My Earliest Memories Tag

I was nominated by Blessing Counter for this Tag! Enjoy! Here are the questions:

1. What is your earliest memory?
Hmmm… My earliest memory. I could be wrong about this, but it might be when I received a birthday gift and I remember maybe looking at it or something or reading it or something, or hmmm.. what other memory? I could be totally wrong about this, though.
2. What is your earliest memory of a birthday?
It might be when I turned seven, I think, and I had over my 2nd cousins, etc.
3. What is your earliest memory of a food?
Food? Pea soup maybe?
4. What is your earliest memory of a gathering?
Perhaps the time when we got together with my Dad’s side of the family, and one of the things that happened was when my brother and I were playing badminton with my uncle and my brother whacked the racket into my nose and I got a bloody nose. (I think it was accidental..)
5. What is your earliest memory of family?

My Earliest memory of family might be when it was summer, or when we would watch for a tornado incase there was one coming, because there would have been a watch. Or something.

6. What is your favorite memory?
If you were asking me my favorite earlier memory, I might say, maybe when my Mom would marking my school, and, well, I think you would have had to have been there..
7. What is your earliest memory of a gift?
Maybe my birthday gift of when I was younger, like 4, 5, or 6.
8. What is your earliest memory of an embarrassment?
Embarrassment……I am not really sure…
9. What is your earliest memory of when you were scared?
I think my earliest memory of when I was scared was when we had some friends over, and there was a tornado watch….or a tornado warning.

10. What is your earliest memory of a camp?
Adventure Camp– the first year, probably.

11. How young were you when you received Christ? (optional)
I believe I was six or seven; it was nighttime. After becoming a Christian, I remembered running to my mom and dad’s room and telling my Mom.

Ten Things

So, I was nominated by Victoria for the Ten things Tag.

So here it goes. Here are five things you might not have known or might not know about me:

*I can’t do the splits….. 😛 (yet.. although we’ll see if I’m actually able to do them)

*When I was younger, I would be at the dinner table, eating, and then rush off upstairs and change my clothes I would do this about 1-3 times per day.

*Once, I was selling Barbie books (when I was younger) and I went inside to do something or get something. My older brother had to stay outside with me, because he was, well, older, and while I was inside, he sold a Barbie book to a girl down the street! I came back out and we got, I think, $.50!

*I ate dried fish last year….

*I went skating last year or the year before that, and I fell 13 times…. Yes, I counted!

Enjoy!

Watering, Working, Warning…

Today for my devotions, I read from 1 Corinthians 3.  And I felt like I should do a post on this one part in the chapter.

I’m going to start in verse 5. (NKJV)

“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?” God gave to the Corinthians Apollos and Paul, ministers through who they believed, but God is the One who changed their hearts to believe.

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” Picture a field. You plant some seeds. Every day you water them, nourish them, but do you give the fruit? No, God does that. Picture it in a church- not a building- but the body of Christ- the Church. You plant the seeds by spreading the gospel, telling others about Jesus. You water, nourishing the young plant(Christian). Who gives the increase? God.

*”So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God gives the increase.” “Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.” Verse * 7 re-states that God gives the increase. Verse 8 states that he who plants and waters are one, and because of that, they will receive his own reward according to his own labor. Pretty simple?

I’m going to skip to verse 11. “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Jesus is the firm foundation, and as Christians, let us not build it on anyone or anything else.

-//9kidsand2

Devotional five-Gossiping

“Hey Stacy!” Alexis called. “Are you ready for school?” Stacy Reinhart was Alexis’s best friend. They both attended Rockford Christian School. Stacy jogged over to Alexis. “Yup! Guess what? Mom packed me a baloney sandwich. Isn’t that gross?” Alexis grinned at Stacy’s disgust toward a sandwich. “I actually like baloney, Stace.” Stacy scoffed, then chattered on.

Once they reached school, their first class was Arithmetic. Alexis groaned. She disliked Arithmetic. Ms. Adams taught it and made it seem boring. After class, they had science. This was Stacy’s favorite subject- Alexis’s least favorite.

