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A couple hours later after Matt explained to Simon and Ruthie what was going on and after Eric came home and talked to Mary. Mary was in her room trying to take a nap because she had nothing else to do since she already helped set the table and did her homework and studied. She really couldn't sleep she was worried about Lucy but, Lucy was still sleeping peacefully. Matt was in his room finishing up his homework. Simon and Ruthie were playing in their bedroom with Happy. Eric was in his office working on his sermon for next Sunday and Annie was in the kitchen making dinner.
Matt finally finished his homework and went downstairs to see if dinner was ready.
"Hey Matt, looking for some food?" Asked Annie.
"Yeah, I'm starving. Is dinner almost ready?"
"In a couple minutes. Would you do me a favor and go upstairs and tell the kids that dinner will be ready in a few minutes and tell them to come down?"
"Sure. Well, what about Lucy?" He said hesitantly. Annie sighed. She was really worried about Lucy. Her and Eric couldn't find a way to help here with her lose. "If she wants to come down she can, but don't push her to. She's weak right now. Do you know what I mean?"
"Yeah." Matt with sorrow in his voice. He turned around he went upstairs.
Knock Knock Matt knocked on Mary and Lucy's door. No one answered so he walked in. He found both of the girls fast asleep on their beds. He really hated to wake them up but he knew they would feel guilty if they didn't eat dinner with the others.
"Mary, Mary wake up." He whispered to Mary trying to make her wake up. She turned on her other side. "Mary wake up." She opened her eyes to see Matt standing over her.
"What?" She said while rubbing her eyes. She had just fallen asleep a couple minutes and she now had to get up.
"Mom says to go sit and wait for dinner in the dinning room." He whispered.
"Ok. Why are you whispering?" She asked. Matt pointed to Lucy. Mary looked and saw that she was still sleeping. "She's going to have to wake up sooner or later." She whispered.
"I know. Now get going. Do me a favor and tell Simon and Ruthie please."
"All right." She said and walked out of the room towards Simon and Ruthie's.
Matt walked over to Lucy's bed to wake her up. "Lucy, wake up." He whispered to her. She opened her eyes and sat up.
"How long have I been sleeping?" She asked.
"For about 3 hours. It's almost time for dinner and we have to go down to the dinning room and wait, that's why I woke you up."
"Oh." She said. She had lost her appetite and she didn't want to eat, but she didn't want to tell him she felt bad enough for flipping out on him and her mother.
"Luce, are you coming?"
She nodded her head and followed Matt down the stairs. ************************************************************************ "Daddy me and Simon teached Happy a knew trick today!" Said Ruthie to Eric.
"That's great! What did you teach her? By the way it's Simon and I taught."
"Whatever. We taught her how to dance!"
"Yeah, Dad if u tell her to dance she'll stand up on her hind legs and go around in circles!" Said Simon.
"That's great. Maybe we can show it to us later after dinner." Said Eric.
"Sure." Simon and Ruthie both said.
"Sounds to me that your trying to turn Happy into a poodle." Said Mary as she started to laugh. Matt looked at her and started laughing too. He figured that all that had happened today they needed to loosen up and laugh. He wondered why Lucy wasn't laughing she usually laughs about that kind of stuff. He looked at Eric to see if he noticed. Eric nodded his head at Matt to tell him that something was wrong with Lucy. Before he could say anything to Lucy Simon cut in.
"I'm not trying to turn Happy into a poodle! I want her to be the best dog in the world by teaching her tricks and other stuff."
"Ok." Mary said still laughing a little. She looked across Matt to see Lucy seeming to stare into space. She knew that she would snap out of it soon.
Annie came out of the kitchen caring the meatloaf. She set it down in the middle of the table and then sat herself down next to Eric. "Lets all have a word of prayer." She said. Everyone held the person's next to them hand. Eric started the prayer and Annie finished it. After they said "Amen" they started to help themselves with the meatloaf. Lucy didn't help herself to anything. She spoke up.
"Mom, I'm not very hungry. May I be excused?"
"I know you don't very up to eating today Luce, but please try . . . just a little."
"Who said that I wasn't feeling well? All I said was I wasn't hungry. And that is the truth. Now please can I be excused?"
"Are you sure honey?" Eric asked caringly.
"Yes." She said quietly.
"All right honey, I'll bring you up something later on. You can't go to bed without a little something in your stomach."
