Chapter 5 (present day)- Surprise That Shocked Me
Today is April 30th, 2015, and I still feel sad for Joe and glad for my mom. Every two weeks Joe has to go to the hospital to get chemo. I do not hang out with him very much anymore, because of that and he's sick all the time. However, he does tell stories of his childhood to the gang and me. We laugh and cry on some. It's just so sad, you know? Just to see your friend sick and suffering in pain, you feel sorry for them. You get sick to your stomach just thinking about it. You may cry a lot, but you cry because you care and caring is the thing to do if your friend is sick. You just hope they will beat it and be better soon...
Mom's seven-and-a-half weeks along, and she gets mood swings all the time, but I still love her. Dad is supportive to Mom, even though she gets cranky and yells at him. And he loves her, that's important.
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Someone knocks at the door. Mom said to answer it, because she was busy with doing laundry. Therefore, I did.
"Huh?" I had a questionable look on my face. Who is that? I knew I seen her before, but I forgot her name. What was it?
"Is Lizzie here?" the lady asked as she held a girl about two or three in her arms.
"Who are you?" I asked the lady.
"I'm—"the lady got cut off as my mom ran in and said, "Miranda!"
"Lizzie?!"
Mom hugs her. "It's been so long since I had seen you." She stops hugging her, and looks at the girl in Miranda's arms. "Is she yours? She's so cute."
"Yeah, she is. Her name is Lassi."
"I-I- cannot believe it. The last time we seen each other were at our reunion. So long ago." Mom looks like as if she was going to cry.
"I know, but how far along are you?"
"Seven-and-a-half months."
"Boy or girl."
"Don't know yet."
I spoke up, "I think she's having twins."
Miranda turns toward me and asks, "Are you Todd?"
I nodded my head yes.
"Whoa! You've grown. How old are you?"
"Fourteen, but turning fifteen May 5th."
"Fourteen, fifteen? Oh, my. Todd, I still remember when you were two."
She turns to mom and asks, "Lizzie, where's Gordo?"
"He's helping our new neighbors build a shed." Mom added, "Come on in and have a seat."
"I wish I could, but Tuu, Drew, and my husband Aaron are waiting in the car."
"Whose Tuu and Drew?"
"They're my husband's age 10 twin boys. He gets them on the weekend."
"Could we meet them?"
"Sure." Miranda waved them to come in and the came.
"Aaron, this is my friend, Lizzie."
He shakes mom's hand. "Nice meeting you."
Miranda turns to me, "And this is her son, Todd."
He shakes my hand. "Nice meeting you too."
"Tuu and Drew, this is—"
They cut Miranda off, "We know." Pause. "Lizzie and Todd.
Mom spoke up, "My husband Gordo is helping the neighbors. I'll call over there and tell him come home if you want to meet him."
Aaron shakes his head, "If that's not a problem. I don't want to get in the way while he's working."
Mom calls over to the neighbors.
I go to Tuu and Drew and ask, "'Sup? So do you want to see my room."
"Sure."
Then dad walks in the door. Mom introduces him to Aaron. However, when he seen Miranda, he acted just like mom when she had seen her.
Tuu, Drew, and I go upstairs.
"What do you want to do?" I ask.
"Watch a R-rated movie!" Drew said excitedly.
"Nah. I'm not allowed."
"Why? We're allowed." Tuu and Drew both ask.
"Too much cursing, violence, and other stuff my parents do not want me to see." I answer. "Besides, are you a little young for that?"
"No. Our dad said we can watch R-rated movies whenever we want, but he said that we cannot not repeat curse words we hear." Tuu explains.
"O-kay." Pause. "How about we watch one of my own movies?"
"You make movies?" they both ask.
"Yes, but they are rated G through PG. Not R."
Drew shrugs his shoulders, "We'll watch 'em."
"Even though they're rated G and PG. We like those kind too." Tuu adds.
I put in a video and we start watching it. They laugh. I laugh.
