Here's a preview of the Summers & Winters Series
Chapter 1: BAD NEWS
The early morning light shines through my apartment
window as I wake up. I’m tempted to roll back over and hide myself in the
bundle of sheets on top of me, but I know better. Sleeping late into the
morning in a place like Las Vegas is never a good idea. Even with air
conditioning and solar curtains, it’s likely I’ll wake up dripping with sweat.
And I don’t want that, that’s for sure.
I rip the sheets back and get out of bed. It’s the middle
of summer and my best friend Cassie always has a plan, even this early in the
morning. My feet hit the carpet. First item on the agenda: picking out the
perfect outfit. There’s only a month left of summer and I have yet to find a
summer fling. So disappointing. My mother says I intimidate most guys. I don’t
see how being smart, pretty, and super outgoing can be a turn off, but
apparently it is. It’s not that I’ve never had a boyfriend; it’s just that I
haven’t had one for a while.
Brent was my last boyfriend and now he’s just my best
friend. ‘Just’ probably isn’t the right word. When I describe our relationship
in my head, I always think of Joey and Dawson on Dawson’s Creek. Except that we
really are just friends now. No crazy drama between the two of us. Brent
knows everything about me. He’s been with me through my highs and lows. And
trust me; there have been plenty of low. He’s one of the few people that I
trust with everything. I know he’ll never let me down and he always has my
back.
I spot the new tank top I got from Rue 21 and excitedly
put it on. Perfect fit! Next on is my favorite pair of worn out jeans with
holes in the knees. Then I’m off to the bathroom for hair and makeup. Luckily
for me, I don’t have to share my little domain. It’s just me and my mom. Two
single girls living on the top floor of a casino located on the Vegas strip,
what more could a girl wish for?
The only thing that could make life better would be dad
coming back to life. I lost him four years ago when his humvee was attacked
overseas. The day I got the news that he was gone forever was the worst day of
my life. I was twelve; no twelve year old should have to lose a parent. At
least I still have one. It was really hard at first, but we made it. My mother’s
strong. She persevered. I can’t image what it would be like to lose her, and I
never want to find out.
Rainbow-colored extensions in place, I venture out into
the living room and scan the kitchen counter to see if there’s anything I can
chow down on. Much to my dismay, there isn’t. I was really hoping for some
cinnamon rolls, too bad. I resort to a bowl of captain crunch and take a seat
on the bar stool by the island.
Next thing I know, my mom’s coming out of her bedroom
with the portable phone in her hand. I wonder who she’s talking to this early
in the morning. Adult life can’t possibly be that interesting.
“It looks like she’s up already. I guess I can’t delay
the news.”
“What news?” I say under my breath, and my mom just waves
me off and goes to sits on the couch. Ok, so now I’m a little worried. What
could she possibly be hiding from me that she would want to hold off on telling
me?
“Thanks Christy, you don’t know how much it means to me
for you to be willing to do this.” She says softly to Christy so that I won’t
hear her, but I’m not deaf, and now I’m double worried because this news not
only involves me, but it also involves this Christy woman. “Yes, it will be
5:30PM your time. Endless thanks, really.” She finally hangs up the phone and I
start blurting out all of the questions I can think of.
“What are you keeping from me? Who’s Christy? What are
you thanking her for, and what’s going down at 5:30PM?” I plop down on the
couch beside her and cross my arms waiting for an honest answer to my questions.
“Honey, your grandfather’s sick, and there’s about to be
a few changes around here.” She was slow to speak, carefully considering every
word. My grandfather is sick? I think of him wearing his old train conductor
hat and wonder what come become of my happy-go-luck grandfather. Does he have
the cold? Or is it something more? Better yet, what changes is my mother
referring to?
“Mom, what changes? You’re starting to worry me a little
here.”
“Big changes and I need you to understand that I’ve
thought about this a lot, and I think I’ve come up with the best solution.” She
sounds firm and confident, but her body language tells me she’s not so sure, or
she worried about telling.
“Solution? I don’t even know what the problem is.” I can
sense I’m being a little dramatic, but I’m sixteen. What does she expect?
“Your granddad is sick.” I become anxious. Why is she
restating the facts? She must be hiding something big. I’m triple worried now.
“Yes, you stated that earlier, but he’s 86, what kind of
illness does he have, Alzheimer?”
“As a matter of fact, he does.” She turns her head away
from me and I know she does not want to continue with the subject, but I’m not
one to leave a conversation open ended.
