Splendiferous!

NANOWRIMO Day 11: 3669 Words (16930 total)

Somehow, I don’t know how I got through the next few days. Sue was still unconscious, but the results had come back from whatever tests they had run on her. No sign of brain damage, or skull fractures, or spinal injuries, or paralysis, or anything else that was really, really, really bad. Now she just had to deal with everything else. But the doctors were sure she was going to be okay. She was still listed in critical condition, though much more stable than she had been. They were confident that she was going to be okay. Assuming she woke up again.

I was able to get everything for the funerals arranged, with a lot of help from everyone else. My parents’ house became the base of our operations, and my friends made sure I never spent the night alone. They took shifts taking care of what was necessary and too turns staying over. Somehow it worked out that Lauren and Pete were never there at the same time. Probably a good thing. I still didn’t know what was really going on there, and I wasn’t sure how they interacted when they saw each other. Hell, they might be on good terms for all I know. But I was grateful they kept even the possibility of a conflict or confrontation from occurring around me, whether by design or accident I don’t know. Lauren took care of all the arrangements regarding my parents themselves. They really weren’t in good shape. The mortician might have been able to repair their remains enough so that they would actually be presentable, but I didn’t want him to even try. It seemed like a hopeless cause to me. And besides, I don’t like being around bodies. Especially if I knew them in life. Pete made the arrangements with the church for services. He was a very religious and spiritual person, as was Lauren. I’m not really in to all that stuff. I don’t really know what I believe in as far as an afterlife, or in God, or anything. God had been too absent and too noticeably silent during too many events in my life for me to have any faith in a higher being. Take my parents for example. Where was God in that? But I knew my parents would want to have a service done by the local preacher, or pastor, or priest, or deacon, or whatever the hell they’re called now a days. I just didn’t want to handle it. I spent most of the time talking to the police and the insurance company and my parents’ lawyer, trying to get things settled. Well, I spent most of the time I wasn’t sitting by Sue’s bedside. Eddie and Joe took care of all the assorted other things that goes into funerals. I hadn’t gone to one in years, so I didn’t know what had to be done. Neither did Eddie, seeing as how he had been locked up for so long, but Joe had been to a couple, so he knew what to do. And Eddie was enthusiastic about helping in whatever way he could.

But probably the person who helped me out the most was Carol. That meeting had not been awkward, as I had suspected it would have been. She just showed up at my parents’ house shortly after I got there. Without saying a word she gave me a big hug, kissed me on the cheek, squeezed my shoulder and got to work manning the phone. Since she had been so close to the family, she knew everyone they knew. She fielded all the calls, told everyone what was going on, dealt with all of my extended family, visitors, and every one else. That was a huge relief. The one thing I didn’t want to do was deal with people telling me how sorry they were. I could deal with it from my closest friends, but that was all. Even though I hadn’t seen any of them in years, some of them in many years, I was closer to them than almost anyone else, including my family. Except for Sue. I was very close to my sister, and seeing her like this had hit me hard. Carol and I had barely spoken, but I was extremely grateful for what she was doing. Especially since she was doing it without even being asked.

We worked as an effective team, and when it came time for the funeral we were all ready. It was a beautiful service. Carol gave the eulogy. I didn’t speak. I didn’t know what to say. She did, though. Talked about how she had known my family for years, how she had watched Sue grow up, said we were all praying for her, said how my parents had done a great job raising both of us. The usual things people say about two people who had kids dying. There were a lot more people than I was expecting. I think I met Pete’s wife, and Carol’s husband, but I don’t really remember. I was still too disoriented inside to pay much attention. Things had happened so fast and changed so much in the last several days. Everything went well, though. It was a cold crisp cloudless day (something I hadn’t seen in God only knows how long) when I buried my parents into the ground. The horrible weather I was used to took a day off in honor of me, I suppose. How nice. I was like a robot at the reception. Thanking everyone for coming, thanking them for their thoughts and regrets, etc. I just wanted to check on Sue and get some sleep. After what seemed an eternity, everyone left, and I was alone with my thoughts. Well, almost alone.

About twenty minutes after everyone had left, the front door to my parents’ house opened, and then shut again. I was sitting in my dad’s favorite chair in front of the TV. I didn’t inquire as to the identity of this person intruding into my solitude. Whoever it was would make that clear to me soon enough. I just sat, staring at the blank TV screen. This is where my dad watched his favorite shows, the evening news, and whatever big football game was being played on Sundays.