"All right." Lucy excused herself from the table and went upstairs to her bedroom. She got out her school work and spread it across her bed. ************************************************************************ "Mom you know what she is stressing over don't you?" Asked Matt concerned about his sister Lucy.
"Yes, I know. But, we can't come straight out and talk about the things that she is upset about. We have to gradually come into the subject or she'll lose it. Especially if we talk about Sara. She still thinks it is her fault. We ask her everyday if she wants to talk not just about that, but about anything and she always says no. We can't force her."
"That is right. We can't force her into talking to us. You don't any of you try it either. Stay back and be nice to her. Don't pry. Do you all understand?" Said Eric.
"I understand completely Dad. I tried to talk to her today as you know what happened." Said Matt.
"She really doesn't want to talk with me anymore but, when she asks me to I'll be glad to listen and I won't turn the opportunity down." Mary said.
"I won't pry her Dad. I promise." Simon said.
"Well I can't say that I won't pry because I don't know what pry means." Ruthie said. She was confused. Everyone laughed and Eric explained to her that it meant not to ask questions and make someone tell something. "Well, yeah I won't do that!"
The subject was changed after the discussion of Lucy to Mary not having a date to the dance.
"Even if you weren't grounded Mary, wouldn't Wilson take you to the dance?" Asked Matt.
"No, he's visiting his parents at their house with Billy for 2 weeks. It doesn't matter now anyway."
"Well, that's good that you think that now Mary because if you would of paid more attention to what you are doing in school you would be going to that dance." Said Eric.
"Not necessarily Dad. I still didn't get asked out by anyone else."
"Maybe because they know that you and Wilson have a thing going on."
"I'm absolutely sure Dad that is not the case. Can we please change the subject because you are starting to depress me." ************************************************************************ After dinner everyone went back to what they were doing before or trying to find something to do. Matt wanted to talk to Lucy badly but he knew that she would just fight him. So he decided to outside and play basketball. Mary joined him. Simon was playing with Ruthy and Happy. Lucy was still trying to finish her homework and study. Eric went back to writing his sermon. Annie was worried about Lucy so she went up to her bedroom to bring her something to eat. She hoped that she would open up to her and talk about what was going on.
Knock, Knock. Annie knocked on Lucy's door.
"Come in!" Lucy shouted as she was doing her homework.
Annie walked in and sat down across from Lucy on Mary's bed. "I brought something for you to eat."
"Oh. Thanks Mom." Lucy said not even paying attention to what Annie was saying.
"So how is your school work coming along? Good?"
"I guess."
Annie knew she wasn't listening to everything she was saying. She thought that she needed a break from all the pressure of school and to take her mind off of Sara. So she decided to ask her if she would like to take a day off from school tomorrow to just hang around and relax.
"Luce, I was thinking. Would you like to take a day off from school tomorrow?"
"Um...I would like to really but, I can't I'd miss to much in school I would never get caught up."
"I promise you won't fall behind in your school work I'll get your homework from the school tomorrow morning when I call in to tell them that you won't be in school. And since you are having a little trouble in you math class I can help you. I was pretty good in Algebra back in highschool. I'm sure I could help you."
"No offense Mom, but you went to highschool a long time ago. I think school has changed quite a bit since then."
"May I remind you Lucy, that I helped Matt with his school work, Mary with her school work, Simon, Ruthy, and also you. And they all had math. Matt had algebra like you and so did Mary. I helped them when they needed it and I will help you. So what do you say? Take a break from school tomorrow so you can relax and hang out?"
Lucy sighed in frustration. "All right, I guess I can miss for just tomorrow. But, you have to promise you'll help me."
"I promise sweetie." Annie said. She smiled at Lucy and kissed her forehead. "You eat your dinner you hear?" She said. Lucy nodded. Annie left the room and closed her door. She turned around and Matt and Mary were standing in front of her.
"Is Luce okay?" Matt asked Annie. Mary stood next to him looking curiously at Annie while bouncing a basketball.
"First of all, Mary don't bounce that here in the hallway. I brought Lucy something to eat and I thought it would be a good idea if she took some time off from all the pressure and things from school and to get her mind off of Sara. So I asked her if she would like to skip school tomorrow. It took some convincing but, I got her to say yes. I was just so worried about her and she really needs to relax for a day. She's been through so much these past few weeks."
"She does need to relax and loosen up a little and she has been through a lot." Matt said.
"Yeah, maybe she'll feel a little better if she took some time to relax and get a good grip on herself." Mary said while trying to keep the basketball still.
