Dear Mrs. Darbus
Summary: Mrs. Darbus is older and very sick. The doctor's say she could live if Mrs. Darbus wants to live. If Mrs. Darbus chooses to let go, she will die within seconds. Her niece is at a loss as to what to do until she finds a letter from someone named Kelsi Cross. She sends a letter back to Kelsi, in hopes she can help save her aunt from dying.
"Kels, the mail's here!" Jason yells to me. "You've got a couple letters."
"Is there anything for me, Daddy?" my 6 year old son, Zak, asks his dad.
"Not today," Jason says. I can year him walking up the stairs to our bedroom, where we are at this moment.
"What about me Daddy?" my 4 year old daughter Lenore says. Jason enters the room.
"Not you either," he smiles. He hands me my later then lays down on the bed next to the three of us. He puts his hand on my belly and smiles.
"Mommy? What is the new baby's name going to be? Can it be Rose?" Lenore asks.
"The new baby is not going to be named Rose because it's going to be a boy. The new baby will be named Johnny!" Zak insists.
"The new baby will not be born for another couple of months so let's not fight about her or his name just yet." Jason says to them, hushing them up for now. As they speak, I'm opening my letter. I pull out the actual letter part and I'm about to start reading when I look at the clock.
"Jason, you better get ready, you've got a job interview in three hours!" I say.
"Yeah, three hours!" he says.
"Jason, sometimes, you take more time to get ready than all three of us. You're worse than Sharpay," I tell him.
"Oh, be quiet Kelsi!" he whines, going to the shower.
I start to read my letter. Dear Mrs. Kelsi Cross, This is Natalie Darbus. Yes, I'm related to Mrs. Darbus. She's my aunt. I'm afraid to say that she's dying. The doctor's say that if she wants to live, she can, but she doesn't want to. I was hoping if you could convince her otherwise. I don't know what I'd do without my auntie. Please, write me back ASAP. Sincerely, Natalie Darbus. "JASON!" I call. "GET OUR COAT AND A PHONE!!" I call to him.
A few minutes later, I'm on the phone and we're all in the car. It's been ringing for what seems like a very long time. "Does anyone pick up their phones around here?" I mutter.
"Honey, you've only on the phone for a few seconds," Jason reminds me.
"Right."
"Mommy, I don't get it. Why do we have to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house?" Lenore asks. Zak shakes his head in agreement.
"Because one of mommy's friends is sick and mommy needs to take care of her," I explain.
"Who is this friend?" Jason asks.
"Mrs. Darbus."
"We don't know a Mrs. Darbus," Jason says.
"Jason, remember, our junior and senior year homeroom teacher?" I ask him. I think he's blocking a lot. I think he was more afraid of Taylor than he let on, but that's just me.
"I don't remember…" he mutters.
"Well, you don't have to. I do. Why won't Gabriella answer her stupid phone?!" I exclaim.
"Hello?" a voice answers. It's Troy. Thank goodness. I don't know if he'll help me but it's worth a try.
"Troy! Something very bad is happening. I need your help. Do you still have the gang's phone numbers?" I ask him.
"Yeah although I'm not sure if this is still Ryan and Martha's phone number. I think they moved but I can ask Sharpay in any case. Kelsi, what's going on? What is this bad thing?" Troy asks, sounding alarmed.
"It's Mrs. Darbus…I think…Troy, I think she's dying," I moan into the phone.
"Holy shit! But what's calling everyone got to do with Mrs. Darbus dying?" he asks.
"Well, I have an idea. But we're going to need the whole gang to go through with it. I think we can save Mrs. Darbus…here's what you have to do…" I explain everything to him. "I'll be at Sharpay's in a couple minutes to explain it to her, and I can get a hold of Taylor, but can you get everyone else?" I ask him.
"No problem. I hope this works," he says.
"It's going to work," I say. It has to work, I think sadly.