Chapter 6: Anything that happens gets better

I followed the vet all the way back into town. Vespra had her head hanging on to the side of the Vet's arm. I patted her head as he laid her on the examination table. Tears swelled in my eyes as he injected Vespra with meds. "Is she going to be ok?" I ask almost signing it.

"I am sure he will be fine. She is a very strong dog and I can tell." He said back to her. Jaylee's dad placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Jay she will be fine. " My dad signed to me as I started crying. I felt like my world was ending, if anything happened to Vespra I would want to die. I wished that I had a friend from home with us.

"Dad, call mom and tell her what is going on." I said before sitting in the waiting from. I sat down and looked at a country magazine. I saw some really cool horses and then I saw a lab. I felt like that was Vespra sitting on that page looking at me. I started to cry again and I felt my dad rub my shoulder. The radio must have been playing because my dad closed his eyes. He normally only did that when he liked what was on the radio. I wished that I could hear it because this silence in my head was just making the wait longer.

The vet tech came out in her scrubs. "Excuse me Mr. Benson, but we are going to have to do surgery on your daughter's dog. It looks like she might have internal bleeding. We need to act now if we are going to save her. Unless you just wanted to put her down."

I also burst into tear when she mentioned putting my beautiful four year old golden retriever down, she was my friend, my life , my family. "NO, we want the surgery. Please do whatever it takes to save the dog. She is my daughter's service dog and her best friend. " My father said to the vet tech. The girl nodded and walked back into the back. About an hour later the same girl came back out.

"She made it through surgery but we are going to have to keep her for a few days. We can call a cab to come and get you if needed." She said about ready to pick up the phone. My dad shook his head and stood up. He walked over and talked to her so I couldn't see what was going on. Then he came over to me and said that we were going home and would be back over here tomorrow. We walked out of the clinic and towards the doctor's office that was just across the street in the small town. We walked into the office and were taken right back. My dad was told that he had gotten a concussion and I needed a few stitches on my arm. After that we were cleared to go home. An officer from the police station had interviewed my dad before I had come back with vet while on the scene so we could just leave. The drive home was slow and seamed long. Finally we pulled into the driveway and I climbed out. I ran into the house and up to my room. I jumped on my bed and buried my head into the pillow and cried.

After a few hours I decided to go down stairs. My parents were sitting at the kitchen table trying to figure something out. I walked into the kitchen and my mom tapped my shoulder. "Jaylee, Vespra is going to be fine. She was doing good and we are going to see if she can come home tomorrow. " my mom said to me. I just nodded and tried to smile but it wouldn't come. I eat something while I was in the kitchen then went to bed.

A few mornings later, my mom came in and woke me up for school. I slowly drug myself out of bed and pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a sweater. I swung my bag over my shoulder and walked down the stairs. I didn't even walk into the kitchen; I just turned and walked out the front door and towards school. After walking for a little while I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn to see Soda standing there. "Hey Jaylee, I was wondering how your trip into town was?" he said to me and I burst into tears. He walked over and hugged me and I buried my head into his shoulder. He tapped my back and I cried. After a few minutes I looked up as him.

"Sorry" I sign to him before looking down. I see his hand reach over and gently pulled my chin up so I would look at him.

"Jaylee it's ok. What happened?" He asked his eyes seemed worried. I told him about Vespra and he offered to walk me to school. I just nodded and we walked towards the school. Once we were close to the school I saw Ponyboy and Johnny. I was pretty much on autopilot that day not knowing what was going on with Vespra. I walked home after I passed the Curtis house and waved goodbye to Johnny and Pony. I walked into the house and I saw my mom walk into the kitchen. I walked towards the stairs when I felt a faint nudge on my hanging hand.

Turning around I see Vespra with her front left leg wrapped up in a bandage and white gauze around her middle. I started to cry and dropped my bag behind me. I wrapped my arms around Vespra and kissed her head. I couldn't believe that she had made it. I stayed their sitting on the ground petting Vespra's head for over an hour. Vespra had her nose rested on my leg and was sleeping. I just stared at her while petting her soft head. I had forgotten about my school day, about my homework and about how I had told Pony on the way home that I was going to come over later and hang out with the guys. I glanced into the kitchen and saw it was almost 6:30pm and I move slightly. Vespra woke up and looked at me. "Sorry girl but I have to go." I say quietly to her. I stand up after Vespra stood up with her leg held up. I walk into the kitchen and saw my mom cooking dinner. "Mom going to the Curtis house will be home later."

"OK" she signs really quick before going back to cooking. I race out the door and down the sidewalk towards the Curtis house hold. I see Soda, Two-bit, Steve and Darry outside throwing a football around.

