Chapter 35: Death in the family
I woke the next morning feeling like my mind had been through a flour sifter. I could feel and see Susan felt no better. "Misery loves company"? I said, as she threw a pillow at me. I caught it and put it back on the bed, and whipped the covers off her. She came up with murder in her eyes and a smile on her lips. Which just tasted so sweet early in the morning. We used the facilities, and headed down the stairs.
Grandpa, and grandma were not here yet so we started without them. "Ah, Daniel, don't they get the same treatment as I got"? asks dad. I thought for a minute, and had to agree with him. Susan and I linked, and went looking for them. We returned a split second later, and both of us blushed a beet red. "Ah, dad grandma and grandpa won't be joining us this morning". "How come Daniel"? "We…ll let's just say, they are doing a different kind of exercise this morning". Mom and dad turn red like Susan and I, and my siblings just laugh at all of us. We finish our routine, and I show dad and mom a few new moves. When we got to the pool, grandma and grandpa were soaking in the hot tub.
Breakfast was a jovial affair. And a mini food fight broke out with the breakfast rolls, which was quickly quashed by Miss Watts. She was no longer the timid person, as her confidence grew in the DOJO, her personality grew as well. She now had confidence in herself, and it showed. She was cooking breakfast for us all every week morning, as dad had hired her for the five-day week. I'm sure the raise in pay helped too. I could tell she was happier now than when we first met her. I think her happiness stems from the fact that she got to serve a family she loved; she was at ease with us all.
When we got to the DOJO Mr. Delaront noticed a difference in us all, we were a happy lot. "So, Daniel, who's the new member of your family, and why is she using so much power"? "Who's using power", I ask? "The little one over there". I look to where he is pointing and I see Izzy. I look at her from a power point and can see the power usage. Wow, I'm impressed, I didn't think some one could hold that much power and not burn up. "That's Izzy sir, my sister. I don't know why she is using power, but I think I will ask her". I walk over to ask, but I could tell she felt me coming. "Daniel, I know what your going to ask, but I can't tell you just yet, but know that Gab Knows, and I have his blessing". I let it lie, who am I to judge? Izzy just hugs me and says thanks. I tell Mr. Delaront that she will tell me later. He shrugs and we begin the class.
The next week is a routine week nothing special happens, Grandma is often missing our classes at the station, but I can see this is important to her. then William come home. Peter has managed to get the use of a small wheel chair for use around the house. William is a holly terror, racing up and down the hall. He is happy that he has a room to himself, but he shares Izzy's room instead. He is unbeatable at video games, and challenges everyone, when he finds out Mavis can play with him, they become an unstoppable team on line. "the Wilders" take hold of some games on line, and crush the competition. But I can see he is getting emotional down as the days progress. I try to broach the subject with him, but he just blows me off saying he's fine. Then about a week later "it" happens.
We are walking to the park, and Izzy starts to cough, she collapses on the ground and blood comes out the side of her muzzle. Peter dials 911 for an ambulance, and dad calls for a cab that can take us all to the hospital. Peter jumps in with the ambulance attendants, and they race for the hospital. We wait about five minutes for the large mammal cab, and we head for the hospital too.
Peter meets us at the door with tears in his eyes. Mom and dad start to tear up as well. If. "If you could all follow me please"? Peter leads us not to emergency but down a long quiet hall to a private room at the end. As we step in, I can tell Izzy is not long for this world. I can feel her slipping away, just like Heather did.
"Mom, Dad, I'm sorry, no parent should ever out live their children. But I have lived longer than I was suppose to. Gab promised me enough power to put myself back together again every morning. I have been fighting a battle with my body for six months now, ever since it first broke down. Every morning I get up, and repair the damage, but every morning I can repair less and less. Gab told me this day would come, and I hoped it would be much later. She coughs and begins again. My one wish that I made in the meadow, was to see my family, to love my family, and it was granted to me. I'm sorry I was so selfish, but I wanted to meet you all, and to love you all. And now I leave a big hole in your hearts, I'm sorry I hurt you. Know that these last two weeks have been the best two weeks of my life".
"I wish I could stay but it's not in the cards. May I see you all one last time"? Peter is the first to lean down followed by Vivian, followed by mom and dad, then the rest of us William is the last. "Ah, William I'll miss you most of all. You were my anchor when times were rough". William just crawls up on the bed and holds her. "Everyone I'm not going to say goodbye, instead I am saying see you later, for I feel we will all meet again". She starts to cough, then collapses and breaths her last.
We all morn in our own way, some howl, some scream, and some just bark, but all of us morn for little Izzy. That night by unspoken consent, all of us sleep in a pile of blankets in the living room, no one want's to be alone. The Coroner concludes that Izzy died of "catastrophic organ failure" cause unknown, with the amount of damage he was surprised she lived as long as she did.
Izzy wakes in the meadow. "Ah Izzy girl, I'm sorry this day had to come, but come it had to"." I know Gab, I'm just sorry that I hurt them all, and tore a piece of their hearts away". "Izzy, you take nothing from them that was not freely given. And you gave far more in return". "What did I give them, Gab"? "Izzy you made them stronger as individuals now". "Gab how long have you been here"?" Izzy I was here at the beginning, and I will be here at the end". "Are you God"? "No Izzy I am not God. I'm just a teacher/guidance councillor". "Gab will I ever see my family again"? "I don't know Izzy, but all your questions will be answered on the other side of the veil". "Thank you Gab, for being my friend". "Your welcome Izzy". Izzy and Gab hug, Izzy steps forward to the Veil, turns and waves to Gab s she steps through. Gab turns and walks to another part of the meadow.
We hold the service on Thursday. We don't inter little Izzy, instead we mount a plexiglass cube in the court yard under the juniper tree, and put her urn inside. It seems strange to say this but, she was always in the dark, we wanted her to be in the light. To the front of the case, one of my many drawings of her is mounted. In side the bottom of the case are several small drawing books filled with pictures of Izzy.