Zeke ended up falling asleep not long after Louise. It was the sound of Zeke's phone ringing that roused the pair from their sleep. Zeke sat up on the couch briefly confused and afraid until he remembered he had gone home with Louise. He tiredly squinted at his screen. It was Cheryl calling.
"Hello" Zeke yawned.
"Where are you, Ezekial?" Cheryl demanded.
"At a friend's house. What is wrong am I late for dinner?" Zeke asked he rarely ate before both his parents were home after eight in the evening.
"Dinner and bed" Cheryl hissed.
"Do what?" Zeke gasped.
"Ezekial it is ten thirty." Cheryl replied.
"It is? Oh My God! It is! I am so sorry. We were watchin' a movie and we dozed off." Zeke apologized.
"Do we need to have the talk, Ezekial?" Cheryl questioned.
"No way! Uh this friend is goin' through some stuff. I was helpin' her, and I guess we fell asleep." Zeke clarified.
"OK well do you want me to pick you up?" Cheryl asked.
"No, I'll walk." Zeke insisted. He had promised Louise he wouldn't tell a soul. Telling Cheryl where he was would break that trust.
Much to Louise's chagrin her bedwetting had officially returned. It was happening every night now. Sometimes multiple times. At least she had Zeke to help her with the laundry. The few times Bob saw it he absolutely exploded on her. Calling her childish and irresponsible. Louise was hoping that Bob's anger would pass with time. She knew all about the five stages of grief from that idiotic speech Mr. Frond gave after Princess Little Piddles' epilepsy got out of control and he had to be put to sleep. She just assumed that anger would pass. Then he would start bargaining. Then he would get depressed. Then he would accept it. No such luck or at least it was going slow. Grief could be slow or even nonlinear, but Louise was praying the anger would end soon. Currently it seemed to only be getting worse. Every little thing sent him over the edge anymore. Louise finally gave up talking to him unless it was absolutely necessary.
Valentine's Day brought a unique hell for Louise. Valentine's Day had always been Tina's favorite holiday. Even though Louise maintained that it was not a real holiday, because they still had to go to school. Tina would always counter with the fact that Halloween was the same. Technically she had had her there, but Halloween was about costumes, candy, and tricks. Valentine's Day was lovey-dovey stuff, and the candy was not even that good. It was candy but Halloween and Christmas candy was better. This year there were no debates about whether Halloween counted as a real holiday or not. This year Louise found herself hating Valentine's Day even more than she had in the past. This year it was another cruel reminder that Tina was gone. Every damn day was a cruel reminder that Tina was dead, but this one hurt even more. Louise sighed as she rolled out of bed. She climbed down the stairs to her loft bed.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Tina. God, I miss you. I wish that you were here. I wish that Gene and I were scheming to convince you to take us to the drug store for marked down candy. While Mom and dad went out. This year all mom and Gene want to do is drink, and all dad wants to do is work. Well, he likes to yell too. We are all so miserable since you left. God, I miss you. I think I am getting a cold, but Gene has a big test due, and I have school. I am so tired Tina." Louise whispered to her shrine.
After saying goodbye to her shrine Louise went to the bathroom and got ready for school. She made a pathetic breakfast out of the previous night's scraps. Zeke had made enough for her to have breakfast and dinner, but she guessed that the rest of the family got into it. After eating she grabbed her backpack making sure she had both her and Gene's assignments. She zipped the bag shut and slowly made her way out of the apartment. She found herself getting winded on the stairs but chalked it up to tiredness. Another cold day, she pulled the sleeves of her hoodie over her arms and walked down the street, teeth chattering. Once again, she was the first student in class. Pretty easy when the only people you want to hang out with are dead or drunk. She rested her head on her desk and closed her eyes. She was almost asleep when the bell rang.
"Happy Valentine's Day class! I hope you have your permission slips ready. Because today we will be going to see "Love Letters to Parsley" a delightful movie about love and healthy eating. You can fall asleep if you want. I won't tell. Because I will be asleep." Ms. Labonz announced.
Crap! That was today? Of course, it was today. It was Valentine's Day. "Love Letters to Parsley" was the last movie in the world Louise wanted to see but it was still better than being left behind at the school. She rifled through her bag, her heart soaring with hope. Maybe somebody had actually cared to sign it for her. The slip was in her backpack! With something written on it! Excitedly she yanked the slip out and plopped it on her desk. "Louise, I need wine. Gayle is visiting Grandma and Grandpa and Gretchen has a doctor's appointment. Mom and Gene." Shit! She couldn't let Ms. Labonz see this. She hurriedly scratched it out and tried her best to forge Linda's signature.
"Louise! Forging a parent's signature does not equal parental consent! No signature! No trip! Though you are hardly missing anything." Ms. Labonz barked.
