Writers on the Storm

by Christy Cauley

The girls helped Steve to the emergency room, but he wouldn’t let them come back with him.

  “Is there someone we should call?” Veronica asked, but Steve shook his head.

  “Poor kid,” she said after he had been led back to an examination room. “He must have someone.”

  “I don’t think so, Mrs. B.,” Admeta said. “I think Steve’s parents pretty much disowned him after they found out, you know,” she paused.

  “No, I don’t know,” Veronica replied, completely clueless about the situation. The girls all looked at each other until Cornelia had the courage to tell her mother that Steve was gay. She was worried that finding out that this had been a hate crime against a homosexual would upset her mother, but she remained calm.

  “Oh,” was all she said, but Cornelia could see a worried look on her face. She guessed that Veronica was thinking about herself and Michelle and how it could just as easily been one of them. She guessed this because that’s exactly what Cornelia had been thinking too. She had been worried for her mother’s safety ever since she came out to her, but this event reinforced her worst fears. Michelle and Veronica took off their coats and sat down, but the girls remained standing.

  “How could his parents be like that to their own son?” Amanda asked.

  “I don’t know,” Veronica answered.

  “Well I do,” Michelle said. “My parents were the same way.”

  “Really?” Veronica asked.

  “Oh yeah,” Michelle said knowingly. Veronica seemed surprised by this revelation. The other girls seemed to put the pieces together. If Michelle was gay, it was likely that Veronica was also gay, but they were only guessing since Cornelia hadn’t shared that fact with them. After seeing Steve beaten like that, they understood why she would keep her mother’s sexuality a secret.

  “That’s just wrong,” Admeta said.

  “Mom,” Cornelia interrupted. “Could you wait here and see how Steve is doing?”

  “Sure, why?”

  “I have to go check on the pig for Chad.”

  “That’s not a good idea, CC,” Amanda said.

  “Yeah,” echoed Admeta.

  “I have to agree,” Veronica added.

  “I have to,” Cornelia said. “I promised Chad. You guys stay here. I’ll be fine.”

  “No way,” Admeta and Amanda chimed in unison.

  “Take your friends with you, Cornelia,” Veronica insisted.

  “Amanda, you can come, but Admeta, he’s just going to be a pig to you again.”

  “I don’t care what that piece of trash says about me,” Admeta insisted, “I’m coming.”

  “Girls, don’t go getting yourselves in any more trouble,” Veronica pleaded.

  “Don’t worry, mom, we’re in a hospital, he wouldn’t dare try anything.”

  “That’s not comforting, CC,” Veronica replied. Admeta and Amanda left their coats and purses with Veronica and Michelle. Admeta gave them the video camera too. Cornelia realized just then that she had left her coat and purse in her locker at school. It was locked, so she thought it would be o.k. The three girls then set off to the information desk while Veronica looked on nervously. Michelle reached over and grabbed her hand to comfort her. The elderly woman at the information desk didn’t look too pleased to have been interrupted while typing something into a computer.

  “Can you tell us what room David Wharton is in?” Cornelia asked.

  The woman looked the three girls up and down over her bifocals and asked, “Are you family? The dad said only family can visit.” Cornelia looked at her funny. The woman had a very hoarse voice as if she had smoked all of her life. Cornelia wondered how she could have lived so long. She figured the woman must have been at least 90.

  “I’m his sister,” Admeta jumped in. The woman once again looked at Admeta over her bifocals. “I’m the black sheep of the family,” Admeta said then smiled at the old woman. Amanda and Cornelia tried not to laugh.

  “He’s in room 413,” she said.

  “Thanks,” Cornelia replied.

  As they walked to the elevator Ademeta said, “Can you imagine David’s face if that woman tells him his Hispanic sister was here to see him?” All three girls laughed. They went up to the fourth floor and followed the arrows to room 413.

  “Maybe we can just ask a nurse how he’s doing,” Amanda offered.

  “No, I have to see for myself. I promised Chad,” Cornelia said.