Soon, it was lunch. Stacy and Alexis gathered at a table with some friends, Mandie, Lili, and Grace. As they were munching, Lili leaned in close. “Hey, guess what? I heard from Mark Jones that Jason Myers flunked on a spelling test.” Mandie giggled. “Really? I heard that from Jason that Mark flunked a math test.”

“Both could be true, ” Stacy piped up. “I heard the same rumors.” Grace swallowed her chip and smiled mischievously. “Did you know that Tracy is colorblind and she drools?” Alexis frowned as everyone kept on bringing up new rumors and gossiping about them.

Once school was over, Alexis and Stacy rode home on the school bus together. Alexis was silent. Stacy was reading a book. She flipped a page as Alexis spoke. “Stacy? How many of those rumors do you think were true?” Stacy shrugged, absorbed in her book. She looked up. “They were facts, Lexie. Not rumors.” Alexis looked out of the window. “I don’t know about that, Stace. I know for a fact that those rumors got around and a lot of people were hurt by them, especially Tracy. She has enough problems already.” Stacy just shrugged again. “It’s not my fault they got around.” Alexis frowned. “Stacy, those “facts” hurt the people who you were gossiping about. How would you like it if your colorblindness and whatever else were talked about and gossiped through the school?”
Stacy seemed to be considering it. “I guess I wouldn’t like it very much.”

“Stacy. I’m not going to preach at you, but I’m going to remind you of a verse we learned. Remember it? It says,’Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.’ Do you see?”

Stacy grew embarrassed. “Oh. I didn’t think. I’ll apologize to the people I hurt tomorrow. Especially Tracy. Maybe I can invite her over to my house. Thanks for reminding me, Lexie.”

1 Thessalonians 4:11

“And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you.”

 

Racing for Time-Chapter 8

Janefer stepped into her bedroom after driving home from the hospital. She looked around and drank all of it in. The sense of home, her pale blue walls with awards, pictures, and calendars, her neatly made queen sized bed with a blue and white striped cover, the various knick-knacks and books and stuffed animals neatly littered the floor. It was all as she had left it–just the way she left it. It was unusually quiet in the house, for her mother was resting in her room. She sat on her semi-bouncy bed and dropped her backpack on the floor beside her. Janefer was weary from the days at the hospital and from the emotional stress.

I’m.. so.. tired.. I’ll just rest my.. eyes for a minute.. Janefer let her eyes drift close as she fell fast asleep.

Crash! Janefer awoke with a start. “What on earth?!” She jerked herself upright and swung her legs over her bed. She suddenly became lightheaded and lay down until the wave of nausea passed. Whew!  Once she was certain she wouldn’t pass out, Janefer strode slowly out of her bedroom and into her mother’s bedroom. “Mom?” When there was no answer, Janefer started to worry. Where is she? Calm down, she might just be in the kitchen. Janefer breathed in and out slowly in order to calm herself and went into the kitchen. She breathed out a huge sigh of relief when she saw her mother in the kitchen, preparing dinner. “Mom! There you are! What happened? I heard a crash.” Mrs. Davis looked up from mixing the batter for biscuits. “Oh! Janefer, honey, you’re awake. Sorry to startle you. I just dropped a plate on the floor. Did you sleep well?” She returned to mixing the batter. “Yeah.” Janefer answered slowly. “What are we having for dinner?” Her mother scooped some of the batter into small balls and placed them on a baking tray. “Tuna under biscuits with green beans on the side, and, your favorite, blueberry cheesecake for dessert.” At Janefer’s astonished look Mrs. Davis smiled. “I didn’t sleep very well, so I figured doing some work while you slept would help me to think and sort myself out.” She washed her hands of the gooey dough and slid the pan in the oven.

“Wow. But Mom, you should be resting. You’ve had a emotional and stressful week. You didn’t need to do all this.” Janefer stated gently.

Her mother put her hands on her hips. “Janefer. Listen. I may have had a stressful week, but I’m feeling better now. I had a small rest, your father is doing better–you are much better, and Melanie will recover. To ease your conscience, though, while we wait for dinner, why don’t we pick a video to watch?” Janefer grinned. “Okay, fine. That actually sounds great.”

They picked the movie Home Alone and sat down on the couch to watch. The duo laughed at the funny parts of the movie, and paused it halfway to eat dinner.

