“Don’t Give Up,” Said Mom
Written By: Christina Leigh Pritchard
Picture taken by: L.R. [Ember] Pritchard
Written By: Christina Leigh Pritchard
“Don’t Give Up,” Said Mom
Christina Leigh Pritchard
Copyright © 2009 - 2011 Christina Leigh Pritchard. All Rights Reserved.
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A Note from the Author:
When I was 12, a friend invited me to her house. The home was dark and the floor had piles of books and laundry scattered about like land minds. I thought, “what in the world?!”
“Want to meet my mom?” she asked.
Okay.
There, in the dark room, a woman lay in a hospital bed. She had a bed pan next to her and several pills lined a TV tray. I never forgot the emptiness I felt or the empathy gained for my friend.
This is the story I penned that very night when I came home [and continued writing for the following two years]. I’ve left the emotions and rawness intentionally. I want it forever remembered in honor of my friend and her mother…
Additional Dedications:
This is for Bo and all of her advice, Regina for being a wonderful sport; reading my stories since childhood, Aunt Carolee; my sense of reason, Grandma Jan; who gave me my first typewriter, Papa; for motivating me [even on the last days of his life], my mom; who never tells me she likes something I’ve written unless she truly does and Lori Miliante for editing this story years later.
“Don’t Give Up,” Said Mom
Written By: Christina Leigh Pritchard
Chapter One
Christina Black squirmed. Sweat dripped down her face and it wasn’t from the South Florida sunshine. Her mother's hair was gone. There were five or six bottles of pain killers lined up on the kitchen counter.
"Christina, where are you?" Mrs. Black called. "I want you to sit and read to me honey."
Christina's green eyes watered and she pushed back her black bangs. They stuck up slightly from all the sweat. "I'll be right in," she shouted. Her voice cracked a little. She grabbed her mother's pain pills and placed them on a tray with some toast.
"Okay mom, I'm ready," Christina said. She peered around the door to see her mother's head wrapped in a handkerchief. Her mom was so skinny and frail. A big lump clogged Christina's throat. There was saliva stuck in the corners of her mother’s mouth making her look half alive. Slowly Mrs. Black's eyes fluttered closed.
Christina put the tray down on the end table and crept out the front door. She raced towards her favorite spot. It was at the end of the street on a private boating dock. She collapsed onto the dock and burst into tears. Her mom couldn't have cancer. She was only thirteen. What would she do without her mother?
"Oh no, look who is being a big baby again." Mariana chuckled, plopping herself down next to Christina. "Look at our tree." Mariana ordered, grabbing Christina by the face. She made her stare at their lopsided palm tree. "Remember when we planted that? We were five years old. I had just moved here and you found me crying like a baby because I was adopted and scared. Do you remember what you said?”
Christina shook her head, wiping tears off her cheeks. “You said not to cry because we have to grow along with our new tree."
The two girls leaned against each other's shoulders. "No more crying." Christina whispered.
Mariana wrapped her arm around her best friend. "Perfect." The girls looked across the water as fireworks burst in the sky. "By the way, happy Fourth of July,” Mariana sighed.
"Yeah,” Christina whispered. "Hey, I am going to go see Harry." She stood up and brushed the dirt off her pants.
"What is it with you and my butler?" Mariana teased, "Sometimes I wonder who your best friend is; him or me?"
Christina stared down at Mariana's long light brown hair. It went past her butt and her brown eyes lit up her face. She looked nothing like her adopted parents. They were the richest people in the neighborhood and classic in appearance with their blond hair and light skin. They had everything; even an adopted child.
“I’ve known Harry longer than you! He was there the day I was born even.” Christina exclaimed, “He’s also the one who told me where to find you way back when we were five years old and you were crying out here about being adopted. We are friends because of him.”
Okay, okay, just go already!” Mariana rolled her eyes.
