Chapter 3

Mung

Me and Truffles were having dinner. It felt awkward not having Chowder with us. In about 30 seconds he would be done eating. I was about ready to take our plates into the kitchen when the phone rang.

I was annoyed and ran to the phone and answered it. It was Sargent Hoagie from the police department.

"Mung? It's Sargent Hoagie from the police department. You got a minute?"

"Sure. Whats the problem"

"The man that ran into you guys was under the influence during the time and was three times over the legal limit"

When I heard those words. I just stood there frozen. It felt like I was shot. A drunk driver almost took my dear boy's life.

"Well. Whats gonna happen to the driver?"

"He will be charged with a D.U.I and attempted murder. His court date will be sometime soon. I am sorry about your apprentice and I wish him the best of luck for recovering"

"Thanks for telling me this sarge."

"Hey. I am just doing my job. You have a good evening."

I hung the phone back on the wall. I have to tell Chowder about what happened.

Chowder

I was laying down in bed that night. Thinking about all the things my doctor was telling me. Can I really regain my strength to walk again? Will I actually become a chef? All these questions kept flying around in my mind. I though about Mung, I was wondering if he was thinking about me. The phone was next to my bed on the nightstand. I tried to move my arm but I barley got my arm near the stand. I just called the nurse to help me out, she dialed the phone for me and I scooted myself up to my pillow and the nurse put the phone next to my ear. It rang about 4 times and he answered.

"Mung? Is that you?"

"Chowder! Thank goodness you called. I have some news about the car accident"

When I heard him say that. I just held my breath and listened.

"The man that ran into us last night was drunk. He just had one drink to many."

When I heard him say that. I just felt angry! I wanted to punch something. I just took a deep breath and yelled at the top of my lungs. It was like a nightmare.

"Why?! Why?! Why?! This is a nightmare! Why does Mung escape? But not me?!"

The nurse tried to calm me down. I was getting that burning feeling in my body again. I was angry and tearing up at the same time.

"Chowder? I am sorry you had to hear this, but I want you to think about this seriously. Listen. I got to get going. I will see you whenever I get the chance. You get some rest. I love you Chowder."

"I love you to Mung."

The nurse took the phone from my ear and hanged it up. I was still angry about hearing the news. I pushed my blanket off of me and I tried to crawl out of my bed. it was hard to crawl as well. I put my feet on the ground. The nurse kept asking me to go back to my bed. I was holding on to the side of the bed, my arms were shaking and my legs felt like collapsing. I let go of the bed and tried to walk. I only took a step until falling on the floor. I didn't even know what I was thinking trying to walk.

"I can't give up hope! I can do it! I will walk again!" I was yelling again and again on the floor. The nurse help me up off the ground and back onto my bed. She asked me to get some sleep. I laid down thinking about what happened last night at the accident. I just pulled up my blanket and went to sleep.

A week had pass after the accident. Each rehab session had better results. I can now take four steps without loosing my strength, and I can now throw a tennis ball at a short distance past the doctor, but I still needed help getting around the hospital in a wheelchair. After coming back from my rehab session. The nurse said I had a visitor. It was Mung.

"Hey Chowder! How are you feeling?"

"I am starting to feel a bit better. I can take four steps without falling now. You wanna see?"

"You should stay in bed and rest Chowder."

I was determined to show them that I was regaining my strength, but I understood him.

Mung

I didn't want to see Chowder walk, I was worried that he will hurt himself but I believed him. The doctor told me that he is making a slow and steady recovery and should be released from the hospital soon. But I wanted to share something with him. I pulled out a laptop and put it on Chowder's lap. It was opened to a Facebook profile showing someone from a Southern California city.

"Who is that Mung?"

"That is Daniel, He is part of a group that is against drunk driving called SADD. Students Against Drunk Driving."

"There are groups like him that are against drunk driving?"

"Of course Chowder! And he wants to talk to you."

Chowder

Daniel really look like he was a nice person. He lived in California and he's a senior in high school. He had a whole bunch of hobbies from computers to drawing.

Mung turned on the webcam on the laptop. He contacted Daniel on Skype and he answered.

"Oh hello!"

"So you must be Chowder."

"Yes I am. And what is it like to be in SADD?"

Daniel had a ponderous look on his face trying to think what to say. He look like he was upset.

"Listen Chowder. I knew someone back in 10th grade. Me and him were really close friends during that time. He like to do the same things I like to do. Until one faithful night, it was on a Friday night. Me and him were suppose to meet on MSN that night. Until I got a call from his mother. She told me that he was with his friends and a drunk driver struck the car from the side at a intersection. He was dead instantly at the scene. I have to say Chowder loosing your strength to walk is lucky enough instead of loosing your life. You are a brave kid. It takes guts to go through the pain your going through right now.

Listen. There is no group in Marzipan City that speaks out against drink driving. It's up to you. A victim like you to speak about your experiences and raise awareness about the dangers of driving drunk. A apprentice like you who is always happy, almost lost his life. Hey! I have an idea. You should make a group like the one I am in. I will come out there and help you out with it! It will be perfect. Since I am into computers. I can bake you up a tasty design for your group."

I chuckled at what he said about baking a design. I had a though of a moist creamy fudge banana cake.

"That will be a great idea!"

"Terrific! But hey! I gotta get going. I will stop by and see you in a few days. Try and come up with a name for the group before I get here. I will see ya later."

"Bye Daniel!"

"See ya buddy!"

After hearing that story about his friend. I felt lucky that I did escape with weakness instead of death. Daniel really showed that he really cared for me. I was really looking forward for him to come out and see me. And I had a great idea to call my group. AADD, Apprentices Against Drunk Driving.

Okay! That's Chapter 3 for ya. As you see I will be putting myself in the story. Chowder is slowly regaining his strength and found out that drunk driving can put a lot of damage on people and their loved ones. I will update ASAP. Thanks for reading!