"How bad is he?" Clarissa asked the paramedic.
"Not good, but we think he'll pull through. He doesn't seem to be responding to us, though."
"He's a mute. He can't speak."
"Thanks for letting us know."
Clarissa took the boy's hand and leaned down to kiss his forehead. "Thank you, Randy. You're going to be just fine," she smiled at him.
His lips move, trying to form a word. Clarissa clasped his hand tighter. His lips moved again and Clarissa leaned down closer. His lips formed the word "friend."
"Friends," she smiled and let the tears fall as they lifted the stretcher in the waiting ambulance.
"Clary!" Hugo grinned and waved at her as he flounced toward her. "Oh, my God, when I saw you and Morgan up there I almost died. My God, girl, you look a complete mess.
She threw her arms around Hugo's neck and he held her for a moment. "Thank you, Hugo, for being here. Thank you for coming for me."
"It was the least I could do," he said. "The salon in La Jolla is fantastic. Clary, you've got to come down and see it!"
"I promise I will."
"Let's get you home, girl. Get you out of those clothes. Really, Clary, where ever did you get these things?"
"I can't, right now," Clarissa said. "Can you lend me cab fare, Hugo?
"Hon, my car is parked right on the next street. You don't have to take a cab."
"I have a date."
"You have a what? With who? Oh, alright. Be secretive. I have some errands to do anyway."
Clarissa kissed Hugo on the cheek, tucked the bills and the broken crystal angel into her jeans pocket, and tied the red scarf around her neck. She slipped her arm through Rowland's and he tipped his hat and smiled at her. "Hope they got some of that roast beef left," she said.
"Child, they never turn away the hungry. I would be right honored, Miss Dugan, if you would accompany me to some of that fine fare."
"I would be delighted, Mister Rowland."
As they walked down the rain slick sidewalk, an old song from a record Clarissa's mother used to play rang in her head. It was a song from the sixties, a Beatles tune. Something about blackbirds, broken wings, and learning to fly.
The End
Thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, won’t you please take a moment to leave me review?
Thanks!
Chris Barnhart
Discover other titles by Chris Barnhart
Bloodstorm (Fire Crystal Legacy Book 1)
Coming soon! Solfire (Fire Crystal Legacy Book 2). Look for it in January 2015 at your favorite ebook retailer.
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