Janefer plopped down on one of the kitchen chairs while her mother brought the food to the table. The sizzling aroma of biscuits, tuna, veggies, and the baking cheesecake in the oven made Janefer’s mouth water.  “This looks great.” After blessing the food, Mrs. Davis encouraged Janefer to dig in. “Go ahead, Janefer. I’m not very hungry. I was snacking while eating.” After a moment of pleasant eating, Janefer was suddenly not very hungry anymore. She pushed her plate aside. “Thanks for dinner, but I’m not very hungry anymore. I guess I just lost my appetite.” She paused. “Mom, I would like to talk to Terrence. Could I visit him tonight? I need to talk to him. I’m feeling great, just a bit tired, and this can’t wait much longer.” “What do you want to talk to him about?” Mrs. Davis inquired.

“Mostly about the crash; you know, get some info.” Janefer crossed her fingers.
“Uh, I don’t know, honey. You need to rest, for heaven’s sake. You should just let the police do their job.”

“Mom, I might be able to get more information because I know him better. Please.” She smiled charmingly. Mrs. Davis sighed. She picked up Janefer’s plate and brought it to the sink before answering. “I suppose we can walk over there in a few minutes. ” She wrung her hands over the sink. “Just don’t be too hard on the boy. He’s probably had a rough week.”

“Right.” Janefer slowly let out the breath she had been holding. “I’ll be ready in a minute.” Janefer waltzed out of the dining room and into her bedroom. She sank onto the bed. Whew! I was afraid she wouldn’t let me go. I guess I was lucky. Her mind drifted back to her conversation with Mel after she had won the running race. ““Janefer, you know very well luck has nothing to do with it. How can you win an unbelievable race against a college major and not believe it was something other than luck?”  Janefer had been dead set against the idea, but now she just wished Mel was here with her. Mel, get better soon. I need your friendship. I’m all alone, except for my Mom. Ugh. I need you to hurry up and get better. You are the more bubbly and funny one. Without that,  I’m- I’m-something. She snorted. She got up and walked to the bathroom.  Janefer quickly brushed her teeth and parked herself by the doorway to put her sandals on. “Mom! I’m ready! Where are you?” Janefer waited. Finally her mother trotted downstairs, apologized for taking a while, and slipped into her shoes. They walked the short distance to Terrence’s house and knocked on the door.

Janefer held her breath, her heart beat quickening. Calm yourself. You just want to talk to him. Stop being nervous.

Mrs. Li, Lorraine, was a tall woman with jet black hair and a stiff countenance. Most people thought she was mean and crabby, but she was one of the kindest people Janefer knew. Mr. Li, Michael, was the more stern one. Although today, Lorraine looked pale and angry.

“Um, hello, Mrs. Li. I was wondering if I could talk to Terrence. Is he here?” Lorraine’s expression changed from angry to sad. She spoke. “No, Janefer. He is not here.”

Janefer was confused. “Well, do you know where he might be so that I can talk to him?”
Lorraine’s eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Janefer. What do I do?”  She leaned against the porch rail for support.
Mrs. Davis embraced Lorraine in a hug and whispered something that seemed to be comforting.

“What do you mean, Mrs. Li? Has something happened to Terrence? Where is he?”
“Yes! The police came by! They accuse him of hitting you and your friend and they- they- arrested him!” She broke down in sobs.

“They– arrested Terrence? But he didn’t do it!” Janefer couldn’t believe her eyes–or ears for that matter. “I know that, and you know that, Janefer, but they don’t! My son is not a criminal! He has a car that is red, and due to your description, they arrested him.” Lorraine pulled away from Mrs. Davis and paced. Janefer couldn’t speak. Was this my fault? No, it couldn’t have been. I told the truth, but it’s definitely not Terrence.

Mrs. Li continued on, getting angrier. “They think he did it because he had- motive. Opportunity. I don’t believe it.”

“Lorraine. ” Mrs. Davis spoke for the first time. “Look at me.” Lorraine lifted her tear stained face to Mrs. Davis’s. “Don’t be getting angry. Everything will work out. We know Terrence didn’t do it, correct?” Lorraine nodded. Mrs. Davis continued. “We will find out who really did it. You have our support and our help.”

