learned

I don't ask myself why things happen anymore. Half tell you that it is all for a reason. And I hate that answer. Then the other half say it is to teach you a lesson. And if that second half is right then I want to know what in the hell I could of done to deserve this punishment. Why was I in a hospital waiting room to hear news about my child. I know it has to happen to somebody but why me? But that is probably what another person is thinking. And I would not wish this on them. So I am going to deal with it and wonder what my lesson is.

"Hello?" I answered the phone in the kitchen. Evelyn was out with her new friend Whitney. Her mom took them to this new fun house that opened up.

"Yes is this Mrs. Benet?"

"This is she."

"Mrs. Benet this is Dr. Scott from the hospital. I am calling on behalf of your two year old Evelyn. She was in a car accident she has a concussion." I took the phone away from my ear and stared at it. Was this some kind of sick joke? "Mrs. Benet are you still there?"

"Yes umm.. We will be up there in a couple of minutes." By that time Jace was beside me. "Evelyn was in a car accident." I told him. With that we rushed out the door.

"Is she ok?" My mom and Jace's asked at the same time.

"We don't know yet." I just stared straight ahead trying dearly to figure out what my lesson is.

"Cambery?" My mom asked as she placed a hand on my knee. I looked up at her. I had my face composed. I am not going to cry. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine." I answered her. And at that moment a small part of me wondered if those were my moms words when I got in that car accident so many years ago. 'I'm fine' I thought. Am I really?

"It's ok to be sad sweetie. Your baby just got in an accident I was mortified as well." Tracy told me. For a moment I forgot Jace's mom was even here. I didn't know how to respond to that. A beat later I heard footsteps approaching.

"Evelyn Benet." The nurse called. The four of us stood up. She nodded and approached us.

"Is she ok?"

"She is awake that is good. She should recover in two to three days. You can go in and see her." We nodded. Our moms walked in front of us. As we walked through the corridor it seemed never ending.

I walked a little faster as if that would shorten some of the distance; it didn't. After what seemed like forever we all got to the door. Our mom's let Jace and I go in first.

"Evelyn?" Jace was the first to speak as I closed the door behind us. I fully stepped around the corner to see my daughter. She had oxygen around her. They had taken the ivy out a couple of minutes ago another nurse informed us as she left.

"Daddy they need to let us finger paint in here. Its all white." Evelyn responded. She looked at him with her big blue eyes. She wasn't crying nor was she scared. She had just been in a car accident and all she wanted was to know if she could finger paint the walls.

"Maybe they will let us hang a picture up." Jace told her. She looked pleased when he said that.

"Momma," She turned her head to look at me. "where is Whitney and Mrs. Jamison?" Who cares I wanted to say but that would be mean. I glanced at Jace quickly.

"They have their own hospital room." She processed that and nodded.

Two days later Evelyn had made a recovery. I got lucky with my teaching because it was the weekend. But now it was Monday and time to go back. So as I left that day at six my mom and Tracy walked in the house. My mom had gotten a new job as a receptionist for a therapist office.

Tracy went to work at night. She was at costumer service for an insurance company. Mom had to go to work at three. Then Tracy would stay until I got home around four.

I walked into the classroom with a huge smile on my face. Ever since I started working here the students liked me. They came to me for advice and they were not afraid to ask me questions about assignments. I wanted to make my classes a joy to go to and not boring.

"Mrs. B I don't get the book report." Garrett asked. Garrett was Brody's best friend.

"You read the book and list ten lessons you learned along with the author, copyright date and what it was about in your words." I explained. Truth be told I really didn't like this assignment but the school required me to assign it. I saw another one of Brody's friends, Nate, lean over and whisper something in his ear. Brody and Nate laughed together.

"Thank you Mrs. B."

"Nate, Brody is that something you want to share with the class." Yes Brody is in my class. He likes it. At first though he thought he could get away with anything. Let's just say I proved him wrong.

"No." They said in unison. I nodded. That's what I thought.

I went up to our bedroom about nine thirty. I turned on the television. At that moment I think I knew what my lesson was. Life, unlike a video game, doesn't do the way you want it to. It is always in control of you.