Christina ran through Mariana's two acre back yard and jogged around their Olympic sized swimming pool. There in the corner was a guesthouse. It was one room and Harry lived in it. There were two sofas, a little black and white television and a mini kitchenette. The floor was covered in black and white checkered tile. He even had his own bathroom.
"Harry!" Christina called, pounding her fists on his front door.
"I'm on me way." Harry was called Harry because; well he was hairy all over. It was on his face, his back and even inside his ears. Plus, he had an Irish accent. "So what can I do for ye miss?"
Christina waltzed through the door and sat on one of the sofas. There was a bowl of popcorn which she grabbed and tossed a few kernels at the older man. "I want you to tell me about how you first became a butler." She decided.
The television went off and Harry lay on the other sofa. "Again?” He complained.
"C'mon!" Christina whined, "I love to hear the story." She slouched down and grabbed the blanket lying by her feet.
"I was in my mid twenties," Harry began, "I didn't have a penny to my name." Harry looked over at Christina. She was out cold. He frowned and turned out the light.
Chapter Two
Christina woke up to an empty room. The clock said nine a.m. That meant Harry was making breakfast for the Zupa family. She rolled off the sofa and trudged over to their sliding glass doors.
Mariana sat glumly at one end of the fourteen chair table and her parents sat at the other. There was an empty place setting right next to Mariana.
“Good morning, Christina,” Mrs. Amy Zupa smiled. She looked like a movie star. “I hear you were at Harry’s again last night. Is everything ok?”
“Yes Ma’am,” Christina answered. She sunk down in the hard wooden dining chair.
“I hear your mother is going through Chemotherapy,” Mr. Zupa announced. He kept his eyes on his newspaper. “How is that going?”
Christina shrugged her shoulders. Harry placed a plate of food in front of her. She hardly noticed.
“Dad, would you stop making my friend feel uncomfortable?” Mariana whined, “Besides, we were talking. I want a new bike.”
Her father shook his head. “The answer is no. I spent over a grand on your last one and you rode it into the lake.”
“Mom, are you going to let him do that to me?” Mariana cried. “I need a new bike so that I can hang out with my friends. Everyone else has one. You won’t let me get a skateboard so what am I supposed to do? Walk around and watch everyone else?”
“As long as you wear your helmet; watching sounds like a great idea.” Her mother teased.
“That’s not funny,” Mariana grumbled. She shoved herself away from the table and stormed up the stairs. “I hate you! You make me sick!”
“Alan, what should we do with her? Did we do the right thing?” Mrs. Zupa whispered.
“It’s just hormones,” Mr. Zupa decided. “Christina, tonight when we drop Harry off at your house to clean, we’re going to visit with your mother. Please make sure she is aware of it and is comfortable with that.”
Christina nodded her head and grabbed her plate.
“I pay Harry extremely well,” Mr. Zupa stated. “You can leave that on the table.”
“Yes Sir,” Christina mumbled. She ran up the stairs to Mariana’s room and closed the door.
Mariana ripped things off of shelves and out of drawers. “They make me sick!” She screamed. “All I want is a bike so I can be normal like everyone else. Can you believe them?”
Christina slid down the wall and landed on the floor with a thud. “Well, you did drive your bike into the lake.”
“Oh shut up!” Mariana hollered. “I’m not the one who has to sleep at Harry‘s every night.”
“At least I prefer a human over a stuffed teddy bear.” Christina rolled her eyes and tossed Mariana’s raggedy bear at her face. They giggled.
Mariana put her finger up to her lips, crept out her bedroom door and leaned over the balcony. “My parents are gone; let’s go.” Mariana led her across the street to a neighbor’s house.
“Just cover me,” Mariana whispered. She put her feet inside the crevices of a chain link fence and hopped over.
Christina watched her best friend grab a new four speed bike from the person’s porch and toss it over the fence. “If they won’t buy me a new bike then I will just steal one.” Mariana decided. She jumped back over the fence and sat on her new bike. “Let’s go see what everyone else is doing.”
