The Shed

The First Death

My hair is a nest of curls and my eyes are half stuck together with sleep. A plate of fruit salad has been placed on the bench for me. I feel sick from last night but my stomach aches from lack of food. But once I start to eat I feel less sick and don't worry about the secret I have to keep. No one told me it has to be kept. But for my mums sake I do. "Carolina , Would you like to come to the shops" mum asks, she already has her sunglasses on and her handbag slung over her shoulder. I stare at her. "Okay Nevermind" she agree's and walks out the door. The car backs out the drive and skids across the road. Metal hitting Metal, crash and clatters of millions of things littering the street.

"MUM" I scream. I'm joined by Matty , my brother. We sprint outside to where our car is overturned and pieces of aluminium and metal spread over the ground. Mum is covered in blood and a wound stretch over her leg and a slice if glass wedged inside her arm. "Call the Ambulance" I scream, I don't realise but tears are dripping over mums wounds. I sniff and wipe my tears away. "Mum, Mum,Mum if you can hear, it's okay Matty is calling help, it WILL be okay" I whisper. We've developed a crowd. I take no notice and lean against the dented car door. Mums hand twitches, I gasp. "Mum, Move your hand if you can hear me". I really believe that she moved, but she stays stock still.

Sirens scream down out street, Matty sits beside me. He reaches across and grabs my hand. Three men and one woman jump out of the ambulance. "A procedure has to be performed, move away" the women says dragging us away from the car. After minutes of examination a man speaks to us "37" Is all he says. "How did this happen" she asks us. "Well I was watching TV inside and mum said she was going to the shops, Then she backed out if the drive and I heard the car skid. And the Crashes and Clatters." I stutter, more tears come and a lump forms in my throat. My legs feel wobbly as I sink down to the dew soaked grass. The woman kneels down "there is a chance your mum may not live...". She gets up and follows the ambulance men with the gurney. The gurney carries blood drenched mum.

Matty carries me back inside, we sit on the couch in silence. "Is dad here" I croak. "I don't care" Matty says ,he heaves himself up and grabs is car keys of the coffee table. "Matty" I sob, but he's gone. My head is stuffed inside the pillow, it's wet with tears and snot. Dad burst in through the screen door, he is agitated and searches for something . He throws items out of draws and rustles through the cupboards. "Where is it" he mumbles. Finally he sighs heavily and I hear swallowing. The couch sags as new weight hits it. When I look up dad is sculling from a whiskey bottle. "STOP" I scream and attempt to snatch the bottle from his hands. He stops and glares at me. His eyes turn lazy and he falls from the couch.

"Dad, Dad wake up" I shake him ferociously. His head Lulls from side to side. Finally his eyes open to slits. "Carolina" he mumbles "what time, where is Jodie, where's Leanne". My voice is hoarse. "Mum is in hospital and it's 11:32am on Sunday". I'm answered only by snores. I wonder if Matty and mum are alive and okay. My eyes begin to droop and I can't believe I actually feel tired. After awhile of breath taking events, I'm Tired.As I close my eyes I picture mum skidding across. To skid doesn't the ground have to be slippery. It hasn't rained in three days. I'm Suspicious.