"Aw! What's wrong Louise? Couldn't get anybody to sign you permission slip?" Chloe taunted.
"My parents are grieving their eldest child. They don't have energy for signing permission slips." Louise sighed.
"Louise? Sweetie. Your family has been through a lot. Would you like me to call them and see if they can come over and sign it? We still have half an hour before we load the busses." Ms. Labonz offered.
"No, no it's OK. My dad is making his monthly trip to the restaurant supply store in Bog Harbor and my mom is going to therapy!" Louise lied.
"OK" Ms. Labonz whispered.
It had started to rain since Louise had arrived at school. As a result, the entire school had been sent to the cafeteria and would be dismissed one grade at a time to the buses. Except for the kids like Louise whose parents hadn't bothered to sign their permission slips. At least bad things happened in threes. So maybe the bad was done for the day. Louise took a seat at the "left behind" table.
"You aren't goin' to the movie, Louise?" Zeke asked as he entered the cafeteria.
"No" Louise sighed.
"Nobody signed her permission slip!" Chloe laughed.
"That's too bad." Zeke sighed.
"Too bad? It really is! Her family has gone completely crazy! They are a bunch of grieving freaks!" Chloe cried.
"Please be nice, Chloe." Zeke pleaded.
"So, telling the truth is bullying now?" Chloe questioned.
"Tellin' the truth is all good but sometimes things don't need to be said." Zeke clarified.
"Aw is the hick defending the freaks?" Chloe smirked.
"Chloe" Zeke warned.
"Seriously my uncle owns the liquor store on Harbor View, and he said your mom stumbled in the other day. She was wearin' dirty clothes and smelled like pee!" Chloe laughed.
"Shut-up, Chloe!" Zeke snapped.
"Did you just tell my sister to shut-up?" Chester Barbash demanded. Chester was in the seventh grade but already an inch taller than Zeke.
"Yes, but only because she was bullyin' Louise." Zeke replied.
"Telling the truth is not bullying! If it were I would be bullying for saying you are a fat redneck who probably is probably the most educated in their family by eight years." Chester teased.
"Don't insult my family." Zeke begged.
"Make me!" Chester spat puffing up his chest.
"I am not going to fight you." Zeke sighed.
"Are you chicken?" Chester asked.
"No, I just don't fight." Zeke sighed.
"And that's why you suck at wrestling." Chester laughed.
"I'm ignoring you." Zeke sang covering his ears.
"Listen up, hick boy!" Chester bellowed, grabbing Zeke's arms, and pulling them away from his ears.
"Don't touch me." Zeke hissed.
"Why?" Chester questioned punching Zeke in the arm.
"Ow" Zeke winced.
"Come on bubba! Try out for the wrestling team!" Chester cried putting Zeke into a headlock.
"Leave me alone!" Zeke cried fighting his way out of the headlock. Chester lost his footing and fell hard against the table hitting his arm in the process.
"Mr. Frond! Zeke broke my brother's arm!" Chloe cried.
"Zeke! My office now! You are suspended for the rest of the day! Possibly the rest of the year!" Mr. Frond backed.
Zeke wasn't suspended for the year. That was the good news. Enough students had come forward and said that Chester had started the fight. The bad news is he was suspended for the rest of the week. Cheryl had picked him up and brought him home. She was proud of him for standing up for Louise but wasn't thrilled about the fighting part. Though she did understand why he did it. Still, he was told that his dad would deal with him when he got home. That sent a shiver down Zeke's spine. Zach Tisdale was in no way abusive towards his son. Zeke was worried that this incident would get him sent to the special school. If he went there, he wouldn't be able to help Louise anymore and the poor dear needed it.
"Alright Zeke I got Mindy running the shop for the afternoon." Cheryl announced sitting on his bed.
"I don't need a babysitter." Zeke hissed.
"I know you don't, but I want to talk to you about a few things." Cheryl replied.
"I thought dad was doling out the punishment." Zeke sighed.
"This isn't a punishment. I just have a few concerns." Cheryl clarified.
"I told ya what I told Frond! I was protectin Louise." Zeke snapped.
"I know that part and I proud of you, but this wasn't the first call we've gotten from the school recently." Cheryl explained.
"What else they sayin'?" Zeke questioned, heart racing what if they were on to Louise.
"Well first your wrestling coach called and said you've been skipping practices. He said you said that you were having helping with a family situation." Cheryl explained.
"I just needed a break is all, but I didn't want to disappoint you and dad." Zeke lied, he knew he was digging a hole that would be hard to climb out of, but he needed to protect Louise.
"Oh, Zeke we wouldn't be disappointed, but you are letting the team down. Monday, I want you to tell coach the truth." Cheryl explained.
"OK" Zeke sighed.
