CHAPTER 11: A Talk With Jason

When I got to my room, I kicked off my sandals and stretched out on my bed. Jason came in a minute later, pulled the desk chair up beside the bed, and sat down.

"How are you feeling, love?" he asked, rubbing my arm. As soon as he asked me that, I felt like I was reliving the day of Andrew's bike accident, and Jason comforting me. From the first time he'd called me that, I felt like I was walking on air.

"Well, for starters, I'm glad my voice is coming back," I answered. "I just hope it's fully restored soon."

Jason nodded. "I know what you mean," he said. "I just found out from my Uncle Joe—you know, Mum's brother—that his son, John, who's a year younger than Bebe, had his out a few months ago. As much of a chatterbox as he is, he had to get used to not saying anything for a while."

I couldn't help groaning. I guess all those years of never knowing when to shut up had finally caught up with me.

"Hey," Jason said. "It's all right, Karen. It'll come back before you know it. Believe me, you'll be reciting the Gettysburg Address in no time."

I managed a very soft laugh, despite the fact that I couldn't memorize it to save my life, let alone recite it.

"Oh, before I forget," Jason said, "when we left the hospital last night, I asked Mum if we could stop somewhere, and I got something for you." He went over to my desk and picked up a green shopping bag with the word "ZINGY'S" on in it. In case you're wondering, Zingy's is a store at the Washington Mall that sells really tacky stuff. It's basically Claudia's kind of store.

He put the sack on the bed and I reached into it, pulling out a black sleeveless shirt with the words "DEF LEPPARD" on it, in red.

"Wow, thanks!" I exclaimed, brushing the sack off the bed. I didn't care that I'd never heard of these guys before!

"You're welcome," he said, folding up the sack, laying it on the bookshelf, and sitting back down on the chair. "Oh, did I ever tell you about the time I got the scar on my face?"

I nodded. The one thing that really stuck out in my mind about that was the fact that the nail that had been in that board missed his eye by an inch. I still cringe whenever I think about that.

"And did I ever tell you about the time I fell out of my treehouse at Mom's?" I asked.

"I don't think so."

"Well, you see," I began as I folded my hands behind my head, "I know Mom told me not to climb up there, but the 'magic wand' was there; and well, being the Einstein that I was, I went up and got it. You know, even if I'd held it in my teeth, I probably still would've fallen. I'm just glad I landed on my stomach and not my head!"

Both of us laughed. And that's when I noticed the little creases in the sides of his mouth when he was laughing. It made him look like Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit. He was so cute.

"I'm glad you're feeling better," he said. "If you ever need someone to talk to, you can always come to me."

"Thanks, Jason," I whispered, mostly because it was easier on my voice, as I sat up and gave him a hug and kiss.

"Well, I'll let you get some rest now." And he helped me lie back down.

As he stood up, he tickled my foot. I smiled and pulled my foot away as he put the desk chair back, hung my new shirt over it, and left.

What a sweetheart.