"Raining Potatoes?" they both ask.
I smile, "You'll see what happens."
[THE VIDEO:
S C E N E 1---
FADE OUT
NARRATOR: One day it is raining water. A brother and sister sat by the window seal, sighing. They were bored.
BROTHER: I'm so bored that I could do homework.
SISTER: Wow! You will do homework? I never saw you do that before.
BROTHER [Frown; looking at his sister]: Don't. That was just an expression, you doof!
SISTER: Hey, would that be cool if it rained potatoes?
BROTHER: [Sigh] Sis, it will never rain potatoes.
SISTER: How would you know?
BROTHER: Uh, duh, maybe I learnt it in Science class!
SISTER: Bro, you don't even go to class, so how could you know?
BROTHER: I go sometimes. Now, just leave me alone. I have to call my friend!
[The brother got up and went to the phone.]
SISTER: Why?
BROTHER: Because... I just do, okay?
[The sister turned her head back to the rain, pouring outside the window.]
FADE IN
S C E N E 2---
FADE OUT
NARRATOR: The next day, it was raining water again. Though not that much; just sprinkling. The sister is outside, playing in it.
BROTHER: Sis, get back in here. You will catch a cold. And mom said I have to keep an eye on you!
SISTER: No! You are not the boss of me!
[The brother came out the door. The sister took of running]
[Then a potato fell from the sky and hit the brother on the head.]
BROTHER: Ow! I just hit in the head with a potato.
[The sister laughs while running.] [A few more potatoes fell from the sky and hit the brother in the head again.]
SISTER: Ha! Ha! You were hit in the head!
BROTHER: Sis, let's go inside. It's raining potatoes, and I don't want you to get hurt!
SISTER: I won't get hurt. It is just potatoes that you could eat. [She picked up one and bit into it.]
SISTER: You are a frady cat anyway, Bro!
BROTHER: I am not!
SISTER [looks up on the roof]: People you can come down now! My brother is getting really scared.
BROTHER: Hey, it was all a joke, wasn't it?
[The sister started laughing, and then running. The brother chased after her.]
[Everybody had thrown a potato into the sky and then the potatoes went splat on the ground!]
FADE IN
[[END VIDEO]]
"Whoa! Great video!" they both say and clap.
"Who was all in the movie?" Drew asked.
"My friend Joe, who played the brother, and my girlfriend Kari, who played the sister. My friend Jay and people from school had thrown the potatoes at them." I explain.
"Could we watch other movie of yours?" Drew asked.
"Yeah. That was really good!" Tuu said.
I was about to put in another movie until mom came in with the phone. "It's Kari." She handed me the phone, then went out.
"Hello?"
"Todd, I can't see you anymore." Kari's voice sounds shaky.
I get tears in my eyes. "But I don't understand. Did I do or say something wrong?"
"No you didn't. Todd, I love you and you should know I want to see you, but I have no choice."
"You have no choice. What does that mean?"
"It means that I'm moving, because my father got transferred from his job." Kari starts to cry. I still have tears in my eyes.
"When?"
"About three or four days from now."
"But I love you. You can't move." I cry.
"Todd, could you come over so I could hold you in my arms for a few more days."
"Sure. I'd do anything for you."
"Thanks, Todd." She hangs up. I hang up.
I stare for a second, and then I fall to my knees and start crying.
Tuu and Drew come to me and ask, "You okay?"
I didn't answer. I got up and headed downstairs.
My mom stops me, "What's wrong, honey?"
"Kari's moving."
I hug mom. "My one and only girlfriend that I love is moving. Why? It can't be like this." I cry and then lift up.
"I know how you feel. I'm sad for you. You have to be strong and believe that she will always be in your heart." Mom made me feel a little better. Is that what mom's are for though?
"I'm going over to Kari's. Bye mom." I head out the door.
Later, Kari and I sit on the couch, bringing up memories. We laugh and cry until we fell asleep together on the couch.