"I'm glad you two think that. Well, if don't mind I need to go tell your father." Annie said while making a hand gesture to tell them to move out of the way.
"Oh right." Matt said. Mary and Matt moved out of the way. They stood by Mary and Lucy's bedroom door looking at each other. They both knew what the other was thinking.
"Should I go and talk to her for a little while?" Asked Matt to Mary.
"I don't know. I'm even afraid of going in there. I'm not sure if she'll start to flip on me if I say something to her. And she'll probably get mad at me if I don't say anything."
"I know what you mean. She's so out of it that she takes mostly everything as criticism." Suddenly the door opened in front of them. Lucy came out in tears looking at them with anger. Matt and Mary just looked at each other. "How stupid can we be for talking right in front of the door!" Matt thought to himself. He wanted to comfort Lucy but he knew she just push him away from her.
"How. . .could you guys stand there and talk behind my back! I mean you did it right in front of my door for goodness sake! I can't believe you two would. . . would do something like that!" She cried. She cried so hard that she slammed the door in there faces and fell on her bed and buried her face and cried. Matt came in the room and found her lying on her bed crying. He went over to the bed and sat on the edge of it.
"Luce, I'm sorry. We're sorry. We didn't mean to talk behind your back. We just wanted to find out a way to make you feel better. I love you too much Luce to try to hurt you. I would never ever do a thing like that. Neither would Mary. I really hope you can forgive us." He said while trying to calm her down by brushing her back with his hand gently.
"No! I'm the one that should be sorry. I overreacted. I'm just so tired and hurt right now. I should of known better. And I know you're still mad at me for lying to you " She said while she was crying. Still lying on her stomach but her head turned so she could see Matt.
"I'm not mad at you anymore, in fact I'm worried about you." Matt said looking at her tears falling down her face. He gently took his thumb and gently wiped the tears away.
"Promise me you or anyone else won't leave ever leave me for awhile. You know like Sara and Grandma did." She said trying to keep her eyes open. "I love you." She whispered to him. Right after she said that she fell asleep instantly.
"I promise. I love you too Luce." Matt whispered back to her realizing that she was sleeping. He kissed on her forehead and left the room and walked into the hallway. Mary was waiting right outside the door. She didn't want to go in and make things worse so she stayed outside the room.
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A couple hours later after Matt explained to Simon and Ruthie what was going on and after Eric came home and talked to Mary. Mary was in her room trying to take a nap because she had nothing else to do since she already helped set the table and did her homework and studied. She really couldn't sleep she was worried about Lucy but, Lucy was still sleeping peacefully. Matt was in his room finishing up his homework. Simon and Ruthie were playing in their bedroom with Happy. Eric was in his office working on his sermon for next Sunday and Annie was in the kitchen making dinner.
Matt finally finished his homework and went downstairs to see if dinner was ready.
"Hey Matt, looking for some food?" Asked Annie.
"Yeah, I'm starving. Is dinner almost ready?"
"In a couple minutes. Would you do me a favor and go upstairs and tell the kids that dinner will be ready in a few minutes and tell them to come down?"
"Sure. Well, what about Lucy?" He said hesitantly. Annie sighed. She was really worried about Lucy. Her and Eric couldn't find a way to help here with her lose. "If she wants to come down she can, but don't push her to. She's weak right now. Do you know what I mean?"
"Yeah." Matt with sorrow in his voice. He turned around he went upstairs.
Knock Knock Matt knocked on Mary and Lucy's door. No one answered so he walked in. He found both of the girls fast asleep on their beds. He really hated to wake them up but he knew they would feel guilty if they didn't eat dinner with the others.
"Mary, Mary wake up." He whispered to Mary trying to make her wake up. She turned on her other side. "Mary wake up." She opened her eyes to see Matt standing over her.
"What?" She said while rubbing her eyes. She had just fallen asleep a couple minutes and she now had to get up.
"Mom says to go sit and wait for dinner in the dinning room." He whispered.
"Ok. Why are you whispering?" She asked. Matt pointed to Lucy. Mary looked and saw that she was still sleeping. "She's going to have to wake up sooner or later." She whispered.
"I know. Now get going. Do me a favor and tell Simon and Ruthie please."
"All right." She said and walked out of the room towards Simon and Ruthie's.
Matt walked over to Lucy's bed to wake her up. "Lucy, wake up." He whispered to her. She opened her eyes and sat up.
"How long have I been sleeping?" She asked.
"For about 3 hours. It's almost time for dinner and we have to go down to the dinning room and wait, that's why I woke you up."
