Sandy
Damn Fog! Damn, freak fog. We never have fog this time of year. The morning had been perfect for surfing. Why couldn't the day have stayed that way for the boys. Now I'm stuck in my own freaking fog. I've got to hold it together for Kirsten and Ryan; but this is the last place I want to be. I am so scared. What good is all the money now, Kirsten? That's not fair. Is what happened to Seth fair? Damn.
As Sandy got dressed after his morning trip to the beach, he could hear the boys preparing to leave for town. Everything was normal. The house buzzed with a steady stream of Seth chatter broken up occasionally by the slower, deeper tones of Ryan's responses. Last night at dinner, Ryan had been perfectly willing to wait for this "must see" movie to hit the multiplex, but not Seth. Nothing would do but that they use Kirsten's tickets to the premier and make a day of it. Sandy had had to hide a smile behind his napkin at Ryan's sour expression when Seth produced, with a flourish, his itinerary for their day in the city. The last thing Sandy heard Seth say as the boys left that morning was, if they were doomed to live out their youth in this gilded ghetto, they might as well enjoy the few perks it provided. Sandy didn't hear Ryan's response. He could only see Ryan smiling and shaking his head as he climbed into the passenger seat of Kirsten's car.
What would we do without Seth? Who'd supply us with our daily dose of sarcasm and attitude. Damn California drivers who wouldn't slow down -- even for fog. What could be that important? I'll sue their asses off. No, I won't. But God if felt good to say. Like I had some control over the situation. How much longer will it be?
How many hours ago was it that Ryan called? His voice was so choked and broken that Sandy had to ask him to repeat himself. Kirsten set a new personal record getting home from the club; but she left it to Sandy to get them to the hospital in one piece. The traffic around them seemed to move with glacial slowness. Today Sandy would have welcomed hearing the boys' sarcastic comments as he broke his own safe driving rules. Kirsten may have given him a reprieve from her questions but the hospital wasn't so lucky. Sandy had never seen her so angry when she disconnected from the hospital. Kirsten summarized her conversation with the ER receptionist as "I'm a constipated bitch who doesn't have to tell you anything. But we need you down here as soon as possible. Have a nice day."
A nice day? Ryan said Seth was in bad shape -- that I wouldn't have wanted Kirsten to see him. I did my best getting here but we missed him. Oh, but we arrived in time to sign the hospital's cover their ass release and to make sure all the insurance forms were in order. It's worse than Ryan thought. The doctors were right not to tell him much. Things could go so badly. And, we didn't see Seth!
Ryan was in the hallway when they arrived at the Emergency Room. He stood alone leaning against the wall, holding himself tightly as though he feared his body might fly apart if he relaxed for only a moment. He looked so young staring blankly at the closed elevator doors. Kirsten's touch on his shoulder brought him into her arms as though he had only been waiting for her to come. Sandy had never seen Ryan so open and vulnerable. Later, the three of them stood in the same place, holding onto each other, until the elevator came to take them up to the waiting room.
Kirsten, when did Ryan become so important to us? He looks so lost and alone. No kid should have to be that tough, that self-sufficient, all the time. I know it's worry over Seth but is there something else? Is he afraid we won't let him stay if Seth's gone? I wouldn't be any less afraid if it was Ryan in surgery now. Does Ryan realize that? How did he end up over there by himself?
"Kirsten, Ryan needs us." Sandy's soft words bring Kirsten back from the view of the freeway. Headlights are starting to come on as the evening grows later. Together they gaze across the empty room at Ryan slumped forward in his chair. As they watch him he lifts his head and looks back at them with a sad, closed expression. He rises so slowly that Sandy berates himself for forgetting that Ryan was also hurt in the accident. Ryan crosses the waiting room to them and asks hesitantly if they would like anything.