Lorraine sighed and slowly turned away. After a moment of silence, Lorraine faced them again. “I suppose you are right, Celeste. I appreciate your help. Right now, though, I need to go visit Terrence. Would you both like to come along?”

Janefer was eager to go, but Mrs. Davis, Celeste, was a bit hesitant. “We don’t want to intrude. We should get home anyway.” Lorraine nodded went back inside the house to get her car keys. Janefer let out a complaint. “Mom! Please, can’t we go? I’m feeling fine!”

“No, Janefer. It wouldn’t be right to intrude on their family privacy.” Janefer started to protest, but Mrs. Davis stopped her. “Janefer. I said no. Listen to me please.” Janefer sighed and started walking toward home. Mrs. Davis joined her. “Mom, I must say, I was surprised when you decided to help investigate.” Her mother smiled slightly. “We aren’t investigating, Janefer. We are helping.” Janefer snickered and grinned. Helping? I have a feeling this isn’t just going to be helping. 

Racing for Time-Chapter 7

“What?! That’s impossible!” Janefer nearly exploded. “Terrence would never do something like that! It was just a friendly competition! What evidence do you have?”

Whitby sighed. “I cannot release any information right now. Although I need to ask you if you have any information at all about Terrence. Where he lives, who are his friends, would be helpful.”

Janefer shrugged. “I don’t know much about him- he goes to college, his best friend is Gordan Mink, he has a pet dog named Joker, and I think he lives on 45 Juniper Lane. I still don’t think he would do that. He had absolutely no reason at all! Unless, he was feigning being happy.”

Whitby listened intently, taking in every particle of information. “Thanks for the info. We’ll contact you if we find out more. Have a good day, ladies.” He nodded, and walked out of the room.

Janefer slumped back, confused. “This is terrifically frightening. I know Terrence wouldn’t do that. Absolutely not.” Her mother spoke for the first time in a while.”Honey, let’s just take it one day at a time and try to sort it out. Don’t get worked up. God will get us through this.”

Janefer scoffed. “God? He is the one who allowed Dad to get sick and be in the hospital. He allowed all of this to happen. If he’s supposedly a just and righteous God, then why would He allow this to happen? Mom, how can you even believe in Someone who you can never see?”

Her mother sat down on the bed and looked deep into Janefer’s eyes. She thought for a moment before speaking. “Janefer. I don’t know all of the ways of God. It says in the Bible that,’O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!’ Sometimes God allows these kinds of things to happen for a reason. We have to trust Him! It may be hard at times, hard to trust, hard to see what God is doing. He has a plan, and if that means taking your father to heaven, then so be it. I can believe because the Bible is true. He is true. I can see God in the things He has made, His creations, His people. Does that give you some answers?”

Janefer stared out the dirty hospital window and sighed. “Maybe.” “Janefer, I can’t change your heart. I will pray for you that God would allow you to see the truth. Any way, would you like to visit Melanie?”

“Um, yeah, I guess. Do you know which room she is in?” Mrs. Davis told her the room number, then loaded her into a wheelchair. She was wheeled down the white-walled halls, with awards and pictures scattered across and nurses talking together while on their way to a patient. Melanie was in room 407. Janefer was quietly allowed inside, where she saw Melanie; her legs elevated, a stitched gash on her forehead, and her face was a bit swollen, but she was still Melanie.

Melanie opened her eyes a crack and saw Mrs. Davis and Janefer.

“Janefer?” She croaked. “Is that you?” Janefer felt choked with sobs. “Yeah, it’s me.” She spoke softly. Wheeling herself over to Mel’s bedside, she took her thin hand in hers.

“I guess I got it worse than you did. You always did get it better.” Janefer knew Mel was trying to lighten the mood, but she knew Mel was hurting.

“Actually, I was temporarily blind, and my head hurt terribly. I recovered my sight when I crashed into a hospital monitor.” Janefer realized she sounded so nonchalant– As if it was just a dream or story. “Really?” Mel quirked one eyebrow. She closed her eyes again. “Have the police found out who hit us? Did you tell them what you know?” She tried shifting and grimaced in pain.

Janefer winced. “They think it’s Terrence. I told them he would never do that, but I don’t think the officer cared.”