“I dunno, I think I should get home. My mother-”
“Stop being a baby. You don’t want to go home just so you can sit there while she sleeps. You are coming with me and having a good time for once.” Mariana argued, “Get on, now.”
Christina jumped up on the handle bars and the two girls sped down the street towards the neighborhood park. In the middle of the basketball court sat their three friends Kyle, Meagan and Tom.
“Hey, what’s up?” Mariana hit the brakes and screeched to a stop.
Meagan jumped up and took her freckly body over to them. Her red hair blew in the wind. “It’s about time you losers got here,” Meagan smiled. “We were going to leave and forget all about you.”
Christina put up her hand and rolled her eyes, “You know you were worried we’d never show.” She took a seat next to Tom. He was older, about fifteen, tall with light brown hair and light blue eyes.
“Yo, you guys are not gonna believe what I found today.” Kyle shouted. He rubbed his clean shaved head. “C’mon, you gotta see this.”
Christina jumped back onto Mariana’s handle bars and they followed Kyle into an alley downtown. An old movie house sat at the end of the alley with busted windows and boarded doors. There was glass shattered everywhere. “You have to be careful climbing in.” Kyle told them. He pointed at a busted window.
Christina went in last. Her eyes bulged in amazement. It really was an abandoned movie theater. The chairs had been pulled out of the cement and tossed into a big heap.
“Look, someone set this place up as a skate park.” Kyle pointed at a half pike way in the back corner.
“This is so cool!” Tom exclaimed.
Mariana picked up a deserted skateboard. “Check it out! There are even three skateboards,” She giggled, pushing off with one foot. She glided across the room. Tom and Kyle grabbed a board and did the same.
“Be careful, there are a lot of holes in the cement from when they pulled out the chairs from the ground. Don’t hit one or it will knock you off your board.” Tom shouted, falling from his board. Everyone laughed.
“Doesn’t pay to be bossy, does it?” Meagan teased, climbing down from the pile of movie seats. She offered him her hand.
“Think you can do better?” Tom handed Meagan the board and she blinked twice.
“I think Christina has the right idea-sit and watch.”
“Oh C’mon, Meagan, I will go right after you try.” Christina shouted, still on top of the mound of chairs.
Mariana’s watch beeped. “Hey, my parents will be home soon; I gotta go. But we’ll meet here tomorrow okay?” She yelled, disappearing through the window. “C’mon Christina, your mom will be looking for you too.”
The girls rode back to Mariana’s house and hid the bike in her father’s shed. “My dad never comes in here.”
“See you tomorrow,” Christina called over her shoulder. She raced home to her house. It was getting dark and she had to read to her mother.
She tiptoed through her front door and spotted Harry passed out on the couch with a newspaper on his chest. He snorted at the sound of the door.
“Ye mother has been waiting for you to read to her.” Harry whispered. “Where have you been?” He pulled himself up off the sofa and stammered into the kitchen. “I’ll fix you something to eat.”
Christina grabbed her journal and snuck into her mother’s room.
“Hey Mom,” Christina whispered. Her mom’s face was so skinny. Her lips were dry too. “Harry said you wanted me to read to you.”
“Yes, I want you to read me something you wrote about when you were eight.” Her mom said. She strained to move her head closer.
“Okay, November 21st,” Christina began, “My mom, Mariana, who is my best friend in the whole wide world, Mariana’s mom and Harry went to the beach. My mom said Mariana and I are like her and Mrs. Zupa when they were kids. They were best friends since they were five too. I hope we stay friends forever.” Christina wiped a tear from her face.
Mrs. Black grinned, “Honey, do you remember when you and Mariana decided to clean the house?”
Christina nodded, “Yeah we took the hose and dragged it into the living room and sprayed everything with water.”
“Oh what a mess that was!” Her mother laughed, “You two were such a handful.” Mrs. Black closed her eyes, “Okay honey, I am tired now.”
“Alright mom,” Christina kissed her mother on the cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Mrs. Black’s eyes watered. More than you’ll ever know.