  “Don’t shut the door behind you,” Admeta warned.

  “Good idea,” Cornelia said as she knocked and then opened the door slowly. When she opened the door she could see Rebekka and a couple who must have been David’s parents standing by his bed. Cornelia took one step inside and took a deep breath. Amanda and Admeta were standing behind her, ready to step in if needed.

  “David, I don’t want to be here anymore than you want me to be here, but Chad wants to know if you’re going to be o.k. So are you?” Cornelia asked quickly.

  “Who are you?” the man next to David’s bed asked.

  “She’s the girlfriend of the boy who did this to David!” Rebekka said in a shrill voice. “She started it all. Her and her friend there,” she said, pointing to Admeta.

  “Oh really,” the man said.

  “I don’t want any trouble, Mr. Wharton. I just want to know if David is going to be o.k. That’s all. Will he be o.k.?”

  “Well maybe you should have thought of that before you and your wetback friend started this!” the man yelled. The woman grabbed his arm as if she wanted him to be quiet. Cornelia could suddenly see how David could be such an idiot with a father like that.

  “Yeah, Corny. You and that beaner caused all of this,” David said.

  “O.k., I’m just going to take that as a yes, thanks,” Cornelia said and the three girls turned around and left the room quickly, closing the door behind them.

  “Well if he’s up to insulting people he must be o.k.,” Cornelia said, adding, “I’m sorry, Admeta.”

  “Don’t be sorry for those pigs,” Admeta replied.

  “Don’t listen to them,” Amanda added. “They’re idiots.”

  “I know,” Admeta replied confidently, but Cornelia could tell that what David and his father said had hurt her feelings.

  “Just forget about those morons,” Cornelia said. As the trio began to walk away, the door to David’s room opened. The girls turned around. It was Rebekka.

  “Where do you think you’re going, Corny?” she asked.

  “Rebekka, why don’t you just shut up for a change?” Admeta asked.

  “I wasn’t talking to you, beaner,” Rebekka spat.

  “Listen up, white girl. You keep calling me names and you’re going to get a fist in the mouth,” Admeta said and Cornelia pulled her back as she started to approach Rebekka.

  “There are three of us and one of you, Rebekka,” Cornelia offered. “I know math isn’t your strongest subject. Well, let’s face it, you have no strong subjects, but even you can figure out the odds here.” she said. Amanda giggled.

  “What are you laughing at, Ms. Anorexia?” Rebekka asked.

  “Apparently you,” Amanda answered and now Cornelia was pulling Amanda back too.

  “Let’s just go. She isn’t worth it,” Cornelia said to her friends, sneering at Rebekka.

  “You got that right,” Admeta added.

  “You’re going to be sorry!” Rebekka yelled down the hallway. As the girls headed to the elevator they could hear a nurse telling Rebekka to be quiet.

  As they pushed the down button for the elevator Admeta said, “Well that was pleasant,” and all the girls laughed, breaking the tension.

  “I don’t know why Chad wanted to know how that pig was doing,” Amanda said.

  “That’s just how he is,” Cornelia said. “Even though David’s a pig, Chad couldn’t stand the idea that he hurt another human being. He’s so sweet.”

  “Sweet?” Admeta asked.

  “Yeah,” Co
rnelia answered.

  “If you say so.”

  Cornelia started to ask, “What do you mean,” but the elevator door had opened. As the girls stepped on, they saw nurse Robin. Admeta and Cornelia said hello.

  “You ladies are on the wrong floor,” she said.

  “What do you mean?” Admeta asked.

  “Mrs. Hakim is on the 13th floor,” Robin replied.

  “What? She’s here?” Cornelia asked, alarmed.

  “Yes, she was just admitted tonight,” Robin said. “I thought you were here to see her.”

  “No, we’re here with another friend,” Amanda said.

  “It sounds like the two of you just get into all kinds of excitement. Well, I’m sure she’d be glad to see you,” Robin said. “I’ve seen you around here before too,” she said to Amanda.

  “Huh? No, I don’t think so,” Amanda replied.