"Hey there's Jaylee !" Soda yelled, he was facing towards me so I could read his lips. I smile and walk towards them. "Jaylee how are you feeling?" Soda asked after hugging me.

"Great Soda, Vespra is home. My parents got her while I was at school. She greeted me once I got home." I say and sign at the same time almost jumping up and down. He smiled and invited me into the house with the rest of the guys. After about an hour of watching Mickey Mouse, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

"Jaylee I have a question" Johnny asked turning a little red. I nodded and he said "I don't mean to offend you or anything but I was wondering if you were born deaf or if you could hear at one time."

I sit there for a few minutes before I looked back at him. Everyone was looking at me now. So the truth was going to be told. For the first time since my accident I was going to tell someone what had happened.

I looked at Johnny and sighed. Soda spoke before I could say anything, "Johnny that's not something you should ask someone you don't really know that well."

I looked to Soda , "He is fine Soda. I really don't mind and yes I could hear at one point Johnny. " I say then I start to tell them what happened.

FLASHBACK

The day of my friend Rose's birthday started out as a great day. She had planned to have a big party with about 8 friends. She said that we should all go to the mall and have pizza and shop then go to the local horse farm and ride the horses for a few hours. She was a richer girl and owned about 4 horses of her own and loved to have people ride them. SO the day started with me going over to her house and waiting until around 3pm before going to the mall. We sat on her purple bedspread with a giant horse head on it. We talked about this really cute boy named Andrew Wallas. We talked about a few other things before her mom came in and told us that 5 of her friends were not going to be able to come. Rose started to cry and I suggested that maybe we order Pizza at her house then spend the day at her barn. She agreed and called Sam, the only friend that could make it. Sam came over and we ordered Little Cowboy's pizza, it was the local pizza place, and waited for them to deliver it. After eating the pizza and talking for about two hours we all climbed into Rose's mom's van and Mrs. James, Rose's mom, drove us to the barn. Sam was there for about an hour ridding on Joker, Rose's big black thoroughbred gelding. I was riding on Little Jem, a pinto mare and Rose was riding her prize horse June, also a pinto. We rode in the barn for a little while but after Sam's mom came and got her we decided to go for a trail ride. We rode down about 5 different trails before turning in. By this time it was already about 8pm and the sun was also gone. Once back at the barn we untacked the horses and put them away in their stalls. Mrs. James asked us if we wanted to get ice cream before heading back to their house. I was spending the night so I agreed and so did Rose. We drove to the local ice cream parlor and I order chocolate cookie dough and Rose ordered vanilla chocolate swirl. We eat out ice cream there before climbing back into the James's van. We were signing to some country song when I saw headlights beaming into my window. I turned to see a truck speeding towards us. It smacked into the side of the van sending it rolling down a ditch. The van landed right side up and the engine caught fire. Rose and her mom climbed out but my seatbelt was stuck. I started to panic and pulled on the belt. Finally I managed to squeeze out of the belt and through the back driver side door. I started to run but fell just as the car exploded just feet behind me. I felt a burning on my back and saw that flames were starting to spread up my back. I rolled on the ground and heard only a buzzing noise in my ears. I then blacked out, I awoke in the hospital with two degree burns on my back. I was lucky to be alive but when the doctor came into the room and I saw him walking I couldn't hear him. I started to talk but couldn't hear myself and I started screaming. After I spent about a year in the hospital I came home and refused to go to school. My parents sent me to a school for the deaf and I felt so left out. I went through a depression and almost lost contact with my best friend Rose. Rose had lost her hand in the fire. It had gotten burnt so bad that the doctors told her that they had to take it. Rose had got to the hospital to see me a few times before I was let out and her mom actually paid half of my medical bill saying it was her fault and she was very sorry for everything. Rose told me later that my parents told her that they were not upset and that they were glad that I was alive. Once I turned 16 on the 31st of January my parents got me Vespra and then about a month later I was told we were moving. Then we moved here on the 29th of June.

All of the guys looked at me. I sigh and said "then I met all of you." I smile and Johnny looks away.

"Jaylee, so that car accent with Vespra was the second accident you were in." Soda asked as I looked in his direction. I nodded and then noticed the time. I stood up and Soda stood up too. He walked me home and I walked inside. Vespra greeted me and I kissed her nose and she gave me a kiss back. That night she slept next to my bed and I slept on the floor next to her.

Again sorry for the late update, school started up again for me and I have some harder classes. I am not sure when I will be able to update again, maybe not until the end of next month or so.