Losing Leah by Tiffany King

Author:Tiffany King
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

22

“DO KIDS our age really act like that?” I asked Jacob, who was watching the television show I’d turned on.

We were both lying on my bed while Mom sat on one of the chairs crocheting. I had been in the hospital officially three weeks. My new life was slowly beginning to shape into a routine. I woke up, had my daily session with Dr. Marshall, and then spent the rest of the morning with Mom. After she and I ate lunch, Gunner would usually find me and he and I would spend the rest of the day together while Mom ran errands and got out of the hospital for a little while. Evenings were spent with my family as we continued trying to get to know one another.

Jacob laughed. “Hell no. Sorry, Mom,” he added when she looked up sternly from her crocheting. “School is boring compared to all the drama on this show. Plus, none of the chicks at school are anywhere near as hot. Everyone on this show is a freaking model.”

Mom chastised him again, but I was too busy gnawing on my lip to respond. A part of me was relieved that school wouldn’t be as confusing as it appeared on the show. Jacob’s declaration still didn’t help the anxiety I felt about starting school. Mom had announced earlier after my daily session with Dr. Marshall that she had stopped at the school and finished my enrollment. I spent two days taking proficiency tests that would determine exactly what I knew. I got the impression that everyone was skeptical about what kind of education I could have received while locked in a basement for ten years. It made sense, I guess. As far as they were concerned, Judy was a monster who treated me like a prisoner. They had no way of knowing what an emphasis she put on education. The proficiency tests Mom had me take for school were all easy in comparison. If I knew they would lead to me being thrown into school so soon, I would have dragged my feet in taking them or flunked them on purpose.

Now it appeared I was set to start as soon as I got settled at home. Mom’s news created butterflies the size of dragons in my stomach.

I wanted to ask Jacob more questions but didn’t want them to know I was worried. They both already hovered over me enough. It was as if they were afraid I was going to break at any moment. I didn’t want to give them yet another thing to worry about with me. Over the last few weeks, it had become obvious Dad was having issues being around me. Nobody would say it, but each meal seemed more strained than the one before.

Finally, three nights ago, he gave up the charade and hadn’t shown up since. Mom and Jacob seemed to have a harder time accepting it than me. I understood, probably better than they did. I made Dad uncomfortable. Mom and Jacob continued to make up excuses for him.

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