  “Are you one of Mrs. Hakim’s students?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well I’m sure she’d enjoy a visit from you too.”

  The girls pushed the button for the 13th floor and waited while the elevator went down and back up. It dropped Robin off on the first floor where the cafeteria was. She said she would see them later and exited the elevator.

  After Robin got off, Cornelia said, “Amanda, there’s something you have to know.”

  “What?” Amanda asked as she saw a look exchanged between Cornelia and Admeta. Admeta nodded her head.

  “Mrs. Hakim didn’t just hit her head,” Admeta said. “She has breast cancer.”

  “Oh my God,” Amada said. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “She made us swear not to tell anyone,” Cornelia answered. “If you go in with us, just be prepared for what you might see.” Amanda suddenly looked worried.

  “She can handle it,” Admeta said. “But you can’t tell anyone, Amanda. I mean it.”

  “I promise,” Amanda said. She looked as if someone had knocked the wind out of her.

  The girls were making their way up to the 13th floor when the elevator stopped to let two doctors on. They were talking about their plans for the weekend and didn’t pay any attention to the worried girls on the elevator with them. They got off on the 10th floor and the girls continued up to 13. After they got off, Cornelia approached the desk and asked a nurse what room Mrs. Hakim was in. Admeta cringed when the nurse replied, “1313.”

  Cornelia rolled her eyes at the superstitious Admeta and the three girls headed down the hall to room 1313. Their steps seemed to get slower and smaller the closer they got to the room. They almost seemed to stop a couple of times, but they continued on. When they arrived, the door was open, so the girls stepped inside.

  Mrs. Hakim didn’t have a private room like David. In the first bed was an elderly African-American woman. “Oh I know y’all ain’t here to see me, children,” she said with a laugh.

  “The skin color gets lighter the farther left you go,” she whispered and pointed at the curtain next to her. The girls looked confused.

  “Well go on now, girls, don’t be shy,” she said and the girls proceeded to the next bed as the woman turned back to the book she had been reading.

  Mrs. Hakim was lying in the next bed with her eyes closed. She wasn’t wearing her hijab and the girls were startled by her completely bald head. She had lost weight since the last time the girls had seen her and Cornelia thought she looked dead. She was reminded once again of her grandmother and she fought back tears.

  “We shouldn’t wake her,” Admeta whispered. Cornelia and Admeta suddenly heard sobbing and turned to look at Amanda.

  “Amanda!” Cornelia whispered quite loudly. “You need to shut up right now. If you can’t, then go out in the hallway. She doesn’t need to see you crying.”

  “I’m sorry,” Amanda said and she ran out into the hallway. Admeta and Cornelia looked at each other. They could still hear whimpers coming from the hallway. When they turned back around they saw that Mrs. Hakim was awake.

  “Girls,” Mrs. Hakim said, sitting up in bed. “I did not know you were here.”

  “We’re sorry, Mrs. Hakim; we didn’t mean to wake you,” Cornelia said.

  “What do you mean ‘we?’ ” Admeta asked and looked at Cornelia. It was an awkward moment. The two almost wanted to laugh but they knew it would be inappropriate. Cornelia called that kind of laughing “funeral giggles” because it’s the kind of nervous laughter you might get at a funeral, which is the most inopportune moment ever to have giggles. Cornelia didn’t have funeral giggles at her grandmother’s funeral but she remembered some of her younger cousins had. Their mother had to take them outside.

  “Admeta, could you hand me my hijab? It’s on the window sill.”

  “Sure, Mrs. H.,” Admeta replied then retrieved the pink-colored hijab from the window. Cornelia was surprised by the color. Usually Mrs. Hakim wore a brown or tan hijab. This was much brighter.

  “Oh, you like the color, no?” she asked, noticing Cornelia’s look. Cornelia and Admeta nodded. “It is pink for breast cancer awareness.”

  “It’s very nice,” Admeta said.

  “Not my usual taste, but appropriate do you not think?”

  “Sure,” Cornelia said.

