Chapter one- The Accident
It was the summer I turned twelve, we were all twelve now, going on thirteen. Our first year of being a teenager, Chris told me that he was relieved just to have made it this far. I gave him a good smack upside the head for that because if anyone deserves to be here today, it's Chris Chambers. Actually everyone deserves to be where they are in some way, shape or form.
Chris is the most beautiful person I've ever met. Other people would say he's dirt just like the rest of his family, but those are the kind of people you give the finger to. Their opinions don't matter, unless you let them matter. He's a lot smarter than he lets on, and I'm gong to force him to take the college courses. He is smart, he does well in school and brings home average grades. But does he ever get a hint of a compliment. Nope, so what does his dad do instead? He beats him, and that gets me angry. And all because he can? Normally, I'm the one to fix him up, and I don't mind one bit. He asks us not to feel sorry for him, but I can't help it, because every time a new bruise surfaces, the pain in his eyes increase.
Gordie Lachance is another one of my best friends, he's the oldest in our group with the best talent for writing stories. The things he comes up with, but not once has his parents ever read or even acknowledged one story. They're still grieving over their oldest son's death, Denny died four months ago in a car accident and they still haven't got their act together. I feel even worse for Gordie because he's become the ghost child. No one, especially Gordie should be treated like that. Someone so sweet and innocent, with so much room to grow should never be ignored. And with a talent like his, he'll never be ignored again.
Teddy Duchamp is the craziest boy you'll ever meet. I was actually afraid of him when we first met, but then he turned out to be real sweet, just with a rambunctious personality. I think that's why everyone loves him so much. He may be a little upfront all the time, and some times insulting but, that's nothing we can't keep under control. The two of us have known each other the longest, I think we were seven when we met, and I was the only one who knew how his Father truly was. I think after he came back from Normandy, he became a little twisted, and I became positive of my assumptions when he took Teddy's ear and nearly burnt it off on the stove. He was taken away after that. So because of his Father, Teddy is more than half deaf in one ear. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who knows this, but deep down, Teddy still loves his Father. And now that I think about it, anyone can tell because he still defends his Father's name. The only Idol Teddy will ever have is his father, and he hopes to be up on the Front Line, just like him.
Vern Tessio reminds me of a little kid, he is the cutest kid I've ever met. He's my baby, and there are so many things between us. I love him to death, and would do anything for him, for any of the boys. If only he'd become a little more aggressive, if only he'd harden up a little. I still love the way he is, but maybe I can't fully blame his behaviour on him, it's partly his brother's fault too, always picking on him. Vern just needs a little confidence booster. I don't think it's fair that he has to go home to his brother all the time, but then again... so does Chris. Chris gets it worse but still, he knows how to handle himself. Vern still has a lot of learning to do.
Now, if you don't know who I am then you'll probably know my brother, Vince Desjardins. He's one of the hoods from Ace Merrill's gang of twits. Although, I've never met the Cobra's face to face, but I've heard of them. They're ruthless and I hope I don't have any bad encounters with them. I know who every one of them is though, there's John or "Ace" Merrill, their "fearless" leader, Eyeball Chambers (Chris' brother), Billy Tessio,(Vern's brother), therers my brother, Charlie Hogan, Fuzzy Bracowicz, and Jack. I don't know what Jack's last name is but... who really cares anyway. Those are the members of Castle Rock's most feared gang.
And my name is Kayiena Rose Desjardins, Vince's little sister and best friends with Chris, Gordie, Teddy and Vern. My life went down hill the summer I turned twelve, I never thought this would happen to me, but then again people on this side of town always seem to get the short end of the stick.
What happened:
It was July sixth, Daddy had ordered two tickets to see a baseball game. One for him, one for me. It was going to be our night out. The both of us shared a passion for baseball, and our teams were playing. I loved the Boston Red Sox and Daddy was a fan of the Washington Nationals. They were playing over in Washington and it only took about three hours to get there. The game started at three so we left at noon.
We were about forty-five minutes into the game when Daddy started drinking. When the game was three quarters of the way finished I asked him,
"Daddy, do you really think you should be drinking if you're going to be driving later?"
"I've only had a couple sweetheart, don't worry. I'll be fine to drive home," he had told me, then jumped up when his team smacked a home run.
Now to Daddy, a couple is about four or five. In the next forty-five minutes, he'd probably have another two drinks. That'll be six or seven. I hope Daddy's right, I hope he'll be okay.
We were on our way home and I was listening to Daddy ramble on excitedly about the game, his team had won and he was ecstatic. I was starting to get nervous when I noticed the speed he was going at, almost twice the maximum. We were ten minutes from getting inside Castle rock when I noticed him drift over to the other lane, the one coming away from Castle Rock, and then I saw the headlights. They blinded my vision and I remember screaming, "DADDY, WATCH OUT!" and then there was the crash. I heard the crunch of metal on metal, I slammed my head off the window and then I blacked out.
When I woke up, Mama was sleeping, holding my hand in hers and her head was laying on top of them. I looked around and saw the over whiteness of the walls and the white bed sheets. Then I saw the night gown I was wearing and I knew I was in a hospital. But confusingly, I couldn't hear the beep-beep from the monitors that I expected from watching the movies. I shifted and that woke Mama up. I watched her as she broke into a smile and her eyes watered, she hugged me. When she parted, she started to speak, all I could see was her lips moving but I had no idea what she was saying. I was panicking inside.
"Mama, Mama! I can't hear, why can't I hear?" I cried out, the tears started to leak out of my eyes. I knew I was speaking because my lips were moving but no sound could be heard, but she seemed to be able to hear me.
I watched her lips move but I couldn't understand.
"No, no. I can't hear you. What are you saying? Mama, I'm scared. Why can't I hear?"
I watched her lean over and press a button, her lips moved briefly then a few moments later a Doctor came in. From what I could tell, she was talking to him and he came over and spoke.
I shook my head, "I can't hear you, what are you saying? What's happened to me?"
The Doctor turned to my mom and from what I could see of his lips moving I could make out the word 'tests', and 'goes'.
Over the course of three days, I had six tests run on me. The Doctor wrote me a note, explaining what was happening. They wanted to see if this was just temporary. But from the results the tests were showing, this was permanent. My hearing didn't get any better and the news was broken to my Mom and I. Where I had only lost my hearing, my Daddy had lost his life. He died early that morning. His heart had beat for the last time at 3:24 this morning.
From that time on, I became deaf. I lost my hearing and my Daddy lost his life. To alcohol, and speed. I felt bad for the other family, I wonder if they lost anyone? After I got out of the hospital it became obvious that I was able to pick up lip reading. In about two weeks maybe three I had no trouble reading them. It became second nature, like I'd been doing it all my life. I had an easier time reading lips rather than learning the hand signals. I don't really complain about what happened to me, sure I'm upset that I lost my hearing, and I felt that it wasn't fair. But I'd much rather be alive and deaf. Than Dead.
I miss my Daddy, sure I don't think that he should of drank then went and drove home. I don't think it's fair that his life was taken. But that's what happened, and I can't take it back. I would if I could but there is no possible way. I still cry about him, I miss him everyday, and I keep one of his shirts wrapped around one of my larger bears. I also took his necklace, the one he wore the night he died. If only alcohol had never been invented. Daddy would be alive and Chris' Daddy would be nicer. The crash haunts my every memory, I have nightmares. Where I see my Daddy's bloody face, the speed of the car increases and then the bright lights fill my sight, and I wake up. Screaming and crying. Mama usually comes in and comforts me because Vince isn't home often. But every once and a while, he'll come in. And those are the times that make me feel the best.