Christina and Harry walked out the door together. He held her dinner in his hand and she carried a change of clothes. “You sure you don’t want to sleep in your own bed?” Harry questioned. Christina shook her head. “You’re going to have piles of dust in that thing before long little lady.”
“I can’t stay there at night.” Christina frowned.
The two odd friends walked across the Zupa’s yard towards the guesthouse. When they entered the small guesthouse, Christina sat down on her usual sofa. “Hey, tell me how you became a butler,” She grinned. Harry placed the food next to her on the couch.
“Oh please don’t make me tell that story again. Can’t I tell you a different one?” Harry grumbled. Christina giggled and gobbled down her dinner.
“Nope, I want to drive you crazy. Ha, ha, ha,” She chuckled. “Tell me the story Harry.”
“Well, I was in my mid-twenties...” Harry began. He looked over at his little friend to find she was sound asleep. Harry turned out the light.
Chapter Three
“Christina,” Mariana pounded on the window. “Wake up.” Christina rubbed the sleepiness out of her eyes and sat up on the couch. “I’ve got an idea; ya know, for our skate park.”
Mariana motioned for her to follow. Christina slipped into her shoes and ran around to the shed where Mariana already was. “Check it out; I’m going to put these lights up. They’re battery operated. Now when it gets dark we’ll still be able to see.” The girls stuffed the lights into a garbage bag and hopped on their stolen bike. They rode over to their skate park and climbed through the window.
Tom stood in front of them with a goofy grin on his face. “So, Mariana, where’d you get your new bike?” He asked. Mariana pushed back her hair.
“Your parents actually bought you a new one after what you did to the old one?” Meagan exclaimed. She sat on top of a pile of chairs.
“No dorks, I stole it.” Mariana answered, “Let me have a board.” Kyle tossed her one.
“I didn’t get to try one yet so Meagan, hand that board over.” Christina leaned over the chairs and ripped the skateboard out of her hands.
“Hey!” She exclaimed. “I’m not that good anyway.” Meagan crossed her arms.
Christina and Mariana pushed off together, Mariana glided down her aisle while Christina’s wheel hit a hole. She flew forward, landing in Kyle’s lap.
“Well, hello there,” He grinned. “Let me show you how it’s done.”
“Yeah, let him show you. He’s been practicing,” Tom teased, sitting down next to Christina. “He thinks he is a natural.”
Kyle pushed off and glided across the room. He didn’t wobble at all. Mariana placed her hands on her hips and frowned. “Don’t be jealous, Mary.” Kyle made smooch noises before doing an Ollie. He barely came off the ground.
“That was so pathetic!” Mariana yelled, racing for the half pike. “Lets see you grind better than me!”
“Oh, now this is where I am good,” Meagan admitted, joining them.
“How’s your mom?” Tom asked, nudging Christina in the shoulder. She looked down at her feet.
“S-she’s just fine.”
“When will you be going home to see her today?”
“I will in a few minutes, why?”
“I want to come and say hi to her,” Tom answered. “I haven’t been over yet and feel bad.”
“It’s alright, she understands.” Christina peered out the broken window, “She gets embarrassed because all her hair is gone. She used to be so beautiful.”
“Lets go say hi,” Tom offered his hand and Christina took it.
They ran all the way down the alley, past the boating dock, Mariana’s house and up the steps to Christina’s home. Harry was inside the kitchen making toast. Christina swallowed hard. Toast meant one thing.
“Tom, I don’t think-
“Thomas!” Harry clapped his hands before wrapping his arms around the boy. “I haven’t seen you in a very long time. How is ye folks?”
“They are great, how are you Harry?”
Christina looked through the crack in her mother’s room. Her bed was empty. “Where’s my mom?”
Harry pointed to the bathroom. The door was opened halfway and Mrs. Black leaned over the toilet. Christina closed the door quickly.
“Maybe you should come back tomorrow,” Christina suggested, squeezing herself in a bear hug.
