With The Lunatics - Chapter 14

Clay decided to stay at the hospital. Mark explained that they will talk to the school principal tomorrow morning to pardon him from school. Clay’s the only one to take care of her mother. The doctor discussed to Clay about the company covering all the payments for them as one of their loyal employees. Clay was somehow relieved by an inch. He wished his mom’s recovery to be fast. He sat beside her mother all night, before he knew it his eyes betrayed him. He fell asleep. His hands holding her mom’s. Clay looked ate peace when he’s asleep. All the sadness and worry, gone in his face. All those emotions erased. Just peace. Calm.

Jean’s POV

I woke up early. Stretching my sleepiness away, i got up and drunk water. I looked at the clock, it’s 6:15 AM. Quite early, but i have to go to school early. Then the vision struck me again. The image of Clay’s unconscious mother in my brain. It’s kind of scary actually, to think about it. It must be a very horrible experience for Clay, seeing your own mother lay there bruises and mark all over your dumped body and a heart attack in addition to the misery. To be honest she looked more liked attacked or assaulted than a heart attack episode and a fall down the staircase. I mean, the bruises and marks is far too drastic and violent to be caused by a staircase. Peculiar. I shake my head off the thought. I got inside my bathroom and took a shower. Gosh i hate the cold water in the morning. It gives me a little hard jump from sleepy to awake. I quickly showered. Get dressed. Dried my hair with a blower for faster results and crawled down. I cooked eggs and bacons for me and dad. Dad’s still asleep though. I left the house 20 minutes early, got right at the front of Mark’s door. I knocked and the Mark opened the door, he’s almost done. Mark drained the coffee from their table, shouted a goodbye to her mom and got his bag, ready for school. We walked to the school. Silence between us. This is awkward, we usually talk our way to school. He must be thinking the same thought as I am, Clay’s situation and ours. If i’m raging right now i could really talk my emotions out to the principal, i did it once to Clay the second time we met. But right now, i’m sort of calm, but the thought of talking to the school principal makes my heart beat faster. But we have to do it for Clay. We don’t want another burden for Clay, his mother’s accident is enough hardship for a lifetime. At least we could help Clay by doing this.

We’re now at school and Lynn is waiting at the front gate for us. She smiled, we smiled back then she suddenly looked so nervous. I mean who’s not, we’ll going to the principal for heaven’s sake. it’s not like we did something wrong so why would we be nervous? Right? Mark tapped him at the back and led the way to the principal’s office. We all let out a breath and knocked. We heard a voice said “come in” and then Mark opened the door entered only half of his body and said “I-it’s about Clay Ma’am” then we heard the principal muttered something that sounds “trouble again…?” Then she let the other half or Mark inside the Lynn and my body. We all stared at the floor then the principal snapped. “What’re you here for now?” She’s terrifying, that’s the only thing on my mind. “Oh right, i-it’s about Clay Ma’am-” Mark started when the Principal Mandy commented “What is it this time? He blew up a toilet of something?” Rubbing her shining forehead with closed eyes. You know if this is a serious talk i wouldn’t mind laughing at what i’m seeing right now. Gosh that forehead speaks for itself. Quite the reputation huh? “…I-t’s her M-mother Ma’am, she had an accident yesterday and is in a serious comma right now” Mark said sadness marked in his voice. Principal Mandy then raised her head with a shock on her face but kept her mouth shut. “Oh poor kid, well i suspect you’re here to ask me if i’ll let Clay be excuse huh?” She said. “Yes…Ma’am. We saw Clay’s love for her mother and we really think that school loads would not help him recover from what he’s going through right now” Lynn replied with the courage she could muster that slowly depletes with every word. There’s silence.

