Nat woke up the next morning to find Alex had raided the fridge, and was on what looked to be his 9th can.
"Alex what are you doing?" Nat asked, that amount of soda couldn't be good for a young boy.
"I'm remembering mom," Alex said aggressively.
"I'm not sure mom would want you to remember her this way," Nat said.
"What would you know!" Alex answered angrily, "You at least remember her, all I have is stupid soda and a stupid bear to try and help me. And it doesn't work because I DON'T REMEMBER HER!"
Nat could see just how upset Alex was, he knew it wasn't fair on Alex, it wasn't fair on either of them.
"Calm down, Alex. Dad is going to share mom with you tonight, I told him that you need to know her," Nat said gently.
"Can you tell me a bit about her now?" Alex asked quietly.
"You remember how before you played drums, you used to play sax?" Nat asked Alex kindly.
Alex just nodded and took another drink of soda.
"Well, you used to play drums, before you played sax and drums again. Back when mom was alive. You used to play them using the pots and pans, and mom would spend hours with you showing you how to make music out of it. She taught me how play the piano before she died," Nat said remembering how his mom had help make music the biggest influence in his life.
"I wish I remembered her," Alex said sadly, he wished he had something to go by. He couldn't remember what she looked like or sounded like.
"We will help you remember, Alex" Nat said putting his arm around him.
At school that Alex was still drinking lemon lime soda, despite Mrs Thorpe constantly confiscating and disposing of the cans.
At recess Mrs Thorpe asked Alex to stay behind. Alex didn't care what he did, so long as he had his soda, and he pulled out another can and cracked it open.
A man knocked on the door and slowly entered. He talked quietly with Mrs Thorpe before walking over to Alex.
"Hello Alex, my name is Stephen," He said quietly waiting for Alex to respond.
Alex just looked at him uninterested before he took a drink of soda.
"Is there anything you want to talk to me about?" he asked quietly.
Alex got up and went and hid behind Mrs Thorpe.
"Don't worry Alex, he won't hurt you, he's the guidance counselor he just wants to talk," She said kindly to Alex.
Alex didn't move, he remained hidden behind Mrs Thorpe.
"Come on Alex, why don't you give me the soda and talk to Mr Samson?" Mrs Thorpe asked taking the soda out of Alex's hand.
Alex reached out trying to snatch it back, but Mrs Thorpe pulled it away from him.
"No Alex, your not having it back, you need to talk to Mr Samson…. We're worried about you, you haven't been yourself lately." Mrs Thorpe said sternly.
"MY SODA!" Alex screamed trying to grab it.
"No, Alex" She said sternly.
"Calm down Alex and talk to me," Mr Samson said quietly.
Alex ignored him and instead picked up a pencil holder from the desk and threw it on the floor. Some of the pencils broke as the hit the floor.
"Alex, you're not getting your soda back," Mrs Thorpe said defiantly.
Alex walked back to the next desk and picked up another pencil holder, he was in no mood to listen, not until he got his soda back.
"Alex, please don't make me get your father in here," Mrs Thorpe pleaded.
Alex threw the pencil holder, this time at Mrs Thorpe, hitting her in the leg.
Mr Samson motioned for her to go. She left taking Alex's soda with her.
"Alex, your not getting anywhere by making a mess," Mr Samson said trying to calm Alex down.
Alex continued to throw things around the room and at Mr Samson who appeared to be unphased .
Ten minutes later and the bell rung, Alex had run out of things to throw, so had began throwing the chairs across the room.
The rest of Alex's class started to file in, and stood in the doorway stunned. They had all thrown tantrums before, but Alex seemed to be taking things a step too far.
"Alex calm down, or mom won't let you come over any more," Jeffery said unsurely to Alex. He liked Alex he was usually such a fun loving guy.
"Rub it in why don't you!" Alex shouted and picked up a pencil holder off the floor and threw it at his friend hitting him in the head.
"ALEX!" Mr Samson said loudly, he drew the line once Alex started trying to hurt people.
Jeffery walked slowly back outside, silently crying because Alex had hurt him. Mrs Thorpe and another teacher took the rest of the class to the library, before Mrs Thorpe came back.
"Alex, your dad will be here any minute!" She said loudly so Alex could hear her.
Alex ignored her, and began ripping posters off the wall.
Alex then without warning sunk to the floor and began crying.
Mr Samson and Mrs Thorpe were unnerved, but instinctively went forward to comfort Alex, when Mr Wolff arrived.
"What's going on… are you OK Alex?" Mr Wolff asked walking quickly over to his son and giving him a hug.
"They… They… They won't let me remember mom," Alex screamed into his dads shoulder.
Mr Wolff sighed and hugged Alex tighter as he looked around the room, Alex had been angry, he could tell from the destruction around him.
"Calm down Alex, just settle down," Mr Wolff soothed
It took half an hour, but Mr Wolff finally managed to calm down enough to talk. Alex had been winding himself up so much lately it took forever to calm him down.
"Come on Alex, let's sit up here," Mr Wolff said softly, helping Alex over to the only table whose chairs he had not yet upended. Alex was still crying softly as he was guided to the table.
"Do you want something to drink Alex?" Mr Samson asked quietly.
Alex nodded and sniffed loudly.
Mr Samson left for a minute and came back with a cup of water.
Alex knocked it off the table and onto the floor.
"I want my soda," Alex cried.
"Alex you are not having anymore soda," Mr Samson said sternly.
"Give me my soda!" Alex cried louder. He was winding himself up again.
Mr Wolff gave a look of defeat. He knew that Alex had made up his mind and would only wind himself up more until he got it.
Mr Samson relented seeing the look on Mr Wolff's face. He left and two minutes later came back with a can of lemon lime soda. He gave it to Alex and watched with unease and intrigue as just holding the can seemed to calm Alex down.
"What are you doing Alex?" Mr Samson very quietly asked Alex.
"Trying to remember mom," Alex said quietly before he took a drink.
"Does it work?" Mr Samson asked just as quiet.
"No," Alex said putting the can on the table.
"She probably hates me cause I don't remember her," Alex said as he started to cry.
Mr Wolff put his arm around Alex.
"She doesn't hate you Alex, it's not your fault you don't remember," Mr Wolff whispered to his son.
"I think I should take Alex home," Mr Wolff said to Mr Samson and Mrs Thorpe.
They both agreed, Alex looked like he needed to get away.
Mr Wolff collected Alex's stuff and took him home.
"I want you to get some sleep, when you wake up I want to show you a couple of things," Mr Wolff said quietly.
Alex just nodded timidly, he followed his dad into his room, and stripped down to his boxers and a singlet and climbed into his bed, tightly grabbing Ted E Bear and hugging him.
Mr Wolff tucked Alex in and gave him a kiss on the forehead. Alex shut his eyes, he heard his dad start singing to him.
"I know this supposed to be fun,
I know all our troubles are done,
But I don't feel alright,
I know we were gonna be alone,
Together,
I miss my family,
I miss my family,
Not that you're not enough,
But the roads so far and we couldn't walk it,
We're in the middle of Nowhere,'
Alex fell asleep as his dad continued to sing.