The gym emptied until it was just me, Keisha, and Coach K.
"Can ya stand, boy?" Coach demanded.
It took all my strength to even move. My stomach felt like it had been hit by a bowling ball. It felt like I was carrying the weight of the sky on my shoulders. I got up to one knee and then a searing, sharp pain cut across my back.
Keisha and Coach gasped simultaneously.
"What?"
"Kevin, you're bleeding!"
I slowly slid my hand on my back and felt the warm liquid oozing out of my back. I flinch as my hand touches the small pieces of wooden shrapnel piercing my back like cactus prickles, but worse. I brought my hand back, and sure enough, my hand was red.
Deep red.
I sigh sharply, "I'm fine... I don't feel anything."
Coach K shook his head, "Son, your back is literally going blue. "
"Blue?" That didn't sound normal.
Coach K scratched the back of his head, "Ya ought to get that checked out by Mrs.Brown. Keisha, help him get over there while I call our janitor to clean up this mess before my next class arrives."
With that, Coach K left for his office.
Keisha bent down and took my arm around her shoulder.
"Keisha, I'm fine... seriously."
Keisha grit her teeth, "No, you're not Kevin, lean on me. "
"Fine, on 3?
Keisha nodded, her long black hair covering her bruised right eye so it was almost hidden on her caramel brown skin.
"On 3, one, two, three!"
As we stood, I gasped; the pain increased immensely. Green stars danced in my vision. That and everything seemed to be moving more slowly. My stomach was on fire; it felt like I was on a grill. My backside had this sharp feeling as if I was being stabbed by electrified needles.
Keisha patted my back, "It's alright, Kev, one breath at a time."
I gritted my teeth and exhaled sharply, "I'm fine... let's get outta here."
As we walked out and into the hallway, we passed many students, underclassmen in the hallway, who gave us looks. Keisha growled at them.
"The hell are you looking at! Beat it!"
The underclassmen scattered, the school feared, Jackal, but right below him is angry Keisha without a doubt.
You're not ready yet, Kevi.
'What did he mean by that?' I thought. Is there something Jackal knows about me that I don't even know about myself?
Keisha muttered under her breath, "Crap... Stanlee, hang in there..."
Keisha was silently crying. Tears streamed down her face.
This is all my fault... I failed as a leader... I couldn't be like Stanlee or Jason. The last time I felt like this... was last Friday. Images replayed like film in a movie theater. My mom collapsed. Me not able to do anything for her. Stanlee is in the infirmary. The smile he forced out despite his pain. 'Why am I so powerless, useless to my family when it matters most?'
'I need strength, power.'
We finally made it to the spiral steps. Keisha tapped my shoulder.
"One step at a time?"
"Yeah, I know."
We descended the first step, and it was as if the burden of pain shifted to my backside and was pushing me to collapse. I gripped the stairwell railing hard, and Keisha tightened her grip on my arm and wrapped her other arm around my upper back to support me.
"C'mon, Kev, five more steps."
I grit my teeth.' Cmon body, you've been through worse! Don't fail me now! You're supposed to be strong right now!'
I took a deep breath and let the newly attained oxygen flow to my stomach and back. I took the next step, and the pain was still there but lessened compared to the first step.
Three more.
As we descended, each step felt lighter in my legs and feet. The pain was still there, but duller with each step. It was almost as if my body was adapting to this movement in real time. It still felt like I was inches away from a frying pan inside of my stomach and backside. But it all became just a bit more bearable, like going down a few pounds for a bench press.
We finally made it to the last step, and I sighed in relief that I hadn't fallen down the steps. Keisha pushed the door open, and then we took a left, which led us straight to the infirmary. She opened the door, and as we entered, we saw a line of students, at least five of them, all being taken care of by Mrs. Brown. Manuel was at the front getting his nose bandaged up. He glared at Keisha and me but didn't say anything. Behind him was Wade, who was still covering his face with a hand.
Jessica peeped her head out of the recovery room, the area with beds where we left Stanlee just an hour ago. She gasped.
"Kevin!!!"
Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned around to face us. Jessica rushed over to us.
Mrs. Brown peered over from her desk and immediately rose to her feet.
"Kevin and Keisha, wait in the recovery room, please. Those wounds are going to need all my attention, especially yours, Kevin; my floor is a mess."
I raised my eyebrow quizzically until I looked down. Blood was slowly dripping from my right arm, where the shrapnel had pierced it the most.
Wade sneered, "Mrs. Brown, there's a line. Kevin can wait like everybody else. Why does he get to skip the line? He ended up like that because he's soft."
Manuel smirked, "Yeah, bro was like a deer seeing headlights."
Mrs. Brown rolled her eyes, " A true Healthcare practitioner would prioritize her patients from critically wounded or unstable to baby wounds and small fevers."
Now that I got a look at Wade's face, his black scab wound, the one I gave him last Friday that had started to heal, had reopened. When he fell on his face after I struck him out. It must've busted his lip all over again.
