A Story: Four *Not Finished*

As I woke up, flashes of the night before rushed through my head and almost gave me a headache. Or a worse one, I should say. My head was throbbing like crazy and I could feel the pressure of a bandage wound tightly around it. Short flashes of me getting picked up by the ambulance and being wheeled into this room assured my assumption.

Consciousness finally stuck and I became aware of the feeling that someone was watching me. That sixth sense had always either kept my siblings out of my room or scared the heck out of me. I slowly opened my eyes and, noticing the extreme brightness of the room, shut them tightly again. I heard a familiar voice say, “She’s waking up. Turn off one of the lights and go get her visitors.” It was my mom.

But who was she talking to? I didn’t think she’d talk to my dad like that, but considering the circumstances, I was in no shape to be thinking deep thoughts. Who were my visitors? Family, if they came at all, wouldn’t have flown out this soon. When I finally did open my eyes, my mom was standing over me with a look on her face I’d never seen before. I attempted to squeak out a “Hi, Mom” but not much came out.

She leaned over and hugged me really hard. As she stood up, she whispered, “I love you but I have to go pee really bad. I wanted to be here when you woke up.” I smiled weakly.
“Besides, there are a few people here that you’d probably prefer a private conversation with.”

“Thanks,” I finally whispered as I thought of who the visitors might be. There wasn’t really anyone I’d expect to be here that didn’t have to travel far and didn’t need a ride.
~~~*~~~*~~~
I closed my eyes for just a second and reopened them when I heard a hesitant voice say, “Amanda? Are you still awake?” What, or more so who, I saw surprised me to no end. Standing by my bed were three of my teachers: Mr. Wade, Mr. Bullerman, and Mr. Patterson.

All three wore a mixed look of worry and thankfulness that I was okay. Mr. Wade leaned close and asked, “Do you mind if I hug you? In front of them, I mean.”

“Not at all.”

He hugged me tightly and as he straightened back up, I sat up a bit more in the bed. It felt weird, lying there with them standing all around me. Not only was it the most vulnerable I had felt around them, but lying in bed with only this papery nightgown and a blanket on me didn’t seem like the right situation to be surrounded by teachers. It would’ve been the stuff of nightmares for most kids, but I took it at the fact they cared about me and I didn’t mind.

“I appreciate the fact that you’re here and I understand what it means, but how did you get time to come here? Don’t you have work to do?”

Mr. Bullerman stepped forward to explain. “We’ve all taken at least a small risk in coming here today, especially without much notice. We are the ones who were most motivated to come and we are here to represent those who couldn’t make it but still send their wishes of good health.” He turned to Mr. Wade and Mr. Patterson for a second. “You don’t mind if I refer to you two by your first names in front of her, right?” As they shook their heads, he turned back to me.

“I know all of your first names, so I’ll follow just fine.”

“Good. Obviously, Tony represents all of Corkran, or at least those who know. He’d probably tell anyone else you’d like to know as well. Ken and I represent different parts of Dundalk High. By the way, is there anyone you’d personally like to be informed of…your condition?” His eyes glistened and it nearly made me cry too.

“Anyone I say, only tell them I’m in the hospital, not why particularly. If they ask, tell them I asked you not to say so that I could do it myself. Okey dokey?”

“Deal,” all three said simultaneously.

“Thank you.” I turned to Mr. Wade. “Who knows at Corkran?”

“Your mom sent out a mass email to basically anyone in your address book, so anybody in there I guess. Mr. Palazzo knows, at least.”

“There’s only one other person, then. Please talk to Mr. Keegan, Mr. Muha, all three gym teachers, and anybody else that you know that I know well.” I took a breath and was about to continue, but Mr. Patterson spoke up. He had been uncharacteristically quiet so I was worried about how he was taking all of this.

“By the way, we were talking earlier and there’s something we’d like you to know. It may have been your head that got hurt, but that’s not what we’re really worried about. As long as-”

“Oh, Amanda, I’m so sorry about what happened to you. Is there anything I can do to help you?”

Patterson wasn’t as infuriated at being interrupted as he was surprised about who was leaning down to hug me. As Phil stood back up, I could see the looks on the other two’s faces. Here was a very well-known country artist, personally coming to say a ‘Get Well’ to one of their students.

Finally, Mr. Wade was able to get something past his lips. “Phil…Vassar?”

“It’s not your fault. You know, you didn’t have to come all the way out here. I would’ve understood if you just sent a card. Aren’t you supposed to be somewhere in Illinois?”

"I couldn’t let down my biggest fan or my best non-family helper with my music.”