HAVEN BLACK - complete

DODGEBALL

Chapter 12 - DODGEBALL

I lay in bed unable to sleep as my mind raced with thoughts of the black car:

Who was inside? Why did they stop by Jill's house? Was it a coincidence that the street lights blew at the same time that the car took off?

The birds outside started their morning songs just as I felt myself finally drifting off to sleep.

Then, much to my dismay, my alarm sounded, signalling me to get up for another day at school. I felt groggy as I turned the alarm off and got dressed, starting the day exhausted from the lack of sleep..

Opening up my mom's bedroom door silently, I peeked in and noticed that she was still peacefully sleeping, snoring lightly.

I lugged myself sleepily down to the kitchen, placed two slices of bread into the toaster and picked up the cordless phone that sat in its cradle on the kitchen bench. Turning the phone in my hand, I glanced at the digits under the label "Nurse – Alison" and dialed the number.

"Jackson Valley Hospital Healthcare Services, how may I direct your call?" spoke the female clearly through the earpiece.

"Nurse Alison please," I croaked into the bottom of the handset.

"Just one minute please..."

A monotonous beeping chimed through the little speaker.

"Good morning, Alison speaking," a friendly familiar voice spoke out through the phone.

"Hi Alison, it's Jacob Chase."

"Is everything okay? How is your mother?"

"She was very sick last night," I said, pausing momentarily, "...um, can you please come and look after her today, while I'm at school?"

"Not a problem Jacob, I'll be over shortly."

"Thank you," I replied sighing with a little relief.

"Oh, and Jacob – thank you for looking after your mom last night, I know it's tough... I'll see you soon," Alison said before she ended the call; I could feel my eyes welling up with tears as I absorbed the nurse's words of encouragement and understanding.

The toaster popped with a sudden clang and I removed the slightly burnt toast and placed them onto my plate; spreading jam and peanut butter on them, I ate my breakfast, once again, alone.

After breakfast, I was in the middle of getting myself prepared for another shitty day at school when the door bell rang. Opening up the front door, a small wave of relief came over me. Standing a few steps back from the entrance and dressed in light blue hospital attire was Alison, the nurse who I called upon on the days that my mum was too sick to look after herself when I was at school. She raised her sunglasses up and onto the top of her headlifted her glasses up and onto her head.

"Hi Jacob," she said softly as she propped her sunglasses on top of her head, "Hope you're not too tired for school today."

"Yeah, I'm pretty tired but I'll manage," I replied, my hand leaning heavily on the door knob.

Alison walked through the door with a large nurse bag over her shoulder. "Where is your Mom currently?" she asked placing her keys on the small table adjacent to the door.

"She's still asleep in her bed."

Alison smiled gently, "okay Jacob, I've got it from here. Have a great day at school."

"Yeah, um, okay thanks, I'll see you just after three," I stammered as I walked out the front door and onto the sidewalk.

I always felt a little guilty whenever I couldn't look after my mom, like I was abandoning her...but it also felt kind of good to be released from her burden.