With The Lunatics - Chapter 13

Lynn’s POV

This is a really boring day. I miss my friends already. It’s only our second subject, which means one subject is still left before i finally got to see my friends. I’m really excited at meeting them since now is i’m officially seeing them, especially jean, as friends. Best friends. I couldn’t take this anymore. Boredom kills me inside. “Booooring” i half shouted in the middle of our second period subject. And into my surprise, everybody broke into laughter. Then our teacher smiled. Maybe she thought that it’s some kind of prank i pulled off. Well, thanks classmates HAHA. That really broke the ice.

Finally, it’s lunch time. Everyone’s solace. I was the first to be at Mr. late’s Locker. I was quickly followed by Jean and Mark. I greeted them, then they responded. And now…we’re waiting for Clay. After a couple of minutes, there’s clay. Two minutes late, well that’s an improvement. We all walked to the canteen area to buy our food. After buying our lunch, we continued walking to the bleachers, our lunch spot. We talked about our subject cringes, then Clay suddenly became quite In the middle of our laughter. Before we could ask what happened he was running towards the Science building where our secret passageway outside school lies. I looked at jean and Mark, and the stare of equal curiosity with mine convinced us to follow him. We were running really fast. This boy’s quite the runner huh? When we finally caught up with him at a bus stop, he looked like he’s about to break into tears if a bug flies in his head. He was breathing fast and was uneasy at his spot. He keeps on looking for a bus. “Wait here i’ll get my car” i said. Then i ran back the school’s parking lot. This is really exhausting, and to start with, i don’t even know why we’re doing this. I just felt Clay’s emotions almost getting the best of him. All i know is that whatever he heard at that phone call, must be the reason. And that is was not a good news at all. Also that he needed a ride.

After heaven knows how many minutes have passed, i drove back to the bus stop, two blocks from school’s parking lot. They were still there. They quickly got in. “Where are we going now?” I quickly asked. “Cold Stone General Hospital” Mark snapped back. My mind was in shock. Oh no. But i have to keep my mind present, i’m driving with quite a speed than i normally do. I looked at Clay through the mirror. He was staring at the road. Mark and Jean beside him looked too awkward or rather scared to talk. Our instinct tells us to stay quiet. 10 minutes later, we’re at the front of Cold Stone General Hospital. Clay quickly got out of the car. I parked the car at the Hospital’s Parking lot. Jean, Mark and Me quickly go straight where Clay ran into. We spotted him in a seat in a serious talk with a doctor.

Clay’s POV

No. I must’ve read it wrong. “Mr. Clay your mother had a heart attack at work, She’s at the Cold Stone General Hospital now William Perks” William is my Mom’s co-worker. I quickly stood up and ran to the direction of our escape route. I have to go there now. I cannot lose Mom. No, not her. My emotions are quickly filling up my brain. I’m nearly into tears but i held it back. I will not cry because she’s gonna be fine. I stopped running when i reached the bus stop. Curse this bus stop, why don’t they have a bus to stand by? I was looking from afar the road if there’s a bus coming. There wasn’t. “Wait here i’ll get my car” i heard a familiar voice spoke. Is that Lynn? I haven’t actually thought about them at the moment. So they followed me then. Lynn ran towards the parking lot two blocks away from the bus stop. I felt a rub on my back, my eyes still fixed at the long road. “What’s happening?” I heard jean’s voice, that’s the time that i shifted my glare and handed them my phone. They read the text message and gasped. They handed back my phone. “I-it’s going to be alright Clay” Mark tried to ease me down but when i didn’t reply they got the message to not just talk at the moment. After like a couple of minutes, i saw Lynn’s car. I quickly got inside. Mark told Lynn to drive to the Cold Stone General Hospital. I couldn’t bear being seated at the back of the car doing nothing. I wanted to at least drive but my hands are shaking. I could feel jean’s hands rubbing my back trying to ease my emotions. As soon as Lynn stooped at the front of Cold Stone General Hospital i got out and asked at the reception area, or whatever that’s called what room number is Mrs. Katherine Jordan. The nurse called a doctor saying that Mrs. Jordan’s son is here, A doctor then came up and talked to me. “Can we come over here” the Doctor said pointing his hand at the corner where seats are placed. As soon as i sat down I asked, “How’s my Mother?” And before he could reply the three came rushing inside stopped in front of us while catching their breath. I nodded and the doctor understood that their my Company. “Your Mom Mr…?” The doctor inquired. “C-clay Jordan” i quickly stuttered myself. “Right, You mother Mr. Clay, had a heart attack this Morning at work, sadly she was at the staircase when that happened resulting for more injuries-” The Doctor stated. My heart started beating so fast, my head started to hurt. I heard Lynn gasped when the news passed their ears. “Her head is severely damaged, we were able to save her but right now…She’s in a Comma” the doctor finished. Then it struck me. Tears streaming down my face. This is too much to happen to my mom. “T-thank you, t-the room number?” I asked the Doctor. “She’s at room 87” the Doctor said. I slowly walked down the hall finding room 87 blindly. My sight started to blur because of my tears building up. I walked very slow, slower than slow, then i stopped. I shut my eyes. No, i can’t see my Mom like that, and if she’s awake she wouldn’t want me to cry. Then i felt someone’s hug. Lynn’s hug then followed by Jean and Mark. My emotions quickly poured out. I cried silently. After a minute, i gathered myself. I need to see mom. We found her room and I entered. The three decided it best that my first visit is alone. Then i saw her, unconscious. Purple spots in her body, that must be where her body hit the stairs. She looks so…helpless. No smile marked in her face. She’s just sleeping. Sleeping.

