Blind - Chapter 15

Jason and I stayed in our room the second day. Jason because he was grounded and me because I didn't want to go on anymore rides. Not after the Teacups ride that my father had called calm.

I promised myself to stay away from Jason, though. I was on my bed in Sheila's, Mother's, and my room, and Jason was in the room next door. My fingers were running over crisp sheets of Braille Mother had brought with us on the plane. I wondered what was written on them. I couldn't read Braille yet, but Mother promised she would help me before school, then I would go to a special class during a period called elective and learn Braille there.

I was nervous and excited for school. What if there were bullies there, and someone beat me up? Or maybe lots of people would be nice to me and be my friend. What if I couldn't bring Mousse? The school would certainly approve of that, wouldn't they?

Right as I finished a sheet of the weird bumps, I heard a knock on the door. From the other room, not the door to the hall.

I sighed, and laid my head back on the pillow. "Come in, Jason." I knew I was breaking my promise, but he wouldn't hurt me. Hopefully.

The door opened and footsteps walk somewhere near my bed and Mother's bed.

"Look, Ember, I'm sorry," Jason says, sounding pretty uncomfortable, and I wouldn't blame him.

I roll my eyes, which probably looks really weird, but I've just heard Father say, "Don't roll your eyes at me!" to Jason and Sheila, so I thought it would be appropriate. Most of the time I keep my eyes closed, because they seem pretty hideous, according to my family. Jason doesn't say anything, though, when I open them. I close them back.

"You probably just want to go on the rides," I pointed out.

"No. I actually am sorry."

Then I heard him huff, and the door slammed shut. He was gone.

***

Disneyland ended up being a fail, and I had managed to keep it in for the whole time we were there until the last day, when we were packing up.

It slipped through my mouth and out into the open air. Mother, who was packing her clothes, slammed her suitcase in anger. At least, in anger or frustration or some other emotion of that sort.

I pressed my lips together tightly, and my whole body stiffened. Oh God, why did I say that, why why why! I thought, as I knew any minute now I would get in trouble.

Sheila, who was also packing, made a sort of gasp-groan sound. Of course, she hadn't thought that it wasn't fun. Everyday we spent in Disneyland she brought home balloons (that were supposed to make me happy) and souvenirs.

"Ember, we spent lots of money to get tickets for the plane, then bought for Disneyland. Do you know how much that cost?!" Mother said.

My fingers prickled, like they would if they fell asleep. "Um, a lot?" I said.

"Yes, it did! I know you didn't have a good time but—" Mother was raging, and I was afriad she was going to explode. Not literally, but explode as in get super mad and maybe even ground me.

"Oh, Ember." Mother left out a sigh of exasperation, and a squeak of a mattress told me she had sat on her bed.

"Um." Sheila said nervously. "I'm gonna—I'm gonna check on the boys."

She left and I was alone with my mother.

"Honey, I'm sorry you didn't have a good time, I just thought maybe you would like it..."

"It's okay, Mother. Really. You can stop worrying about me, at least for now." I replied.

And she believed me, because even when we were on the scary, stomach-flipping plane ride home, she didn't ask me if I was scared. I just squeezed Sheila's hand and slept the whole time. Mostly, though, I was thinking of big, chocolate, Mousse that I would get the be with in a couple hours.