Tyler's Battle

Chapter 5 - Breakfast

The next morning Jody bumped into Tyler on her way down to breakfast. He was pale and looked exhausted with dark rings under his eyes. He didn't speak to her just carried straight on as if he hadn't seen her. They sat at opposite ends of the breakfast table. Neither spoke at all during the meal. Breakfast was a subdued affair, no one felt like talking much in Tyler's presence, knowing what he was going through. It was a minor miracle that both Floss and Candi-Rose, the two biggest chatterboxes, managed to keep quiet. Tyler got up to leave the table, having barely touched his cereal. He walked towards kitchen door and as he did so, Taz and Floss got up and approached him. He turned to see what they wanted and suddenly felt their arms wrap tightly around his middle. They didn't say anything, they didn't need to. Tyler put his arms around the two girls and for a moment the three stood embracing. The silence was broken by Finn.

Tyler, this is for you

Finn held out a piece paper to Tyler, who let go of the girls and took the paper from him. It was a painting of Tyler, with rest of the Ashdene ridge kids around him.

I painted it for you. To make you feel better Finn explained before walking over to the cupboard and getting out his favourite cereal, just like an ordinary morning

Thanks Finn, Thanks girls said Tyler overwhelmed by the sudden show of emotion from his friends. He then left the room and headed back to his bedroom.

Tyler spent ages leafing through the handful of photos that he had kept in an old shoe box, along with a few other mementos. The photos were all he had left of his early childhood, of those happy years before his mum became ill, before the voices, the mood swings, the obsessive behaviours. The times when he could just be a kid and not worry about his mum. In the box alongside the photos were a couple of small plastic dinosaur toys, nothing special to look at, just like the kind of toys you would find in many kids bedrooms. But these were special. Tyler's mum had bought them for him when he was about 5. He had been obsessed with dinosaurs at the time and the two dinosaurs had become his treasured possessions. They still were really, but they stayed in the box now, only coming out when he was missing his mum. It was only a few years ago, when he had started seeing his mum again, that he had got back the dinosaurs and been given the photos. Before that it had always bothered him that he didn't have anything to remember his mum and his early childhood. There were other things in the box too, some photos of Tyler with Jody and the others and a handwritten note Jody had written all those years ago when they first became friends.

 After Tyler had disappeared from the kitchen, breakfast had soon resumed to its normal noisy chaos. Jody sat silently stirring the remains of her cereal around the bowl. Suddenly she snapped. She couldn't bear that everyone could just act like nothing had happened when her best friend was going through such a tough time. She stood up and slammed the bowl on the table, milk sloshing out onto the table

Stop it all of you!

Everyone turned to stare at Jody in shocked silence

What's wrong asked Candi rose hesitantly

What's wrong! What's wrong! All of this is wrong. You all acting like normal when Tyler is going through hell. At least Finn and Taz and Floss acted like they cared. You lot just couldn't wait to get back to your gossip and chitchat.

That's not fair Jody. exclaimed Chloe in annoyance. We know Tyler's going through an awful experience and we all care about him. But we can't change what has happened. He knows we're here if needs us and besides he needs some normality in his life as well not just people sticking there nose in and acting like they know best.

Yeah. We've all been there, in our dark moments. Chimed in Sasha. There's social workers and Mike and may-li to do the whole tell me how you feel routine. He doesn't need us acting like that as well.

And why are you, Tyler's best mate, down here with us, when for all we know he's crying in his room. Surely it's best buddy's job to provide the emotional support and tissues. Quipped Ryan

Jody stormed out of the room slamming the door behind her. She marched along the upstairs corridor and stopped outside Tyler's room. She raised her hand to knock but hesitated, the events of last night replaying in her mind. She dropped her hand to her side and sat down with her back to the door.

Charlie appeared at the end of the corridor and glanced at Jody before entering the bathroom. A few minutes later she reappeared but instead of heading downstairs she came over to Jody.

Jody what are you doing?

Nothing

Jody got up and went into her own room. Charlie followed but hung back at the door

Jody is everything OK?

Jody shrugged

Are you and Tyler still not speaking? 

Jody shrugged and turned away

He needs you now more than ever yet I haven't seen you two utter a word to each other this morning. Look I know its difficult Jody but don't take it personally, Tyler has a lot on his plate right now.