Chapter Two

Eugene paced back and forth in the kitchen. He was worried sick about his mother. His father had died a few months ago from the plague. He blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall. He would not cry! He would remain strong for his mother.

Mrs. Ella took his hand, and sat him down in a chair. "It is going to be all, Eugene," she told him gently. "The doctor is going to take good care of her."

"How do you know that?" He asked angrily. "Daddy died from the plague, a-an- and.." his voice trailed off. He could not hold back the tears any longer. He started to cry.

His teacher looked at him sympathetically. She picked him and began to rock him. "Everything is going to work out," she whispered kindly. "You'll see."

A few minutes later, the doctor walked out of the smile bedroom. He smiled as he saw Eugene asleep in Mrs. Ella's arms. "How is she?" The teacher questioned quietly.

"She will be fine," the doctor whispered. He gave her a cloth. "When she coughs up blood, use this to wipe it off."

"Is there anything else we can do?" she asked.

The doctor looked at her sadly. "I'm afraid not. Pray that she will be well is all I can say."

Mrs. Ella nodded at him. "Thank you."

He grinned at her. "I am going to have to leave now."

"That is all right. I understand. You are very busy," she replied.

"Yes, I am. Have a good night," he told her. He tipped his hat toward her and left.

Once he was gone, Mrs. Ella picked up Eugene and laid him in his bed. She smiled as she watched him sleep. She quietly tiptoed out of his room, and went to help his coughing mother. "How are you doing, Marissa?" she asked as she walked in.

The only thing that answered her was coughing. She grabbed the cloth the doctor had given her, and wiped the blood off Marissa's chin.

Days passed. Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into years. Five years to be exact, and a lot had happened during that time. Marissa had survived the plague, Mrs. Ella had moved and married the doctor, and the girl that had beaten the boys had moved two years previous (something that the boys loved because she kept winning the races).

"It is a beautiful day isn't it?" Marissa asked Eugene as she washed the plates from breakfast. She handed him a plate to dry.

"It sure is. It has been really hot lately though," he replied as he dried the plate. Ever since his mother had had the plague, Eugene's relationship with his mother had grown stronger. He smiled at her. "Well, I am going to go to school."

"Okay, be careful."

"I will. I love you."

"I love you too, son."

Eugene grabbed his brown satchel off the table and walked out the door. The satchel had belonged to his father, and now belonged to him. His mother had often said he looked a lot like him. The only that Eugene had that was like his mother's was his nose. He was very thankful for that because his dad had had long, pointed nose. He shook his head and continued the walked to school.

Once school was over, Eugene ran home. He could wait to tell his mother what had happened today! He had won the race against all the boys! His mother was going to be so proud of him. He could practically hear her saying…

The smell of smoke caused him to stop running. His eyes widened as he saw the direction where the smoke was coming from. It was coming from his house! He ran toward his home faster than he had ever run in his entire life.

As he came upon the house, he stared in utter shock. The house was on fire! He was thankful that his mother was in town.

A scream interrupted his thoughts. It wasn't just anybody's scream. It was his mother! He frantically began to search for a way inside the house… the window! He started to climb through it. He was about to touch the floor to his room, when his mother grabbed him and threw him out the window.

"Mom!" He yelled as he was thrown, but it the too late. The house had collapsed and his mother was inside.