"Yes, I am aware that you are only 14,” Josh said, “But we are just looking for some possibilities."
"Possibilities for what, why am I here? I am tired and I want to go home. My parents are going to be wondering where I am when they get home and I don't want to get grounded for this."
"Well, you won't be going home soon and trust me you are not going to be grounded. This is going to be a bit of a shock to you but your parents are dead." Josh said it plainly, with no emotion or effort.
I felt like I had just had a head on collision with a brick wall. I was sure I was going to burst into tears, but I wasn't going to allow my self to cry in front of Josh. My parents were dead, but how? My head swam with questions. I wondered why such a thing would happen to them, to me. None of us had done anything to deserve this. It had been a whole year since my mom and dad went out on a date. They finally agreed I was old enough to stay home alone without a baby sitter.
After a while, I finally asked "Who are you and why am I here?"
"I am a government agent and I am here to find out who would try to kill your parents and why. Also to see if they might be after you. You are here because I need to ask you questions."
"How did my parents die?"
"Well, your parents were at Momma's Finest, for supper. They were almost done of there food when they made a toast for their anniversary. Whatever, it was they drank was poisoned."
"Do you have any idea who would do such a thing to them?" I asked.
"No, not yet. But we are trying our best and that is why you need to give us as much information as you possibly can. Will you do that for us, Lydia?" He sounded sincere in his need for help to find out who had done this to my mom and dad.
So I said, "I will help you in whatever way I can."
He asked me questions like: did your parents have any trouble with anyone? Do you have any troubles with people in school? I said no to the first question and well, for the second one, of course I didn't get along with everyone, but not to the point where they would kill my parents.
He asked a few more questions and took some notes. When he was about to leave the room, I asked, "Can you please untie me? I'm not very comfortable."
He laughed under his breath a little, and then said, "Sure. I will send someone in right away. Thank you for your cooperation." And then he left.
A few minutes later, another man came into the room and untied me from the chair. He asked me if I wanted anything else. I thought about it a little then asked for a glass of water and some gum.
He pulled a pack of Stride out of his pocket, ripped off the bottom half and gave it to me. He said he would be right back with the bottle of water. I thanked him and with that said he left the room. About five minutes later he came back in with the water bottle. I thanked him again and he left, but this time I knew he wouldn't be coming back.
Now I wasn't actually sure what I was supposed to do because my parents were dead. I wasn't going to be able to go home, and I was in a secret government facility.
I didn't have much time to myself to wonder because Josh entered the room and told me to follow him. I grabbed my water bottle and my gum and followed. When we left the room, we went to the right, down a long hallway. One of the guards who was at the door had moved in front of Josh and led the way. The other one stayed behind me.
I was a little tense, because this was both a little scary and the coolest thing ever. Having bodyguards made me feel a little safer and not so safe because they could protect me, but there was also the reason as to why I needed protection in the first place. I wondered if I would have bodyguards everywhere I went or if I was ever going to go anywhere else, other than the room we were entering.
It was almost like an apartment someone had already put their stuff into. The guards stayed outside the doors again while Josh and I walked into a place even nicer then my own house. It was very bright and colourful with. Polka dots all over the furniture. I was just amazed at the sight. Compared to the metal room I had been in, this was the pent house and it was the basement.
After I stood there and gazed for a while, I pulled myself back to reality and looked at Josh.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Make yourself feel at home. You will be staying here till we are sure it is safe for you to leave." It took me a little while to realize this was my temporary home.
"Oh, okay,” I said. “Thank you so much."
"There will be some one come in soon” he said, “to bring a pepperoni pizza for your lunch, will that be okay?"
When he said pizza was for lunch, I realized how hungry I was. I’d obviously missed breakfast. “Awesome, Thanks Josh.”
The pizza came about ten minutes later and it was so good. I had to force myself to eat it slowly to make sure I was full by the time I was done. I also got some books to read and movies to watch. Supper was chicken Caesar salad. I was only up until 9:30 that night, reading a book called The Unbelievable, about a girl named Victoria. A jokester who normally told lies when something serious was about to happen, she tried to tell people about it, but no one believed her. So she tried to solve the problem by her self and got caught.
I fell asleep reading the book there because I was so tired.
When I woke up the next few mornings I did basically the same things: read books, watched some movies, do some puzzles, read the newspaper. I also did some word searches, coloured some pictures, listened to music and I even had a few naps.
I was so bored since I wasn’t allowed to leave my room for a whole week. I was kind of excited when Josh came and got me and once again asked me to follow him. So I did.
We went a different way than we had gone to get into that room. I was extremely glad I wasn't going back to the metal room. I didn’t ask any questions as to where I was going or why. Last time I saw Josh, he said I would be let out when it was safe for me. We turned another corner, but this hall only had one door and it was at the very end of the hall. When Josh reached for the door handle I held my breath, but I didn’t see what I was expecting.
