Authors Note: This story is a fictional story about Cindy. There are true moments that actually happened to me, but most of it is just fictional writing.
Summary: Cindy and her grandma are very close. Her grandma has lung cancer, and dies from it. This story is about her life without her "Gram-gram". Please read and review.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.
Cindy's Point of View
My grandma is a very great person, even though she's a smoker. I remember the time she taught me how to play poker, when I was only eight years old! That was so much fun. She took me to her bedroom, and said, "Do ya wanna learn how ta play poker?" I nodded my head, and she began. I remember that day as if it were yesterday. Now, I can beat almost anybody at it, except her of course. I have her to thank for that.
Smoking. It does terrible things for you. Just like what is happening to my grandma. She has Leukemia. She's slowly dying away. And the only thing I know about her is that she smokes, lost her husband before I was born, and knows how to play all kinds of card games. Now, she can't even talk to me. I can talk to her, but all she can do is grunt something undecipherable.
Almost everybody on my dad's side smokes. My dad did at once, but I'm not going to get into that story right now. Anyway, even most of my cousins smoke, and they are about three to five years older than me.
The doctors say she won't make it past the 19th. My birthday is the 17th, I will be fifteen. And, the way it looks, she may not make it to there.
I'm about to break down. I haven't cried yet. Why? Cause I'm Cindy Vortex. And Vortexes don't cry. Heh, that's what Grandma Vortex would say. When I was three, I fell down onto the concrete outside her house, and started crying. She came to me and said, "Child, stop your crying. You're a Vortex. Vortexes don't cry." I haven't cried since.
Do my friends know about this? No they sure don't. I don't want to tell them yet. They might start acting different around me, afraid to mention something that will remind me of my grandma. But, they don't tell ME everything, so why should I tell them everything. But, of course they are going to find out when my fifteenth birthday party comes along on the 20th and I have to suddenly cancel.
Sometimes I wonder "Why is this happening to MY grandma?" Then I realize I don't have to wonder. I know. It's all because she smokes. I wish all of these cigarettes would just disappear. Why would anyone want to smoke anyway? They make your breath smell like the local garbage dump . Who wants that?
Well, I know one thing's for sure. My grandma doesn't smoke anymore. Her doctor made her stop. Same thing my dad has been trying to do for fourteen years. Now, she listens. Too late. She already has cancer.
As I think about all this I wonder, how will I go on without Grandma Vortex? She always gave me a card with a ten dollar bill on my birthday and every holiday, even Saint Patrick's day! I would run to her house, considering it was only a few blocks away, and give her a great big hug and shouting "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" And then she light a cigarette and say "You deserve it child." She'd blow out a puff of smoke. "Now, go buy yourself something nice." I would then run out saying, "Oh I will grandma! I will!"
Now, this concerns me a bit. On my dad's side, I never knew my grandpa, but I knew my grandma. My little brother of age one will never know his grandpa, like me, or his grandma. I will tell him stories, but they won't mean as much to him as it would if she were to be here with him.
Six days. It rings in my head like a broken record. All we have to do now is soak up as much of her as possible until she's, gone.
"You are such a dork Neutron!" Cindy pushes Jimmy away from her as she walks down the hallway. Jimmy has already made her mad by getting a higher grade in math. "You're one to talk, Vortex. Is it my fault you're slipping up in math?" Cindy gave him a stern look. "Humph, I've got better things than to argue with the likes of you." She snapped around and stormed off in the opposite direction. He growled and stormed off as well.
She marched up to Libby. "Hey girl! What's up?"
"Libby, Neutron, is a complete, AND TOTAL IDIOT!" Cindy screamed, putting emphasis on her last three words.
"I know what will calm you down. A nice, quiet trip to the spa. It's worked before, and it will work now."
"Ok, after school, it's you and me." They shook hands and walked to their fourth period class, last period.
"Ok class. Time for your presentations." Cindy's eyes widened. Oh no! I was too busy last night to do it. I'm so dead! Cindy thought. "Cindy. Why don't you go first, hmm?" She breathed in deep. "Mr. Lang, I don't have my project." Mr. Lang looked at her concerningly, knowing that she was one of his best students who never turned anything in late. "Ok. Sheen, how about you? Did you even do it?"
Sheen took his pencil out of his nose. "Uh, yeah I did. But my... um... grandma's dog ate it!"
"Your grandma's dog? I'm getting to old for this. Nick, did you do your project?"
