Misdirected (10 page)

 

 

Chapter 17

Friends Show Up

That night while I'm researching how the hell we're going to get to Michael's wedding on public transportation, I get a call from James.

“Hey, man. What's up?” I say.

“I'm at the hospital.”

“What happened?”

“My mom passed out and stopped breathing.”

“Is she okay?”

“I don't know.”

He sounds totally beat down. His voice is quiet and lifeless.

“What can I do?” I ask.

“Can I crash at your place tonight?”

“Yeah sure. You know what? I'll be there in twenty.”

I hang up the phone and yell downstairs like a maniac. “Mom, get the car keys!”

I have my shoes and coat on by the time I get downstairs. She looks at me like I'm on something.

“James's mom is in the hospital. She's an alcoholic and James said she passed out and stopped breathing.”

“Oh my god.”

“I told James I'd be at the hospital.”

She gets up and puts on her coat, grabs the keys, and we rush to the car.

We drive in silence. About halfway there I say, “I told him he could crash at our place tonight.”

“Of course. Whatever he needs.”

“Thanks Mom. I mean, thanks. Really. For not being like her.”

She keeps her eyes on the road but smiles a little sadly.

When we get to the hospital, the elevator takes too long, so I leave my mom waiting for it and run up the stairs, taking three or four steps at a time.

When I get to the top and open the door, I see James sitting in the waiting room by himself. He's kicking his feet against the wall as he swings them back and forth.

“How is she?” I ask.

“She'll be okay. The doctors want to check her liver and some other stuff. She'll be here a few days.”

“My mom said it's fine for you to stay with us.”

He nods and I sit next to him. I don't know if I should put my hand on his shoulder or something comforting like that.

My mom comes out of the elevator, speed walks over to James, leans down and gives him a hug. She doesn't let go. She just kneels down and holds him.

I hear James sniffle. He buries his head into her shoulder while she strokes his back. His shoulders are moving up and he's crying. I put my hand on his back and we all just stay there like that until James has let it all out.

 

 

Chapter 18

A Temporary Brother

James sleeps in Pete's room. I even tell him about the magazines under the mattress to cheer him up. Pete wouldn't mind.

In the morning, Dad makes us a big breakfast. Pancakes with strawberries and real syrup from Vermont. James has only ever had the corn syrup crap before.

“Have you heard any news about your mom this morning?” my Mom asks.

“She's doing better. She's awake and everything. I can go see her after school.”

“How about we all go together?” she asks.

He looks at me for a second as if her question is funny.

“Thanks. I can take the bus though if you're busy.”

“Nonsense. I'll pick you boys up after school.”

“Thanks,” he says.

We get ready and hop in the car so my dad can drop us off at school. As we're getting out of the car he hands James a bag. James gives him a questioning look.

“Lunch,” Dad says with a smile. “Have a good day, boys.”

He drives off and James and I walk toward the front building.

“Dude,” says James.

“What?”

“Your parents are like, parents.”

“Yeah.”

“I mean even when my dad was alive we never had pancakes or bagged lunches. He was always busy working.”

“We don't have pancakes every morning. Tomorrow will be cold cereal.”

“Do you have milk in the house, which hasn't gone sour, that you didn't have to go out and buy yourself?”

“Yeah.”

“Then it's better than my house.”

“You know, maybe if your mom agrees to get some help, she'd let you stay with us for a while. I know my parents wouldn't mind.”

“She's gotten help before.”

“Maybe this time it will be different. I mean, she almost died.”

“Maybe,” he says, sounding unconvinced. “She's actually a pretty decent mom when she's sober. She doesn't make me lunch for school or anything. She'll cook dinner sometimes, and she bought me candy and stuff.”

During lunch, James calls the hospital to check in.

“I don't remember the last time I talked to her when she was dry,” he says, after getting off the phone.

“Dry?”

“Sober.”

“Oh. Is she different?”

“She used to be angry. Now she sounds sad.”

James doesn't really look at me when he says that. I want to say something that could help or make him feel better, but what do you say? It's not like it was an accident. She drank herself into the hospital. What kind of a person does that?

“You deserve better, man. You really do.”

