The Unexpected Virus Part 2

He led her into the hospital dining room and helped her get seated. Cloe could not control her sobbing and was cross with herself for being so upset in front of a complete stranger. The boy bought two steaming cups of hot cocoa and placed one cup in front of her. “You didn’t have to do that.” She tried to say but the only word that came out was “Thanks.” She was surprised at how little her voice sounded. “No problem. You look like you can use some sugary goodness. They make the best hot cocoa here.” He said in a way that showed he had eaten in this hospital many times. Cloe wondered if one of his parents was a doctor or maybe he was like her and one of his parents was dying. “I look that bad huh?” Cloe said, suddenly conscious of how she must look. She looked, for the first time, at his face and saw that he was amazingly handsome, like that of a movie star or Greek god. “Oh gosh, why does this guy want anything to do with me?” she thought. “No, you don’t look bad at all. I just thought the way you were acting showed you were in distress or worried about something. You wanna tell me about it?” He said.
“Well, I don’t know you at all. In fact I don’t even know your name.” Cloe said finally realizing that she was with a complete (and gorgeous) stranger who seemed to care about her. “Oh! I’m sorry! That was stupid of me. I should introduce myself then. I’m Mitch Gerber. I’ve seen you a lot here. You always leave when I come.” Mitch said. “I’m Cloe Harper.” She said somewhat hesitantly. “My dad is in the hospital bed next to your mom.” Mitch said. “Oh! I’m sorry to hear that.” Cloe said though her voice was still weak. “I see you here a lot but you never seemed to notice me.” He said. “But I suppose you must have a lot on your mind.” “That’s for sure.” Cloe said then blushed. He had noticed her before!
“Do they know what’s wrong with your mother?” Mitch asked innocently. Cloe started to calm down. Mitch had a soothing effect on here. “No” She said then sniffled. “Here I have a tissue.” Mitch said offering her a tissue. “I need them a lot. My dad is dying from an unknown cause as well.” “Really?! I’m so sorry I know how it feels; but at least you have your mom right?” “Actually my mom died two years ago.” “Are you serious?” She said and then immediately regretted it when she saw the pain on his face. “I’m sorry, of course you’re serious. It’s just my dad died two years ago. It just seemed like a really weird coincidence. You know?” “Wow, at least we met. Anyways wanna tell me something about yourself? I confess that I did know somewhat why you were upset earlier and I don’t blame you.” He said smiling slightly. “Well, alright. Where do I start?” She said and laughed half heartedly.
“I don’t know, the beginning?” Mitch said with a twinkle in his beautiful eyes.
“My parents were both biologists. They would travel everywhere and chart life forms. If you look in some of the scientific journals you can see the many new animals, plants, and insects they discovered.” Cloe says slowly.
“Really?! Mine were too! Maybe our parents know each other.” Mitch said with enthusiasm.
“I don’t know, maybe. Anyways, then I came along and they kept on with their work. I always loved going to different places. Dad took us all over the world. While, they were out cataloging I would sit outside and read. Then when they’d get back we’d sit together and eat and they’d tell me everything. If I were lucky they’d take me with them on their hunts for new species.” She said dreamily, her mind had transported her to a happier time. She also wasn’t quite sure if she believed Mitch when he said his parents were biologists.
“Sounds like you had a happy childhood.” Mitch said thoughtfully.
“Yeah, I did. It was so full of love and adventure. Then my Dad caught a weird disease while we were in India and they couldn’t help him. We were going to transport him to another hospital but he died on the way. My Mom is the only family I’ve got and I don’t know what I’d do without her. I don’t want to be an orphan!” Cloe burst into tears again. When she opened them Mitch had his hand on hers.
“Cloe, I am so sorry. I know how you feel. You feel as if you can’t do this alone. You almost feel like getting angry at your parent for getting sick. Tell me more though. What’s wrong with your Mom?”
Cloe tried not to concentrate on the warmth of his soft hand upon hers, instead she told him some more.

W W L B L W N P Part 4

Francine Tyler-Owens opened her eyes. She turned over in the bed expecting to see her familiar bedroom.
“Oh yeah; I’m no longer home. Instead I’m in this hole in the wall motel searching for a job.” She thought looking around her. The room was scantily furnished. It had two beds, a nightstand, and a TV. It also was adjoined to a small bathroom. She looked over at her son in the other bed. “It was worth it. My children are worth leaving my husband. I don’t know what I’m going to do but I will get through this.”
Matt Owens woke up and looked at his mom; her face looked haggard from recent events. She was usually a beautiful woman who had been in beauty pageants but now she looked old. Her blonde hair was stringy and she wore no makeup.
Fran felt depressed and hurt. She didn’t feel like doing anything but she had to be strong for her son and daughter. She decided to jump in the shower to start job hunting. Matt was going to be leaving for school soon. She went into the clean but old shower and turned the water on as hot as she dared. The water rushing down on her was like a cleansing waterfall. It wiped away her sorrows and worries and renewed her. But when it was over the nagging thoughts were back:
“What job are you supposed to get? You never even finished college! In 6 months you’ll just come crawling back to George like a whipped dog.” They said.
“No! I won’t! I can do this! I’m strong enough!” She told the voices.
She looked down and realized she had punched the wall as her knuckles were throbbing.
“Oh, what am I going to do?” She said out loud; crumbling to the floor in a heap. “What am I going to do?!”