"Yes, I did. It's on hair products and why they shouldn't be tested on animals." Nick went to the front of the room. Great. It's probably about the time one of his hair care products made half of his hair to fall out! Ha, he was half bald for months!
An hour later the final bell rang releasing them for the day. "Ms. Vortex? I'd like to have a word with you." Cindy slowly made her way to her teachers desk. "Why didn't you have your project today? You are my best student!"
"Mr. Lang, I didn't have time to write my project last night." He looked at her and smirked. "I'm serious. You see, we were at my grandma's house. She's... dying in a few days." Mr. Lang's face saddened. He had lost his grandpa at a young age, and was very close to him, so he knew how she felt.
"Just, make it up as soon as possible. And I won't count it late." Cindy smiled and turned to walk away. "Oh, an d Mr. Lang?" She turned around. "Can you keep this between you and me." "Of course!" "Thanks." And with that, she ran out the door.
"Girl, where were you? I've been waiting out here for ten minutes!" Libby asked as Cindy ran out the school's front door. "Sorry, I had to talk to Mr. Lang. Don't read to much into it." Cindy walked down the stairs and next to Libby. "Now, are you ready to get some spa treatment?!"
"Oh yeah Libs! Ooh! I hope that one cute guy that was there last time gives me a massage!" The two girls left, giggling the whole way to the spa. Cindy reached into her purse and brought out her cell phone, and dialed her home number. Her mom picked up the phone. "Mom? Me and Libby are going to the spa!...... OK, seeya later!"
"Hey girls! This is your lucky day! We're completely empty." The spa manager said as they entered. "Thanks Margaret! Um, we want a massage, manicure, pedicure, and a hair wash dry and style." Libby told Margaret. "Right this way ladies." She led them to the dark back of the place.
After two hours they came out, fingernails and toenails shining, and their hair put up into complicated figures. "I feel so calm and relaxed. Man, that gets me every time!" Cindy shouted joyously.
Libby giggled a bit. "So, you're not thinking about him anymore?" She inquired. "Him who?" Of course I'm thinking about him. He's gorgeous! He never use to be. But now he has these dark, black shades and has some of his bangs hanging over the side. Oh, I could just drop dead! But, if Libby ever found out, I'd be dead. "Cind? Cindy? Yoohoo, girl! Snap out of it!" Libby yelled at Cindy who was suddenly snapped out of lala land.
"Well, I better head home. See ya tomorrow at school!" Cindy quicky shouted and ran off. "Sometimes there is something seriously wrong with that girl." Libby said as she headed the opposite direction.
"Hey mom! Hey dad!" Cindy shouted as she entered her house. She looked around. "Mom? Dad? Are you even home?!" She looked at the refrigerator. A note hung there. She picked it up and read it aloud.
"Cynthia,
We're at grandma's. Meet us there when you get home. Bring Noah a toy. He might get bored with the ones we have here. Love ya!
Mom" She walked upstairs and into her brother's room. "Noah better thank me for this when he gets older." She mumbled and grabbed a stuffed monkey. She headed back downstairs and out the door. "Hey Cindy!" A voice came from behind. She turned around.
"Hey Katie!" She waved her cousin over.
"Hey. You going to gram-gram's?"Both Cindy and Katie called their grandma that when they were young. Cindy doesn't anymore, but Katie can't let go of it.
"Yeah." Cindy answered
"So, I'm guessing you heard the news, right?"
"About how she'll probably not make it to Thanksgiving?"
"No, about how blood is filling up her lungs." Cindy's heart sank into her stomach.
"When did this happen?" Katie's eyes began to tear.
"While we were at school." She went into an all out cry. "Oh Cindy! How could this happen to Gram-gram? She's supposed to be here with us and watch us grow into young women, remember. She always said that she'll be here for us when we become adults." Cindy put a comforting arm around Katie's shoulder.
"Come on. Let's go in." They walked into their grandma's house. Their grandma was on a hospital bed. She looks awful. Cindy thought as she walked to the bed. Both kneeled down by the edge of the bed. Jeanie, Cindy's aunt and Katie's mom, said, "Mom, Cindy and Katie are here." Their grandma opened her eyes slowly and glanced at them.
"I love you grandma." Cindy said loud enough for her to hear her and walked to her mother. Katie, on the other hand, stayed by her grandma's side.
"Ready to go?" Cindy mouthed the word 'yes' and left. Her dad stayed there.