“Nonsense,” Mrs. Black stuttered, holding onto the doorframe for support. “I haven’t seen Tom in a hundred years.” Harry grabbed her by the forearm and guided her back to bed.
“Come in and sit with me, Tom.”
Christina and Tom sat together on the big, cushiony chair and tried to avoid Mrs. Black’s scalp. Her handkerchief was off and you could see her nearly bald head.
“Harry, could you hand me a hat please?”
“Sure, thing, miss.”
“So, Tom what are you kids up to these days? Not stomping on poor Mr. Zupa’s Aloe plants, I hope.” Mrs. Black placed the hat on her head, “Hunting down lizards, making mud pies in my living room…”
“No, Mrs. Black, I stick to skateboarding these days,” Tom answered, holding back a grin.
“The lizard catching days are a thing of the past.”
“What about the mud pies?”
“Oh, I still try those out every now and then,” He winked.
“Christina, why don’t you read us about some adventure you and Tom shared?” Mrs. Black suggested, leaning her head back on the pillow.
“O-okay, sure thing mom, I will go get my book.”
Christina went into her room and grabbed her book. The doorbell rang and outside stood Meagan and Kyle. They rang the bell again.
“What are you guys doing here?” Christina asked, opening the front door.
“We came to see your mom,” Kyle answered, pushing past her. “Where is she?”
“In her room; I was just about to read her a story from my journal.” Christina motioned for them to follow her.
“Is it really Kyle?” Mrs. Black coughed, taking a small bite of her toast. “This has to be the best day ever!”
“Hi, Mrs. Black,” Meagan waved, hiding in the doorframe. She trembled.
“Meagan, you have grown up so lovely.” Mrs. Black said. “Thank you for coming to see me today.”
“I-I have to go home now, I-it was good seeing you.” Meagan hurried out the front door. Christina blinked and blinked until her eyes could focus on the pages of her journal.
“I have a story with Kyle and Tom for you mom.” Christina said, “Do you want to hear that one?”
“You have a story about me?” Kyle smiled, batting his eyelashes. “I always knew I was special.”
“Shut up,” Tom laughed, tossing a throw pillow at Kyle.
“That would be just perfect.” Mrs. Black decided, closing her eyes.
“It is from when I was ten, Tom was twelve and Kyle you were probably ten too,” Christina began, “Today, Kyle and Tom showed up at Mariana Zupa’s house to see if we would race bikes. We were not allowed to leave the yard so Tom said, “Let’s catch frogs instead.” But, “Where will we find frogs?” I asked. He pointed at the big aloe plant patch. Oh boy, what fun we had looking for toads and frogs. There was a really big one too that we stuck in a bucket but it got loose in Amy Zupa’s bathroom. It was Kyle who noticed what we did to the aloe plants. They were flattened to the ground so Kyle and Tom hopped on their bikes and went to the store for duct tape. When they got back we taped up the plants. Mr. Zupa was so happy we saved his plants! He yelled with glee.” Christina closed her book. “Well, now we know he was not happy at all about that.” She laughed.
“I remember Amy calling me up crying about a huge ugly toad in her bathtub.” Mrs. Black laughed. “Kids, it was so good to see you again. I am afraid I must get some sleep now though.”
“Good-bye, Mrs. Black.” The boys chorused, sneaking out of the bedroom.
Christina sat in the chair and just stared at her mom. Her chest heaved up and down slowly. “I love you mom, so much.” She whispered, placing the journal in the chair.
Harry stood in the doorway with the night nurse. “Are you ready to go?” He asked. She nodded her head and they left for the guesthouse.
For the rest of the summer that is how Christina spent her days; going to the abandoned theater house to skate, reading to her mother and staying at Harry’s. Tom got to be the best on a skateboard. He even signed up at the new ‘actual’ skate park to compete with others.
But then it happened. A few weeks before school; Kyle slipped into one of the holes in the cement floor. He flew off his board and landed into the chairs. Christina heard a snap.