"Oh." She said. She had lost her appetite and she didn't want to eat, but she didn't want to tell him she felt bad enough for flipping out on him and her mother.
"Luce, are you coming?"
She nodded her head and followed Matt down the stairs. ************************************************************************ "Daddy me and Simon teached Happy a knew trick today!" Said Ruthie to Eric.
"That's great! What did you teach her? By the way it's Simon and I taught."
"Whatever. We taught her how to dance!"
"Yeah, Dad if u tell her to dance she'll stand up on her hind legs and go around in circles!" Said Simon.
"That's great. Maybe we can show it to us later after dinner." Said Eric.
"Sure." Simon and Ruthie both said.
"Sounds to me that your trying to turn Happy into a poodle." Said Mary as she started to laugh. Matt looked at her and started laughing too. He figured that all that had happened today they needed to loosen up and laugh. He wondered why Lucy wasn't laughing she usually laughs about that kind of stuff. He looked at Eric to see if he noticed. Eric nodded his head at Matt to tell him that something was wrong with Lucy. Before he could say anything to Lucy Simon cut in.
"I'm not trying to turn Happy into a poodle! I want her to be the best dog in the world by teaching her tricks and other stuff."
"Ok." Mary said still laughing a little. She looked across Matt to see Lucy seeming to stare into space. She knew that she would snap out of it soon.
Annie came out of the kitchen caring the meatloaf. She set it down in the middle of the table and then sat herself down next to Eric. "Lets all have a word of prayer." She said. Everyone held the person's next to them hand. Eric started the prayer and Annie finished it. After they said "Amen" they started to help themselves with the meatloaf. Lucy didn't help herself to anything. She spoke up.
"Mom, I'm not very hungry. May I be excused?"
"I know you don't very up to eating today Luce, but please try . . . just a little."
"Who said that I wasn't feeling well? All I said was I wasn't hungry. And that is the truth. Now please can I be excused?"
"Are you sure honey?" Eric asked caringly.
"Yes." She said quietly.
"All right honey, I'll bring you up something later on. You can't go to bed without a little something in your stomach."
"All right." Lucy excused herself from the table and went upstairs to her bedroom. She got out her school work and spread it across her bed. ************************************************************************ "Mom you know what she is stressing over don't you?" Asked Matt concerned about his sister Lucy.
"Yes, I know. But, we can't come straight out and talk about the things that she is upset about. We have to gradually come into the subject or she'll lose it. Especially if we talk about Sara. She still thinks it is her fault. We ask her everyday if she wants to talk not just about that, but about anything and she always says no. We can't force her."
"That is right. We can't force her into talking to us. You don't any of you try it either. Stay back and be nice to her. Don't pry. Do you all understand?" Said Eric.
"I understand completely Dad. I tried to talk to her today as you know what happened." Said Matt.
"She really doesn't want to talk with me anymore but, when she asks me to I'll be glad to listen and I won't turn the opportunity down." Mary said.
"I won't pry her Dad. I promise." Simon said.
"Well I can't say that I won't pry because I don't know what pry means." Ruthie said. She was confused. Everyone laughed and Eric explained to her that it meant not to ask questions and make someone tell something. "Well, yeah I won't do that!"
The subject was changed after the discussion of Lucy to Mary not having a date to the dance.
"Even if you weren't grounded Mary, wouldn't Wilson take you to the dance?" Asked Matt.
"No, he's visiting his parents at their house with Billy for 2 weeks. It doesn't matter now anyway."
"Well, that's good that you think that now Mary because if you would of paid more attention to what you are doing in school you would be going to that dance." Said Eric.
"Not necessarily Dad. I still didn't get asked out by anyone else."
"Maybe because they know that you and Wilson have a thing going on."
"I'm absolutely sure Dad that is not the case. Can we please change the subject because you are starting to depress me." ************************************************************************ After dinner everyone went back to what they were doing before or trying to find something to do. Matt wanted to talk to Lucy badly but he knew that she would just fight him. So he decided to outside and play basketball. Mary joined him. Simon was playing with Ruthy and Happy. Lucy was still trying to finish her homework and study. Eric went back to writing his sermon. Annie was worried about Lucy so she went up to her bedroom to bring her something to eat. She hoped that she would open up to her and talk about what was going on.
Knock, Knock. Annie knocked on Lucy's door.
"Come in!" Lucy shouted as she was doing her homework.