“Terrence? Why are they wasting their time on him when the real person who hit us is still out there?” Although Melanie was weak and in pain, she still had a fire in her. Janefer smiled at that.

“I really don’t know. Mel, have you heard of a group called Aojo? It means ‘Evil Eye.’ The officer told us that they could be behind it. We might not be the only hit and run victims.”

“Yeah. I’ve heard of them. Janefer, Aojo is the group that hit my uncle and aunt. My aunt was paralyzed, my uncle, barely alive. They never convicted the group, but I know they did it.”  Mel was growing hoarser and hoarser.

“Mel, you get some more rest, ‘kay? You’ll need it. Just take it easy.” Janefer really did not want Melanie getting worse. She didn’t have to worry though, because Mel was already falling asleep.

When they were outside, Mrs. Davis pitied Melanie. “Oh, the poor girl. Her parents must be worried sick. It’s good that they are able to visit her anytime, though.” When they got back to Janefer’s room, Doctor Fitzgerald was already there, writing notes while he waited for them. “Ah, there you are. Mrs. Davis, would you mind signing these forms? They’re release forms. I think Janefer is recovering quite well, and will be fine to be sent home. Just make sure she doesn’t do anything strenuous too soon.” He winked at Janefer. She was able to give him a half smile, but she was still mulling over the information she had received from Detective Whitby and Mel. Could it really be Aojo? They sound responsible for a lot of accidents. Who is their leader? I wonder. If the police could find the leader, they might be able to stop the whole organization! I’ve got to talk to Detective Whitby! 

As her mother filled out the forms, she though of her father again. I miss him. Maybe mom will let me visit on the way home. Probably not. She might think I’m too fragile. The question kept on bugging her as she was released and on the drive home. Was Morris the one who hit us? Surely not Terrence, but who? Maybe the police are right. He couldn’t have, but there is only one way to find out.

 

 

Racing for Time- Chapter 6

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. The hospital monitor beeped loudly. Janefer heard faint voices. “All right. Last stitch. Scissors, please. Okay, we’re done here. Mrs. Davis, you can see your daughter now.” Janefer drifted back into her sleepy state.

1 hour later:

Janefer woke up, but her eyes remained closed. Her head, although she was on pain medication, still hurt some, for she felt like she had been hit by a car. “Ohhh.” Janefer groaned as she shifted in her bed. Wow, I can’t just keep myself from getting hurt. 

“Janefer? Are you awake?” Her mother hurriedly came to Janefer’s side. Janefer slowly opened her eyes, even though she knew she probably wouldn’t be able to see. As she opened them, Janefer realized she could see, although extremely blurry at first, her mother’s face! She blinked a couple of times. Her sight was coming back! Each time she blinked it was a little clearer. “Mom! I-I can see!” Janefer was ecstatic. Janefer could tell by her mother’s astonished face that she was in shock.

“What?! Are you serious?” Mrs. Davis stopped. “I’ll go get the doctor. This is wonderful, Janefer!” Mrs. Davis charged out of the room and Janefer could hear her summoning a doctor to quickly come to Janefer’s room. A moment later Doctor Fitzgerald sauntered into the room and came to where Janefer was, her face glowing. “Well, now, let’s see here. You can see?” Janefer nodded. “It was really blurry at first, but now it’s clear. I can see you perfectly.”

“That’s terrific. I’m just going to check and make sure everything is okay, then I’ll go.” The kind doctor checked her eyes with a small light to make sure they were responsive, and he gave her some more pain medication. He was done in less than 5 minutes.  Just before he exited the room, Janefer thought of something and inquired of him,”Doctor? How did I recover my sight?” He stopped and turned to face her,”We believe your accident of crashing into the hospital monitor enabled you to see again. Maybe all you needed was your head to be banged a bit.” He chuckled slightly.

“Oh, wow.” The doctor started to leave again, but Janefer wasn’t quite finished. “Doctor? Can I visit Mel? I mean, it’s been what, two days? How is she doing anyway?”

Doctor Fitzgerald hesitated a moment before answering, but answered confidently. “You may visit her, but only if you are up to it, and if you are allowed by your mother.We performed the operation on her legs already, and she trooped through it with no problem, whatsoever. Mel is slowly recovering, but the process of recovery will be long and tedious.”