Kyle screamed out in agony. “My leg,” He hollered. “I can’t move my leg.” Blood seeped through his jeans. “Somebody get help.” Everyone froze. Christina raced out the window and hopped on Mariana’s bike.
She peddled down the road with tears brimming in her eyes. Her heart pounded. She fell down sideways in the grass and crawled out from under the bike. “Harry!” She screamed, tripping over her feet. “Harry, help us!”
Christina banged her head on the sliders and tried to open them but she was too weak.
Harry pushed aside the doors and Christina melted into his embrace. “What happened, my dear?” He asked.
“It’s Kyle, his leg.” She whimpered, “You have to call 9-1-1.” Harry dragged her into the house and placed her in a chair.
Everything was like a dream. Harry sounded so far away. “Where is he?” Harry’s voiced echoed.
Christina pointed down the road. “In the abandoned- she dropped back into her chair.
“I think it is in the alley where the abandoned movie house is; on-on Fifth Avenue.” Harry told the police. He hung up the phone and picked it up again. “I have to call the Zupas,” He mumbled, “Yes, hello sir; I think the kids are in trouble. Please meet us at the old abandoned theater.”
Harry grabbed Christina by the arm and put her in his little Daewoo. They sped down the road and screeched to a halt. A fire engine and two police cars pulled in right behind them.
An ambulance was heard turning the corner.
Christina pointed at the window. A fireman grabbed an axe and smashed through the door. He beat it until it split apart. A Paramedic pulled out a stretcher and wheeled it in. Mariana walked out with Tom and the sobbing Meagan. Mr. and Mrs. Zupa pulled up next. They grabbed Mariana by the arm.
“What have you done?” Mr. Zupa shouted, “I thought we told you no skateboards. Do you see how dangerous this is? And whose bike is that?”
Mariana shrugged her shoulders. “I stole it from the neighbors the next street over.”
“Well, you’re giving it back. I cannot believe you!” Mr. Zupa dragged her to their car. “Get inside and don’t say a word until we get home. I am very disappointed in you, young lady.”
Who knows this boy’s parents?” A fireman hollered. Christina raised her hand. She gave them the number and off they went. A police officer took the children’s names and addresses.
“We’ll be stopping by to investigate this matter later.” He informed them. “I hope you know you’ve just broken more laws than you have fingers.”
Harry gently guided Christina back into his car and took her home to the Zupa’s. Mr. Zupa motioned for them to enter. “Christina, I know your mother is ill but that is no excuse to misbehave like this.” Mr. Zupa’s face turned red.
“I’m sorry.” Christina looked down at the floor.
“Well, then just go to your room-or Mariana’s room.” He demanded. She raced up the stairs and into the room.
Mariana tossed a duffle bag at her. “They’re going to have the movie house leveled. They make me so sick.” Mariana pulled on her hair and screamed.
“What are you doing?” Christina asked. Mariana tied her shoes and tossed a bag out the window.
“I’m going to go get our skate boards and lights back before they destroy the place.” She answered.
“How-” Christina inquired. Mariana rolled her eyes and pulled back her long light brown hair. She tied it with a rubber band.
“We’re going out the window. Help me tie up these sheets.”
Christina and Mariana knotted the entire linen closest together. “Don’t you think Tom or even Meagan might go get them? I mean, can’t we just call one of them and see?” Christina reasoned. Mariana did not listen. She squeezed her lips together tight while she tossed the sheet rope out the second story window.
“Now you go first. I will hold it steady while you climb down.” Mariana directed.
“This is the stupidest idea you’ve ever had.” Christina responded. “I am not going down that thing.” Mariana shoved her in the back.
“Just do it,” Mariana demanded. She pointed at the knotted sheets that hung out the window. Christina sighed and slipped out the window. Her hands slid down the fabric. Her heart pounded.
Slowly, Christina climbed down the swaying sheets. She jumped to the ground with a thud. “Okay, I’m down.” She whispered. “Be careful.”
Mariana ran back in the room and tied the sheet to her bed post. She tugged on it hard. She put her feet out the window.
