I hung out with William every day. He makes great company. He would listen and understand. Whenever the other kids would laugh at me. We would play outside and I would teach him how to run, jump, climb, all things normal kids can do. But he certainly isn't normal.
Mrs. Carol answers the door. When she sees me she breaks into a smile. I really don't know what to say. I just wanted to see William. Maybe he's not home. Who am I kidding... he's home. When I told my mom I was visiting him, she acted a little strange. I wonder why?
"Hey, Amandla! Just the girl I wanted to talk to!" She says a little too brightly. She steps out of the door way and on to the deck closing the heavy wooden door behind her. She walks slowly walks over to the swinging bench on the porch. I hesitate before joining her side.
"Umm, what do you want to talk about Mrs. Carol?" I ask her cautiously. Maybe I did something wrong. Oh no.
"Oh, please call me Meg." She says with a laugh before her voice softens and her expression becomes serious. "We need to talk about William."
"What about him?" I nearly jump onto her words.
"He can't stop talking about you! About how much fun you've had. I haven't seen him so happy!... But their is something you should know about him." She says slowly separating her word with long pauses.
She starts telling a story... A story I didn't expect. I knew he was different... But not this different.
"When he was born he was a happy healthy baby boy. I was very happy for my sister and so was the rest of the family. He was her first child and she loved him to death. I visited them once and saw him. He was always giggling. He grew up healthy learning to talk and walk. Until the month before his 2nd birthday." Meg eyes fill with tears and I can tell she's trying to hold them back. I feel like I should comfort her or say something. But, instead I say silent and wait for her to continue.
"It happened one August day. The family of 3 was driving to the city when... when they.... crashed" The tears now have spilled from her eyes. But, she quickly wipes them away. "The car was hit from the side and rolled over. That day my sister Annie and her husband Mark passed away. William was quickly rushed to the hospital. He fill into a coma... The doctors said their was a 50% chance he'd wake up and a 50% chance he wouldn't..."
I'm in tears also. I know he woke up but still. It's like watching a movie where the main character's about to die, but you know she won't because they're in the sequel. Only this is real life... not a movie.
"There was much arguing in the family wather we should just let him go or keep hoping he'd wake up. No one could bare let him go knowing he could wake up. After 8 years little William woke up... He didn't remember what happened. He doesn't remember the crash or his parents... Nothing. We offered to care for him..."
I take a deep breath. He doesn't know what anything is. He has to learn it all over again. I'm shocked by the thought. What would that be like? And suddenly I know why my mom and the kids acted strangely. They must have known. For a split second I think to myself "What have I gotten myself into?" But, then regret it because William is a great friend. The best I have ever had.
"Well thanks for letting me know..." It seems stupid to say when this neighbor I barley knew just told me her life story. But what else is there to say? "I'm really sorry" I add on.
Meg gives me a half smile before looking off into the distance. Almost as if remembering something that was forgotten. "Just promise me... you won't hurt him." she pauses. And she must of seen my confused face because she adds on "Be... patient with him."