What would life be like with no parents Part 3

They reached Chubby’s after 5 minutes of awkward silence. They walked in and a familiar face greeted them. Charice Green had worked at Chubby’s Diner a while, starting when she was just a pimpled high school student. She now worked here while she got her Bachelor’s degree at the local Community College. She dreamed of becoming a business woman and had dreams of ruling the stock market. She recognized both Rachel and her Dad and could see they were both upset today.
“I wonder what could have happened.” She thought. “I’ll treat them extra special tonight; some good greasy food will cheer them up.”
“What can I do for you today folks?” She said cheerily as she got them seated into a worn red leather booth.
“Hi Charice” Said Rachel as she plastered a smile on her face, though at the moment she felt like doing anything but smiling.
“Hi Rach, Mr. Owens, what’ll it be?”
Mr. Owens barely glanced up from his menu. But when he did, he cast a smile Charice’s way.
“I’ll have a hamburger and chocolate milkshake.” Rachel said deciding.
“I’ll have fish and chips and a vanilla milkshake. Thank you.” Said George, he could be very charming when he wanted to be.
“Coming right up, I’ll be back shortly.” She said and then turned to put in the order.
“Dad, what am I supposed to do now? What is life going to be like from now on?” Rachel asked, tears pricking her eyes. She wouldn’t cry though, not in public anyway.
“Well, I guess the judge will decide who you’ll stay with.”
The way he said that sounded so cold to Rachel. It was as if he could care less and was willing to let someone else decide his life.
“Am I that much of a bother?” She said and then noticed a wet tear sliding down the side of her face. Quickly she brushed it away.
“Of course not sweetheart, it’s your mother. She is being… difficult.” He said and took his daughter’s hand to hold. “I’m sorry Hun; this is just the way life is right now.”
“Well, why couldn’t it happen to someone else?” Rachel hated the way she said it, like a pathetic whine. What was she becoming? One little thing and she was crumbling.
“Sometimes life just isn’t fair. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
Rachel turned her face away from her father.
“I have to go to the bathroom.” She said, looking for someway to escape the awkwardness.
She got up and made her way to the woman’s room. It was pink and girly with tiled floor and painted stalls. She went into the nearest one. She collapsed on the floor and started sobbing. She sobbed so hard she felt sick to her stomach. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t just her parents pending divorce that broke her up so hard. To Rachel, it seemed like everything was going wrong lately. Her boyfriend, Chet Williams had broken up with her, moving on instead to her “best friend” Michelle Jennings. To everyone in school she was a loser; all her so-called “friends” on the cheerleading squad had abandoned her. She wasn’t doing well with her grades either.
“Why are you doing this to me God?” A voice screamed in her head. “This is too much and too hard! Take it away from me! I just want to go back to normal, where I had two married parents, a loving boyfriend, and lots of friends!”
After a minute or so of heavy tears; Rachel pulled herself up.
“Dad will be wondering where I am. I better calm down.” She thought.
She opened the stall and looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was a mess and big red splotches were forming on her face where tears had streamed down. She took some paper towel and wet it to wash her face. The feeling of cool water on her hot face was soothing. She patted her hair into submission and, when she looked somewhat better, she braced herself to go outside again.
“I just need to suppress my feelings; then I’ll be able to deal.” She thought.
She opened the heavy door and glanced around the dining room, making sure no one she knew was here. When she was comfortable that no one was, she walked back to the booth where her father was waiting.
“Sorry Dad” She said when she reached the booth and sat down on the soft worn cushion.
“That’s alright sweetheart. Your food came while you were out.”
George looked at her and she seemed to be more herself; the Rachel he knew and loved. She was smiling now; which meant she had finally gotten used to the idea of her parents’ divorce, he thought.
“Everything okay Rach?”
“Of course Dad.” Came her response. “This food looks great!” She said and dug in full force.
It was good food like always. Rachel kept a steady conversation going and George did his part. It was pleasant small talk; “How’s school” and all that. There was a pink elephant in the room though, the Owens’ pending divorce. Neither would talk about it; instead wasting breath on nonsense talk.
When they had finished their meal; George figured they should go home. He paid the tip and thanked Charice.
“Come on Rach, let’s go home.” He said.
“Where is home, Dad?” Rachel said, suddenly serious.
“I don’t know Rach, I don’t know.”
The ride home was silent and tense. The air tingled with the words not spoken.
“Where are Mom and Matt? Did they have this same conversation about the divorce? Where would they live from now on?” She had so many questions but no answers.
Her mother and brother Matt had not been home all day. She hadn’t seen them since the morning. Matt was 14 years old and in 8th grade.
“Maybe Mom picked him up from school to talk to him. He always was a Mama’s boy. He’ll definitely want to live with her. I don’t know who I want to live with.” She thought.
“Rachel, we’re home.” Her father said; breaking her thoughts.
Her father opened the front door and they walked inside. On the table was a note. It read:
“George,
I’m leaving. I’m taking Matt with me. Rachel may decide where she lives. Please don’t call or try to contact us.
I’ll see you at court,
Fran”
“What did you do Dad? Why is she so angry?” Rachel asked her father.
“Your mother has issues.” Was all he said
Rachel was exhausted from today’s events. Thankfully it was Friday so she didn’t have to go anywhere tomorrow. She climbed the stairs as fast as she dared and opened the door to her bedroom. It was just as she had left it, bed made and blinds up, save for the envelope on her bed. It said “Rachel” on the front.
“Must be from Mom” she thought. This one read:
“Rachel,
I’m sorry things have to be like this, but know I love you very much. Your father and I have had many problems in our marriage but we did do one thing right: having Matt and you. Nothing will ever change how we feel about you. Please don’t blame yourself sweetheart. Your father cheated on me, repeatedly. I gave him chances after chances but he would not stop. I hope you will want to stay with me but I will try to understand either way. Living with me won’t be easy. Your father could give you many more material things. It’s your choice.
Love,
Mom”
Rachel was shocked. Was this the truth or was she just overreacting? Everything in her life was getting more and more confusing.
Tired and numb; she climbed into her bed and enclosed herself in her Egyptian cotton sheets and down comforter. She would think about it in the morning; what she really needed was a good night’s sleep.