I stared at what looked like a T.V. show stage mixed with a clothing shop, a hair dressers and a place where they do your entire make up. I wasn't sure what to think. Josh walked over to a big comfy chair and I followed him.
"I brought you here because it is almost safe for you to leave here, but you won't be able to go to your home. We have found someone who has volunteered to take care of you. You are going to have to change your appearance. You will change the color of your hair, the style of your clothes and are going to half to wear glasses. Lydia, you will also have to change your name. I want you to think of a name and have one by the end of today. So shall we get started?"
***
A Family’s Loss
Emily Brothers
It was a beautiful day on the Gordon’s farm in Alberta. It was a Thursday afternoon, and Liam and Summer were both finishing up their homework.
Summer was eleven and Liam was nine, their younger sister Katie only five. Katie didn't have homework so she played outside with her mom, Lori.
When Liam and Summer finished their homework they went outside to watch Katie and go see their animals. Lori went in to prepare supper while Tim was still working on the farm. The kids always fed the animals before and after school. Tim and Lori thought that it was important at a young age to have responsibilities.
One morning while Lori was getting changed, she noticed a bump on her chest. She didn't know what it was, so she didn't take much pass of it. A few days later she noticed it had grown a little bit bigger. So Lori decided to phone the doctor’s office, and maybe get some tests done.
"Hello! A few days ago I found a bump on me chest. I was just wondering what I should do?" said Lori.
"Okay, we can try to fit you in, just wait a minute," the receptionist said "Well, we can see you on Monday at 1:00, if that's all right with you?"
"That works for me" Lori answered. "Well, that feels good, Now I have nothing to worry about," Lori though
t.
The weekend flew by and it was then Monday morning. Lori got the kids on the bus and left for her appointment. Tim stayed at the house to work on the farm. When Lori arrived at the doctor’s office, she waited for about twenty minutes before the doctor took her in.
"So, you’re here to have me look at a bump you noticed?" the doctor asked.
"Yes, I found one on my chest about a week ago,” Lori said. “I just wanted to get you to look at it."
The doctor looked over the bump and said, "I don’t know what it is, but if you can give me twenty minutes, I will do some tests."
"Sounds good," Lori replied.
The doctors put Lori through x-rays, scans, and some other tests. It took them about an hour, because they had to send them away to labs right away. “We will let you know as soon as we find out what the problem is, that could take a few days or a week,” said the doctors.
"Thank you, I'm sure we will be in touch," replied Lori.
When she pulled into their driveway, she saw all her kids outside kicking a soccer ball around. That warmed her heart seeing her kids getting along and being active.
"Hi, Mom!" they all said.
"Hello, kids! How was your day at school?" Lori said.
"Good," they answered together.
"Well that’s always great to hear!" Lori replied.
Lori went inside the house and started supper. While it was cooking she went outside. She gardened while the kids fed the animals. Before supper, Tim and Lori and the kids all played soccer. When supper was ready they all went inside to eat. Then the kids got ready for bed. Tim and Lori sat in front of their fireplace and Lori explained what the doctor had said.
"When they get the results back, they will call me and let me know what the problem is, Lori said. “I'm kind of nervous to find out what it is."
"Don't worry about it,” Tim replied. “You and I know that you are determined and that you will be able to battle through anything."
"Yeah, I guess so,” Lori said. “I'm going to have to have a really positive attitude."
That Saturday morning Lori got a devastating phone call. It was the doctor’s office.
They said, "We have some terrible news for you. We have discovered you have breast cancer,” explained the doctor. I know this is terrible news, but you can battle this off. We all believe in you and you will be starting treatment very soon."
"Oh, that is terrible news," whispered Lori.
Then she hung up the phone and began to cry. That was some pretty bad news. How could she tell her family and friends? Lori didn't tell her kids that day; she thought it would be too much.
When she and Tim were in bed, Lori told him about the call. "I have been diagnosed with breast cancer, they will be starting my treatment very soon," Lori tried to explain.
"That’s terrible news,” Tim said. “I believe in you and that you can push through it, if you are open to a challenge."
He didn't tell the kids until Lori started her treatment. They both thought their kids didn't have to worry about that. They were too young, and that was a pretty big thing to just say. It was a big deal.
Thursday afternoon Tim told the kids at last. "The doctors have diagnosed your mom with cancer. She has started her treatment; you can try to start helping her out a little more. Do some chores, cook or clean, anything really."
Summer began to cry, and so did Liam. Katie didn't understand.
"Why our mom?" Summer cried.
"We have no control over that stuff. Your mother didn’t do anything wrong, it’s just one of those things," Tim replied.
"It's not fair," Summer said and then stomped off.
It was a quiet evening. Summer spent it out in her tree house or reading in her room, while Liam and Katie played outside together. Tim did some cleaning up around the house and Lori worked in the garden. It was bedtime, so Lori and Tim read a story to the kids before they went to sleep.
Months had gone by since Lori had found out about the cancer. She was well along on the treatment. Lori was not feeling as good anymore because she had been having so many treatments. She was still determined and she knew she could battle it off. At that point she had been fighting the cancer for six months.