As soon as Cindy, her mom, and Noah walked in the door, the phone rang. "Hello?" Her mom answered. She started to hand the phone to Cindy. "It's Libby." Noah began to cry. "Well, better go change his diaper."
"Hey Libs! IM time? Gotcha! Gimme two minutes." She ran upstairs and logged in with her username, wouldn'tyouliketoknow. But, whenever she was IMing, it shortened to WYLTK.
Hiphopgirl40: Hey chica! Where were you? I called you like three times and no one was home.
WYLTK: My grandma's house.
Hiphopgirl40: Cool!
No, not cool. You would know that if I told you about her. But, you aren't going to find that out now.
About an hour later her mom called her down for dinner.
WYLTK: Well, I have to go eat. Bye!
Hiphopgirl40:Bye!
Cindy hopped down the stairs and into the dining room. "Where's dad?" She asked when she noticed he wasn't there.
"Over at grandma's. Jeanie and Katie are fixing dinner over there, and he wants to be around his mom as much as possible before, you know." Cindy mouthed and 'oh' and sat down. "So, how was your day at school. By the way, I love your hair! Witch stylist did you have at the spa?"
"I had a so-so day at school. And my stylist, was this french chick. I don't remember her name." Cindy picked up a slice of pizza and took a bite. How she loved the taste of homemade pizza. After she finished she excused herself table, explained how she agreed to meet up with Libby at the Candy Bar, and rushed out the door.
Later at the Candy Bar Her and Libby had sat down in a booth eating an Atomic Choco Blast, with the help of Sheen and Carl.
"Carl! Stop eating all the nuts!" Sheen grabbed Carl's spoon and threw it across the room. "Aah! My spoon! Come back to daddy!" Carl jumped up and ran over. "Hey, since your up Carl, crank up the juke!" Cindy and Libby shook their head in way that explained 'Why are we hangin out with these freaks?'. As Carl bobbled over to the juke box, Jimmy walked in.
"Ugh, it's ButtBrain." Cindy growled. "You have issues with him, don't you." Cindy glared at Sheen.
"May I sit here, Vortex?" Jimmy asked.
"Actually, we were just leaving. Come on Libs." She motioned to Libby to follow her. "But, I'm not done! Oh, fine."
"Suit yourself Cindy." Jimmy said tauntingly and sat down next to Sheen.
"Why did we have to leave Cind?" Libby asked when they were out of the Candy Bar.
"Because, it's getting late. Bye Libs." They headed opposite directions.
About thirty minutes later she arrived home. Her dad was still gone, and her mom's eyes were red. She's obviously been talking to some one about Gram-gram....WHOA! I don't call my grandma that anymore! All this, hangin around my family has made me talk like them. If I start talking like a wannabe hick like my uncle Hobart, I don't know what I'll do. "Mom, I'm going to be my room." She called as she walked up the stairs. "OK! But, if you get online, get right off at ten! Oh, Cynthia Wesner and Steve Parkes are at grandma's. Just so you know." Cynthia is the Children's Minister and Steve is the pastor at Retroville Christian Church, where Cindy's family attends. Her parents are really close to them, so, they decided to come and be supportive.
Well, ten o'clock roles by in a jiffy. And, Cindy is not offline. But, at twenty three after ten, she realizes and slumps downstairs for a glass of water. As she passes by the front door, some one knocks, making Humphrey bark. "Calm down Humphrey. Gosh, be quiet!" She opens the door. "Cynthia! Wow, this is a surprise. I didn't expect you at this hour."
"Yeah, well. I came for your mom. Your dad has been trying to call, but the phone line was busy the whole time. Some one's been online, hmm?"
"Oops. I accidently did that, My bad. Come on in! I'll go get my mom." No sooner than she said that, her mom came to the staircase.
"I heard Humphrey bark. Is everything all right?"
"Yes mom. Cynthia Wesner is here."
"Hello Sasha. Um, Marty tried calling, but got the busy signal, and needs you down there pronto."
"Ok. Cindy, darling. Go to my room so you can listen for Noah incase he wakes up. You're free to watch TV, if you want. I'll be home as soon as I can. Hugs and kisses! Bye!" Cindy watched her mom and Cynthia walk out te door and walked up the stairs to her mom's bedroom. She wasn't even thinking about what was wrong.
