Page 43 of Rock Me

CHAPTER TWELVE

Jez

It’s dark. Anca is asleep in the seat next to me. She’s hugging her bear. She loves that thing. She’s still so mad I tried to hide it from her yesterday, I don’t think she’s let it go all day.

The car is going so fast, I can only just make out the moon peeping out through the tree branches.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoooooosh. They’re saying to me as they whizz by.

I’m glad they’re out there and I’m in there.

It looks cold and lonely out there. It’s nice and warm and toasty in the car.

Mom and Dad are talking about something in the front. Mom’s saying something, loud, like she’s yelling at Dad, but they’re both laughing.

It’s probably about someone at Mom’s work or Grampa saying something silly. They like laughing together about that.

The song in my ear phones ends, and press repeat.

It’s a French song. One off Mom’s old cassette tapes that I used to hear her sing. She has a beautiful voice. Maybe I should ask if she will sing along with me playing cello again tomorrow. It’s been a long time since we did that. Maybe we’ll pick a song Dad likes and can make a surprise concert for him. He’d like that. Of course, Anca will have to be given something to do, maybe she can introduce us. Give her a chance to wear a pretty dress.

I’m sleepy.

We’ve been in the car for a while, we must be getting close to home.

Maybe I can just close my eyes and have a quick nap.

“Mommy?”

“Yes, Jez?”

“Wake me up when we get home okay?”

Okay, baby. You get some sleep.”

Mommy reaches out to pat me on the leg.

Dad turns around and gives me a quick smile, “Sweet dream, Jez. Don’t worry about a thing. We’ll keep you safe.”

I fall asleep to the sound of their whispers.

Warm. Safe. Happy.

I open my eyes, and I’m back in my white room. My pillow is soaked; from sweat, from tears?

It doesn’t really matter.

I just squeeze my eyes tight, and try to fall back to sleep.

Back to my dream.