A hand came to rest on my shoulder from behind. I put my hand on it, giving it a squeeze. I knew that hand. I had held it countless times, walking through the park with the leaves swirling around us in the wind, guiding it on the floor of a high school gym at a prom that seemed like an eternity ago, giving it a squeeze in a hospital bed after its owner had broken a leg in a bike accident, and holding it tightly as two teenagers fumbled through their first sexual experience. We had been through a lot, that hand and me. I felt a ring on one of the fingers. Once I had thought I would put that ring on it, naïve in my young days “in love”. I would never do it though. Oh, I would get married several times after that, but never to the one I had always thought I would. She wasn’t the only woman I had loved, but she was the first.

“Hello, Carol,” I said simply.

“Hello, Mickey.” Carol had one of the sexiest voices I had ever come across. Her voice caressed my ears, tickling them. There only one other person who could do the things Carol did to me with her voice. Not that I was likely to ever see her again. That night at the docks had seen to that. I rubbed my shoulder in memory of the pain. “Am I squeezing too hard?” she asked, slight laughter in her voice.

“No, I just, she, uh…” I took a breath to compose myself. “No, you’re not. I was just remembering something, is all.”

Her hand began rubbing my shoulder, and brushing up against my neck. I could feel the individual hairs standing up. “This make it feel better?”

“I, uh, yes, actually.” I hadn’t realized how much tension and stress was in my shoulders. “Thanks Carol.”

“Anytime. You know I like giving massages.” Her other hand began working my other shoulder as well.

“That’s not what I meant.” I put my hands on her hands, stopping her. “Thanks for everything you’ve done this past week. It’s really helped.”

“You’re welcome.” I looked up, staring at her upside down face looking over me with a look of amusement in her eyes. And something else. As I realized what it was, her hands grabbed my chin and pulled it up to her as she leaned down. Our lips met, and she kissed me very thoroughly. I don’t know if you’ve ever tried kissing somebody upside down, but it is quite an experience. Try it sometime.

Before I knew what I was doing, my hands had pulled up behind her head and had intertwined in her hair. I stopped, and pushed her away. “Carol, no. It’s, you, I., we…” She quirked an upside down eyebrow at me, ridiculing any possible reason I could have for pulling away from her. I put my hand on hers and touched her ring. “Carol, you’re married.”

Her eyes rolled, and looked back at me in anger, rebuking me for ruining the moment and reminding her of her obligations. “So? Being married was never an issue between us when it was you wearing the ring!” Ouch. But she was right. I had never treated my marriage vows seriously, except for the first one, but that only lasted a couple of months. What right did I have to start recognizing them now?

“I know, but this is different.”

“How?” she responded angrily. I shrugged, not really having any idea why I thought it was. “Besides, I thought you could use the company.”

“I do, it’s just…”

“Whatever, Mickey.” She pushed my head down roughly and withdrew her hands.

“Why did you do it?” I asked.

“I already told you why. It was never an issue before, and you could use the company with all the things you’ve been going through. Even you can’t hold all that pain inside. You have to let it out to somebody. Who better but me?” she demanded.

“That’s not what I meant. Why did you get married.” Boy, was that the wrong thing to say.

“Leave my marriage out of this!” I turned the chair to face her. She was livid. Seeing my face, she opened her mouth again, thought better of what she was about to say, and closed it. She closed her eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and began speaking much more calmly. “Look, obviously you’re still dealing with everything and aren’t ready to talk. Let me know when you are.” Then her eyes narrowed. “Unless you’d rather Lauren comfort you. Maybe you can comfort her right back, considering Pete left her like a pile of rags on the side of the street.” Wow. I was not expecting that. Obviously there was some enmity between them that I had never picked up on. This was all very confusing.

“Carol, look, I..” But she didn’t get to find out what she was supposed to look at, as she barreled right over my response.

“Never mind. Forget it. We’ll talk later.” She shook her head swiftly, and I could hear her teeth grinding. “Oh, you almost made me forget why I came here. You were always good at pushing my buttons.” I was becoming very confused again. If she wasn’t here to comfort me, than what was she…? I rubbed my face with my hands, and then abruptly stopped when I heard her speak the three words I’ve been wanting to hear most. “Sue is awake.”

“Sue is awake? Seriously? When? Is she okay?” I leapt out of my chair, running for my coat and hat. The weather had started getting back to its normal condition of “shitty”.

“Yes, seriously. She woke up about fifteen minutes ago. Right after I got there. She asked for you, and I told her I’d go get you.” I was searching my pockets frantically for my keys, finding nothing. As I began searching the cushions on the chair, I heard some jingling behind me. I looked up, saw Carol holding them and breathed a sigh of relief. “Call me tomorrow, okay?”

“Absolutely.” I ran over and grabbed my keys from her as I put my hat on. “Thanks Carol. Thanks so much.” Without thinking I kissed her, quickly, but still a kiss. “Lock up when you leave, ok?” I shouted as I ran out the door into the gathering storm towards my car.

I didn’t see her as I left, standing in my doorway with a hand with a ring on one finger touching the lips I had just kissed. Our reunion had certainly been interesting.