Cindy flipped on the TV and began to watch Phil of the Future. "Heh, that Phil gets me every time." Well, That went off at eleven, and Brace Face came on next. "Ugh, this show is so boring!" She turned the TV off and walked to her parents bookcase. "Maybe I should start to read the Left Behind Novels. I've always wanted too." She picked up the first book and began reading. When she was on the seventh page, she heard the door open downstairs. Then, she heard footsteps slowly thumping on the stairs. The door to her mother's room opened.
"She's gone." Was the two words Cindy's mom said.
"What?" Cindy didn't understand.
"She's gone." Cindy tossed her book down and hugged her mom. After a few seconds she let go. "I have to call some people." Cindy gathered her things and went to her room. She dropped her stuff onto the floor and sat on her bed. The news had not yet phased her. Suddenly, after three minutes or so, she walked to her mom's room. She sat on her mom's bed and waited patiently for her mom to get off the phone. "Yes honey?"
"I want to go and be with dad." Cindy stated.
"You sure?" Cindy nodded. "Ok, do you want me to call dad?" Again, Cindy just nodded. "Ok let me call him." She dialed Grandma Vortex's phone number. "Honey? Cindy wants to come, is that all right?........ She'll be there in a jiffy...... Yes, she is dressed and is leaving now........ She just exited the door.......Uh hum........ I love you too. Bye."
Cindy wrapped her sweater tighter around her body considering it was freezing out and that's all she had. A single tear caressed her cheek, and she wiped it away. Vortexes don't cry. Vortexes don't cry. Was all that was on her mind as she walked. Going to make my Gram-gram proud. And she didn't really care if she called her grandma that or not. All she wanted now was to go back in time and be with her grandma when it happened.
"Hey honey." Her dad greeted her with a week smile. One tear fell on both of her cheeks but she wiped them away quickly. Her dad put a comforting arm around his daughter as they walked towards the house, where her uncle Bo, was looking forward to seeing his niece who he hasn't seen in three years.
"Well, you ain't no short stuff anymore!" Bo said as he hugged Cindy. She smiled at him and walked into "Gram-Gram's" house. Grandma Vortex was laying in the same spot she was when Cindy saw her just yesterday. Her aunt Jeanie was laying by her side, most likely how she use to when she was young. Cindy smiled weakly at the other guests in the room as she walked to her grandma's bed. She sat down slowly on a chair next to the bed.
That's when it hit her. Her grandma was dead. She began to cry. Nothing could have stopped her. Even her grandma's motto. Her dad handed Cindy a tissue. Cindy took it willingly. Jeanie extended her hand across her mom for Cindy to hold. Cindy took hold. She began to sob heavily. Nothing but the fact that her grandma was dead was on her mind. Her aunt Jeanie, kept repeating "I love you mom." and kissing her mother over and over. "Cindy, do you believe she's in heaven." Jeanie asked. Cindy nodded. "I do too. And I'm going to see her again. And so are you." Jeanie's cell phone rang and she got up to retrieve it.
Cindy's mind was blank. She was just soaking in everything around her. How everyone was calm, not crying. Maybe they cried when it happened. Maybe she was just a little late.
What she could not process is how some of the guests were laughing. Only blood relatives were moping about.
She finally regained her mind back, and one thing came to her mind first. She died before my birthday. My Birthday. My birthday. Replayed in her mind over and over again, like a pesky fly that won't leave you alone.
She didn't think about how she disobeyed her grandma. She cried.
She began to pray, hoping her grandma would hear her. I love you grandma. Like Aunt Jeanie said, I'm going to see you again someday. I'm going to run and give you the biggest hug. You can make sure of that. But, for now, I'm going to be missing you. I love you very much and I know you are in a better place now. Suddenly, she heard a faint voice in her head. I love you too child. I'll be awaitin for that hug. The voice told her. Cindy smiled. Her dad looked at her questioningly but resumed his call.
About thirty minutes later, the guys from the funeral home arrived to take Grandma Vortex's body. "We can do the funeral on Tuesday, but the casket will have to be closed since she doesn't want her..." Cindy couldn't concentrate on what he was saying. The guys brought the rolling bed like thing into the house and to Grandma Vortex's bed. The began to strap her to the bed. "I want her pillow." Aunt Jeanie sob. "I've got mom's pillow. I've got mom's pillow." She began to rock, going into hysterics. She began to sing quietly to herself. Cindy rubbed her shoulder as she walked pass and watched her mom being taken away. "They came and took her... in a white limo." She whispered. When the funeral home guys drove off, she walked back inside, where Cindy was. Jeanie began to hug everyone.