Janefer remained silent, although her mother spoke for her. “Thank you, Doctor. We appreciate all that you have done.” The doctor, for the thrice time, again attempted to leave the room, and this time, he did it with success. Once he left, Mrs. Davis set about to puff Janefer’s pillows and straighten her blankets.

“Mom?”

“Yes, Janefer?” “Can I go see Mel? Please? I need to. She needs me.” Janefer was aching and tired, but she felt she might be able to walk-just slowly.

Her mother’s tired and red- rimmed eyes from so many nights of crying and fatigue were showing. She had dark circles under her eyes, and she looked thin and pale. “Mother, are you okay? You look awful. You need rest. Why don’t you–”

“No, I’m feeling quite all right; if anything, a bit tired, but that is all. Yes, I think you may visit Melanie. She would probably be glad to see you.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Janefer gave her a small grin, and started to get out of bed. The door opened again and a police officer dressed in blue strode in. Janefer sucked in her breath. He didn’t look very happy. Calm down. He’s not here to arrest you. Janefer tried to reassure herself, but she couldn’t keep from being a bit worried.

“Miss Davis?” He peered over a paper he was holding. He looked confused as they both answered. “Which one of you is Janefer?”

“I am,” Janefer answered slowly. He straightened and flashed his badge. “Ma’am, I’m Detective Jack Whitby with the New York Police Department. I understand you were in a car accident with your friend, Melanie Studd. Is that correct?”

“Yes,” Janefer answered.

“What can you tell me about the crash?”

Janefer told him all that she could remember, about the red car, and if she saw it she might be able to identify it.

“Who do you think would do that to you? Any enemies?”

Janefer frowned. “I don’t think so. Unless someone wanted to hit us for a specific reason. I had just been at the track that day and I won. Maybe someone did it for revenge because they were rooting for the other competitor. Why would someone do this any way? It could’ve been anyone  there for that matter, or it could’ve been someone who came after everyone had left!”

“We have considered some of those options, but we think it might be a chain of attacks planned by a group-” He shuffled through some papers. “They call themselves Aojo. Means “Evil Eye.” Do you know of them?”

“N-no. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that name. Why did you come here, anyway? Besides asking questions and gathering information, that is.”

“Do you know someone by the name of Terrence Li?”

“Um, y-yes. He was the one who was racing with me. Why?”

“Miss Davis, we have good reason to believe he is the one who hit you.”

 

Racing for Time- Chapter 5

She was screaming. The drugs, which she had thought made her drowsy, caused her to drift off into a deep sleep. However, the sleep wasn’t without dreams. Dreams of someone- something that haunted her very being. The only thing she could see in was her dream. She could see. But only in her dreams.

Janefer awoke shivering, her hospital gown soaked with sweat. The room was dark, of course, and she didn’t hear much, except for the beeping of the hospital monitor, and her own heart beating. How weird. I’ve never had a dream like that. It was probably just the drugs they used, or something. 

Janefer frowned, remembering the nurse, Audrey, and how her boyfriend, Morris, had a red car. Was he the one who hit us? It had almost seemed like Audrey was protecting him. No, it’s impossible. Audrey is a nurse. If only I could see. I might be able to identify his car and see if it is the one that hit us. Another question:  Why did he or she hit us? Maybe I’m wrong: Maybe it was just an accident. But still, it’s a viable question.

All of the thinking and questions made Janefer’s head spin. She needed tea or something to help with her frazzled nerves. Janefer felt around on the side of her hospital bed to try to find the call button for the nurse. She finally found it and pressed it. The nurse came into the room several minutes later. Janefer had heard the swish, swish of the doors as the nurse came in, so she was prepared.

“Can I get you something, honey? Do you want me to call your mama?” The nurse spoke in a soft southern accent, although it sounded tired.

Janefer was irritated by how the woman had offered to call her mother. She could feel the ache of her muscles even just sitting up straight.

“Um, yes. Could I have some tea? And maybe an Advil or something to help with my soreness?”