  “Mrs. H. what happened?” Admeta asked.

  “Oh, do not worry yourselves, dears. It is nothing.”

  “Nothing doesn’t land you in the hospital,” Cornelia said.

  “It is just a little dehydration and anemia from the chemo. I will be fine. Besides, my last round of chemo is almost over. Just one more session,” she said sweetly, but Cornelia didn’t believe her. She looked worn out. She had dark circles around her eyes and seemed very weak.

  “You don’t look so good, Mrs. H.,” Admeta said.

  “Admeta!” Cornelia chastised.

  “Well she doesn’t,” Admeta said, honestly.

  “I am sure you are right, Admeta,” Mrs. Hakim laughed. “But I am going to be alright. I promise,” she added.

  “You shouldn’t do that!” Cornelia shouted a little louder than she had intended.

  “Cornelia,” Mrs. Hakim began, but she was interrupted.

  “No. You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep,” Cornelia said and then began to cry. “My grandmother promised me she would be o.k. and she wasn’t. It’s not fair. You shouldn’t say things like that. You don’t know what’s going to happen. You shouldn’t give us false hope!”

  “Cornelia!” Admeta shouted back at her and grabbed Cornelia’s arm.

  “No, Admeta, I’m sick of walking on eggshells. This is a horrible disease and it’s eating away at her. Just look at her.”

  “Cornelia!”

  “No, it is o.k., Admeta, let her get this off her chest,” Mrs. Hakim said calmly.

  From the other side of the curtain they heard, “Could she get it off her chest a little quieter? I’m reading over here.”

  “Sorry, Mrs. Johnson,” Mrs. Hakim said to the curtain. “Go on a little quieter, Cornelia.”

  But Cornelia was silent. She pulled away from Admeta’s grasp and ran out of the room in tears. Admeta did not follow. She heard Mrs. Johnson say something under her breath and then she sat by Mrs. Hakim’s side on the bed.

  “She’s just scared, Mrs. H.,” Admeta said to her teacher.

  “I know that, dear. I am too.”

  “Me too,” Admeta said, relieved that they were both finally admitting it.

  “I meant what I said, though, dear. I am going to be alright. I am already feeling better,” Mrs. Hakim said, patting Admeta on the hand.

  “No offense, Mrs. H., but if you’re feeling better, what are you doing in the hospital?”

  Mrs. Hakim laughed. “Yes, dear, you make a good point, but I know my body and I know I am getting better. You will see,” she paused. “Are you not supposed to be at the football game?” she asked.

  “Yeah. That’s a long story, Mrs. H. Nothing for you to worry about.” Admeta paused, then continued, �
��I taped the game for you, but I didn’t bring it with me.”

  “That is alright, Admeta. I was just going to go to sleep. I will watch it another time,” Mrs. Hakim smiled. “Do not tell me if they won or not, it will be a surprise.” Admeta did not want to tell her that she didn’t know if they won or lost because she had left early.

  “There is one other thing,” Admeta said hesitantly.

  “What is that, my dear?”

  “Amanda was with us when Robin told us you were here, so we had to tell her. You know. About the cancer,” she whispered the last part.

  “Oh dear,” Mrs. Hakim replied. “Do you think she will keep my secret?”

  “She promised she would.”

  “Why is she not here?”

  “Same reason as Cornelia,” Admeta said simply.

  “Oh, I see,” Mrs. Hakim replied knowingly. “What were the three of you doing in the hospital if not to see me?”

  “That’s another long story, Mrs. H. Everyone is o.k., though,” she said. Admeta didn’t want to upset Mrs. Hakim by telling her that Steve was hurt. She thought she would just worry and that couldn’t be good for her health. Luckily Mrs. Hakim did not press her.

  “Where’s your family?” Admeta asked, changing the subject.

  “Oh, I sent Daniel home. We did not bring the children, of course. I do not want my children seeing me in the hospital and I did not want the babysitter to spend the night, so I made Daniel go home. He was determined to spend the night here, but I would not allow it,” she said.

