The next day, the bell rang signaling the end of school. Thank goodness, Joe thought as he walked towards his locker. This had been a long week. He gathered up the books out of his locker and tossed them into an old backpack of Frank's that he had borrowed. He stopped at the soda machine and went to the auditorium to meet Vanessa.
Vanessa was in the wings working on one of the props. He handed her the soda he had picked up for her and opened his with a little difficulty. After a few minutes break, they got to work on fixing the prop.
"I'll be right back Joe," Vanessa whispered, "I have to go get a screwdriver from the back."
As Vanessa left, Joe heard them practicing on stage. He stood up to take a look and stretch out his leg. As he got up, he accidentally knocked over the soda, spilling it across the floor.
"Damn," Joe exclaimed under his breath as he grabbed for the can to prevent any more from spilling. Just as he looked up from his crouched position, Craig exited the stage right in front of Joe.
Craig looked at Joe crouched by the floor with the can in his hand and the big spill still spreading. "What are you trying to do this time Hardy? Are you trying to make me fall to get back at me?"
Joe's embarrassment at the spill turned to anger. He hated to be accused by Craig. Craig pushed his way further into the curtained wing avoiding the soda and drew close into Joe as he stood up.
Craig whispered, "You might think that everyone thinks you're awesome, but you're nothing more than a dumb jock. And with a screwed up shoulder, you're pretty well worthless."
While Joe was trying in vain to master his anger, Craig reached up and gave Joe a hard push on his shoulder. The pain fueled Joe's anger more; he dropped the can and brought his good arm back ready to deliver the punch that he knew Craig deserved.
Just then Vanessa came running in, dropped the screwdriver and shouted, "NO! Joe don't!" She grabbed his arm and held it preventing him from connecting with Craig's face.
Joe dropped his arm and looked at Craig with rage in his eyes, "You'd better watch out Craig." He turned around and walked out into the hallway with Vanessa following him.
"What has gotten into you Joe? I can't leave you for a minute without you getting into a fight with Craig." She wanted Joe's help, but she wasn't so sure having Joe around the play was a good idea anymore. "And it sure sounded like you just threatened him."
"Vanessa, I'm sorry. Craig is a jerk," Joe said. He knew she wanted more explanation, but he couldn't do it right now. "Look, I have to go back in there and clean up the soda. I'll be right back."
"What soda?" she thought. Vanessa followed Joe back in through the stage doors and saw him go into the janitor's closet. She went back to her prop knowing that Joe needed some time to cool down. Vanessa resolved to get to the bottom of this later though.
Joe entered the closet hoping to find a mop and bucket filled and ready to go. "Of course," he mumbled, "why should this go my way either. I've got a mop and no cleaning solution." He picked up the ammonia off the shelf and was so intent on trying to unscrew the bottle top with one arm in a sling that he didn't hear the door ease open behind him.
Joe had just gotten the bottle open when something hit the side of his head. His vision swam in and out and he swayed. He dropped the bottle of ammonia splashing his clothes and spreading it across the floor. A moment later he collapsed to the floor hitting the side of his head again and his vision went black. Joe lay on the floor next to the spreading puddle of chemicals.
After making sure that Joe was unconscious, the boy climbed the step ladder and opened the vent to the boy's dressing room slightly. He climbed down off the step stool and laid it on its side as if Joe had fallen off it. He quickly checked Joe's pockets, but still couldn't find the notebook. He gave up and slipped out of the janitor's closet before anyone missed him.
Frank approached Vanessa, "Hey Vanessa. Where's Joe?" He looked around expecting him to walk up at any minute.
"He said he was going to get a mop to clean up the soda he spilled. That was 15 minutes ago though. I think he just needed to cool off," Vanessa said.
"Why?" Frank asked. Vanessa wasn't making much sense.
"He and Craig got in another fight. And Joe threatened him. I was shocked. It's just not like Joe," she said as she shook her head.
"I'll go check on him and see if I can get him to talk to me," Frank assured her. He went down the darkened backstage hallway and opened the door to the janitor's closet.
"Joe, we need to ---," but he stopped abruptly as he was hit with the ammonia smell and the sight of his brother on the floor.
"Vanessa! Call an ambulance!" he shouted to be heard above the rehearsal. Frank's eyes were burning as he entered the room. He didn't want to move Joe, but the fumes were so thick Frank knew he had to get Joe out.
Frank held his breath and scooped Joe into a fireman carry. Gingerly he laid him in the hallway away from the chemicals. He was breathing but coughing and had a pulse but it seemed to be racing. He was still unconscious.
Within a few minutes he and Joe were surrounded by paramedics and some of the teachers who were still in the building. Frank explained what he knew and that he was pretty sure the chemical was ammonia.
Other teachers were helping to evacuate the auditorium. A few people, including Craig and Alan were coughing as they were herded by, but no one seemed seriously effected.
Vanessa ran back to the group around Joe. "Frank is he going to be okay?" she asked worriedly, coughing a bit herself.
"I hope so Vanessa…," he trailed off. "I'm going to the hospital with him." Frank thought Joe looked very pale and though he hadn't opened his eyes yet, he was still coughing.
"We need to get him to the hospital," the paramedic said to Frank. "His blood pressure is high. How long do you think he was exposed to the fumes?"
"Probably about 15 minutes," Frank said to the paramedic. He turned to Vanessa and said, "Can you call my mom and dad and let them know?"
"Yes. Go with him. Call me later and let me know how he is," Vanessa said.
She took one last look at Joe and said quietly, "You have to be okay Joe. You just have to."