Spinner by Michael J. Bowler

Author:Michael J. Bowler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Michael J. Bowler
Published: 2022-01-28T18:48:01+00:00

DAY 5

CHAPTER NINETEEN

I’m Not Leaving My Friends

Roy and Alex sat in a sterile-looking room at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital and watched Nathan sleep. Machines beeped and whooshed and made blipping sounds, but Roy had no idea what any of them did. Once the shaking stopped, he’d crawled to his fallen father and felt terror engulf him at the blood pouring from the top of the man’s head. He panicked, but fortunately Alex stayed calm enough to dial 911, and help came quickly.

The paramedics seemed confused when the boys said an earthquake had knocked the light fixture down, insisting there hadn’t been any earthquake that morning. Roy didn’t try to argue because he was too upset. Alex kept one arm over his shoulders while his father was placed on a gurney, given oxygen, and then wheeled outside to the ambulance. The boys hurried after. The paramedics told Roy where they were headed and sped off down the street, siren wailing. Roy put Alex into his truck and they zoomed off in pursuit as curious neighbors watched from their front porches.

Roy sat in a chair, elbows on his knees. He watched the rise and fall of his father’s chest, noted the large bandage covering his head, and wondered if the man would ever wake up again. The doctor had talked to him and Alex, but neither boy understood much of it. Head injury was all they could get. He gave the nurses Dane’s cell number because the doctor wanted a legal adult available in case any decisions had to be made. He doubted Dane would even come.

What decisions might have to be made?

His dad would be fine. He’d been hurt on the job tons of times and always joked to Roy, “Just a scratch,” even though his whole hand would be bandaged.

Alex had one arm resting across Roy’s shoulders for comfort. No words were spoken. None were needed. They sat and waited. It was late afternoon and they’d been there for hours. Sure, his dad had a large head wound that had been stitched up, but Roy didn’t understand why Nathan wasn’t awake yet.

The meds they gave him should’ve worn off by now.

As though reading his mind, like he always did, Alex said, “He’ll be okay, Roy.”

Roy looked at him, more afraid than he’d been in that graveyard. “How do you know? We didn’t understand what them doctors said.”

“It don’t matter what they said. Soon as he wakes up, I’ll spin him.”

Roy nodded, feeling a little better. Alex could fix things better than doctors, long as the other person could talk, anyways.

Come on, Dad, wake up!

That’s when Dane stepped into the room.

Roy was so shocked, he blurted, “Dane!”

Alex pulled his arm from Roy’s shoulders and looked down at his feet.

Dane squinted at the two of them a moment before moving to the bed to check on his father. Roy noted he was dressed grunge, like usual, in ripped workpants, a long-sleeved flannel, and Army boots. He also wore an old black hoodie to complete the look.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.