  “Do you want me to stay, Mrs. H.? My dad wouldn’t mind.”

  “Oh no, dear. You have done enough just by visiting and recording the game for me. I want you to go home and not give me another thought. I am fine. Truly I am. I will probably be released in the morning, Admeta.” Admeta liked when Mrs. Hakim said her name. It was the closest to the Spanish pronunciation that any non-Hispanic could get.

  “Alright, but I’m coming to your house tomorrow.”

  “No you will not. I am going to go home tomorrow and I need my rest. You and the other girls need to enjoy your weekend and stop thinking about me. Enjoy yourselves. Live life to the fullest, my dear. You are only young once.”

  “But I like visiting you.”

  “I appreciate that, Admeta but you have to live your own life too. Now promise me you will do something fun this weekend.” Admeta hesitated, but after seeing the pleading look on her teacher’s face, she gave in.

  “O.k. I promise, but I’m coming over Monday after school.”

  “No you will not. Mr. Backardi told me that Writers on the Storm is starting back up on Monday.”

  “What? It can’t. Not without you!” Admeta protested.

  “Life goes on, my dear. It is an inevitability. Besides, it is only temporary, remember?”

  “Who’s going to be the faculty advisor? Don’t tell me it’s Carl.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “No! I won’t go. I’m serious, Mrs. H., Carl is a goof.”

  “Admeta, you should not speak about faculty members in that way. I am sure Mr. Zeland will be fine. He has e-mailed me for some tips. He will be a fine temporary replacement.”

  “No he won’t, Mrs. H. Nothing will be fine until you’re back where you belong.”

  “Oh, my dear, I appreciate your sentiment, but it is going to be fine. I promise.”

  “There you go making promises again,” Admeta said and tried to smile.

  “Well, I mean it, Admeta. It will be fine. Now you go and find your friends and forget about me. Enjoy your weekend.”

  “I don’t want to leave you.”

  From behind the curtain came, “Can’t you take a hint, kid? She’s tired. Chemo kicks the crap out of you and she wants to go to sleep. Now scram.”

  “Thank you for your astute assessment, Mrs. Johnson,” Mrs. Hakim said to the curtain then rolled her eyes at Admeta who wanted to laugh.

  “Alright, I’m going but I’ll see you on Tuesday,” she said. “Do you want me to put that back?” she asked about hijab.

  “No, I rather like the color, no?”

  Admeta knew Mrs. Hakim was lying. She didn’t want to take off her hijab because she knew her bald head made the girls uncomfortable. She didn’t push.

  “See ya later, Mrs. H.,” Admeta said. She gave Mrs. Johnson a dirty look as she was leaving the room.

  “Yeah. You know I’m right, little girl,” Mrs. Johnson said after her. Admeta was annoyed, but did not look back. She found Amanda waiting in the hallway. She had finally managed to compose herself.

  “Where’s Cornelia?” Admeta asked.

  “I don’t know. She ran past me. I tried to stop her but she just kept going.”

  “Which way did she go?”

  “That way,” Amanda said and the two headed toward the elevator. “I think she went into the stairwell. We’re never going to find her.”

  “I have a feeling I know where she is,” Admeta said and they took the elevator to the sixth floor.

  As the pair entered the hospital chapel, Admeta genuflected. Amanda stopped behind her and gave her space. The chapel was very simple. It had about ten pews and a single cross hanging in the front of the room. Everything was brown and dull. The girls saw Cornelia sitting in the front pew and went to sit beside her. She was no longer crying, but she had mascara marks on her cheeks that revealed the truth. Admeta said nothing, but knelt and said a silent prayer. Amanda sat quietly out of respect.

  When Admeta was finished, she used her right hand to trace the sign of the cross from her head to her lips and then both sides of her chest.

  She whispered, “May Christ's words be in my mind, on my lips, and in my heart.” Amanda had seen people on television do this but never someone in person. She was not Catholic. Cornelia did not acknowledge her friends’ presence.

