One Step at a Time

Chapter two: A moment in time

It was the day after they died. It finally hit me. I couldn't get out of bed. I cried and cried thinking about what came next.
November 16, 2003 would never be forgotten. For that was the day I lost two of the three most important people in my life.
Jacob came into my room asking, "Where's mommy and daddy? I'm hungry." "Come here buddy." I picked him up and sat him on my lap. "Jacob listen to me, mommy and daddy are in heaven. Do you remember what Father Michael told us at church?" "No." "He said that heaven is the beautiful place where Jesus lives. Mommy and daddy are with Jesus buddy." "Why are they with Jesus?" "They passed on sweetheart. They died."
That's when he finally realized that mom and dad were never coming back.
I took Jacob downstairs, and set him in his chair. "What would you like for breakfast?" "Fruity pebbles." "Do you want milk or juice to drink?" "Apple juice." "Okay."
"Here you go baby." "Thank you Ava." I leaned down and kissed the top of his head, then went into the bathroom.
My social worker was downstairs at the table with a cup of coffee in front of her when I came out of the bathroom.
I looked over astonished that she was already downstairs at such an early time. As it only being 7:46 in the morning, I thought I would have had more time to talk to Jacob without her around.
Jacob ran over to me as if in fear. I was surprised when he jumped up and gave me a hug holding on so I would pick him up.
"Good morning Ava, I hadn't realized you were awake yet." "Where did you think Jacob got breakfast from?" "Now Ava, I know you don't like me being here but do you really need the attitude?" "For your information Mrs. Marx, I don't have an attitude my parents just died less than 24 hours ago, and I'm upset. So if you want an attitude I can bring one to the table, but at the moment I don't have one."
That's when I picked up Jacob and we went into his room. I helped him get dressed, and helped him brush his teeth, then we played with the building blocks on his bedroom floor.
"Sissy, can we watch TV?" "Yeah, that's fine, lets go in my room though. Not downstairs, I don't want you around Mrs. Marx and her crap." "Okay."
We went into my room, and I turned on Sponge Bob for Jacob, then walked over to my dresser.
I got dressed in skinny jeans and a crop top, then straightened my hair. Being a twig as I am, my crop top complimented my body.
Life seemed not so tragic with Jacob watching TV. It was like I had realized I had one thing left, and it was my brother. I would now have to raise him, as if I was his new mother.
"Jacob, are you ready to go to day care." "Yeah. I want my bear." "Okay sweetheart, you can bring it with us."
I picked him up off of my bed, and carried him to his room. We grabbed his bear, went downstairs, and told Mrs. Marx we were ready to leave.
That day at school was a day like no other. Everyone knew the tragedy which was my life. People came up to me asking, "Are you okay," or things like "Is there anything we can do to help?"
The entire day I didn't speak to anyone.