"message from dad on january 2nd, at 5:30 pm."
"hey, bronx, it's, um, it's me, your dad. i know i said that i wouldn't call and interrupt your trip unless i missed your call but... s-son, you really need to be here. ruby had a, um, a heart attack and slipped into a coma... and the docs say it's not lookin' so good... just come back, okay? do it for your sister."
click
"to hear this message again, press 5. to hear the next message, press the star key. to save this message, press 1. to return to the main menu, press 2. otherwise, please hang up. "
as his voicemail slowly droned on and on, repeating the same message, bronx felt the air go cold, all the blood draining from his face.
it'd been a month since he'd checked his phone, right when he went with some friends from school on a hike through the forests of vietnam. ruby having a heart attack was the last thing he'd imagine happening while he was gone. without any hesistation, he pressed star, dreading to hear that she'd died while he'd been out having the time of his life.
"message from saint on january 28th, at 2:47 pm."
"hey, b, it's saint. dad said to call you, but um, you're busy.. r-ruby woke up and we're taking her home... momma and jenna gotta go on tour again but it'd be good for you to come back, help me, dad, and leste with ruby... okay.."
click
"hey, man, you good? you look like you seen a ghost. truck's almost here so we could head back to the cabin." one of the guides called out to bronx, pulling him out of his little pity party. could he keep going on the trip, knowing his sister almost died? or was he gonna head home? his buddies had been planning this trip for years and they weren't even halfway done with the first half of the trip.
"nah, man. im heading home. i-i gotta go back, like now." he shook his head, hair drenched with sweat. "it's like life or death.."
"damn, what's going on?"
"i just gotta get back home! so can y'all drop me off at the airstrip or do i have to walk?!"
~~~
as the taxi pulled up the driveway, bronx tapped his fingers against his knee nervously. when he told pete the news, saying he'd be home the next day, he could hear the cheers of his younger brothers full of happiness. but would things be the same? could he walk through the door and the house all cheery, like nothing had happened?
"hey, kid, we're here. that'll be $23.43." the driver said, cigarette smoke filling up the entire cab. bronx pulled a $50 out of his back pocket, tossing it to the front in a hurry to get out of the cab. "keep the change."
as he stepped out, grabbing his bag, he could tell something was wrong. when someone pulled up to the joseph-wentz house, it was loud. you could hear everything that went on inside: all the siblings running around, the different music choices blasting from different areas of the house.
but as he stood outside the house, there was a deafening silence. not even the television was on. he couldn't even hear ruby's latest dance routine come from her as he walked up the porch steps, pulling his key from his jacket.
when he opened the door, bronx could hear a quiet voice come from upstairs, followed by a higher pitched voice. quietly dropping his bag, he walked up the stairs, hands adjusting the small beanie he had over his hair. making it to the top, he found his dad and brothers all sitting in a semicircle facing the door that belonged to ruby.
