Anna: Chapter 5

The sun’s rays shine strongly through the plastic, white blinds. Anna is still asleep in the living room on the sunken-in sofa. Joey waits impatiently on the side of the sofa. His bright blue eyes studying each feature of Anna’s face carefully. Small children always seemed to love Anna, she has always been good with kids.1

J: (runs over to Mrs. Lovelle) Now can I wake her up? Please, please, please! (he puts his hands together, jumping up and down)2

ML: Alright, go’ahead.3

J: (smiles and runs back over to the couch and kneels down) Anna…(he whispers in her ear)4

A: (sturrs slightly)5

J: (pokes her shoulder) Anna…(he says louder)6

A: (she sturs more. Opens her eyes to the bright sun and she squints.) Huh? (looks around, then to the clock) 6:30…(then looks down to Joey still squinting) Joey it’s 6:30 (she says in a sigh)7

J: (smiles) I know what time it’d is…it’s time to get up sleepy head. (laughs)8

A: okay, okay. I’ll get up…… in 3 hours. (smiles)9

J: Come on, I want to color wit’ you. (pulls arm)10

A: Alright. (slides her legs over the couch and sits up stretching. Her eyes open more wide now noticing that on the coffee table there was already one piece of paper for Joey and one for her with crayons in the middle.) Wow, I see you’ve been planning (she says in the middle of a yawn)11

J: (smiles) Yep.12

A: (stays on the couch)13

J: (goes on the opposite side of the coffee table)14

A: (looks at Joey more clearly since her eyes are more awake) Have you been crying? (she says with concern)15

J: uhh..no…(smiles. The rim of his sky blue eyes were inflamed)16

A: You have, haven’t ya? Come ova’ here n’ sit. (pats her leg)17

J: (obeys and sits on her lap) I’m okay…18

A: No your not. Come on Joey, I won’t hurt you. Talk to meh’.19

Suddenly papers filled with various drawings of Joeys’ fall from the side table.20

A: (leans over to pick them up. She brings them to her lap) What are these? (looks at the first one)21

Joey’s first picture isn’t like those that were drawn when she had first met him. The pictures have drastically changed from red hearts to dark tombstones and stick figures with X eyes. 22

A: (her face grows scared and her eyes became glassed over with tears as she flips through each picture. She’s speechless. After a moment of silence, she finally gains the strength to speak) Joey…What is this? (she says surprised and calm)23

J: It’s Mommy and Daddy (he looks down)24

A: Sweety, What gives you these thoughts?25

J: My counselor. 26

A: What do you mean? In what way? (she looks at him in concern)27

J: She said that I need to get over it, and move on. And that I look back to much on what happens. (feels ashamed, that he was doing something wrong)28

A: (can tell he feels bad in his sky blue eyes) No, no, Joey, it’s not you. Don’t think for one second that your doing something wrong. (she says hugging him tightly)29

J: (tears form in his eyes) She says that they were meant to die…(his voice weak, he has a lump in his throat) Don’t make me go back to her, Anna, please….(hugs her back)30

A: Don’t worry, you won’t ever have to see her again. Don’t you worry.31

A&J: (grasp each other tightly, sharing each others’ tears)32

J: (pulls away from Anna’s arms and his ears perk up as if he’s listening for something) Did you hear that? (he asks, he voice sounding scared)33

A: (looks at his heavenly blue eyes) Hear what, Joey?34

J: Hear that voice…it’s…35

A: It’s what? (looks worried)36

J: (closes his eyes and smiles to himself) Mommy…37

A: (grabs his arms) You hear mommy?38

J: yes, she’s singing to me right now…(smiles softly)39

A: (is silent, she doesn’t know what to say) Hun…40

J: what? (says dreamily, listening to his Mother’s tune)41

A: Do you see your Mommy?42

J: (opens his eyes and looks around) no…only hear her.43

A: How long have you heard her?44

J: Since that consoler lady said that mommy was dead.45

A: (looks at Joey and is scared fearing of what to do) Maybe we should talk to Aunt Carrie….what do you think?46

J: (he come out of the trance and grabs Anna’s arms) NO! You can’t! You never can! (shakes them slightly)47

A: Why not?48

J: She has enough on her mind, there’s no need she’s gotta’ worry about me… (although Joey was young, he was very thoughtful and was aware of how other people were and are feeling)49

A: Joey, she should know, we need to fix this…(is worried of what to say)50

J: No, I don’t want mommy to go away! I love hearing her sing!51

A: We must Joey…this isn’t safe. (gets up and sets him on the couch)52

A: (walks toward the hallway)53

J: noo! 54

A: (stops and turns around)55

J: (runs and grabs her ankle and sits on her foot, wrapping his arms tightly around it) Please, Anna, please don’t.56

A: Joey… (starts to walk, her right foot lifting Joey and placing him back down at each step) It’s for your own good…57

