4
Thanks to Musically and IamtheIinteam for the reviews!!
About an hour later, the table was finally cleared, the dishes washed, and the family left. The house felt empty compared to the crowd that was just there.
Cedric hadn't left his room, Jack and Sally were sitting in the parlor, snuggling on the couch.
"I'm worried about Cedric." said Sally. "He's been acting so strangely lately." agreed Jack, tracing one of Sally's stitches on her neck with his finger.
Jack sighed. "Halloween is tomorrow, and I'm afraid that will only make him worse. You know how he is at scaring. I just wish I could do something..."
"Jack, thats just how he is. He must take more after me." she said. Jack laughed feebly. "I suppose."
"I'm going to talk to him..." said Sally. Jack gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Good luck." he said.
Cedric was concentrating very hard on his portrayal of his family. He was hoping to show it actually to his family when complete. They didn't know that he drew. When he heard a knock on the door.
"Ceddie?" so it was his mother then. He put the paper underneath his pillow. "Yeah." he said. She entered and sat on his bed next to him.
"Ceddie, your father and I are worried about you." she said quietly. Ceddie forced a smile. "Why?" he asked. "You've been so depressed...is there anything we can do to help? We care about you Ceddie." she said.
Cedric sighed. "No. You can't help me." he said, hanging his head. Sally held his hand. "What's wrong Ceddie? Did something happen?" she asked softly.
He shook his head. "No. Nothing ever happens." he said, turning from her. He wanted so badly to tell her all that was going through his head, but she would most likely think him mental.
Sally was near tears. "I just wish I could help you Ceddie...what do you want? Is it something we did?" she said, choking on air.
Cedric sighed. He decided to try. "Mom...when you were my age...did you ever have...thoughts?" he asked. Sally looked confused. "I would like to think that I think a majority of the time." she said. Cedric shook his head. "No, I mean, did you ever think that you felt hopeless?" he asked.
Sally took a moment to answer. "There were times when I felt hopeless." she said, thinking of her being miserable locked up in the doctor's lab. Cedric studied her face. She wasn't lying.
"Did you ever feel like its just not worth it?" he asked. "Like what's not worth it?" Sally asked.
Cedric gulped.
"Life." he said.
Sally looked like she'd been slapped. "What...What do you mean?" she asked, her voice cracking. Cedric sighed. "Its stupid. Nothing." he said.
"Ceddie, do you mean that?" she asked. Cedric sighed.
He was silent.
Much later that night, Jack and Sally were talking while getting changed into pajamas.
"Its much worse than I thought Jack...I'm really scared for him." Sally said.
Jack frowned. "Is that really what he said?" he asked. Sally shook her head yes. Jack hung his head.
"What did we do wrong? Is it us? What can we do?" he asked to no one in particular. He slumped onto the bed. Sally lay next to him.
She sighed. "I just don't know Jack. I really just don't know."
Poor Ceddie...poor Jack and Sally too...(passes around tattered review hat)
