Hockey Mom

Chapter 5

I drop my bag and basically fall next to my son. Flashbacks Mike flood my mind, I shake my head to ward the evil thoughts off but they continue coming. Hot tears fill my eyes, as I gently nudge him screaming,

"Wayne,Wayne!"

Why won't you wake up. Please wake up. Now I am full out sobbing and the tears cloud my vision.

"Wayne!" I scream again.

Then he stirs,

"Wayne?" I say softly almost like a whimper.

"Mom...?"

"Oh Wayne," I gently pull him close to my chest and wipe off the remaining tears.

"Mom, what's going on?"

I look at him with my red, tear stained face and say,

"You were unconscious baby."

I gently push back his hair from his face so I can fully see the face that I knew I could not live without.

"I was," he looks around his room, like he's still not sure of what just happened," but I was just reading... and," he looks over towards his book which is now laying openly on the floor.

"Wayne," he looks at me, "We need to go to the hospital sweety."

"Okay," he whimpers out.

Sensing the fear in his voice I say "It'll be alright sweety."

"Okay mommy."

I smile a little, for he hasn't called me that in years.I grab my things and gently help him up. We walk slowly down the stairs and into the car, but his eyes still express his confusion towards this situation. As we drive to the Emergency Room he stares blankly at the road ahead of us. He only acted this way when he had a concussion.

"Wayne?"

"Yeah."

"Are you... feeling okay?"

"Yeah I... I... my head hurts."

"Well we're going to get that checked out okay."

"Okay."

We enter the parking lot and I begin to hope and pray that Wayne will be okay. I don't want him to have to go through what Mike goes through every day. I help him out of the car, and we walk through the automatic doors. I sit him down in the nearest chair and walk up to the desk. A lady typing at her computer looks up and scoots back in her movable chair.

"Are you...?"

"Yes, I am but I have an emergency my son," I look over at my son and she tilts her head to see him too,"Look I'm really worried about."

She nods and says, "Of course, hat happened."

I explain my fear at what had just happened only half an hour ago. She types on computer and asks,

"Are you Doctor Richards patients?"

"Yes, we are."

"Well, you're very lucky, he usually dosen't work the ER on Wednesdays." she says with a smile

"Really?"

"Yeah, so Ill make sure you'll get him."

"Thank you, thank you so much!" I shake my hands together and run over to Wayne.

"We get to see Doctor Richards honey."

"Okay." he stares ahead like he dosen't even know I'm there.

"Wayne Peterson."a lady calls.

"C'mon Wayne we have to go."

I grab his arm and lead him over to the lady.

"You're going to go to that first bed on the left."

"Thank you."

I lead Wayne over to the bed and close the curtain. He helps himself on the bed and continues to stare blankly out into space. Oh, please be okay Wayne. Dr.Richards comes in after a few minutes and asks,

"So what happened?"

I answer,"Well I came home and I saw Wayne on the floor and he has been confused ever since."

"I see well, let me take a look a look at him."

He checks his eyes, ears, and throat like a usual checkup and then when he's done he says,

"Well it looks like he has a concussion."

"Really, not again."

"I know I'm sorry Mrs. Peterson, you already know what to do I assume."

"Yeah, " I sigh," when do you think he'll get back to being normal."

"Well, his confusion shouldn't last long, but his concussion could last 2 to 3 weeks."

"Alright, is there anything I should give him?"

"Just some aspirin if his head hurts."

"Okay well thank you Doc."

"You're welcome."

On our ride home Wayne seems to come out of his trance,but he dosne't talk to me all he does is stare out the window.Thank God he has a suspension I'm so glad that it happened in his room and not on the stairs or in the classroom. I rub my head and pray that the madness is over