Annie walked in and sat down across from Lucy on Mary's bed. "I brought something for you to eat."
"Oh. Thanks Mom." Lucy said not even paying attention to what Annie was saying.
"So how is your school work coming along? Good?"
"I guess."
Annie knew she wasn't listening to everything she was saying. She thought that she needed a break from all the pressure of school and to take her mind off of Sara. So she decided to ask her if she would like to take a day off from school tomorrow to just hang around and relax.
"Luce, I was thinking. Would you like to take a day off from school tomorrow?"
"Um...I would like to really but, I can't I'd miss to much in school I would never get caught up."
"I promise you won't fall behind in your school work I'll get your homework from the school tomorrow morning when I call in to tell them that you won't be in school. And since you are having a little trouble in you math class I can help you. I was pretty good in Algebra back in highschool. I'm sure I could help you."
"No offense Mom, but you went to highschool a long time ago. I think school has changed quite a bit since then."
"May I remind you Lucy, that I helped Matt with his school work, Mary with her school work, Simon, Ruthy, and also you. And they all had math. Matt had algebra like you and so did Mary. I helped them when they needed it and I will help you. So what do you say? Take a break from school tomorrow so you can relax and hang out?"
Lucy sighed in frustration. "All right, I guess I can miss for just tomorrow. But, you have to promise you'll help me."
"I promise sweetie." Annie said. She smiled at Lucy and kissed her forehead. "You eat your dinner you hear?" She said. Lucy nodded. Annie left the room and closed her door. She turned around and Matt and Mary were standing in front of her.
"Is Luce okay?" Matt asked Annie. Mary stood next to him looking curiously at Annie while bouncing a basketball.
"First of all, Mary don't bounce that here in the hallway. I brought Lucy something to eat and I thought it would be a good idea if she took some time off from all the pressure and things from school and to get her mind off of Sara. So I asked her if she would like to skip school tomorrow. It took some convincing but, I got her to say yes. I was just so worried about her and she really needs to relax for a day. She's been through so much these past few weeks."
"She does need to relax and loosen up a little and she has been through a lot." Matt said.
"Yeah, maybe she'll feel a little better if she took some time to relax and get a good grip on herself." Mary said while trying to keep the basketball still.
"I'm glad you two think that. Well, if don't mind I need to go tell your father." Annie said while making a hand gesture to tell them to move out of the way.
"Oh right." Matt said. Mary and Matt moved out of the way. They stood by Mary and Lucy's bedroom door looking at each other. They both knew what the other was thinking.
"Should I go and talk to her for a little while?" Asked Matt to Mary.
"I don't know. I'm even afraid of going in there. I'm not sure if she'll start to flip on me if I say something to her. And she'll probably get mad at me if I don't say anything."
"I know what you mean. She's so out of it that she takes mostly everything as criticism." Suddenly the door opened in front of them. Lucy came out in tears looking at them with anger. Matt and Mary just looked at each other. "How stupid can we be for talking right in front of the door!" Matt thought to himself. He wanted to comfort Lucy but he knew she just push him away from her.
"How. . .could you guys stand there and talk behind my back! I mean you did it right in front of my door for goodness sake! I can't believe you two would. . . would do something like that!" She cried. She cried so hard that she slammed the door in there faces and fell on her bed and buried her face and cried. Matt came in the room and found her lying on her bed crying. He went over to the bed and sat on the edge of it.
"Luce, I'm sorry. We're sorry. We didn't mean to talk behind your back. We just wanted to find out a way to make you feel better. I love you too much Luce to try to hurt you. I would never ever do a thing like that. Neither would Mary. I really hope you can forgive us." He said while trying to calm her down by brushing her back with his hand gently.
"No! I'm the one that should be sorry. I overreacted. I'm just so tired and hurt right now. I should of known better. And I know you're still mad at me for lying to you " She said while she was crying. Still lying on her stomach but her head turned so she could see Matt.
"I'm not mad at you anymore, in fact I'm worried about you." Matt said looking at her tears falling down her face. He gently took his thumb and gently wiped the tears away.
"Promise me you or anyone else won't leave ever leave me for awhile. You know like Sara and Grandma did." She said trying to keep her eyes open. "I love you." She whispered to him. Right after she said that she fell asleep instantly.
"I promise. I love you too Luce." Matt whispered back to her realizing that she was sleeping. He kissed on her forehead and left the room and walked into the hallway. Mary was waiting right outside the door. She didn't want to go in and make things worse so she stayed outside the room.
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