“OK, but I don’t see what that has to do with us. He lives
in Washington. We can’t do anything for him here.” It’s not that I am trying to
be insensitive; it just comes out that way.
“You’re right, and that’s why I’m going to
Washington---to look after him.” Ok so we’re going to go visit. It’s not really
what I planned on doing my last few weeks of freedom, but I’ll live.
“Will it be for the rest of the summer?”
“It may be longer, however long it takes.” Ok, longer -
definitely not on the agenda. I love my grandfather, but I cannot start school
late. I’ll get so behind, and then I won’t be about to go out and have any fun.
It’s just not a viable option.
“When you said you were going did you mean just you or
both of us?” I don’t mind going for a while. Heck, it would be nice to see good
old paps. I just don’t want to stay forever. I have plans here,
“It’ll just me.” Do I hear her correctly? If she’s going
alone, then that means I get to stay here with my friends. A sense of
overwhelming excitement arises.
“You’re serious? You’re going to let me hangout in Vegas
till you get back?” The thought was crazy, but hey, she is right about one
thing. I do not want to go stay in Washington. Sickness and death are two
things I’m not good with.
“No, I’m not going to let you stay here while I’m in
Washington. What kind of a parent do you think I am?” Her tone strikes me as a
little cold and I begin to feel a little insecure. My mom is like my best
friend, so when she talks down to me it kind of hurts.
“Well, if I’m not staying and I’m not going, then what am
I doing?” I am starting to think that this is all some elaborate hoax. None of
it makes any sense.
“You’ll be moving to South Carolina to live with Christy
and Joe.” She went over the sink and started washing out my bowl, a failed
attempt at avoiding the conversation, which was frankly just beginning on my
end.
“You can’t be serious! This has to be some big joke
right? Like since when does Alzheimer’s require a move? It can’t be that
serious.” I’m pacing back and forth at this point trying to put all the pieces
together. South Carolina?
“It’s not just Alzheimer’s, Heather, he has a brain tumor
too, and the operation to remove it at his age would likely result in death.
The doctors are giving him six months to live.” It all makes sense now, and I
understand why she does not want to talk about it. She doesn’t want to think
about her dad dying. I want to comfort her, but there are still too many
unanswered questions. Why do I have to move to South Carolina? She’s crazy if
she thinks I’m going anywhere, not without a fight at least. I try to sway her
by showing maturity.
“This would explain a move. I understand, you want to be
with him and I want to stay here, so it’s settled. I’ll move in with Cassie
while you’re gone.” It’s a much better solution than what she is suggesting. Me
living in South Carolina? Crazy!
“No, you will be staying with Christy and Joe!” She says
firmly, hoping for no rebuttal. I cannot give her the satisfaction. I cannot
leave my friends. Summer’s almost over. If I’m not back by the time school
starts my life will be over.
“Leave Vegas!” I yell. “No! You can’t …. You won’t?” My
eyes start to water. This is real, and I don’t like it - not one bit.
“You are going to South Carolina and that’s final!” My
mom says stacking the dishes.
“But mom, it’s not fair. Why do you have to be the one to
take care of him? Why can’t Aunt Karen? She does live in Washington after all.”
I believe this to be a very valid point, but she just nods her head in
frustration. She is done arguing with me. I know she has made up her mind, and
it is killing me.
“That’s not the point. Your grandfather needs me.” I can
hear the sadness in her voice. She doesn’t want to leave me anymore than I want
to leave her.
“What about me? I need you; you’re all I’ve got left…” I
slowly begin to sob. She stops doing the dishes and gives me a look of
understanding, welcoming me in to her arms.
“Honey, it’s going to be ok.” She begins to cry. “As much
as I hate to talk about my father’s death, the doctors say it won’t be long.
I’m just going to stay until he passes, and then I’ll come back for you.” She
soothes my hair. It’s the thing she always does to calm me.
“In Vegas?” I say hopefully, as if I can change my
mother's mind. She wipes away her tears and returns to the dishes.
“No! In South Carolina. You’re not going to change my
mind. We’ve been through this, you leave tomorrow.” Tomorrow? How can I
possibly leave tomorrow? It’s happening; my world is caving in all around me. I
storm off to my bedroom. I have to think of a way to get out of this. “And
don’t go unpacking your bags so you’ll miss your flight. You know I’m not
afraid to drag you there naked.” I know that she’s serious. I once refused to
get ready for school when I was in the third grade and she wound up dragging me
there in my pajamas. Talk about one of the most humiliating days every! My
mother always sees through my devious plans; I can’t get away with much.