“She can be great,” says James, still not looking at me.

“Great? She almost killed herself by drinking. If she would just stop, you could have a mom and she wouldn't be in the hospital.”

“She's an alcoholic.”

“And if she wasn't so selfish, she'd give it up. For you.”

“Listen,” he says angrily. “It's awesome that you have two parents who take care of you and siblings that you can talk to. I mean, what a freaking life. Your biggest problem is where you can make out with your girlfriend. My mom has real problems. So just back off, okay?”

I feel like a total d-bag. I don't know what to say so I just stand there feeling stupid.

“I know,” says James, saving me from having to say anything. “You're a fricking Cosby kid. Even though my mom sucks at being a mom most of the time, it doesn't mean I hate her or anything. She's my mom.”

“Yeah. Okay.”

“I can still talk crap about her for the record. 'Cause she's my mom.”

With that I pull a Seth and punch him in the arm.

At lunch Tess stops by the library on her way to meet her friends. I tell her what happened and ask if she wants to come to the hospital with us after school. She calls her parents to see if she can go, but they say no. They know James is my friend and won't let her go anyplace where I'll be.

“They send their prayers for your mom, James.”

“Well that's freaking helpful,” I say.

Tess scowls at me. “You're becoming way more annoying about religion than when you first moved here. Just remember, your
girlfriend
is religious.

“It's okay,” says James. “My mom would actually appreciate the prayers.”

“I think I'll sit with you guys for lunch.”

“Don't you have to meet your friends?” I ask, smiling to offset my jerkiness.

“I'm with my friends. Even if one of them is sometimes an idiot,” she says, looking at me half smiling, half shaking her head.

After school, my mom and dad pick us up. We go straight to the hospital and stand in the waiting room while James goes in to see his mom.

I take out my homework and read some stuff for class, but I'm only half paying attention. I keep looking up the hallway waiting for him to come back.

About twenty minutes later he comes out and sits down next to us.

“How is she?” asks my mom.

“She's okay. She looks bad but the doctor told her she'd be fine. She just needs to stop drinking or she's going to bust her liver. And alcoholics don't get new ones.”

We're all silent.

“There's something else,” James says and takes a breath. “Child Protective Services came by to see her. They aren't convinced she can take care of me right now. Plus, she needs to go to rehab. I don't have any other family within like a hundred miles. So, I don't really know what to do.”

James's voice is holding steady, but he's looking at the ground.

I look at my mom and dad and they nod.

“You can stay with us,” I say. “I mean if your mom gives permission they have to let you, right?”

“Yes, of course, dear,” says Mom. “You can stay with us for as long as you need. We'd love to have you.”

James looks at her and then at me, and to save him from having to say anything, I say, “We'll watch movies in Pete's room.”

“Want to come meet her?” he asks.

“We'd love to,” Mom says.

Mrs. Bullard is hooked up to a clear liquid bag and her face looks like someone painted it gray and then gave her two black eyes.

“Mom, this is Ben. And this is his mom and dad. They said I could stay with them for a while so you could get better.”

She nods, smiling and also sort of half crying. She takes my mom's hand and says, “Thank you. They want to take James away. But he's my boy. What will his dad think looking down on us if I lost him?”

“It's okay, Mom,” James says. “You just have to get better. For real this time.”

She nods. “This time I'll do it. I'll make you proud.”

There is a moment of silence.

“Do you need anything from home?” my mom asks. “We could go get some of your things.”

“You're so kind. I don't need anything. Would you be able to talk to the woman from Child Services though? I told her James would be coming back after school. She should be here.”

“Let me go find out,” says Dad.

When he comes back in the room, he's with an older woman wearing a suit. My mom puts out her hand, introduces herself, and says, “James is best friends with my son Ben. We'd love to have him stay with us as long as he needs to.”

“These are good people,” says James's mom. “They took him in last night and Ben is the only real friend James has. Please let him stay with them,” she says.

The woman nods formally. “Mr. and Mrs. Pinter, if you could come with me so I can ask you a few questions about your residence,” she says.

“Yes, of course,” says my mom and follows her out of the room.

 

 

Chapter 19

If You See Your Girlfriend
'
s Sister
'
s Boobs, Look Away. Now.

