Different by Janet McLaughlin

Author:Janet McLaughlin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: tourette, tourette syndrome, middle grade books, tourette kids, tics kids
Publisher: Absolute Love Publishing
Published: 2018-09-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

“Suspended for a week!” Mom frowns, shakes her head. “I am so disappointed in you, Izzy. I don’t know what to say.”

We’re sitting in her car in the school parking lot. The bell will ring soon, and kids will start coming out. I don’t want them to see me. But I can’t stand when she’s mad at me, and I can’t stop the words from tumbling out.

“I love you, Mom.”

Mom closes her eyes, takes a breath. She knows what I need to hear. But first she needs a few seconds to calm herself.

“I love you, Mom!” I say again.

Finally she says the words. “I love you, too.”

“Can we leave now?” I grunt and tap, tap, tap Mom’s shoulder.

She starts the car, but before she pulls out, she turns to me. “Please tell me what got into you. I still can’t believe you hurt that boy.”

“He was a jerk, Mom. He took my pen and wouldn’t give it back.”

Mom rubs her temple and sighs.

“And he made fun of me. He imitated my grunt. It sounded so stupid. I sound stupid.”

Mom’s face softens. “I know how all this must hurt, Izzy. But Billy has done this to you before. You never lashed out like that.”

I reach down and touch the carpet on the floorboard. When I sit back up, I stare out the side window.

“Well?” Mom asks. “What made this time so different?”

“I love you, Mom.”

“Izzy—”

“Can you just please say it?”

She sighs. “I love you, too.”

I grunt and touch the floor again. Finally, I get up the courage to tell her. “I forgot to take my medicine.” I stare out the window. I don’t want to see Mom’s face when she hears this.

I wait for her to explode, but she doesn’t say anything at first. After a minute, she says, “Look at me, Izzy.”

I turn my head toward her.

“Is today the first day you missed?”

I bite my lip. “I love you, Mom.”

Mom narrows her eyes. “How long has it been since you last took them?”

I start rocking in the seat. “I love you, Mom!”

Mom stops. Takes a breath. “I love you, too. Now how long?”

I shrug. “A few days maybe.”

“How many days is ‘a few’?”

I turn my face to the window again.

“Izzy!”

“Okay, so maybe I’ve skipped it for a week.” It’s more like two, but I can’t bring myself to admit to that. She’ll be mad enough about the one week.

“You what? Izzy, how many times have we told you—”

“I know. I know!” I grunt again. I still won’t look at her. “I hate taking that stuff.”

Mom puts her hand on my shoulder. “Izzy.”

She waits.

Finally, I turn to face her.

She takes in a deep breath. Lets it out. “You can’t just stop taking these drugs cold turkey.” When she sees the confusion in my eyes, she explains, “You have to get off them gradually, Izzy. If you stop all at once you can get sick. Or worse. You could totally lose it, like you did today. You’re lucky Billy didn’t fall and break an arm or something.

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