With The Lunatics - Chapter 16

Life has been different from Clay. It’s been a couple weeks since the accident happened. It’s also two weeks ago when he was at school. There have been some teachers who visited him from that time. They checked out how Clay’s handling the situation and considered him as a special case for their projects, assignments and exams. The teachers understood that what he’s been going through right now is drastic enough that they didn’t bother Clay to compromise with the school. There are also students who sent a get well soon letters for his mom, through Lynn, Jean and Mark.

Time pass by without any remarkable events. Now taking care for her mom is part of Clay’s new culture. Before Clay realized it, it’s one week before Christmas and his mom was allowed to be home, still in a comma. The ambulance containing Clay and his mom have gone home the first day of December. Right now all they have to do is wait for his mom’s body to respond from the comma. With a machine and lot of stuff to do that the doctor listed for Clay, His mom is back home. It’s Christmas break and Lynn, Jean and Mark chooses to spend time in Clay’s house to accompany him instead of the tree house. They didn’t want Clay to feel like the outcast, they wanted to help him further. They even memorized the process for the maintenance of Clay’s mom so he can rest sometimes. Everything is in order now.

Clay’s POV

I’m inside my room and I’m stressing out right now. I haven’t realized that it’s only a week before Christmas, and i don’t have something to give for my friends. I groaned, I really am the worst kind of friend. First, i dragged them to my burden at home and now i don’t have something to give for them at Christmas. I ended up search online for the perfect gifts for them. Also, i wanted to give mom something even though she’s still in a comma, at least she would see it when she recovers. I scrolled through many online shopping apps just to find something sensible and presentable. After like a couple hours of gift hunting, i gave up. I already added everything i saw on the cart, i’ll just choose what to order later.

I get back down again where mom is, at the guest room. I decided to place her at the guest room since her room is also upstairs which makes the struggle ten folds. I opened the door and saw her helpless body. I don’t know why but i still can’t get used of seeing her like this, i mean, who would? It’s a very terrible sight but i chose to be at her side most of the times. I looked at the clock, it’s half past 4 so they, Jean, Lynn and Mark, will be here soon. Our school days always end at 3:30 then they get home and take a rest for a moment then go here at my house. I’m beyond thankful for them, they are the most caring and understanding squad i ever had, not that i’ve had much of a company when i was younger. They’re just so…cool. They’re cool at being here than at the tree house. I think because they don’t want me to be left behind so they did that. But as for me, i don’t mind if they’ll not turn up here everyday, not that i don’t want them here, but i don’t want to bother them. There are times that when they talk about school, i would unknowingly drop my fave looking so sad. I know that most of the times they noticed it and that they will just start to go crazy and do odd things. I feel like a kid when they do that to be honest, but i like it that way. A kid, not even minding any problem in the world. Oh how good those times are. I’m just so unlucky that by the time i can remember, things started to break into pieces, including my family. Is there like a secret reset button here somewhere in this world? I desperately need a tap on it.

I bowed my head beside my mom’s hands when i heard a knock on the door. They turned up, of course they do. They always do. I tried to shake off the miserable thoughts on my mind before i opened the door. By the moment i unlocked the door Jean greeted me, with a pretentious enthusiasm that i noticed every time they’d go here, followed by Mark and Lynn. “Hey i saw this at your mail box” Jean said handing me a good looking envelope. I was curious about the letter, i mean who would give letters today? You could send mails wirelessly. It was addressed to me. Who would have the effort to write to me? I read the letter, it was brief. “Hi Clay, i would be visiting your Mom tomorrow at dinner. Dad.” Okay. It’s dad. Of course he’ll write us a letter, My mom and I removed all our contact number that he knows. The last time i talked to him was that one time before we moved here at Cold Stone Town. My mom just contacted him to notify him that we’ll be moving, she thinks it’s only fitting since i’m still his son. She’s okay with dad visiting me if he wants, which never happened. Not even a single hair of dad showed up since we moved here. And now there it is, he’ll be here tomorrow, and every one knows why. To ‘check’ on how i’m handling Mom’s situation. Why does everybody think that i’m going for a meltdown any second? I got this guys duhh. No, i can’t do this alone. As sour as vinegar it is to accept, but it’s the truth. I can’t handle this myself, not emotionally at least. I needed help, but not with my good-as-nothing dad who only thinks about is how to please his mistress. That bastard better go alone here. I will not accept the witch that took my father in my house.

“Who sent it?” Jean asked. “Dad” i muttered. I walked back to the couch, “umm… should we be…happy…about it?” Lynn inquired cautiously. “Yeah if you want to meet some old jerk who’s probably the reason why mom developed a heart problem, it’s something to celebrate then” i replied horribly. “So…No, right” Mark snapped. “That jerk…” i whispered. “When would he come tho?” Jean inquired. “I mentioned him coming here?” I asked too. “Well you said if we want to ‘meet’ your horrible dad, so i’m expecting he’ll visit here. Gosh Clay you should read books here when you’re alone, you’re comprehension needs help.” Jean joked. Yeah she’s right about that tho. “S-sorry…my mind just refused accept the ‘dad-coming’ information” i replied. There’s silence for a moment then Mark initiated, “You guys want some pizza?” Then Jean and Lynn agreed happily. “Nope, don’t try the pizza number at the fridge, that’s a crappy one” i said when i saw Mark looked at the numbers pinned at our fridge. “I know a good one, lemme call it” Lynn offered. After several minutes, the pizza man knocked, we paid it and ate it. Well, this pizza is way better than from what I ate the last time.

“It’s nearly Christmas, you guys want to throw a little party for us?” Mark asked enthusiastically. Yeah that’ll be a good idea to waver off my thoughts. “Sure! I love our little parties a lot” Jean added. “I don’t know about that” I snapped. They looked at me with confusion. “Why? We could do it here so we’ll still be attending your mom” Lynn plead. I think for a moment. Nope. “Nahh, i was thinking like a dinner or something. I don’t wanna drunk when my mom’s around you see, in comma or not” I claimed. They all looked kind of confused yet agreed at the end. “So dinner it is huh?” Mark finalized. “I say we do a little cooking competition for our dinner” Lynn commented. “Oh yeah i like that, i’ll do the appetizers” Jean replied. So the battle is on then? “I don’t know, i’m afraid you’re gonna have a broken heart after the dinner then, you see i’m quite the cook here” I joked. We all laughed. Woah, that’s the first time i’ve thrown a joked since Mom’s event. It feels good inside though, no second thoughts of sadness, i just felt like i’m being back. How i wish i’ll be like how i am months ago, how i was a tragedy ago.