Jean’s POV

This is too much to process. I didn’t know that Clay’s mom has a heart problem. And to add to it, she did fell off the staircase. Poor woman. Also, I’m worried with Clay. He’s not like someone who deals with this kind of tragedy. What the doctor said left us all speechless. We’re outside, not even talking to one another, just staring at the floor, the doors glass separating us from clay. We understood that Clay needed some time alone with his mother. He’s crying. He’s crying calmly. After all, He’s a tough guy. Tough but soft.

After several minutes of silence and staring at the everywhere else but each other’s eyes, Lynn started the conversation. “It must be really hard for Clay” pity flows through her words. “Yeah, i really thought for a second that he’ll go wild though. Clay’s really brave to face this” Mark said. “He really is brave, i saw how he held back his tears until he heard the news from the doctor” I added. We soon took a seat outside the room 87 and waited for Clay. We all know that Clay could really use some friends to be with him right now because who knows what will happen to him if he’s alone with this. I for one wanted to help him. I also know that Lynn and Mark would like to help, i just hope that Clay will be fine. Also, there’s no one to take care of his mother, what about his Schooling? Of course he’ll not hesitate to drop school to take care of her mother, but we’re graduating students now. Besides, it’s nearly December, maybe if we talk to the principal about this she’ll understand Clay’s position. Yes, that’s right, we just have to talk to the principal about this.

I turned my gaze to Mark and Lynn and they both stared back and said at the same time,

Mark: “I’ll go talk to the principal”

Lynn: “I will talk with the principal”

I was shook. We smiled. What is this some kind of telepathy? “Yeah i was just gonna say that too” i added. I sighed and Clay finally got out of the room. Eyes red from crying. He forced a smile when he saw us. “Hey guys” he said with his fake smile. My heart felt a skip of beat, i never imagined seeing Clay this Sad. I hugged him tightly. Lynn and Mark followed. I felt Clay let out a sigh of relief. “We’re here for you Clay” i said. We broke the hug. He smiled, genuinely, tears forming in his eyes again. “I know, thank you” Clay responded, his voice shaking. He breathed. He stopped his tears, wiping it with his hands. He’s still shaking. The shock hasn’t left him yet. “I could use some company inside” Clay initiated and opened the door. We got in and what we saw shook my brain out.

Mark’s POV

Clay invited us inside her mom’s room. As soon as he opened the door, his face dropped. A mixture of sadness and if i’m not mistaken…shame. Why is he ashamed? We’ll just go inside. Clay knows us well, he knows we won’t judge him or laugh at him. That’s horrible. I entered the room last. As soon as entered the place, my eyes could pop out in shock. The sight of his unconscious mother kicked our sanity for a second. Bruises everywhere, purple marks on her face and arms and a machine, that i couldn’t care less right now, is all over his body. She looks so…critical. Poor woman. Oh just with the sight of it, you could really cry. And unknowingly i felt a drop of tear came out of my eye. I’ve known Mrs. Katherine, i’ve met her more than a couple times ever since Clay’s been around. She’s a very delicate and all smiling woman, and to see her in this state is really unacceptable. I never would have imagine her being in this situation. Now i quite understood why Clay took long inside. It must’ve been hard to process. Especially He’s quite a Mama’s boy.

We stood there and stared at her miserable condition. You know what odd? The bruises and marks looked too intense for a staircase condition. Maybe it’s because she also was at her heart attack episode that kind of worsen the bruises. Is that a thing? I don’t know much about biology and medicine, Chemistry is the only branch i love in Science though. “You alright Clay?” I asked sympathetically though he looks so broken, i just don’t know what to ask him. “Yeah sure, My mom’s not though” Clay responded his eyes fixed at her mother’s hand he’d been holding since we got in.