  “Cornelia, you’re going to have to talk someone,” Admeta whispered as if speaking out loud would have been a sin.

  “I don’t even know what I’m doing here,” Cornelia said. “I don’t go to church.”

  “Maybe it’s time you started,” Admeta said.

  Cornelia looked at her friend. “I doubt it,” she said.

  “It’s o.k., CC, you don’t have to go to church to be close to God,” Amanda said.

  “I don’t even know if I want to be close to God. I don’t even know if there is a God,” Cornelia said as she wiped a stray tear from her left eye.

  “Don’t say that,” Admeta said.

  “It’s true. Why else would there be so much suffering in the world if there is some omnipotent being in the sky who could put an end to it? Tell me that, Admeta.”

  “I can’t,” Admeta said. “I just believe. It’s faith.”

  “Well I have no faith, just like I have no faith that Mrs. Hakim is going to get any better.”

  “Don’t say that, Cornelia!” Admeta said, louder than she had intended. She immediately started to whisper.

  “You don’t know that. No one does. Now let’s go check on Steve.” Cornelia reluctantly agreed and Amanda followed as the girls made their way back down in the elevator to the Emergency Room waiting area. When they arrived they saw Sarah sitting by Veronica and Michelle.

  “What’s she doing here,” Cornelia asked.

  “CC, what took you so long? I was worried,” Veronica said.

  “Well maybe if I weren’t grounded from my cell phone you could have gotten a hold of me,” Cornelia spat and immediately felt bad.

  “I’m sorry, mom. We found out someone else is in the hospital.”

  “Who?” Veronica asked.

  “Just another friend,” Cornelia replied.

  “Well, you should be nice to Sarah. She brought your purse and coat.”

  “What? How did you get into my locker?” she asked, outraged.

  “Your combination is always Chad’s birthday, CC. It wasn’t hard to figure out. I didn’t come here to upset you.”

  “Why are y
ou here?” Cornelia said impatiently.

  “I came to see if Steve is o.k.,” she said.

  “Yeah, right,” Admeta said skeptically. “You came to see David.”

  “Believe what you want. I just wanted to make sure Steve was going to live.”

  “So David won’t go to prison for murder?” Amanda asked.

  “Whatever,” Sarah said. “Look, I wasn’t part of what David was doing. I told Rebekka we should stop it but she didn’t listen. What could I do?”

  “What could you do?” Cornelia asked. “How about not being Rebekka’s lap dog for starters!”

  “Cornelia!” Veronica shouted.

  “It’s o.k., Mrs. Barrington,” Sarah said. “I’ve done some pretty rotten things with Rebekka. I just didn’t have any idea how cruel she could be. I’m really sorry about what happened to Steve. I just wanted to bring Cornelia’s purse and jacket and let you know that we won.”

  “Oh goody, we won!” Admeta said, clapping her hands. People in the waiting room began to stare. “Who cares what happened to Steve as long as we won the game?” she asked sarcastically.

  “That’s not what I meant,” Sarah said.

  “If you cared so much, why did you wait until the game was over to check on Steve?” Cornelia asked.

  “Kenzie asked me to stay. She said she was already short two cheerleaders. So I put on my uniform and helped out.”

  “How noble of you,” Cornelia said.

  “Give her a break, CC,” Amanda interrupted. “She sounds like she’s seen Rebekka for what she really is.”

  “Well it’s about time,” Admeta said.

  “I didn’t mean to start anything. Just tell Steve I’m glad he’s going to be o.k., would you?” Sarah asked and then turned to leave.

  “Do you need a ride?” Veronica asked.

  “Mom,” Cornelia said, but Veronica ignored her.

  “No, it’s o.k. I took the bus. Thanks,” Sarah said and then went out the front doors.

  “Sarah Cushman took the bus?” Admeta asked. “Maybe she really is sorry. I just can’t picture that.”

  “I don’t care if she’s sorry,” Cornelia said. “Is she right? Is Steve going to be o.k.?”