What would like be like with no parents Part 2

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock went the clock on the wall. It was as if the house had a heart beat that was being projected through the wall clock.
“I need to get out of here. This house is suffocating me!” thought Rachel Owens.
Her eyes searched for the door. Everything seemed to be turning, her head spinning.
“I have to get out! I have to get out!” The thoughts in her head were screaming.
“Rach, I’m afraid your mother and I are calling it quits. We just don’t feel our marriage is worth saving.” Her father was saying but Rachel didn’t even comprehend what he was mouthing.
“I don’t understand! Get out of my head!” She screamed and ran out the door. “I just need to get out. I need to go for a walk.” She said to no one particular.
“Rachel!” Her father was calling out but Rachel didn’t notice. She just kept going.
Trees passed by her like a blur. She was running now, running at top speed. She ran until her sides hurt; sending a burning sensation as the muscles throbbed.
“What am I doing? I don’t even know where I’m going. Why am I running? So Mom and Dad are getting a divorce. Lots of people do now a days. But aren’t Matt and I enough reason to save a marriage? I don’t know maybe its better this way. All they ever did was yell at each other.” Thoughts were swirling around in her head.
A big red SUV pulled up along side her. Freaked out, she looked over to see the driver. It was her Father. He rolled the window down.
“Rachel, we need to talk. Come on, I’ll take you out to eat.” Her father said calmly.
“Is that your car?” Rachel said as she definitely did not recognize it.
“Yeah, I just bought it today.”
“Celebrating?” She asked sarcastically.
“No, I just needed a new car. Jump in already.” Her dad said, getting a little impatient.
Rachel got in and surveyed the new car.
“Wow, you get a raise or something?” She said when she saw the leather seats and state of the art technology.
“You could say that.” He said.
“Where are we going?”
“Chubby’s”
It was a father-daughter thing they always did when Rachel was upset. It was so easy and comforting to lose yourself in a hamburger and milkshake. Chubby’s had seen her after she had lost her first tooth and when she had had her first crush; among many other experiences.
George Owens looked at his daughter. She was the perfect stereotype of a cheerleader. Blonde, gorgeous, and, usually, so upbeat and happy; she was the family optimist. Something had brought her down though. Lately, she just wasn’t her usual self. She was more moody and didn’t smile as much. George had passed it off as going through puberty but now he wondered if it was something more. What was happening to his perfect family?

What would life be like with no parents? Part 1

In the small town of Jim Thorpe, PA lives a family. If you saw them you would probably think they were the ideal American family. There was a mom and a dad; they had one girl and one boy. They dressed nice and owned a cozy 3 bedroom house. To other people it would seem they were living the All American Dream. No one would have thought the parents were filing for divorce, the daughter had suicidal thoughts, or that the son was running with the wrong crowd. To the outside world it looked like everything was going just fine.