Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

“How was the concert?” my roommate asked.
“Good, except that my family didn’t fuckin’ show up.”
“How come?”
“I don’t know. They didn’t call or leave a message on my phone and I’ve been calling the house all the way home, but no one’s picking up. Did they call here?”
“There’s a message on the machine, but it’s your Grandma.”

I hit the answering machine button and sure enough, I hear my Grandmother’s voice.

“Hi Tim, it’s Grandma. Can you give me a call when you get this.”

That was the only message. I hit the button angrily to delete it.

“Maybe she knows where they are.”
“That’s true. They’re probably over at her house and that’s why they forgot all about it.”

I look up her number in my cell phone and hit SEND. As it’s ringing, I try to clam down a little, because I don’t want to lash out at my Grandma. It takes a while for someone to answer and I figure they must be outside. I’m about to hang up when I hear her answer.

“Hi Grandma, it’s Tim.” I get impatient, and instead of waiting for her to tell me why she called, I jump in. “Hey, are Mom and Dad and the girls there? Did they remember that I had a concert today? Do you know where they are?” She begins to tell me where they are. “A fire? Our house? Is everyone ok?” …

I’m vaguely aware of my Grandmother’s voice fading into the distance and my roommate yelling to me from the other room as I get tunnel vision. I remember a thump, and looking up at my roommate, shaking me and asking if I am ok, before everything goes black.