H
aving James live with me is even better than I expected. We get our homework done in half the time, which is great because it leaves more time for watching movies, reading comics, and hanging out.

James also visits his mom a lot in rehab. She has to be there for a month or so. Living here is probably the most normal family experience he's ever had.

Three days a week at school, during our free period, Tess and I meet in the auditorium in our spot. This goes on pretty flawlessly for two weeks. And because James is an awesome guy who feels like he owes me one, he hangs out in the seats in the auditorium and acts as lookout, just in case someone does come in.

Everything is going great. In fact, life is better than it's ever freaking been before. I'm living with my best friend. I get to see my girlfriend. James's mom is getting better. And because she isn't around, for the first time in his life he doesn't have to go to church.

Like I said, everything is perfect. Until one day during our auditorium time Tess has to go to the bathroom. We walk out of the costume room together. That is the first big mistake. Then we walk past the green room. Because the light is on in there, we look inside. That is the second big mistake.

Inside, I see Angela half naked and making out with some senior. Tess looks over and is so surprised that she drops her bag and gasps. Yep, she actually gasps.

Angela covers herself and turns around in time to see my face and Tess's face staring at her.

Tess doesn't even hesitate. She opens the door and yells, “Put your clothes on right now.”

I stay outside the room. A few seconds later the senior, still putting his shirt back on, strides out of the room.

“Hey,” he says as he walks by.

“Oh, um, hey,” I say.

He puts his bag over his shoulder and jumps down off the stage to leave.

“What is wrong with you?” I hear Tess say.

“What's wrong with me? I'm not the one hanging out with him,” she says, pointing at me, “against orders from Mom and Dad.”

“Yeah, well, I'm not the one taking my clothes off for some guy just because he's on the football team. I mean, he's not even your boyfriend.”

It goes on like that for a while, both of them threatening to tell their parents. I'm trying to get the image of Angela's naked upper half out of my head. It's got to be against some boyfriend code to know what your girlfriend's sister looks like naked. I don't even know what Tess looks like that naked.

Now that I think about it, this is probably how Trent knew that the auditorium was empty during the day. Angela probably brought him here.

James comes running backstage.

He says, “I'm sorry. I had to take a leak. I didn't see her come in.”

I tune back in to hear Angela say, “I can do whatever I want. Back off.”

“Then why can't I do what I want? Why are you so against me hanging out with Ben?”

“You may not like what I was doing with John, but he's a Christian. I wonder what Mom and Dad will care about more. Me with him or you with your sinner.”

I get up and walk into the room.

“Hey, Angela. You may think I'm a terrible person because I'm an atheist, but me and your sister have never done the things you were doing with that guy.”

“You arrogant little—”

“Watch your language,” I say smiling. “God is watching.”

Angela grabs her backpack and leaves, slamming the auditorium door as she goes.

Tess turns to me looking shaken. “She can't tell. She knows that she'd get in trouble too,” I say to her.

“Not as much trouble as me.”

“So you're telling me that your parents would be more pissed at you for seeing me than they would be at your sister for mounting the nearest football player she could find.”

“We'll see,” says Tess.

She steps away from me and gives me a weird look.

“What?” I ask.

“Did you see?”

“See what?” I ask uncomfortably.

“My sister without her clothes on.”

“Maybe,” I say with a cringe.

“Great.”

“It's not like . . .”

“Not like what? She's gorgeous.”

“You're gorgeous.” I reach out to her but she brushes me off. “You won't hug me?”

“You won't be thinking of me.”

“Just because I saw her doesn't mean I want her. I want you.”

Tess won't look at me and she starts to cry a little.

“What's wrong?”

“I hate her so much. And now you've seen her and we haven't even . . .”

“Stop. Okay? Just stop. I think you're beautiful and you're also a wonderful person. And when you're ready to do more, we'll do more. Okay?”

“You don't wish you were with her?” she says with tears on her cheeks.

“I think I hate her even more than you do.”

“Promise?”

“Promise. I'm not saying I wouldn't want to see you like that. I mean, I really really really . . .”

“Stop talking,” she says, half laughing between tears.

“Done.”