Lori went for a check up and they noticed the cancer had spread to her lungs. Lori had lost a lot of weight because she wasn’t eating that much. The kids were pretty much on their own with chores and cooking.
Lori’s best friend, Sherri was a big help. They were best friends since middle school. She spent a lot of time with Lori and the kids. She helped Lori with cleaning and cooking and some other stuff. Lori was really sick at that point. The doctors decided to take Lori into the hospital to stay. Tim and the kids went to visit her every day and Katie sometimes went during the day with Sherri or Tim.
About one month later a nurse called Tim and told him to go visit Lori. Tim picked up the kids and they stayed with Lori all day. It was a very sad day for the kids because their mom was dying.
That evening at 8:00, Lori passed away with family and some close friends around her. It was a very emotional time for everyone. Tim tried to tell the kids Lori was suffering, it was probably best and now she would be with her sister who died five years ago. The kids still found it very hard and poor little Katie didn’t understand, she was too young.
When they got home everyone went to bed in Tim's bed. Summer and Liam cried themselves to sleep. They were extremely sad, angry and tired. They couldn't do anything about it now.
The next day their grandparents spent the day with them. They went to Lori's brother's house to plan for the wake and funeral. Summer and Liam were very quiet and Katie sat with her grandmother the whole time.
Those few days went by very slowly, full of sadness. Their family, friends and neighbours were a huge help, but still it wasn't easy. The kids found the wake very long and sad. It was their mom's wake, and that was hard to believe. It was very busy, since everyone knew Lori. The funeral was even longer and everyone was crying. Everyone met at the church hall after the funeral to share some memories and have a bite to eat.
School was Tim’s last worry, so the kids stayed home for two weeks after the death and he didn’t mind. Some days they stayed with family, while others they stayed at home with one of Lori’s friends.
Summer was really affected by the loss, as well as the rest of the family. When Summer went back to school she and Liam started to talk with their school counselor. It was a really big help, she was really good with them.
Life was getting better, but it would never be the same and everyone still cried over it and got upset. They began to realize they had to focus on the positives in life, not just the negatives.
Katie, Summer and Liam would never be able to call someone Mom, and that was heartbreaking. Their lives would never be the same. But they would have to make the best of it.
Four Years Later…
Time flew by and Tim had been dating Kelly for five months. She was in the same situation; her husband died from a heart attack three years ago. Kelly had a little girl Clare; she was only four years old. Everyone got along very well, and they were a big help on the farm. Both families lives had changed after the deaths, but they were trying to make the best of it. They seemed to be happier.
It was good for everyone, now they were like a family. After all those years, they had finally listened to Lori. She always used to say you have to live every day to its fullest. They were living a healthy life and they tried to be as positive as they could.
***
Just add music
Emily Fraser
My name is Alisha. I’m unique with the artistic touch and have a “creative way of living.” But nobody knew that about me not even my family did because I would lock myself in and the world out of my artistic world; the old cellar.
There were moments when I needed to get away from pain or society so I’d run down there to escape it all. The walls covered in paintings and collages beautiful to the eye, a
pile of paper with my ideas and my favorite; my piano. It may have been old, broken and useless to others but when I found it lying in this unexplored cellar I got to bring it to life.
I’d throw back my long brown hair and gaze my blue eyes upon the keys as my fingers expressed what sounded good to my ear. I thought myself all I know now by ear and my only dream then was to get to play for more then cellar walls, but to an audience of open ears, but I thought I’d never had the nerve to follow through with my dream.
One check up at the doctor changed my whole life around when they found cancer in my lungs; just the thought of stage three cancer frightened me of all that could happen. My lungs seemed to fill with worry and stress after hearing that breathe taking news I never expected to hear.
When I got home I ran to the cellar where I wrote music for hours trying to pretend it wasn’t true, while my parents cried and prayed for me upstairs. My feelings about this were controlled as my fingers pounded down at the keys.
I stayed down there until I heard the screaming outside for me so I snuck up, locked the hatch and ran to the voice. I didn’t want it to be my mother because she would be the one to remind me of what I’ve been trying to prevail over.
When I found the source of the voice I found my parents standing with tears in their eyes and I could tell they were worried by the way they slouched and showed signs of unease.
“We know this is hard on all of us especially you, but we can try to stop the cancer before it gets worst if we can raise enough money for an operation.” My father said in a quivering voice.
I stood tall and acted brave “Okay, how could we do that?”
My mother finally whipped her tears and spoke up “A benefit concert where the whole community gathers to play music and raise money for your cause perhaps?”
“Okay, it sounds like it could work” I exclaimed.
The benefit concert was being planned while I stayed in the cellar and made music for days. Until the benefit concert rolled around a week later at the wellness center.
I sat and listened to everyone there to support me on stage playing music and fundraising, but the whole time I stared at the grand piano at center stage, I was so tempted to play it but I never thought I could get up and play for them.