Chapter 18
Brian: I picked up my last few things and shoved them into my bag, before giving Allison a kiss. We were dating now, and everybody knew it. She made me so happy. It was Sunday, we had just eaten breakfast and now we were all getting ready to leave. This camping trip has been brilliant, but we have to go back to school tomorrow.
John: I sat on the huge rock in the middle of the river; Jodi was right, this is a good spot. I looked back at our campsite. Andy had just taken down his tent, Claire and Allison were taking down mine, while Brian and Jodi were sorting our food out. Bear ran by their feet. We all decided last night that Jodi should take him back to ours.
Jodi: After we packed up, we chilled in the river for a little while. John and Andy were showing off and doing back flips off the rocks. I was playing in the river with Bear; getting him to swim by throwing sticks for him to fetch. I don't want to go home.
Allison: We all walked to the car and crammed inside. Our bags were in the back off the truck, along with Bear. Jodi had tied his rope lead up to make sure we didn't fall or jump out. Claire had found a relatively new baseball on our walk to the car and gave it to Bear to keep him occupied. We were all ready to go.
Claire: This camping trip was so much better than I expected. We all bonded so well, especially Jodi and Andy. She told me what had happened between them. It made me feel like a big sister to her. John had found out too; as a friend he said well done to Andy, but as a brother he told Andy not to mess Jodi around. He's so protective of her. I find it sweet.
Andy: It was a long drive home. It was so warm we had to take regular stops. But, eventually, we got home. I dropped Brian off first, he had an assignment to finish. Then it was Allison, then Claire. Finally, we reached Jodi and John's house. John got their stuff off the back, while I said goodbye to Jodi. I knew I'd see her tomorrow but I miss her as soon as I'm not with her. Jodi took Bear off John and together, they walked towards their house.
Jodi: I went around the side and tied Bear up outside of my bedroom window. I didn't know if dad would be home and I knew he wouldn't approve of Bear. We walked inside. It was dark, cold. The familiar stench of various drugs and alcohol made my stomach knot. John closed the door and I lead the way through the house. Glass cracked beneath my feet as I walked. Something didn't seem right. I walked into the lounge and opened the curtains. Mum was laying on the sofa, totally out of it. I turned to look at John. I could tell he was feeling the same hurt and anger as I was. Suddenly, the door flew open and slammed shut. Dad was home.
Dad approached, bottle of whiskey in his hand. He started on John. Shouting. Out of nowhere, dad threw a punch and caught John off guard. Right in his face. John fell to the ground instantly. He was out cold. I knelt down by his side, but dad kicked me out of the way. I slid on back across the floor. Dad used his foot to push me back again, against the wall before throwing his whiskey bottle on the floor. It shattered everywhere. He reached down, and pulled me up by my throat. My feet were just off the floor. We gripped my neck so tightly. I was scared.
John: I woke up. I was laying on the floor. My face throbbed. When I realised what was going on, I spring to my feet. I used all my strength and threw dad off of Jodi. She fell to the floor. Dad fought back. Mom woke up. I was fighting with dad while mom was trying to hit Jodi. Everything was a blur. Dad and I were still fighting, we moved into the the kitchen.
Jodi: Mom was hitting me across the face. I tried to fight her off but my arms and hands were cut from dad's smashed whiskey bottle. Suddenly, I was lying on my back again. And mom's foot was on my throat. I was in unbearable pain. I could see John trying to run towards me. Dad stopped him. He was pushed out of the way. His face was bleeding. My throat was starting to tighten. It hurt to breath. The tension was relieved all of a sudden. Dad had thrown mom off me. He grabbed my shoulder and lifted me up again. I could see John laying in the kitchen. He was bleeding. I felt my shoulder pop and I was drowned in pain again. Dad threw me to the ground and lit a cigar. I desperately tried to crawl towards John. He wasn't moving. The pain was ridiculous. I couldn't fight through it. I was laying on my stomach. Dad placed his boot on my back to stop me. It was heavy. He leaned down and rolled me onto my side with my back against the wall. I winced in pain. I noticed that dad was wearing his steel toe cap boots. He kicked me full on in the stomach. I could hear a crack and my stomach seemed to implode with pain. He knelt down my side and pressed his cigar onto my arm. He left it there for so long it went out. He re lit it and did it again. And again. I coughed up blood. It hurt to breath. It hurt to move. John still hadn't moved. Dad stood up and looked down at me. I turned my face to look the other way. At some point throughout this ordeal, mom had been sick. She was laying on her back. She wasn't moving either. It didn't look like she was breathing. Dad noticed as well. I turned my head back to look at dad. It hurt to lift my head up. I could see dads boots. I could see him swing his foot back. I could see him kick me in the face. I felt the pain. I closed my eyes.