Read Online Maybe I Will by Laurie Gray - Free Book Online Page A

think it is that’s making you so tired all the time?”
    â€œI don’t know.” I barely whispered the lie.
    Mom and Dad looked at each other. Dad shook his head; then Mom came and sat beside me on the sofa. She kissed my forehead. “Still no fever,” she reported. “But there’s something going on in there.”
    Dad nodded. “Is there something that’s upsetting you? We haven’t seen much of Troy or Cassie the last few weeks. Did something happen?”
    I shook my head and dodged the question. “I’ve just been really busy with the musical, and they’re not really into that.” Part of me wanted to tell them, but I didn’t know where to start. What would they do? It’s not like their knowing would change anything. Not really. Suddenly I had an inspiration. “I’ve been thinking about taking up taekwondo. Shanika, the one who plays Tiger Lily, is a black belt, and she said there’s a camp over spring break I could go to.”
    Mom and Dad both let out a sigh of relief. “I think that’s a great idea!” Dad exclaimed.
    Mom hesitated. “I think maybe we better have the doctor take a look, just to make sure you’re okay first.”
    â€œAh, Mom,” I whined. “I’m okay. I don’t need to see a doctor.”
    â€œMaybe,” Mom replied. “But I’ve already scheduled an appointment for you tomorrow morning.”
    I stared at her in disbelief. “You already made an appointment?” I felt a sudden flash of angry fear and bit my lower lip. “So when were you planning on telling me?”
    â€œRight now,” Dad said. “That’s why we’re having this discussion.”
    Mom nodded. “I’ve cleared my morning calendar so I can take you. The appointment’s at 7:30, so you shouldn’t miss much school.” My parents always liked to get the first appointment of the day before anybody had a chance to get behind.
    â€œWhat doctor?” I asked, wondering whether it would be the pediatrician that I hadn’t seen since I was ten or the family doctor I’d never seen at all. I really hadn’t been to the doctor for anything except what the school required, and I did all of that at the clinics.
    â€œDr. Parks,” Mom said. “I think it’s time for you to start going to our family doctor.”
    â€œIt’s much easier to get an appointment there than at the pediatrician’s office,” Dad added. “Maybe he can rule out mono and give you a clean bill of health to start this taekwondo class you’re interested in.”
    I went up to my room and texted Troy. “I don’t need a ride to school 2mRO.”
    He texted me back. “K.”
    I waited for him to ask me why not, but he didn’t. My phone was silent. Finally, I texted him again. “I have a Dr. appt.”
    â€œU OK?”
    I thought about it. What was I supposed to say? “Yeah, I’ll tell you later.”
    â€œK.”
    The next morning Mom and I arrived at Dr. Parks’ office a few minutes before the doors opened. When we walked into the abandoned waiting room, I went straight for a chair in the far corner. Mom checked in with the receptionist and filled out all of the paperwork. I had stuffed a small water bottle filled with vodka into the very bottom of the side pocket of my back pack, but I didn’t dare pull it out while I was with Mom.
    I dreaded seeing the doctor. I’d had only one gulp of vodka and a dose of Nyquil to steady my nerves. I brought the Nyquil with me, too, but I wasn’t supposed to have it at school. There wasn’t much in it, though, so I figured I could go to the bathroom, downthe rest of the bottle and throw it in the trash. I became increasingly fidgety as the waiting room filled with patients. I fiddled with a box of crème-de-menthe flavored Altoids I bought at the grocery store last night before