Chapter 1
Sitting on the rock ledge, looking out over the lake, the sun was slowly going down
behind the trees, causing ominous shadows to dance over the undulating waters. Small
waves were being forced across the surface by a loon swimming past as it nervously glanced
at me and I smiled. The entire scene made me wonder if my dad would have considered this
in his continuous mutterings about there always being ‘the calm before a storm.’
I’m Lucille Yates, but most people call me Lu, except for Sheri, she calls me Luce,
but I like when she does, it always gives me a warm feeling inside.
This is my story and it’s not a very pleasant one, at least not for the most part,
so I thought you should be warned.
Before the evening of my 15th birthday there really wasn’t much of a story. I was
your typical teenage girl, giggling with my friends, talking with them on the phone when
we weren’t together discussing clothes and boys. All of those things were a big part of
my life, but after that night those topics were to be the least of my worries. Yes,
everything was about to change and not for the better.
My parents, Evan and Marci were trying to make sure I had everything I wanted and
definitely spoiled me a bit too much. The fact that I always expected more, never really
seemed like my fault, it was just the way they had raised me.
On the morning of my 15th birthday, mom and dad were both busy trying to see that
my day would be perfect and as usual, I expected it. I’ll be the first to admit that I
thought my shit didn’t stink, but I loved the special treatment.
That day my dad wasn’t going to be around to help mom with anything other than
breakfast. He would be working a double-shift at the mine to pay for my party, or at
least that’s what he continued telling me right before he’d smile and get that twinkle in
his eyes that would only show up when he was teasing someone. I laughed every single time
he said it and that morning he was still harassing me.
It wasn’t like I was having them rent a hall for me or anything, it was only seven
of my closest friends coming for cake and ice cream, pizza uptown before the movie and
then we would end the night at the teen center drinking sodas, flirting with boys and
laughing; it was what we did.
We had done most of those things that day and I think my mom was pretty happy we
had reached the part where she didn’t need to be around us anymore. Before dropping us
off in front of the theater, she made sure we understood that we were to be waiting
outside of the teen center by 10:30 that night. I don’t think she was looking forward to
them spending the night, but that was the plan.
So there the eight of us were, talking, giggling and getting loud in the movie
theater while the boys behind us continued throwing popcorn in our hair. I was just
turning around to give them a good tongue lashing when my mother appeared in front of me,
telling us girls to follow her into the lobby.
The eight of us followed her up to the lobby where she explained to my friends that
their parents would be picking them up after the movie and then her arm was around my
shoulder, leading me out to the car. I was upset, but I could see she had been crying and
knew it had to be pretty serious for her to even think of doing what she did.
“What’s goin’ on mom?”
“Your father’s been in an accident at work. They’ve already flown him to the
University Hospital in Minneapolis, so that’s where we’re going. He’s still alive right
now, but you need to be prepared honey,” mom said, wiping her eyes as she began to drive.
I started crying, not having anything to say and I could see mom was close to
breaking down, but really, what could I say?
When we walked into the hospital, I clung to my mother’s arm as we finally found
intensive care and dad. He wasn’t looking very good at all, but the doctor was telling us
that he was lucky to be alive. I had no idea then, that life was about to take such a
drastic turn.
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