Signed by, Andrew Oliver

Chapter Two

I woke up at about one o'clock the next day. My face felt tight from all the crying from the night before. I was still wearing my khaki pants a t-shirt from yesterday, so I tapped around my pockets and found the letter I wrote. I angrily set it down on top of the picture of my parents on the nightstand and got up. My new bed was still sheet-less. I could've swore I put them on, though.

Yawning and stretching, I opened my bedroom door and headed towards the living room. Elizabeth wasn't there, but Aunt Susie was. She looked at me, then back at the television.

"You're leftovers are in the refrigerator," she stated as she watched her show. "Now keep quiet."

I turned myself towards the kitchen and opened up the freezer and pulled out a popsicle. On my way over to the table, I spotted the calendar with a highlighted square. In the box it said "Andy's Parents' Funeral". My heart sunk; it was tomorrow. On second thought, I headed towards my bedroom instead. When I got there I shut the door.

I looked at the letter and the picture of my parents, then sighed. I don't even remember falling asleep, I thought. I don't even remember laying down.

I pushed out my desk chair and sat down. As I did so, I took off the plastic wrapper of my popsicle and gave it a few licks. To be honest, I don't even know what I was doing, thinking, plotting. It felt like I was just existing now.

Aunt Susie knocked at my door, then let herself in. I turned to her. "I called the school and got the numbers transferred." She headed towards my bed and sat down. "Principle Meyer told me that he would love to see you back in school at least before September 30. He also said he'd be glad to refer you to a Family Crisis Center with two weeks paid by the district."

I nodded. "The funeral's tomorrow, isn't it?" She nodded as well. "What am I going to wear?"

She looked down. "Well, considering this was in such short notice, I'm sure a nice jean jacket and those clean khaki pants you have on now could work."

I smile at her. "You know, thank you for all of this. I wouldn't be alive right now if it weren't for your kind hand." Aunt Susie came over to me and gave me a big hug. I wrapped my arms around her and just started crying. "Sometimes ... I think I can't do this ... and yesterday I wasn't strong ... I need help, and you ... brought that to me. A long time ago you promised my mom you would take care of me, and you're doing just that ..."

She pecked my forehead and rubbed her hand through my hair. "That's what aunts are for, sweetie."

"Aunt Susie?"

"Yes, Andy?" She pushed away from me to look into my eyes with concern. Her hands were still resting on my shoulders.

"Thanks for keeping your promise." I smiled at her. She smiled back.

We hugged for a short time, but it felt like forever. Aunt Susie kissed me on my forehead again, then let go of me and went to sit back down on the bed. She sighed, then noticed that he new comforter wasn't put on yet. "Hey," she said as she pointed towards the big case. I followed her finger. "Why don't we put that on?"

"Sure," I said as I pushed myself off the chair and took the bag over to the bed. Aunt Susie unzipped the case and flopped the insides down.

"This really does suit you, you know," she laughed as she held the blanket up. I chuckled at her.

"Elizabeth has a good eye with that sort of stuff," I said. I reached over for the pillow covers and started putting them on the pillows.

"Speaking of your cousin, she has a surprise once she comes home," Aunt Susie said as she nudged my shoulder. "We both think it would help get your mind off this."