Chapter 12
Toni
Ugh, I am so TIRED of laying in bed! I can't do anything. I mean, occasionally I'll waddle over to the window nook and just stare out. It was February, and the snow was piled high. Purim would be coming soon. Oh, how I loved Purim! I used to march in the parade with Erica every year. The last time we ever marched Erica dressed up as some bloated etrog and I was a Dutch girl. Our whole family spoke Dutch, so it was easy for me to play my character.(Our dad was from Germany so we spoke some of that too.) Momma braided our hair, did the makeup and we even stayed at the festival until our legs got tired. That's a big step for Momma. She never really liked big crowds.
I have no idea where Momma is now. Dad left when I was three and Erica was one, and so it was just a household full of girls. I liked it that way. We had a boy puppy every now and again, but other than that, it was just us.
I remember looking through photo albums and seeing a baby with wires attached to it and it was so thin and translucent I couldn't believe my eyes. Momma came in and told me the story of how she had a baby before me, and she was born too early to live and that she died. She named her Rebekah Michelle, and that she always felt her during the day. That got me thinking about my sister. No matter how you put it, there always was a house full of girls.
I slipped the picture out of the album and put it in my favorite coat's pocket. The blue one. I wore that jacket the day they came. Soviets came barging through the door. One grabbed me and spoke horrible English. It sounded like, "You beautiful devushka. Won't you come do..." but he didn't get an farther because I socked him in the stomach. He grabbed me again and did something I'd rather not say. "I voodn't do dat if I waz you, missy!" he fiercely whispered.
I slapped him and kicked him where it hurt. Before he could do anything worse, I kicked a guard that was doing the same to Erica and pulled her towards me. Momma was sitting on the couch, Soviets surrounding her. She yelled at us in our language, Dutch, so that we could understand. "Ren Weg! Run away!"
So we did. I crashed through our sliding glass door, pulling Erica along with me by the arm. We ran and ran until we got to Bubby and Grandpa's house. Erica couldn't sleep the first few nights, so we sang a lullaby together. I sang, "Alle eend jes zwem men in het wa ter," and she sang, "Fal-de-ral-de-ri-re fal-de-rai-de-re, al-le eend jes" and so on. Pretty soon we were both asleep.
"What are you doing out of bed?"
I jumped. I didn't see a nurse walk into my room. I'm not supposed to be out of bed. I sighed, gritted my teeth and trudged over to the bed. The nurse changed my bandages, which felt so good. I asked her when I'd be able to walk freely. She smiled and said tomorrow would be the day.
The next morning I got up extra early without meaning to. This time another nurse came in with a walker. I couldn't see a name tag, but she froze when she saw me. She took a deep breath and just walked forward. "H-hi," she stuttered. "My name is... Atara. And you're *swallow* Toni Mason?"
I nodded slowly. Atara, Atara. That was Erica's Hebrew name. She hated it and rarely ever used it. I got out of my bed slowly. Atara came and helped me. I smelled apples, like lotion. Erica liked Macintosh Apples lotion. I looked up into that nurse's face. She had big brown eyes I could never, ever forget. Suddenly, before I could stop myself, I began to sing, "Alle eend jes zwem men in het wa ter."
Atara smiled as tears ran down her face and sang, "Fal-de-ral-de-ri-re fal-de-rai-de-re, al-le eend jes." I began to cry too. I found my sister. I found my sister! I FOUND MY SISTER! I practically fell into a hug. Together we sang the rest of the lullaby best we could, because we were crying so hard. After we stopped crying, I said, "Well, Atara, am I going to walk or what?" Erica laughed and nodded. But before she did, she told me where we were going to walk to. Room 164B. I said, "Okay," kind of getting suspicious.
I tried to walk like I used to, but it was so hard. My legs kept wobbling and m knees kept giving out, and when I drew in a sharp breath, my now hairline cracked rib hurt. But I perservered and soon we got to room 164B.
And there, sitting at the edge of the bed, was Jed Eckert. The very same Jed Eckert who kissed me before I "died." Erica told me to stay in the hallway and that I knew when I should come in.
Erica walked in. "Oh, hi, Erica," Jed said to her. I thought I'd never hear him again. "Jed, you have a very special visitor."
"Really?" he asked in disbelief. "Who?" Oh, poor Jed. He thought he had no one left. But I'd show him. "Ms. Mason, you may come in now." I almost giggled. I'll bet Erica is trying to make Jed think it's my Bubby she's talking about. I stood up straight and walked into his room.
His whole face dropped. "Toni?" he whispered. He stood up. Apparently he'd already started walking. He walked towards me. "Is that really you?" I nodded. "I guess I don't really look it, with horrible hair and a gruesome scar."
Jed shook his head. "No, I'd recognize you from a mile away," he said. I smiled and realized I was crying again. I tossed away my walker and fell into his arms.
What did you think? I'M ABSOLUTELY DYING FOR REVIEWS! If I don't get one soon, you'll have to wait even longer for the next chapter.
Matanee! See ya!
Abby