Chapter 2 - A Sister’s Love

1/25/2020 5:30 PM

Once in the car, the janitor asked tentatively “Did Nate and his gang do this to you again?”

“Yes, but please do not tell anyone I don’t want to get in any more trouble with them than I already am.”

“Ok, are you sure you don’t want someone to report this, Ryan?”

“Yes” Ryan replied

“Alright,” Mr. Cain paused for a moment, “What did you do to get them so mad at you?”

“I would rather not talk about it” Ryan said, his voice indicating finality to this discussion. The car ride home was rather quiet after their exchange. The janitor sensed Ryan did not want to talk and respected his wish. Ryan said nothing until the car arrived in front of his house. “By the way,” Ryan said getting out of the car “Thanks for the ride” I appreciate it.

“No problem” Mr. Cain said.

Ryan then shut the car door and watched the janitor drive away. He then painfully limped up the path to the door of his house and knocked. Opening the door, his sister Lucy stood in the doorway, her long ebony black hair hanging down her back. “Ryan?” Lucy asked, sensing his pain “are you okay?” exhausted, Ryan stepped into the house. Before he could speak, his sister quietly inquired “what happened to you?”

“I got in a fight with Nate and his gang” Ryan responded. Lucy, concern and empathy displayed clearly in her emerald green eyes, gently slid her arm and shoulder under Ryan’s leftshoulder to support him. This accomplished, she slowly and carefully helped him walk through the entrance hall, past the dining room door from which emanated sounds from the kitchen, and up the stairs. Ryan, hearing the sounds, thought, “Mom and dad must be home.” Once in Ryan’s room, Lucy carefully eased Ryan onto his bed.

Lucy then strode across the hall, and into the bathroom to grab the first-aid kit. Reentering Ryan’s room, she opened the first-aid kit and began cleaning and bandaging Ryan’s visible cuts. Once done with this, she had Ryan unbutton his shirt so she can treat the cuts on his chest, shoulders, and back. She then opened his shirt drawer and pulled out a new, clean, not torn shirt for him to put on. Ryan watched as Lucy gently probed his ankle with her delicate fingers to make sure it was not broken. Lucy then deftly wrapped Ryan’s ankle with a bandage to provide support for his injured ankle.

Ryan’s physical wounds taken care of, Lucy set her mind to find out what happened and help heal the emotional wounds she sensed in him. Timidly, Lucy asked “So, what happened to you today?” Ryan told her everything from waking up, to being called to the principal’s office, but when he got to the part where he was told of Michal’s death, his walls holding back all the tears of the day broke. He wept. In response, Lucy sat down and hugged Ryan tight. Feeling her embrace made Ryan cry all the harder, Ryan held her tight, clinging to the one solid refuge in his sea of misery.

When his tears finally subsided, Lucy released him. With tears in her vibrant eyes, Lucy asked him “Ry, what’s wrong?” So, with trembling voice, Ryan told her of how Michal died in a car accident. He now had no idea how he was going to cope with school and Nate and his gang was now after him. Lucy sat for a moment with anguish for him in her eyes. She seethed with anger after hearing how Nate and his gang had treated Ryan, but she knew if he wanted the fight reported he would do it himself. Lucy leaned forward and embraced him again. Feeling her tears on his neck, Ryan heard his sister kindly whisper to him, “I love you Ry, no matter what and I will always be here for you.”

Ryan’s emotional wounds taken care of, Lucy suddenly said “One minute, be right back” She returned holding something behind her slender form. “I know you are probably not feeling the best right now but here is your birthday present.” She handed him a beautiful new Swiss army knife with a gorgeous walnut wood handle. His name was carved in it and a gleaming stainless steel blade extended from the handle. “D-do you like it?” she asked shyly.

“I love it” Ryan exclaimed softly looking at all the tools in the knife. “How did you get my name on there?”

“I had it custom made and ordered online just for you” Lucy responded, blushing with pleasure at Ryan’s obvious admiration of his birthday present.

“Oh, here is your present.” Ryan said, pulling it from a drawer beside his bed. It was three front-row tickets to her favorite rock band’s upcoming concert. Lucy gasped with astonishment, her eyes lighting up. She was obviously thrilled with his gift. “I bought three tickets so you can take your best friends. I know you guys all love that band.” Lucy, at a loss for words threw her arms around Ryan and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“Thank you so much” she managed to eke out.

“No problem, glad you like it”

“I FRIGGIN LOVE IT!” she squealed happily.

“I’m glad” Ryan said.

Her emotions finally under control, Lucy asked “Ry, are you ready to go downstairs for dinner?”

“I am now thanks to you Lu” Ryan said.

Her shoulder and arm supporting Ryan’s left side, they exited his room and strolled to the dining room to enjoy their birthday dinner. “Remember Ry,” Lucy’s soft voice said in his ear, “I will always be here for you.”