“Sure, honey; be right back.” The nurse padded away softly and exited the room. Janefer leaned back on the soft bed and, for the first time in her life, she felt alone, unhappy, afraid, and out of control. She was used to being “in control”. She wanted to run and be happy, and not have to worry about never being able to see again. She desperately wanted to see Mel, and her father, who was in the hospital. She wanted to hold his hand and look into his dark brown eyes and find comfort and reassurance. Janefer felt tears coming to her eyes. Why do I feel like this? This is crazy. I’m tough. I- I can overcome. I’ll be able to see again. There was a question deep in her heart that had worried her and caused her to not eat as much, or sleep as much.

Will I? Will I ever be able to see again? I might be wrong. I might never see again. What will I do then? I have no hope! 

There was no use trying to stop the sobs and tears that were coming too quickly now. Janefer didn’t even hear the nurse come in, and she barely heard the words that were supposed to comfort her. “It’s okay, hon. We’re doin’ the best we can for you. Ya’ll be okay.”

Janefer’s tears finally subsided and she dried her eyes with the back of her hand. She blew her nose with the tissue the nurse had given her, then realized the nurse must have other things to do besides hear her cry her eyes out. “You didn’t have to stay,” Janefer tried to keep her voice low and calm. On the inside, she was falling apart.

The nurse gave her the tea and Advil and watched her precariously take a sip of the warm brew before she answered. “I know I didn’t have to, hon, but I felt like I needed to. Honey, no one here you know, except for the doctor and maybe a nurse or two. Your mama can’t be here all the time, so us nurses need to step up, so to speak.”

Janefer realized nurses like that were rare and like gold. “Thank you. I really appreciate your kindness. What’s your name?”

“Melba.” At Janefer’s chuckle, she laughed, but protested. “It really is! I know, I know, isn’t that what you name cars or some such nonsense? Janefer couldn’t stop laughing. Apparently it was hilarious, so Melba joined in the laughter.

“I-I think I’m hysteric,” Janefer wheezed. “Here, hon, breath into this bag.” Janefer did and when she finally calmed down, she finished her tea.

“Thanks for the tea. I needed it.” Janefer sighed contentedly. Her eyelids started to close, sleep drawing her in. She felt Melba tucking another light blanket over her, and whispering,”Sweet dreams, hon.”

Janefer was about to drift into a deep sleep when the door opened and someone briskly walked in. The action had startled Janefer out of her sleepy reverie. She yanked her head up and felt a strange wave of dizziness. “Woah.” Who’s here? She swung her legs over her bed and tried to stand up. A wave of nausea crashed over her and she wavered. Janefer felt a strong hand grip her, but not before she crashed into the monitor, sending her into unconsciousness.

Racing for time-Chapter 4

“Hey, are you okay?” The screaming stopped. “Are you okay?” the voice insisted again.

“Wha- what? Who are you?” Janefer was confused. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t even introduce myself. I’m Audrey, the nurse who was assigned to a-”

Audrey shuffled through some papers,”Oh, yes, to a Miss Janefer Davis. Is that you?”

Yes, that’s me. The blind girl who screams at every single opening of door. Yes, oh, yes, that’s me! 

“Yes, I’m Janefer.” She sighed.

“Great!” The bubbly nurse chattered on and on, while she was adjusting Janefer’s IV and pillows, about how her car was in always in the mechanic’s garage and how she hates the colour pink, or how she never really wanted to work in a hospital because of its smell.

“I never really understood why they used that scent of disinfectant until Morris told me,” Audrey continued. “He says it’s because they ‘think it’s better for the welfare of the environment’ or some such technical term. I know, I’m a nurse, I should know these things, but seriously, who studies the reasons for disinfectant?” She stopped. “I’m boring you, aren’t I?” She sighed. “I’ve been told I come across as insensitive to people’s conditions.”

“No, it’s fine!” Janefer protested heavily. “I actually don’t mind it at all. It’s a bright spot to the other depressing chatter I’ve been hearing from the doctor and all the other hospital staff.”

“Oh!” Audrey brightened and continued on with her chatter as she wrote some notes on her clipboard. “Morris sends his condolences….” Her voice faded as Janefer slipped into her own thoughts.

Morris….. hmmm… Morris? Who’s Morris? Her father? No, she wouldn’t call her father ‘Morris’. Boyfriend maybe? And why would he send his condolences? 

