That night Jackie knelt by her bed, saying her prayers to herself...deliberately leaving out the 20 Hail Marys. She didn't even ask God to watch over Sarah. She woke up feeling like something was gnawing at her, but as she looked in the mirror while she brushed her hair she thought about how Sarah would come to her that afternoon. She knew that without the Hail Marys she could stay on this earth a bit longer and she wouldn't have to leave Jackie that soon. But at the same time she knew that she was breaking her promise. But than, Sarah wouldn't know. She would just think it would take longer to have the prayers said. Jackie sat on the bed with a huge sigh. She came to think of Sarah as like another big sister. She loved Sarah just like one. She knew her friends loved her as well, so why was it not that big a deal to them?
"Jackie, Honey, please hurry or you'll be late for school," her Mom said.
"OK, Mom," Jackie said, changing her clothes quickly.
"Hey, Jax, wait up," Inez cried, running toward her before school started. "Hey, how are you? Boy, that was some story Sarah was telling us yesterday, wasn't it?"
"Uh..yeah," Jackie said quickly.
"How did she react when you told her the great news? I bet she was just thrilled with the fact that she's gonna be with her James real soon!"
"Oh, uh, yeah, she was...uh..."
"What?"
"Well, see.."
"You didn't tell her?"
"Tell her what?" Matt said, coming to them.
"She didn't tell her we only had five days to go," Inez said.
"Well, maybe she's saving it as a surprise, you know...for the last day?"
"Well, see, guys, it may not come in five days."
"Why not?"
"I didn't say the prayers last night."
Inez's eyes grew wide. "You DIDN'T?! But, we only have five days to go, I said my prayers!"
"I said mine," Matt said. "Why didn't you say yours?"
"Guys, I..I don't want to say goodbye to her..I mean," she could feel tears in her eyes. "Guys..she's such a nice person, and she's so kind, she.. she's such a great friend..I'll miss her so much..I mean, we're never gonna see her again."
Matt's eyes softened. "I'm gonna miss her too, Jax. But, we gave our word."
"We PROMISED...you promised. How could you do that, Jax! We have to stretch it out another day..and I'm sure she didn't want that."
"I know, "Jackie said. "I..I'm just confused about that, that's all. I value friendship so much and I've grown into the habit of talking to her every day after school, even some nights before she had to go back to the Print Shop. I'll miss her so much, she was such an awesome person to hang around with and have fun with."
Matt and Inez sighed. "Me, too."
Later that day, Jackie made her way upstairs to her room and put her bookbag on her bed, thankful Sarah had not come yet. She sank down upon the bed with a huge sigh, still confused about what to do. She didn't want to break a promise, but she also didn't want to lose this wonderful friend she had made. For she knew that once she said 'goodbye' to them, it was 'goodbye...forever' She turned and flipped on her radio as a familar song came on the radio.
'Wake me up inside, (I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside, (Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark, (Wake up)
Bring myself to run, ( I said wake up)
Before I come undone, (Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become.'
'Bring Me To Life' Jackie recognised the song. She sighed, that song may as well be reflecting what she was feeling now, her own reaction. It seemed like Sarah herself was talking from the radio. She sat up quickly as a thought came to her, she knew what she could do, she could talk to her mother about this. Her mother was the best, she could always talk to him about anything. Maybe her mother could help her out with this problem. She raced down the stairs quickly. "Mom?" she called out.
"I'm in here, Honey," her mother called from the kitchen. Jackie went in.
"Mom?" she called. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure, Honey, you know you can," her mother turned from the stove and looked at her. "Something on your mind, Sweetie?"
"Yeah, Mom, there is," she took a deep breath. "I need your advice on something."
"If it's mine to give, it's yours, you now that, dear," she went to the kitchen table and pulled out a chair, sitting on it, she beckoned Jackie to sit down on the other one. "Is something wrong, Sweetie?"
"Well, not really, Mom, I'd just..I can't make up my mind about something, and maybe you can help me."
"I'll do what I can," she reached out and took Jackie's hand. "Go on, Jackie, tell me."
Jackie took a deep breath. "Well, Mom, I have a friend.."
"Oh? Anyone I know?"
"No, Mom, you don't know her..I guess you could say I met her while on the class trip to Philadelphia. I..well...I promised her that I would do something for her. When I finish doing this, she'll have to go away. And I mean she's gonna go far away. I'll never see her again."
"Well, why not, Honey? She can't call or write to you?"
Jackie could feel tears in her eyes again. "No, Mom. As a matter of fact, she's going too far away for me ti keep in touch with her. And she's become such a good friend..I don't want her to go away. She really, really wants to go to this new place, but she can't go until I finish what I promised I'd do for her."
"I see, so she's supposed to go to this new place, but she can't go until you help her do something."
"Right, Mom. I'm gonna miss her so much when she leaves. Part of me just doesn't wanna finish what I said I would. And..well..last night..I didn't do what I said I would..to try to get her to stay here longer."
"I see."
"I didn't WANT to, Mom, but I did. The thought of getting another wonderful, special friend and then losing her forever.."
"I see." Her Mom closed her hand over Jackie's. "That can be hard on anyone knowing that you'll never see a friend again."
"What should I do, Mom?"
"Well, Honey, I know this kind of situation is very hard..but what I'd do is..I'd keep my promise to your friend..even if it means I'll never see her again."
"Jackie could feel tears running down her cheeks. "I'm gonna miss her," she whispered.
Her mother reached out and hugged her. "I know, Honey. But we Branch's always keep our promises to people. Let me tell you something your eighth great-grandmother, Mildred, said about our family a long time ago. 'What our family promises, we always perform'. You made a promise to this person, and a promise is a promise. It wouldn't be right to break it, now would it?"
"I guess not, Mom."
"Besides, you said so yourself, your friend was looking forward to going to this place. Keeping her from it would be a very mean thing you can do."
"I know."
"Anyway, you still have memories of the talks you had. When she's gone, you can remember her and she can remember you, so you can still be friends."
"Really?"
"Really. But you did promise her you would help her, and you should perform it until you're done."
Jackie smiled. Her mother was so wise. "Thanks, Mom, you're the best." she reached over and gave her a hug. "Now I know what to do, thanks so much."
