A Bounty of Pictures

Chapter 15

The hospital hustles with nurses and doctors running around.  Apparently a girl went into a coma after being beat up by her ex-boyfriend and another person had a beer bottle glass shard in his eye during a bar fight.  Parker looked at me funny when we heard about the beer bottle.

Mom regained consciousness after we arrived but she's still in the ER with dad. Parker continues texting the same person from earlier. I asked him who the person was and he wouldn't give a complete answer.

"If you kids want a snack there's a gift shop down that hallway." A nurse stops to say. She digs in her pocket and pulls out a slip of paper, "here's a free snack coupon I get. You two can use it.  My shift is almost over anyways."

"Thank you." I take the slip of paper and smile.

"No problem! Enjoy!" The nurse waves and walks to the X-ray room where mom had a CT scan.

"Do you want to come?" I ask Parker standing up.

"Sure." He shrugs and puts his phone in his hoodie.

A bored man sits behind the counter as we walk in the gift shop. It is past midnight. Parker and I look at the snacks and choose a bag of cookies. I grab two water bottles and pay. Parker stands impatiently by the entrance.
We walk back to the waiting room as dad walks from the treatment room.

"How's mom?" I ask.

"She's fine. Just a concussion and three stitches." Dad pats my shoulder. Parker looks up from his phone.

"Glad she's okay, Mr. Jansen." He says. "My mom's here, so I'm going to head out."

Dad and Parker shake hands and I wave as Parker leaves.

"Can I see mom?" I ask.

Dad pats my shoulder, "soon."  I look at the ground and walk back to my old seat.

After a half hour of texting in my friends group text, dad yawns with a smile. It's almost 2:00 a.m.

"How's mom?" I ask.

"She's good. She wants to see you." Dad pats his jet black hair. I jump up and grin. I follow dad to the elevator and we are lifted two floors high.  The white hallways are dim as we walk into a room with mom laying in a gray hospital bed.

We wrap our arms around each other in a tight hug. Mom says a tired hello and smiles.

"I'm so happy to know you're okay." I say.

"I am too. Thank you." She kisses my forehead. Mom's lips are cracked and dry. "You need to get some rest."

"So do you," I say and smile. I hug her one last time and wait for dad at the elevator.

                                 •••

Monday morning, Dad and I take mom home.  Somehow we fit ten vases of flowers into the car, but it worked as long as dad didn't slam on the breaks.  Parker hasn't really talked to me since Saturday night. And I haven't put any effort into talking to him.  I hand mom a glass of water as dad finds another pillow in the closet.

"More plain water," mom mumbles.

"Sorry. I can't warm it up and make some tea." I suggest.

"No it's fine." She places the cup on the nightstand and opens her book.

"Okay. Just call me if you need me." I leave the bedroom door open slightly and walk to the kitchen for a late breakfast.  Dad joins me, washing off an apple.

"I'll let you take the day off from school. You still look tired. I have today off too." Dad says. He cuts the light red apple into slices. I grab one and smile.