out my (new) phone.

Justin ♥: Hey Chrissy, meet me at the café cuz I'm gunna teach u how to read again.

Me: K I'll leave now

I pull on my coat and go out the door, shouting a quick goodbye to Aunt behind me.

∞

"So," Justin begins once I've sat down. We're in the Mad Hatter, a café that sells milkshakes and cupcakes. "Have you brought your book?"

I take my book out of my handbag, nodding.
   I've chosen a book that brings back a lot of memories. When I was 11, Aunt visited me and gave me The Longest Whale Song by Jaqueline Wilson.
  I thanked her greatly, happy that I had finally gotten a book. I hid it under my bed, but Adrian found it. He beat me and hid it somewhere. I found it when I was staying there, before my coma.

  "Alright," Justin says, wiping his milkshake moustache away with a napkin. "Let's get reading."

I nod nervously, worried that he'll think me stupid.
  Justin grabs my hand. "Chris, it'll be OK. You'll learn again."

I don't even know how I got into the coma. No one knows. But I will find out. I will.

  I smile at Justin, opening the book on the first page. I still remember letters of course, Justin just wants me to read as fast as I could again.

"'Why. Don't. You. Come. And. Help. Me. With. My. Breathing. Ella?' Mum. Said," I begin slowly, pronouncing each word carefully.

It's 8o clock by the time we get home. We finished the book, and I'm getting better at reading. Sure, there were a few pronunciation errors, but it was OK.

I lie back in my bed, thinking about how I went into the coma. I remember going into Shay's room to borrow a book, then going back into Siofra's orange bedroom and reading.
   I either fell asleep and while I was sleeping went into the coma, or went into the coma while reading and worried asleep
sick. 

There's only one way to find out. I go downstairs and grab Aunt's phone, dialing in Gina's number.

"Hello? Elmtree House how can I help?"

  "Hi, Gina."
  "Oh Chrissy! So you woke up? That's wonderful!"
  "Can I speak to Siofra?"
  "Sure, sweetie. I'll get her now."

There's footsteps and protesting, but finally Siofra comes to the phone.
   "What,"
   "I've got a question."
   "What?"
   "Did you see me go into my coma and if so what happened?"

"I just went to the bathroom, and when I came back the window was open and you were asleep."
"Thanks... Bye." I reply, hanging up.

I get my notebook and write down all the information I've collected so far. I might have just slipped into the coma, but the window was open. I will find out how I got into my coma. I will.