I ran into the hospital, almost knocking an old lady over in my haste. I turned my head and waved as I continued on. “Sorry about that!” She gave me that look of disgust and outrage that old folks give anyone younger. I didn’t care how rude I had been. Sue was awake. Sue was awake!! I ran to her door, skidding to a stop. At least, that was my intention. It was more of a slide, turning into a slip, and then a fall, than a skid. Ow. I’m lucky I didn’t break my arm. My head shot up as I heard the most beautiful giggle I’ve ever heard. My eyes locked with Sue’s, delighted at seeing me, delighted at being alive, and delighted at me for making a fool of myself. As usual.

I stood up, brushing myself off and walked into the room with more grace than most people could manage after falling like an idiot. “Hey Seuss.”

“Hey Mouse.” She looked radiantly beautiful. Oh sure, she still had a hundred tubes coming out of her, looked paler than death, and just generally like she’d been run over by a truck (which she had, I reminded myself). But she was alive. And that look of awareness, life, and happiness in her eyes was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. I felt like taking her in my arms and waltzing around the room. Probably not a good idea.

I sat on the edge of her bed. “Nice dress. You going to sleep the whole day away in bed?” We were always joking around. If she was up to it, we would have been wrestling playfully on the floor. She’s a tough little monster.

She touched the dirty hospital gown that she wore. “Oh, you like it? I was hoping you would. I spent hours picking out the right dress to welcome you home. And I have been in bed too long. What time is it?” Oh, sweet music to my ears! She was going to be perfectly fine, if she could respond like that.

“I don’t know, exactly.” I checked my watch. “Seven ish. If the warden releases you, you want to come to dinner with me?” Not that she was going to be released any time soon. “What do they normally feed you in here, anyway?”

“I’d love to come! Beats me what’s been on the menu. I gather I’ve been asleep, but I’m not entirely sure what they’ve been feeding me.” She cocked her head to the side and looked at me curiously. “How long have I been in here, anyway? And what the hell happened?”

“Almost a week. Wait, what do you mean what happened?”

“A week? Damn. I mean, how did I get here? What happened? One doesn’t normally wake up in a hospital with a bunch of tubes and with the feeling that I fell off a mountain and hit every rock on the way down.” She said this as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“You mean you don’t remember?” Oh man.

“Have you been listening at all? No, I don’t remember. Are you going to tell me, or what?”

“Ummm. What was the last thing you remember?” Oh man. How much didn’t she remember?

“Well, aside from waking up a little while ago and speaking briefly with Carol, and I mean briefly, the last thing I remember is getting in the car with mom and dad to go to church.” She frowned. “I didn’t think to ask Carol for them, for some reason. I didn’t really think you were in town, either. When did you get here? And where are mom and dad?”

Oh shit. Shit, shit, shit. I did not want to have to tell her this. Well, better me than some random doctor, I guess. “Seuss,” (that was my pet name for her, as hers for me was the aforementioned “Mouse”. No real story, there. When she was young, I used to read her Dr. Seuss books, and she used to watch a bunch of old Disney cartoons.) I began. Damn, this was hard. “You were in a car accident.”

“Well, I figured that much. Care to elaborate?” She sat there with her arms crossed. One of them was in a cast, the other heavily bandaged up from all the burns and cuts she had sustained.

“I guess it was on your way to church. You got hit by a truck. Ma and dad, were, were…they got the worst of it.” Her eyes widened, mouthing the word “worst”. I could tell by the dawning look of horror in her eyes that based on what she felt like, if they had taken the worst it was bad. Really bad. “They didn’t make it, Seuss.”

She gasped. “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.” She kept repeating that softly to herself as tears welled up in her eyes. I leaned over and hugged her as tightly as I dared. I didn’t want to cause any more pain than what I had just done. She hugged me as tightly as she could, not caring about any physical pain right now. The emotional pain overwhelmed anything that could have hurt as badly as this. All she craved was the touch of her big brother, to share in the pain, and take it away.

“I’m sorry, kiddo. I wish I had been here. I should have come more often.”

“Stop that,” she half whispered, half sobbed into my ear. “Don’t you blame anything on anybody, least of all you. This was just senseless.” She held me tighter. “What happened to the truck driver?”

“Dead. He was drunk, the bastard.” She let out another small sob, and then let go of me. She leaned back and wiped her eyes with her hands.

“So senseless.” She shook her head, and took a deep breath. “Well, there will be time to mourn later. What can I do to help?”

I stared back at her blankly. “What do you mean? Help with what?”

“The funeral,” she said simply. Oh God, she still didn’t realize she had been under for a week. It hadn’t sunk in.

“It was today.” Her tears began anew.

“Oh my God. Oh my God!” I felt so useless. I held her tightly again. What else could I do?