Now, Mariana was a little on the heavy side. She wasn’t obese but she had a few extra pounds around her hips.
“The sheet is ripping,” Mariana called out.
“Hurry up then,” Christina ordered. Mariana looked up at her window. Christina looked up at the window. The girls watched as the one bed post leg crashed into the window frame, shattering the glass. Mariana accidentally let go of the sheet and flew to the ground.
Christina’s heart tried to dig its way out of her chest. Her stomach shriveled. “Mar-ar-i-ana?” She stammered. Her legs felt like sticks of lead as she dragged them over to her friend’s limp body.
“Uhhh,” Mariana moaned. She tried to pick herself up off the ground but stumbled back onto her back.
“See, I told you that was a stupid idea.” Christina teased. She squatted next to her friend’s head. There was a trickle of blood coming from her skull. “I better get your parents.” Christina whispered. She ran around to the sliding glass doors and pounded as hard as she could. Something didn’t feel right. Mr. Zupa barged out the door and grabbed her by the arm.
“Young lady, I thought I told you to stay upstairs?” He began.
“It’s Mariana, she fell out the window.” Christina yelled in his ear. He pushed her and she fell backwards onto the ground.
“Amy, call the police!” Mr. Zupa ran faster than he’d ever run in all his life. He stopped in his tracks. There lying on the ground; was his daughter, the love of his life.
“Daddy,” Mariana cried. “My head hurts.” He dropped to her side and rubbed her shoulder.
“Yes, I know, it’s going to be okay. You’re mom is calling the police right now.” Mr. Zupa held in his tears.
Christina sat in the grass stunned. Mrs. Zupa raced out the door and held her mouth closed. “Oh my god, Harry, get out here quick!” She fell down on the other side of Mariana.
“Oh honey, what were you thinking? Climbing out the window; for what?” Amy Zupa wept.
“I’m sorry mom. I just,” Mariana stumbled over her words. Christina couldn’t breathe. She got to her feet and made her way over to her friend.
“It’s okay baby, we love you, mommy and daddy love you sooo much.” Mr. Zupa wailed like a little baby.
“I love you too.” Mariana cried.
The ambulance came and placed her on a stretcher. The Zupa’s climbed into the back of the ambulance as it sped away. All Christina heard was the echo of sirens in her ears.
Chapter Four
“Hey, kid, let’s go home to your mother.” Harry gently touched Christina on the shoulder. The two trudged down the street slower than turtles.
“What were you two doing?” Harry questioned.
“We were trying to sneak out so we could get our skateboards.” Christina answered, “I told her it was dumb.” Harry rubbed her back.
“Well, you’re going to have a lot of explaining to do tonight to your mom.” Harry sighed.
Christina unlocked the front door and nodded at the house nurse. “Your mother has been asking for you.” The nurse smiled, “She loves when you read to her.”
Christina grabbed her journal and slouched in the chair beside her mother’s bed. “Hey,” Christina frowned.
“What’s the matter?” Her mom asked. Christina shook her head slowly.
“Nothing, I am just tired. I had a long day.” Christina lied. Her mother knew it.
“Well, why don’t you read me something from when you were eleven?” Mrs. Black decided. “I want to hear about the time you and Harry became so close.”
Christina shook her head. “Mom, I hate reading that part. Can’t we skip it and I will read you another?” Christina argued.
“No, I want to hear about that day.” Her mother said sternly. She coughed and the nurse ran to her side.
“Okay, June 14th, my mom packed up her things and told me she had to go on a little trip. Dad was running around shouting like crazy. He kept telling her how he couldn’t take it anymore. He took a bag of his own and stormed out the door. He looked at me and said he was sorry. I don’t understand it at all. Mom took me to Mariana’s house and asked Harry to look after me for a little while. She said I was going to spend the whole summer with him in his guesthouse.” Christina rubbed the tears out of her eyes. “Do I have to finish mom?” She moaned. Mrs. Black nodded.