"Well before I got the second call, I checked your account balance you son you are just burning through lunch money. Then the school called and said that you were buying two lunches every day. I didn't think much of it. You are a growing boy and all. Then today when I heard about the fight, I got worried." Cheryl explained.
"Worried about what?" Zeke asked.
"Was this incident really the first or has that boy been bullying you? Has he been making you buy his lunch?" Cheryl questioned.
"Nah I'm just hungry." Zeke lied again.
"Zeke, I think you aren't telling me something." Cheryl commented.
"I am tellin' everything! Honest!" Zeke cried.
Louise ended up walking home from school after everybody else left for the movies. She knew this would create a crack in the façade, but she felt terrible. It took over an hour to make a walk that typically took her five minutes. She was out of breath and feverish. She nearly passed out in the living room, Linda and Gene didn't even react. She didn't have the strength to walk up the stairs to her bed. So, she fell asleep in the beanbag chair.
"LOUISE!" Bob bellowed.
"Dad" Louise replied weakly pulling herself up.
"Did you pee yourself again?" Bob demanded.
"I guess I did." Louise muttered.
"God Dammit! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Bob demanded.
"Dad, I think I have the flu." Louise coughed.
"Don't start with me Louise! The school called! Apparently, you didn't get a permission slip signed! So rather than just accepting your punishment! You walked out of the building!" Bob screamed.
"Dad, you didn't even bother to sign it and I really do feel terrible." Louise countered.
"Shut-up! If you don't shape up! You are out of here!" Bob snapped.
"Dad" Louise moaned.
"Just do your homework! I have customers!" Bob spat.
Louise collapsed back into the beanbag. She was soaked but she didn't have the strength to walk to the bathroom and get cleaned up. She didn't have the strength for anything. She could not breathe! She grabbed the emergency phone and used her limited strength to send Zeke a text. "Can't breathe."
Zeke was pacing around his room. Cheryl was on to him, and his dad was going to send him to that special school. Louise was going to go back to suffering, and it was all his fault. He should have kept his cool. He shouldn't have shoved Chester. He should have put more money into his account. He should have done a lot of things differently. His phone buzzed and he yanked it out of his pocket. It was from Louise. His heart crashed to the floor when he read her words.
"Cheryl, I know I am grounded and all, but my friend needs me it's an emergency." Zeke rambled.
"If it's an emergency. Just try to be home before your father." Cheryl replied.
Cheryl waited until Zeke was down the drive. She left the house herself and walked to the car. She watched the direction Zeke was going. She waited for him to be out of sight. Before pulling out of the drive, following him to his destination. Making sure to stay out of his sight. Eventually he came to a stop in front of a familiar building. The burger place across from the flower shop. The restaurant owned by the parents of Zeke's friend Tina. The girl who had passed away four months ago. She knew that Zeke was hurting but she didn't think he was hurting that much. She parked the car on the street and quietly followed Zeke inside. She was surprised he didn't notice her. What she saw made her heart sink. The apartment smelled like a brewery. Linda sat on the couch drinking wine from the bottle. Tina's brother Gene sat beside her drinking from his own bottle. Gene was only eleven years old! He shouldn't be drinking. A few minutes later Zeke ran out of a small bedroom at the end of the hall, carrying Tina's sister Louise in his arms.
"Cheryl?" Zeke gasped.
"Zeke what is going on here?" Cheryl demanded.
"Why are you here? You can't say nothin." Zeke questioned.
"God Dammit! What is going on! The restaurant is downstairs! Get the fuck out of my house!" Bob demanded, rushing up the stairs.
"Mr. Belcher it's me Cheryl." Cheryl whispered.
"Why the fuck are you in my house!" Bob demanded.
"Zeke said one of his friends had an emergency. He's been acting weird. So, I followed him. Why is your son drunk? Why is your daughter unconscious?" Cheryl questioned.
"She said she couldn't breathe." Zeke whispered.
"She's a bitch! She is out of control! She should have died!" Bob cried.
"What the fuck did you say?" Zeke demanded.
"Louise is a bitch!" Bob snapped.
"Fuck you old man!" Zeke cried punching Bob in the gut.
"I'm calling the police! You are going to juvey!" Bob snapped.
"They are already on the phone. They heard all of that." Cheryl hissed.
Zeke had to leave the apartment when the police came. Cheryl sent him to the flower shop. He had to make a statement, but they said he could wait until he calmed down. He locked himself in the backroom and buried himself under one of his sister's blankets. He was relieved that Leslie had Lainey for the day. She should not see what he had seen. Louise being taken away by an ambulance; Gene, Linda, and Mr. B being taken away by the police.
"It's over." Cheryl whispered entering the room.
"I let Louise down." Zeke whispered.
"How long has this been going on?" Cheryl asked.
