Read Online Tricks by Ellen Hopkins - Free Book Online Page B

there saw the whole thing. Why don't you
    talk to her? But stay right here.
    *
    Like I would go somewhere?
    Damn me. Why wasn't I here?
    Must be what he's thinking too.
    142
    Mary Ann Stands Sobbing
    On the sidewalk, eyes wide with fear. "What happened?"
    I struggle to keep my voice gentle.
    *
    He--I--Sandy was kicking a ball on the lawn. Pepper and Honey started to fight, and...
    *
    when I tried to stop them, I guess the ball rolled into the street and Sandy ran after it and...
    *
    I guess a motorcycle came down the street and ran over him and just kept going and... and... I
    *
    was right there and I didn't mean--
    Oh my God, I'm so sorry. Oh
    my God, I'm so sorry...
    *
    I grab her shoulders, shake hard.
    "Stop it. It's not your fault. Go
    take care of the kids. They're scared."
    *
    They all stand huddled together on the doorstep. Mary Ann goes over to them as another ambulance
    143
    arrives. Two ambulances for one
    person? Talk about overki--
    Don't dare finish the thought.
    *
    Two new paramedics open the back
    doors of their ambulance, remove a gurney and a backboard.
    *
    Together, the four prepare Sandy for a ride to the hospital. I can't
    do anything but watch them
    *
    lift his still motionless form, tubes
    running into his arm and an oxygen mask over his face, onto
    *
    the wheeled stretcher. As they load
    him into the waiting ambulance,
    Officer Lemoore comes over to me.
    *
    Your brother has internal injuries.
    They'll need someone to give
    permission for treatment. Where
    *
    are your parents? Can you call
    them and tell them to come to Emergency right away?
    144
    I Tug My Eyes
    Away from the ambulance, finally really look at the policeman in front of me.
    *
    He must be straight out of the academy, not too many
    years older than me. He's
    *
    good-looking, in a straight sort of way, with topaz gold eyes.
    Eyes brimming sympathy.
    *
    "I--I'll try to get hold of my
    mom. But it will probably be
    my grandmother. Is that okay?"
    *
    He hesitates. The information
    sinks in. Your mother would
    be best. She has custody, right?
    *
    I nod. "But she's not always, uh..." How can I say this?
    "Easy to track down."
    145
    I see. Well, do the best you can.
    If we need to, we can get a court
    order, but that takes time. And...
    *
    He shakes his head, and his meaning is very clear: There
    might not be a whole lot of time.
    *
    Guilt churns. I want to heave.
    "Can't I go in the ambulance?
    If he wakes up, he'll be scared."
    *
    He won't wake up. He's sedated.
    Besides, you need to find your
    mom. And someone needs to take
    *
    care of your brother and sisters.
    He gestures toward the crew.
    You're the oldest. It's up to you.
    146
    I Am the Oldest
    It was up to me to make sure
    something like this never
    happened. But no, I needed to
    *
    hang out downtown, smoking with Alex. If Sandy doesn't
    pull through, I'll make sure a hit
    *
    and run happens. To me. The cop
    follows me to the front door.
    I need to ask you a few questions,
    *
    he says to Mary Ann, moving her off to one side. Tell me again
    what happened. Can you describe...
    *
    I push the other kids inside.
    "I need to get hold of Gram.
    Go watch TV. And don't fight."
    *
    I try to call Iris first. Her cell
    goes straight to voice mail. Big
    surprise. Gram left the beauty parlor
    *
    number next to the phone. No
    surprise there, either. She's
    good about communication.
    147
    Hands Shaking
    I dial the number, ask to speak to Vivian Belcher. "Gram?"
    I force my voice calm, hope
    *
    she'll respond in the same way.
    "You have to go to Emergency
    right away. There was an accident...."
    *
    I don't tell her everything. Don't
    have to. Enough for her to know
    Sandy's life hangs by a sliver.
    *
    I poke my head into the living
    room. Porter lies on the sofa, absorbed in Hannah Montana.
    *
    Pepper and Honey sit on the floor, holding each other in silent
    acceptance of one another, and
    *
    maybe of the small part they, too, played in the afternoon's
    drama. I go to tell Officer Lemoore
    *
    that I got