“Audrey?” Janefer’s voice interrupted Audrey’s chatting. “Who is Morris?”

“Oh, my, I completely forgot introduce him. He’s my boyfriend. Really sweet guy who has a conscience. Man, you can’t do anything sneaky without him calling you out on it. It sometimes drives me nuts, but I can see it really is a special gift–a sensitive conscience.”

Janefer drifted back into her thoughts. A sensitive conscience, eh? Hmmm…. could he be the one who hit us? If he is, I know it was on purpose, so could Audrey somehow be protecting him? 

A car horn honked outside and Audrey pranced to the window. “Oh, my ride’s here! It’s probably Morris. I gotta split.”

“Wait! Audrey! I just need to ask you something!” Janefer quickly commanded.

“Fine, but hurry!”

“What’s the colour of Morris’s car?”

“I have to go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Audrey quickly thrust her scrubs in a nearby garbage can, threw on a sweater, and swung her purse over her shoulder.

“Wait! Just answer my question!” Janefer had to shout.

Audrey opened the door and yelled over her shoulder, “Red!”

It was faint and amidst the business of the hospital, she could barely make out what she had said.

Did she say– red? Janefer furrowed her eyebrows in concentration.

If he does have a red car, Morris could be the culprit who hit Mel and me! 

So, the plot thickens.

Racing for Time- Chapter 3

“Doctor? Please, I need to know. Tell me!” Janefer was urgent. She could hear the doctor speaking softly to her mother. Janefer couldn’t hear most of what was said, but she got a few pieces of the conversation.

“Should I……..Would it be wise….. hazardous……devastating for her?”

What are they whispering about? Is there something about Mel that they’re not telling me because of my condition? For crying out loud, I’m tough, I can handle it! 

“Miss Davis?” Doctor Fitzgerald asked softly. “Are you okay?”

“Huh? Oh, um, yeah. I guess. Are you going to tell me about Mel?” The doctor sighed deeply and cleared his throat.

“Miss Davis, Mel has suffered several severe injuries.”

“What sort of injuries? Concussion? Sprained ankle? Bruises and scratches? What, Doctor?”

He sighed once again and she could tell he was hesitant to relay the news to her. “Miss Davis, Mel has suffered two broken legs, bruises and scratches, and a gash on her head that needed stitches. We already set both legs and we had to put her through surgery to insert the plates into her legs to hold the bones in place.”

Mrs.Davis gasped and put a hand to her throat. “Oh, my! How awful! That poor girl!”

Janefer fought valiantly to hold back the coming tears. “She will be fine, doctor, right? I mean she’s no body builder, but she’s tough, she can handle it!” She’ll be fine, I know she will, she’ll pull through, I mean, broken legs? It’s not something people die from. She’ll be fine–I hope. Janefer repeated those thoughts over and over.

“Miss Davis, I’ll speak to you plainly concerning this matter. It will be a long recovery process. She may have to use a cane, and she will definitely not be able to walk for at least 4-6 months, maybe longer. There’s one other thing, but I’ll leave you to rest; it is most likely to much for you to handle at this moment. I have to make my rounds.”

“Doctor? One more thing: can I visit her? Please? I mean, she’s my friend, and her mother is in Vancouver.”

“Maybe sometime later, Miss Davis, I’m afraid she probably wouldn’t respond at this moment. She is under heavy pain killers, and will be very drowsy and sleepy.”

Doctor Fitzgerald left the room and her mother walked him out to ask him further questions. Janefer then broke the barrier that was holding back her tears and sobbed. You know, your mom is right. God did help you. Luck has nothing to do with it, a voice insisted in her head. Janefer refused to believe it. She stuck her chin out and said defiantly, “If God allows something like this to happen, then I don’t want to trust in Him for my life. Luck is simply on my side sometimes and other times, it isn’t.” A sudden thought struck her like an 18-wheeler. It was something the doctor said.

“There is one other thing.” What other thing? Is there something about Mel I should know about? Are her injuries more extensive than I imagined? One other thing, who was the person who hit us? He or she obviously saw us and didn’t care, or did it for a reason- on purpose, maybe? 

The thought sent shivers down her spine and a tingle to her fingers and toes. The door opened. Janefer screamed.