Confetti

Chapter 1: Terriers and Trauma

Chapter 1

    I wake up to the sound of my mom yelling, “Addisyn! Jacquelyn! Evelyn! Joselyn! Get your butts down here right now and explain this to me!” I am in my unicorn onesie, and my blonde hair is in a messed up bun. I immediately rush downstairs and find a happy puppy, enjoying the mess he’s made of our coffee table and mugs on it from the previous day. The dog is a teacup yorkie, as I see, but it also seems to have something mixed into it. Labradoodle? Bulldog? As I decided it to be part German Shepard, my mother draws her attention to me. “Figlia mia,” she says. “Tell me, honestly, do you know of this?” I shake my head no, as she moves on to the next eldest, 16-year old Jacquelyn. No reply, either. Then to 14-year old Joselyn. Once more, useless information. Finally, 12-year old Evelyn steps up and says, “Me and Briadyn got it from Lorraine’s 18th.” I hear my mother scream, “BRIA MARIA RICCI AND EVIE GODIVA RICCI! YOU! ARE! GROUNDED!” I knew that this would mean I have to go over to Briar’s house to “study” instead of her and the squad coming here. We were the alphabet squad. Addisyn, Briar, Caiti, Daniella, and Emma. It was HILARIOUS. We made immediate friends, and we were all the most popular girls in the 12th grade. Obviously, we were pretty, too. I have blonde hair, brown eyes, and cream-coloured skin. Briar has blonde hair, blue eyes, and tan skin. Caiti has cinnamon coloured hair, green eyes, and pale skin. Daniella has curly chocolate hair, brown eyes, and her deep, spanish-tan skin. Finally, Emma has black curly hair, green eyes, and pale skin. Anyway, enough describing us. I prefer to tell my story. I ask to leave, and my mother nods. I pull out my gold iPhone 8+ and silently wonder how my family is so rich. I pull up the ABC squad chat and text Hey, bella signoras! No studying at my place 2night. U will have 2 go to Briar’s crib. Almost immediately, I get 4 replies. K! Litty! KK! Lemme set up but k guys. Everybody is gucci with it! I put on my makeup, a sports-bra, an MK shirt, and black, ripped skinny jeans. I’m looking fire, and then Briadyn wakes up. “Nyak, nyak! What’s for breakfasttt!?” She’s very loud and spontaneous for an 8-year old. Typically, to Madelyn, I’d yell: “YOU’RE SO FREAKING LATE, SIGNORA!” But due to Briadyn’s ADD, ADHD, and anxiety disorder, she is homeschooled. Her psychiatrist said that it’s best. Anyway, Briadyn began to run around the room and then she sat down. Oh, no. Oh, no. OH, NO!!! She was hyperventilating! Not from running, but because she just ran into the metal wall sheet that seperates our rooms! “M-my-y… a-ar-rm-ms… b-r-oken-n… I-i… c-can’t-t b-breathe-e!!!” She wailed. My mother, Victoria Ricci, and my father, Dan Ricci, bolted up the stairs and called 911. “Hello, yes, my bella figlia’s arm-bone is sticking out of her pelle. Yes, I’m italian. Of course, I’m not lying. JUST SEND *your choice of words* HELP!” She shut her phone off and I squeezed my youngest sister’s hand. Her eyes were closed tight and tears were falling. I could see her chest going up-down-up-down, as fast as possible, and I wondered if they would be able to hook her up to meds because of her disorders. She always gets hurt! AGH! I’m not sure HOW her arm legit split from just running into a wall, but maybe there were injuries from Lorraine’s party. She has two brothers, 7-year old Mike, and 11-year old Bruce. Bria and them like to hang. The worst part is, Joselyn, Evelyn, and Jacquelyn are already on their bus or are at school, while I’m stuck and going to be late when I drive myself to school. I call Jacquelyn. “When you get to school, tell Briar or Caiti to get Evelyn and Madelyn, and take you all to MedCity Hospital! There’s been an accident involving Bria! Hurry!” She says a quiet ok and hangs up. The ambulance pulls up and I hurry to open my car. Briadyn is rushed to the hospital and I tail them, honking at those who dare cross my path. When we finally reach the hospital, my mother texts me the room number and floor that she will be in, prior to surgery, pre-diagnosis. I climb out of my bright red Hyundai and race into the hospital. I catch up with the green stretcher, but a nurse stops me. “Uh, um, ma’am? You cannot follow that stretcher unless you are close family or allowed by the parents.” I call my mother over, and she grants my permission. I text Jacquelyn. Jackie, you have to tell them that you are all sisters and cousins of Briadyn. She replies with a thumbs-up emoji and I turn my phone off. As I step into the elevator, I notice that there is a small piece of a teddy’s ear. I quickly realise that this is a part of Briadyn’s stuffed animal, Mr. Snuggly. I grab it and press the floor 7 button. While I wait, I look to see if this is the same ear that has already been stitched. I reach inside the fluff, and something pricks my finger. OUCH! I pull out the needle and examine the now bloodstained thread. I hear the ping! of the elevator. When I step out, I see the faint stature of the stretcher and I hear my sister gasp for air and continue hyperventilating. It's a wonder she hasn't passed out. I quickly catch up and notice that the stretcher is now a white, metal bed that is going into an MRI machine. I hear the cries of someone else behind me. Very familiar cries. "Addi!" I turn around, and Madelyn wraps her arms around me in a tight bear-hug. Her curly blonde hair tickles my back. She lets go of the embrace and asks the inevitable question. "Where is my baby sister?" I point to the MRI machine and she rushes over. She watches through the glass as they turn it on. Joselyn, Jacquelyn, Evelyn, Briar, Caiti, and I sprint over. As the first button gets pressed, I watch with wide eyes as a bright picture appears. Briadyn's arm has 3 different fractures and 2 main snaps, which is what was poking out of her skin. She is slowly pulled out of the MRI machine and is rushed into surgery. All I hope is that she is alright.

This is Addisyn at the top. I'm sorry that I've just added it, but I've been quite busy dealing with depression and drama.