"A month" Zeke sighed.
"As long as you have been missing practices and buying extra lunch." Cheryl commented.
"Yeah" Zeke sighed.
"Zeke I am proud of you for helping Louise, but you should have come to me on day one." Cheryl informed.
"She made me promise not to." Zeke whispered.
"Why?" Cheryl asked even though she knew.
"Because she didn't want to get taken from her family." Zeke replied.
"I know you wanted to protect her but Zeke sometimes grownups have stuff they can't handle on their own. Sometimes it is better for a kid to go to a new environment until their parents can work things out." Cheryl explained.
"I know but Louise already lost Tina. She didn't need to lose the rest of her family too." Zeke whispered.
"Louise didn't lose them. They lost her and maybe that is good." Cheryl replied.
"Why on Earth is it good?" Zeke demanded.
"Because this may be a wake-up call. This may be what the Belchers need to get their acts together and be there for Louise." Cheryl explained.
Louise woke to the smell of antiseptic. She tried to sit up and looked around. She was not in her room. She was in a hospital! And she had an IV in her arm! And tubes in her nose. She felt better than she had when she went to sleep but still terrible. Why was she here? How long had she been here? Was she going to die like Tina did?
"Hello?" Louise called weakly.
"Louise? Are you awake?" Big Bob asked.
"Pop-Pop?" Louise questioned.
"You gave us quite the scare." Big Bob commented.
"What happened?" Louise asked.
"You have pneumonia. You have been sleeping for five days. Well, you would wake up from time to time, but you always fell back asleep right away." Big Bob explained.
"Five days?" Louise gasped.
"Yeah, you had double pneumonia. We almost lost you too." Big Bob explained.
"Where's my family? Did they take my family? Why did Zeke let them take my family?" Louise questioned.
"You texted Zeke you couldn't breathe. He rushed over and his mom followed. Your dad freaked out and your mom and Gene were drunk. The boy's mom called 911. It wasn't his fault, and he feels terrible." Big Bob explained.
"Where's my family?!" Louise demanded.
"Your mom and Gene are at inpatient substance abuse centers. Your mom is at a place in Bog Harbor and Gene is at teen center in Trenton." Big Bob explained.
"How long?" Louise asked.
"Gene will be at the center for thirty days. Your mom will stay until the doctors think she is ready." Big Bob replied.
"Thirty days I was asleep for five. That means Gene will be home in twenty-five days. Where will we go? Where is my daddy?" Louise questioned.
"Your dad is in a mental health center. I think it's the same place your mom is at but different buildings. He tried to fight the cop who responded to the incident. Thank God the officer and the judge at the arraignment was sympathetic to the circumstances or he could be in serious trouble." Big Bob explained.
"How long is he going to be there?" Louise asked.
"As long as it takes but it is probably going to be a few months." Big Bob explained.
"So, what's going to happen to Gene and me? He will be home before mom and dad, and I will be home before him? Where is home going to be?" Louise questioned.
"Gene isn't coming home in thirty days. He is getting out of the hospital in thirty days. The judge and the social worker feel it would be best for him to go into a foster home closer to the center for a few months." Big Bob explained.
"A foster home? Gene in a foster home? I guess I am going to one as well. Can they keep us together? Or does Gene's home only take messed up kids?" Louise questioned.
"Actually, you are going to be staying with me until your parents are able to take you back. The social worker thought you would be better off with family. Your other grandparents did not want to take you on, and the social worker didn't want to move you across the country anyway. Your Aunt Gayle offered but the social worker deemed her to be unfit. So, I agreed to take you in." Big Bob explained.
"But what about the restaurant? Our home? What about that?" Louise questioned.
"I already talked to Mr. Fishodor. A friend of Pete's and mine is going to lease it until your dad can come back. He lost his place to a fire last month and it's going to be six months before he can go back in there. If your dad is ready to come back before then he will forfeit the lease and if it takes longer, I will take over. We are going to get your family back Louise." Big Bob assured.
Two days later Louise was released to Big Bob's care. She went to her home for what she prayed would not be the last time to get her stuff. She held Kuchi Kopi close to her chest and closed her eyes as they drove away from Ocean Avenue. Big Bob said they would be back, but she had also been told Tina would be back. She did not want to watch the street disappear fearing it would truly be the last time. Eventually they arrived to Big Bob's place. He guided her to her dad's childhood bedroom. Where she would be staying for the duration. She was still tired, so she climbed onto the bed, holding Kuchi Kopi close, and closed her eyes. She was still terrified of losing her family, but she felt safe here. Even safer than she had felt with Zeke. Her family was taking the first steps towards healing, and she would begin seeing a therapist the following week. Her healing had officially begun as well. She just prayed her parents and Gene would be able to heal as well.