  “Oh, yes, the nurse just told us. They patched him up and he should be allowed to go home soon,” Veronica said. “There was no internal bleeding.”

  “Thank God,” Admeta said and then she used her right hand to make the sign of the cross from her forehead to her chest and between both shoulders. Cornelia rolled her eyes but she didn’t let Admeta see.

  “Did Daddy call yet?” Cornelia asked.

  “Not yet, CC,” Veronica replied and Cornelia sighed.

  “Steve!” Amanda said and she ran over to hug Steve who had just come out of the Emergency Room.

  “Ow, Amanda,” Steve said and grabbed his ribs.

  “Sorry,” she said and let go of her grip. All the other women came to greet him too. They collected their jackets and purses and Amanda helped Steve put his coat back on.

  “Thanks for the ride over here. I can take the bus home,” Steve said.

  “Oh no you won’t,” Veronica said and she grabbed Steve’s arm and started leading him toward the door. Cornelia was impressed by her mother’s command of the situation. “We’re taking you home.”

  Most of the car ride home was spent in silence other than Admeta telling the others that Writers on the Storm was going to meet with Carl on Monday. Everyone groaned, but no one seemed to know what else to say. They were all glad Steve was alright, but they knew he didn’t want to talk about it. Steve’s was the first house they came to. He lived in Price Valley, just like Admeta. His house was a small brown ranch with green shutters. A porch light was on, but the house was dark.

  “Are you sure you’ll be o.k.? It doesn’t look like anyone’s home,” Veronica said.

  “I’ll be fine, Mrs. Barrington. Thanks for everything,” Steve said. Amanda started to get out to help him, but he stopped her. “I’ll be fine,” he repeated.

  “See you in school Monday,” Amanda said.

  “Yeah,” he said half-heartedly and then walked to his front door. He was bent over a little, so Cornelia could tell he was still in pain. She felt sorry for him. He didn’t seem to have anyone in his life that cared about him except his friends. Cornelia decided right then and there to try to be one of those friends.

  Veronica made sure he got inside before she pulled away to drop off the rest of the girls. Admeta was next since she lived down the street from Steve, and Amanda’s house was just a few blocks from Cornelia’s. Both girls said their good-byes and went on their way. Michelle came home with Veronica and Cornelia. Just as they walked in the door, Veronica’s phone rang.

  “Oh my God, answer it, mom!” Cornelia squealed.

  “Calm down, CC,” she said to her daughter. “Hello?” she said into the phone. “Hold on.” Then she turned to Cornelia and said, “It’s your father,” and handed her the phone.

  “Daddy?”

  “I got Chad out on bail, CC, but this kid is bound and determined to plead guilty. You’re going to have to talk to him.”

  “Is he o.k.?” she asked.

  “He’s fine. He went home with his parents.”

  “Oh, thank God,” Cornelia said in spite of herself.

  “You’re welcome,” Harrison replied.

  “Thanks, Daddy.”

  “Alright, CC, I’m going to bed now. Try not to have another crisis tonight, o.k., princess?”

  “Very funny, Daddy,” CC said and hung up the phone.

  “Well?” Veronica asked.

  “He’s out on bail but Daddy said he wants to plead guilty.”

  “Well, he is guilty,” Veronica said.

  “Mom!”

  “I didn’t say the guy didn’t deserve it, CC. I’m just saying Chad did what they are accusing him of doing. Maybe he’s right to plead guilty,” she said and looked knowingly at her daughter.

  “Well I’m going to convince him not to.”

  “I don’t know how you’re going to do that since you’re grounded from seeing him, but right now you’re just going to go to bed,” Veronica said. “It’s late.”

  “Alright, mom.”

  “Oh, CC, who was your other friend in the hospital?” she asked as Cornelia walked up the stairs.

  Cornelia turned around and said, “Just someone from school.”

  “Oh, well I hope they’re o.k.,” Veronica said.

  “Yeah, me too,” Cornelia replied and then turned back around and went up to bed, leaving Veronica and Michelle standing in the foyer.

  Chapter 20

  A Helping Hand