I chuckled, "Poor Wade, the Red Nile River flows again, I see."
Keisha shook her head with a large grin on her face. Jessica was just glancing at me, and Wade worried. Wade, however, was red in the face.
He growled, "Wait till 5th hour, your ass is mine —
"OK," Mrs. Brown sighed. "Jessica, help Keisha take Kevin to the back. Everybody else, sit down. I'll be with you as soon as I check out Keisha and Kevin."
Jessica tried to take my other arm. I shook my head.
"I can walk the rest of the distance, thanks, Jessica and Keisha."
Keisha raises a brow, "You sure?"
"Yeah, I'm straight."
As Keisha released my arm, I could feel the prickles of the splinters and shrapnel in my arms increase tenfold. But I was still able to stand, and I barely hobbled as I did earlier.
I shot them a thumbs-up.
Jessica nodded, "Did you guys have lunch yet? I can bring you your lunches in the containers."
Lunch... that's a word that hasn't crossed my mind at all. How could I even go in there with everything on my mind? Eat much less. Last time we had lunch, Stanlee was with us. I frowned.
Keisha read my gaze, then turned to Jessica, "We'd love that. I'll go with you."
Keisha grabbed Jessica's hand and made her way to the door. Jessica glanced worriedly at me again before leaving with her.
Mrs. Brown took my hand and walked into the recovery room. As we walked in, at the first bed we passed, I saw Connor, who was out like a light. His index and middle fingers were wrapped with tape to align them. Barry was seated next to him on his phone. He glanced up at our entrance. His glare screamed, 'I told you so.' I wondered if Alicia had come here already or if Barry knew about what went down between her and Keisha.
We went down one more stall and moved the curtains for the third bed. I sat down for the first time since the 3rd hour and sighed.
Mrs. Brown stared at my arms in disbelief. "What happened in that gym class?"
I shook my head, "Long story short, I crashed into the wooden wall."
"Is it just your arms?"
"No, I have some on my back. Also, my stomach is killing me. I'd like some Tylenol."
Mrs.Brown nods," I'll be back, let me grab my wrapping gauze and tweezers."
She stepped back to her desk. I sat there and examined my arms. My vision was somewhat back to normal, like I had stepped out of the Matrix. I could see my blue veins beneath my skin. It was weird, though; I didn't feel anything at all in my arms in terms of pain. It was just... dull. My veins also looked darker, almost navy blue, not their usual turquoise. Then again, I had just been slammed into a wall and then fallen hard to the floor, so I don't know.
Mrs.Brown returned with her silver tray of tweezers and gauze rolls. She sat down behind me and took off my shirt.
I felt her jump, "Lord have mercy! Kevin, your back is blue!!"
"I know, ma'am."
" In all my years of nursing, I've never seen anything like this. She puts on her rubber gloves, grabs the tweezers, and begins to pluck out the wooden shrapnel on my back.
I winced as she continued, I could hear her mumbling," My goodness gracious, that Jackal and Wade. This is unacceptable. Something must be done. They act like spoiled brats. That principal is gonna hear it from me today."
I sighed, "Mrs. Brown, I appreciate it, but the principal will never do anything because Wade is his grandchild."
Mrs.Brown paused, "Unbelievable, how did you come across this info?"
I turned my head to face her, "Mrs.Brown, this is Wade were talking about here. He literally bragged about his new shoelaces on the first day of school."
Mrs.Brown shook her head with a grin on her face, " Well, that explains why they both have the same ugly looks."
We laughed together. I forgot how much Mrs.Brown cared for us. She sometimes felt like a big sister to us kids. She helped anyone who was hurt, sick, or injured get back in shape. Her talents were wasted on us.
She set her tweezers down, "Alright, turn around."
I turned so I was facing her in the bed. She examined my arms and frowned.
"That's odd, your skin is already trying to heal over the shrapnel. This is going to hurt a little, Kevin, hang on."
She went right to work. I gritted my teeth. I read somewhere the alot of the veins that lead to the heart are in the arms. Meaning had I crashed into the wall face-first, I coulda been cooked. Luckily for me, I didn't have as many pieces of shrapnel in my arms as I did on my back.
She sighed as she took out the last one, "All done, now after I wipe the blood off your back and hand arms, I'll wrap the gauze around your back and arms and get them wrapped and give ya some Tylenol, and you should be set."
I nodded, "Alright, thanks, ma'am."
She beamed, "You're very welcome, Kevin."
As she left, Keisha and Jessica entered with lunch. Jessica held mines, and hers. Keisha carried hers. They came and sat on the 2 empty chairs in my stall.
Keisha scanned me," Looks like Mrs.Brown worked her magic."
"Yup, she's the best around."
The room went silent for what felt like an eternity. Jessica didn't even look present. Keisha glared at me and side-eyed Jessica. Code talk for 'Talk to her.'
"So Jess, what's on the menu?"
