Chapter Eight – The Accident
It was a few days before October Half team and it all seemed like a normal day. But it always seems like a normal day before something bad happens.
John, Djaq and Will were sitting in English class writing and quietly talking among themselves when they was a knock on the door. All eyes went to the door as the head teacher walked in and scanned the classroom. "Luke," mumble Will and John and Djaq saw Luke outside the classroom.
"William Scarlett, can you come with me…. You need to bring your bag," Will closed in English book and stuffed it in his bag and without a word left the room. he looked worried.
John and Djaq looked at each other "What do you think that's about?" asked Djaq in a low voice.
John shook his head and he had a bad feeling beginning to grown inside him. the head teacher hardly ever come and got people out of class. And when Will never come back into class that feeling only got bigger and bigger. It wasn't normal for the head to get someone out of class.
After English it was break and the outlaw meet outside the lockets. "Where's Will?" asked Allan at once noticing his missing best friend at once.
"He got called out of class but the head," said John solemnly "But the looks of it so had Luke…."
They were all quiet for a long moment – that didn't look like good news. "It might not be nothing bad," said Much not really believing his words. If both Will and Luke got called out of class, it couldn't be just about school work. Robin got out of his phone and check it then put it back in his pocket - he got no messages.
…
At lunch time Will was still wasn't back. The outlaw sat in the back of the lunch hall talking about football and the new TV show that started the week before. It was then Djaq phone rang and Djaq looked at the caller ID "It's Will," she said she pushed the phone to her ear at once trying to hide it from any passing teachers "Hello….." Djaq was quiet as she listen down the other end "Is he alright?" she asked that grab everyone attentions as they watched as Djaq paled slightly "He what?" "Alright…..alright…. Speck soon…." With that Djaq put her phone in her pocket.
"What going on?" asked Robin at once
Djaq paused for an moment "Will's dad had an accident at work and is at the hospital…" said Djaq biting her lip slightly
"What kind of accident? He is okay isn't he?" asked Allan "He had accidents before….but Will never been called out of class...a few stiches and he fine..."
"He lost a hand," burst out Djaq and the others looked at her
"….that's bad…" trailed off Allan looking a little green at the thought "Bloody hell… you're...you're not joking?" Djaq shook her head.
"His hand?" asked John making sure he heard correctly. Djaq nodded her head "How's Will and Luke?"
"I don't think it hit him yet," said Djaq
"So I take it they are at the hospital then," said Robin and Djaq nodded her head. Robin push away his lunch – he wasn't hungry anymore. He liked Will's Dad and it wasn't fair that this had happen to him. He couldn't imagine what it was like to lose a hand.
…
At the end of the day Robin walked out of the school gates when he saw his dad watching outside his car "Hey dad," said Robin walking over "Wasn't expecting you…." His dad hardly ever picked him up from school.
"You heard about Dan?" Robin nodded his head "Well. Luke and Will are staying at our tonight until there Aunt comes tomorrow…..I am going to pick them up now. their might need a familiar face..."
"Okay," said Robin at once, he bid goodbye to his friends and got into the car. Robin didn't talk during the ride - he hated hospitals with a passion. Really, really hated them even since his mum had died in one. Then he remembered that Will's mum had died too at the hospital. Their mothers had died within the same week of each others. While Robin's mum had died in a car accident and it was sudden - Will's mum had been ill an long time.
Robin had to push down his own feeling right now.
Once at the hospital Robin followed his father on the ward and hang behind him as he spoke to the receptionist and then walking down the row of beds – some had the curtains pulled around them. Then then come to the Scarlett's. Dan was sleeping and Robin looked at where his left hand should be – but instead there was just a bandage. Will and Luke where sitting on uncomfortable looking chairs looking grim. "Hey boys," said Robin's father there was an awkward pause. "How about you three go and get something to eat in the food court?" suggest Robin's father.
Will and Luke looked at each other and then at their father. They didn't want to move but they knew they had to at some point. They got up and walked with Robin into the corridor.
"What happened?" asked Robin carefully.
"Something happen at the factory - don't know what…." said Luke with a shrugged "Dad didn't say a lot when he was awake earlier….but he on a lot of pain medication…"
"Dad said you are staying at mine tonight," said Robin he guess the Scarlett brothers already knew all of this.
"It was that or temporality foster care," said Will as they took the long winding corridors to the food court. "Luckily your dad is an emergency connect for ours…." Once they got to the food court no one was feeling very hungry so they order some chips to share and sat down at one of the tables,
"Do you have to go to school tomorrow?" asked Robin
Luke shook his head "They said we can have the rest of the week off – Then it half term…" Luke trailed off "I guess that is something…"
They walked back to the ward to find Dan was now awake. Will and Luke said goodbye to their father and promised to be back tomorrow as soon as possible. On the way they had to stop at the Scarlet's flat so Will and Luke can put their school things away and pack an overnight bag for them and get a bag for their father as well to take to him the next day. Then they arrive at Robin's house.
That night Robin hear Luke cry and Will calming him down, he went to the space room to see them. "Do you need anything?" he asked. Will hugged his brother shook his head. "You sure?" he asked
"There is nothing you can do, Robin," said Will
"I wish there was," Robin said
…
The next morning Robin had to go to school. He bid goodbye to Will, Luke and his father who were going back to the hospital. He was almost jump on when he arrived at school the next day by everyone else. "How's Will?" asked John
"Doing alright I think," Said Robin
"And his dad?" pressed Much
"From what dad told me…. Dan will be in hospital for a little bit….." said Robin.
"Could they like….reattached the hand?" asked Allan "They can do that sometimes you know…..reattach limbs….." Robin shook his head. "Damn," comment Allan. "What does that mean?"
"Dad just say we have to wait and see…." Said Robin, he didn't like that when adults said you have to wait and see.
….
No one saw Will till a few days later when school had broke up for half team holidays, Dan was still in the hospital but Will said he coming out soon. But Will didn't want to talk about the accident anymore and the other didn't ask – they had a lot of questions but they saved them for another time. They just play football until it was time to go home….
It would take a long time to process and deal with the accident.
