My friends went home with me after school. We had formed our own study group and we hoped that, between the five of us we could make some sense of some of the harder subjects. We got home and started taking everything out. I cleared the instruments from the sitting room so we could work there. I made some popcorn and pulled out bottles of soda from the fridge. I took all of that to the sitting room. We sat on the carpet and started on chemistry.An hour later my own mother interrupted our studying. “Andy!” she yelled from the front door

It felt as if I had been asleep for five minutes when my father woke me, shaking my shoulder gently.“You slept in. You’re going to be late.” He said when I opened my eyes.I yawned lazily and said“I know. My back is killing me.” My father gave me a sad smile and said“Want me to call the school and tell them you won’t make it for the assembly?” I shook my head and gave him a brave smile.“Nah. I’ll go, get this assembly over with. Not doing to do this again though.” I said and started to sit up, feeling my back protest vehemently, the pain felt like a hot rod jabbed into my spine. “I’ll have a painkiller and strap the support vest on. You can always give me a ride to school?” I smiled at him.He grinned and said“I’ll let Gwen know. She’s waiting for you.” I stared at him in confusion. “She stopped to look in on you. Your mother had sent her a message telling her you’ll be late, your back was hurting you, and she stopped on her way out to ask if you needed a ride.” My father expl

When I came around again I was in recovery, my mother was seated in a chair next to me. I turned my head and stared at her tousled hair.“Mom.” I croaked softly.My mother lifted her head and smiled at me.“Did it go all right?” I asked her worriedly.

I woke the next morning in the bed with no idea how I had gotten there. The sun poured into the room through the open curtains but I had no desire to get up and close them. Instead, I pulled the covers over my head and stayed put. Gwen’s words kept repeating in my head. I thought of ways I could’ve handled it better, or maybe could’ve said something. Perhaps I should’ve just gone along with them, did what they wanted, perhaps they would’ve left me alone then.I was awake for nearly half an hour when the door opened and my mother called my name softly. I did not answer her at all.

It seems to me that it was a previous agreement between Miss Preston and Miss Sheldon as to who would take me to school and take me home in the afternoon. My mother was free most afternoons but Miss Preston still insisted on taking me home. On afternoons when my mother was home, a group of my school friends would drive along and we would form a study group at my house. It was easier for me to walk at home than at school. Usually when I got home Miss Preston would stay in the living room while I go to my room and change.Sometimes I would discard the back brace and sit in my chair but mostly I would soldier on with the back brace, walking against the walls until I reached the sitting room table.