Jeanie came to Cindy and hugged her. "I love you darling. We will be with her again." Was all she said, though Cindy found it hard to decipher. "Ready to go?" Her dad asked. Cindy nodded her head and walked with her dad out the door and back to their house.
The next day, Sunday, Cindy woke up out of her slumber. She had about two hours of sleep last light, though the nightmares she had didn't help much. She stretched as she sat up in her bed yawning, bringing one hand to her eye and rubbed it, before getting up. She put on a pair of jeans and a pink American Eagle 3/4 shirt with a navy sweater zipped half way up. She slipped on some tennis shoes and hurried down stairs Her mom was making some pancakes, the syrup floating through the house. "I'm going out mom!" Cindy yelled as she ran out the door.
"Well... don't you want some..." Her mom heard the front door slam. "...breakfast?" She sighed and but her daughter's plate, which she grabbed upon hearing Cindy's footsteps pound down the stairs, back in the cabinet.
Cindy had just walked out the door when she heard a noise from across the street. She turned to see who it was. It was none other than James Neutron. "It's funny to see you out in the daylight, Vortex. I thought all vampires hated daylight." He smirked. Cindy glared at him, but thought a second, before walking across the street to him. She stopped right in front of him, just staring. About to seconds later, a smack was heard. Cindy had just slapped Jimmy on the face.
"I'm in no mood to deal with you today Neutron." And with that, she marched off.
Cindy walked to the park. She walked to a part of the park where hardly anyone went. It's kinda back into the woods a bit, at this clearing. There's one lone bench in the middle, where she usually sat. She came here to sort out her mind, and calm her. She began to cry as she brought her hands to her face. She started to think.
I can't live without my gram-gram. I can't talk to anyone about how I'm feeling. I'm depressed, and I don't know how long I can go on like this. I'm never depressed, and it's wearing me down. I need to rid myself of this pain I'm feeling, and then I'll be with my grandma again. Where I won't feel any pain, for all eternity.
"Locate Cindy." Jimmy told his computer about thirty minutes later. The computer showed a high ridge in Retroville, where if you fell, you would surely die. "I wonder why she's there. She'll be fine. But, something feels seriously wrong here. I'll just go check on her." He hopped into his hover car and flew out of the laboratory.
When he reached the ridge, he saw a blonde, wearing a black shirt and blue jeans. "Cindy! There you are!" He cried out. She ignored him. She raised her arms to the side of her, like she was breaking free of something. Oh no! She's gonna commit suicide! "Stop!" He ran over and caught her just before she fell. He brought her back over the ridge and they stood a few feet away from the edge. She was trembling, in what seemed like fear. "It's going to be alright Cin."Jimmy stroked her hair as he held her in an embrace. "Do you want to talk about what's going on. Cause, quite frankly, I'm worried about you."
"You wouldn't understand. Now, go away! Why do you care? You've never cared!" She screamed at him, pushing out of his grasp.
"I've always cared! I just... never showed it! Please, just let me in. Tell me what's wrong."
"She's dead." Cindy whispered.
"Who? Who's dead."
"My grandma. And I never, got the last chance to tell her that..... I love her." She brought her hands to her face and fell to te ground. She let out an almost ear shattering scream. Where is all this anger coming from? Jimmy thought.
"What did she die from?" Jimmy asked, afraid of her answer.
"Lung cancer. I hate it! Why did it have to be her? Anyone else, but not her! She promised she would always be here for me!"
"Cindy, she is here for you. In there." He pointed his index finger to her heart. "She will always be in your heart." What Jimmy just said had touched her sensitive spot.
"Why are you helping me?" Her voice cracked.
"Because... I love you Cin." He, ever so gently, kissed her. It was like heaven for Cindy, and she never wanted it to stop. He caressed her cheek with his hand, and pushed away.
"It took ya long enough." Cindy giggled. Jimmy smirked at her playfully as they headed home in the hover car.
"Cynthia Nicole Vortex! Where were you?! I called Libby, you weren't there and..." Cindy's mom began yelling as soon as she walked in the door.
"I went to the park. That's all. Worry down mom." Cindy said simply
"Well, you could've at least called!"
"I guess. Well, I'll be in my room! Later!" She ran upstairs.
A/N: Well? How was it? Was it good? Do you want more? Well, don't just sit there! Reveiw! But, no flames please. That would be much appreciated.