Jessica handed me my lunch, "Your favorite, Bosco sticks with that marinara sauce. "
I started to protest, "Actually, I love tac—"
Keisha kicked my shins
"Yowwww."
"On my way!" Mrs.Brown shouted
Jessica raised a brow, "What, Kevin?"
I forcibly smiled through gritted teeth, "Nothing, I love Bosco sticks with marinara sauce, yo."
Jessica's voice dropped to a whisper, "I'm glad."
Keisha and I shared worried glances. Jessica being quiet is never a good thing. She's usually a bright spot of optimism to Barry, Stanlee, and sometimes me. She rubbed off on me. Her way of always seeing the light in things balanced me out during my lowest points earlier this year... and last year. Images of Yu-Gi-Oh Jackal and Wade appeared in my mind.
I shook my head 'Focus, fool, cheer up, Jessica."
Mrs.Brown enters with the antibacterial wipes.
"Alrighty lets get this wiping and wrapping out of the way so you can chow down on some... Breadsticks. On Taco Tuesday?"
I started to speak, but Mrs Brown held up a hand.
"We listen and don't judge, Kevin. If you love breadsticks with marinara sauce over taco Tuesday, then I support you... 99%. I support my homegirls 100%."
Both Keisha and Jessica broke out laughing. I smiled; at least that brought a smile to her face.
Mrs. Brown began wiping my arms. The cuts and wounds burned like bleach was being poured on my arms. It felt like ants were crawling under my skin and in my dark blue veins. Once my arms were clear of dried-up blood and pristine. She began spiral wrapping my right arm and then my left arm. She wrapped my upper arms mummy style.
Then she wrapped my back slowly, layering it and criss-crossing it over my shoulders, around my stomach, and back to my back so it would hold up. The gauze felt chilly, so much so that it seemed to numb my cuts on my back and my arms. I almost felt like I was back at 100% physically.
Mrs. Brown clapped her hands together, "Alright, all done," she handed me two white tablets of Tylenol, " Down that while you eat, may the feast begin. Keisha, I'll get you an eyepatch."
Keisha stopped eating and slowly panned to Mrs.Brown with a stank expression.
Mrs.Brown cackled, "I'm just playing. I'll get you those Icy Hot pack compresses for your eye."
With that, she took off to her desk.
I stared at the steaming Bosco sticks. It smelled good, but it didn't feel right. With everything going on, how could I just eat...
Jessica and Keisha were scarfing down their food, like there was no tomorrow. I glanced at the clock and realized why ten minutes until the 5th hour begins.
My stomach betrayed my thoughts. It growled loud enough for Keisha and Jessica and prolly everybody in the recovery room to hear. I hadn't had a meal since this morning at home.
Keisha stared at me 'Eat!' Her eyes yelled at me.
I gave in, I grabbed a Bosco stick, and ripped open the marinara sauce. I dipped it, and I bit into it, eating half of my cheesy string Bosco stick. My head feels lighter. For the first time since the gym, I feel like I'm just being in the present moment.
Keys tingling filled the air. Only three people were allowed to have keys on their persons at Lyons. The Janitor, The principal, and of course Officer Black.
Jessica peeped out and then ran back to us, "Officer Black!"
I sat up hopefully, "Marcus?"
She shook her head
Officer Black walked into the recovery room, Mrs. Brown behind him, and closed the door behind him.
Mrs.Brown, "Barry, will you come over here, please?"
"I'm fine, Mrs Brown. I don't sit next to traitors." Barry barked.
Jessica's face saddened, and Keisha shot me a look that said, 'I'll tell you later'.
Officer Black rubbed the back of his neck. "Alright, I'm not gonna beat around the bush. Good news or bad news?"
"Bad new—" I started.
"Good news," Keisha and Jessica said in unison.
Officer Black stared at me as if I had just sentenced him to life in prison.
"The good news is Stanlee is stabilized, and he's breathing. The doctors are giving him the utmost care. They are our best shot."
He took his baseball cap off, put it on his chest, and stared at the floor.
" The bad news is that falling down the steps and getting stomped on repeatedly, especially with some blows to the head, has caused trauma and damage to his brain. Apparently, it led to a brain tumor. The boy was tough. He had regained consciousness throughout the ride, but once we made it to the hospital, he lost consciousness but remained stable. The doctors performed surgery immediately; it was a success. However, Stanlee hasn't regained consciousness."
Keisha bit her lip, and Jessica squeezed her hand.
Officer Black bowed his head, "I apologize. If I hadn't been late today, dealing with the principal's requests, I could've prevented this."
My eyes scrunched; that was the icing on the cake. I glanced at Keisha, and she read my gaze. Principal L was in on this.
Mrs. Brown took over, "Based on what I've seen and what Officer Black is saying, Stanlee is showing early signs of..." She hesitated.
"Early signs of what?!" We all demanded simultaneously, including Barry, who was still in the first stall with Connor.
She looked up remorsefully, "Comatose."
All the oxygen was sucked out of the room as Keisha's scream pierced the air like a bullet against a glass window.