“Very well then, but you are not though, you will still be attending school as usual” Principal Mandy dismissed. We all nodded and muttered our appreciation. We turned our backs to her when she said “Also, please don’t leave alone, i can see that you’re very close to him, he could really use some help hand right now” then we smiled. Walked out of the room. At the very least now we know that Madam Mandy still has Not hard part in her heart. We sighed. Sighed with relief. It’s 5 minutes before the first period, “See you ay lunch later Lynn” i smiled at her “Yeah sure” she replied. We, I and Mark, walked right and Lynn walked left. Mark and I decided to seat at the very back row of the room, we didn’t feel like studying right now. We just need to…stare. Stare at the table feeling so helpless right now. I wish we could be at Clay’s side right now doing more sensible things than listening to this lesson i could never remember after i walk out of this classroom.

Clay’s POV

I woke up the next morning. My hands numb and my back aching. I’ve fallen asleep at the hospital. I can opened my eyes and see the ray of sunlight against my face. I stretch a little bit and then i saw my unconscious mother. Sadness struck me again. I’ve never felt so sad, so down in my life. I reached mom’s hand and gave a little squeeze, whispered a good morning and kissed her on her hands. I decided to go back home first to take a bath and set my mind back. I ride the bus back home. I was at the window side of the seat, staring down the road. I wonder what other people are doing right now. Do they have problems? Of course every one has a problem but, are their problem bigger than mine? Gentler? Smaller problems perhaps. I suddenly felt like the most problematic person in the world. I just had an unconscious mother. A mother that once was hard-working and caring. Now she’s at the hospital, fighting against her failing heart and those injuries she gravely got at the staircase down fall. She must’ve felt the pain. That must be a real pain to endure. We passed through the Cold Stone High school. How’s the others? I hope they’re fine there. I got home at around 9:45 AM. Something felt odd. I just feel different now that i know my mom’s not coming back here for a little longer than she used to be. I always come home from school and the tree house with a healthy dinner from her. She always cook for me. Which reminds me, i should eat to. Gosh i don’t know how to cook. I decided to settle for a pizza,i don’t even recognize the brand name, that a hotline number is at our fridge. I climbed upstairs. I laid on my bed for a moment. Breathe calmly with my eyes shut, before i stood up again to take a shower. I noticed that ever since i got together with Jean, Lynn and Mark, i haven’t had much time with my Mom to be honest. Every time i got home from the tree house i usually kiss her, eat dinner then go inside my room. She must’ve felt so lonely those days. Conscience started to bother me again. Maybe that’s the reason she had a heart attack? Because she missed having time with me. I felt a grave amount of guilt and sadness. Am i the reason that she’s there? Is it because of my incapability to be a son for her? I shut my eyes at the thought. I’m the worst son ever, but i won’t be anymore. I’ll take good care of her from now on. I’ll limit my time with my friends and spend time with her. It’s not too late to be a good son. I still have her, we just have to fight this. She just have to recover, and i promise i’ll be a better son. A better son.

I got off the shower. I got dressed then i heard a ping from my phone. It’s Mark, assuring me that they talked to the principal and that i’d be excused as long as my mom got better. I’m so lucky to have this shit bags as my friends. They’re everything that i could wish for. I then grabbed my charger and charged my phone gone downstairs when the pizza delivery came. I paid the man, place the box at the table, while i get a glass of water, and ate the pizza. The pizza tasted so…gross. It’s too far from being delicious. Why would anyone sell something like this? It’s taste so off. I then wrapped the pizza and threw it at the trash can. I’ll just go to a fast food restaurant then. I made coffee for myself, give a few sip then got back upstairs. I noticed notifications from my phone. A missed call from Jean and a text message from Lynn, only 24 secs ago. “We’re ditching classes, where are you now?” The text states. Woah. Why would they ditch classes for? I responded “Home” then waited for them. What demon have gotten inside their mind this time? Are they trying to sabotage their college opportunities just to have fun? Well if i was there i may have also done the same but still it’s outrageous.

After like five minutes i heard an urgent knock at the door. I opened it and they quickly got inside, laughing. Why are they happy? What are they laughing about? As soon as they saw me they greeted me, “Hey Clay!” Mark said with an obvious smile on his face and then tapped me on my shoulder. They’re catching their breath. Did they…? “Did you run?” I inquired. “Sure thing” jean replied still breathing heavily fast to catch breath.