Endurance

FOUR

It was Friday morning and the weather wasn't looking good. Wind was strong and rain was belting down, but school was still to go ahead. Mum kissed us goodbye before we hopped onto the bus. As the bus drove off, it felt quite unsteady, it was rocking slightly in the wind and rain. We had to dodge slips and fallen trees. Everyone who was on the bus was eager to get to school safely, clutching their seats tightly.

We finally arrived at school. I ran through the rain and into the warm classrooms. "Man Lilly ... this rain ... is showing no sign ... of stopping ... and it's so ... windy." I talked through big breaths. "I know, mum was worried that I wouldn't be able to get back home." Lilly said worriedly. "Same here". I replied.

The bell rang that signified the start of form time. Everyone sat down at their desks, dressed up warmly. Our form teacher, Mrs Morrison, greeted us and then told us that after she called the roll, we may talk quietly among ourselves.

Mrs Morrison sat down at her desk as the class lit up with the sound of voices. "So, how is Galaxy." Lilly asked. I paused to think. "Good, I just hope that she doesn't get to frightened by the cyclone. It can sound pretty scary in the stables, the sound of howling wind and rain pelting down on the roof." I picked at my nails. "He'll be fine, I'm sure." Replied Lilly reassuringly, her soft expression was comforting. I tried to take my mind off Galaxy by changing the subject. "Soccer training is cancelled tonight ay?" I broke the silence. "Yeah, thankfully." Lilly laughed "I ain't training in this weather". The bell interrupted the conversation and students started rushing to the class that we would be doing period one in. I pulled out my timetable and checked what I had first, it was maths. Lilly and I groaned as we picked up our umbrellas and headed outside.

Luckily maths class was just down the hallway a bit, so we could stay reasonably dry.
We lined up at the back of the girls line, just making it in time before our maths teacher, Mr Peters, stepped outside. "Come in and get out your books and pencil cases." He instructed us. Our class stormed inside and sat down at their desks.
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We were only halfway through the lesson when an older student knocked on the door. "Come in" Mr Peters told him. He came into the classroom and walked up to Mr Peters, letting him read a note. Mr Peters thanked the student and then told us "School is closing 15 minutes before end of class, due to the bad weather." He let us get out our phones and text our parents to let them know.

I got out my phone and texted mum...

Hi mum, school is closing at 20 to 10 o'clock today. Could you please pick me up. Maddie.

Moments later my phone vibrated in my pocket. I grabbed it out and tapped on the messages app.

Sure sweetie, I'm on my way. Mum.

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I ran outside crying, getting a lift to the accident with Lilly's mum.  Lilly's mum, Catherine, drove steadily through the blinding rain. The car pulled over at the crash scene, as it stopped I jumped out and sprinted over to the bashed up car. Warm tears ran down my face along with freezing raindrops. Police, fire trucks, ambulances, were all parked at the crash scene, lights flashing. As I got close to my mother, I felt cold hands grasp my shoulders. "What do you think your doing." I turned around to see a police officer glaring down at me. "That's my mother" I yelled "I need to see mum!" I screamed, trying to pull away from his firm grip of my shoulder. "Calm down, its going to be alright." The policeman reassured me, taking a softer approach now that he understood why I was there. I saw dad kneeling beside mum, talking to her softly. Tears were running down his face.

I stayed with the policeman, as he wouldn't let me go and interfere with my mum. My grandparents arrived as fast as they could. My grandad ran to mum and my grandma stayed with Renee and I. Renee got a ride to the accident with her friend as well, arriving shortly after me. "Stay with me Madds, mum's gonna be alright" Grandma hugged me tightly.

Mum was being taken to the ambulance on a stretcher and the car was being towed away. The car mum crashed into wasn't badly damaged and the driver was walking around looking extremely sad and guilty, with only a few scratches. "Why mum, why did the other driver not have to suffer." I sobbed to grandma. "No!!!" I screamed before my grandma could say anything, the ambulance drove away. "I need to see mum!" So many emotions were storming through me.

My grandparents took Renee and I home. I ran to my room and curled up in my bed. All I was thinking about was mum. It all happened so suddenly, one minute I came home to mum standing there in the kitchen, smiling at me, the next mum was in hospital, dad by her side.

We were at home for half an hour before we got a phone call from dad. We were to come to the hospital.

We all jumped into my grandparents Suzuki Swift and drove off to the hospital. I was still crying, all I wanted was to see mum and all I've seen so far is mum being carried on a stretcher bed and taken away from me in an ambulance, along with dad. The Suzuki parked in the visitor carpark and we walked into the hospital. At the reception, grandad asked the receptionist where Samantha Parker was. She gave us the directions and the four of us continued on. Lefts and rights, ups and downs all the way to mum's room. She was in a room in the emergency compartment.

We entered the room where my mum lay on a hospital bed. I ran up to her, but dad stopped me. "Careful sweetie, the doctors have just left and she has just became conscious again". Inside I was so angry, what does it take for a girl to give her mum a hug! But then I saw where everyone was coming from.

I calmly walked up to mum, Renee following closely behind. "Hi mum" Tears came to my eyes. "H-h-h-i ho-n-ey" Mum struggled to reply, the effort of talking was huge. It was incredibly hard looking at my helpless mother, lying very still with cuts all up her face, but I was so glad that mum was alive.

It was only a short period of time that we had with mum before we were rushed out of the room by doctors. Mum and dad both said goodbye, mum's being very faint as she struggled to make out the words.

My grandparents, Renee and I headed out of the hospital and drove home. Grandad and grandma were looking after us till mum and dad were allowed back home. On the drive back, I stared out of the window, wondering when mum would be allowed out of the hospital. I longed to be curled up beside her on the couch, watching TV after dinner.

Hope your enjoying the story so far. Chapters could be longer, but it doesn't make sense if I put the start of the next chapter in this one. Enjoy :) !!!