J: Please?58

A: (stops and bends down) Joey…your aunt won- (she thinks) okay, I won’t tell…not yet anyways, but you must promise me you’ll tell me if anything changes and even if it doesn’t change. Promise?59

J: Yes, I want to tell you everything. I am scared. I hear Mommy but I don’t see her.60

A: We have to tell your aunt that you don’t like your counselor.61

J: okay…(sighs)62

A: (takes his hand and walks into the kitchen with him, she can tell he’s nervous and he is uncertain about doing this)63

ML: (looks up to Anna hearing them come in) ahh…I see your up. (laughs, knowing Joey woke her up. She then looks down at Joey still smiling, but seeing Joey’s face her smile slowly disappears as her mouth and voice work to form the words) Joey, what’s the matter? (walks over to him and sits down at the kitchen table, which was right next to where Anna and Joey are)64

J: (tears form in his eyes)65

A: (can feel his pain and she bends down and holds him tightly) Joey, it’s okay…just tell her.66

J: (he looks up from Anna’s arms and stares at Aunt Carrie’s short blonde hair, styled to perfect, and then looks down into her deep blue eyes) I don’t like my counselor.67

Mrs. Lovelle: What do ya’ mean?68

J: My counselor is mean to me.69

ML: How is she mean?70

J: She said that Mommy and Daddy were supposed to die and that I needed to get over the fact, and to stop dwelling on the fact, whatever that means…(shrugs)71

ML: Sweetheart, When and why would she say something like that?72

J: I started crying about missing mommy and daddy and then that’s when she said it to me. (tears roll down his cheeks) Aunt Carrie, please don’t make me go back to her. I can just talk to Anna, she helps me the most.73

A: (feels special, her heart warms) I am up for the challenge Mrs. Lovelle. I can talk with him twice a week if you want.74

ML: I think he need more help than that.75

A: (looks at him)76

J: No, she’s all I want. She’s all I need…Please, Aunt Carrie.77

ML: Fine, we can try it.78

J: (jumps into Aunt Carrie’s arms hugging her tightly) Thank you! 79

A: (hears footsteps and she stands up looking to the hallway)80

S: (comes out from the bedroom in his plaid boxers, rubbing his curly blonde hair, his eyes squinting from the light)81

A: (watches him come out and scans his body. It was tan and a slight form of abs protruded from his lean stomach, she smiles) Mornin’ sleepy head.82

S: (his eyes open wide and he puts his arms down) Anna? (squints) Jeez, I thought you’d be gone by now.83

A: Yeah, I was just leaving.84

ML: You should stay for breakfast.85

A: Well, Momma’ hasn’t been feeling well.86

ML: oh, really…I am sorry to here.87

J: Please oh please stay for breakfast. (gives her a puppy face)88

A: (smiles) I can’t turn down someone like you and a great smellin’ breakfast…Plus, I want to talk to Kelly.89

ML: Yeah, breakfast will be ready any minute…you can go wake up Kelly if you want to. (looks at Anna)90

A: Okay, thanks. (gets up, walks past Steven and pokes his stomach  while he was stretching)91

S: (jumps, then grabs her sides making her jump)92

A: (looks back at him and smiles)93

S: (he smiles back)94

A: (she walks to the back bedroom)95

K: (sat on the bed with her hands tightly gripping her head)96

A: Hangover? (she in a sweet, caring voice)97

K: (nods)98

A: It will get better…eventually. Let meh get ya’ some advil. (walks out of the room and comes back with one pill)99

K: (is holding her head, massaging it gently) ahhh…(she moans in pain)100

A: Here, take this (holds a pill and a glass of water)101

K: (takes the pill and water)102

A: You’ll feel better soon.103

K: Yeah, I hope this one is really bad. (moans)104

A: What happened last night? (worries)105

K: heh…nothin’…(her eyes fill with tears when she says that)106

A: Come on Kel, don’t think I am ‘bout to believe that.107

K: (sighs, her voice sounds weak) Matt broke up with me. (her hair falls into her face, warm tears roll down her rosy cheeks)108

A: awww…Kel…(sympathy fills up in her eyes) Come here’ (hugs her tightly, doesn’t know what to say)109

K: (hugs back)110

A: (thinks) You don’t need him, Kelly…your better than him. (she says her words calmly trying not to cry herself)111

K: (cries harder, her head pounds)112

A: Breakfast is ready, if you want anything.113

K: Nah…rather not. I just need you.114

A: (glass-like tears slide over her eyes) I am right here, always right here, for you. (she blinks and tears fall from her cheeks)115

K: Anna, you mean so much to me.116

They both share their tears and thoughts. Anna tries to make Kelly feel better, although heart breaks have always been hard for Kelly. Anna not being very experienced in the “break up category” doesn’t know how to handle it or knows how it feels, just knows that being there is enough. Since her Mother hasn’t been feeling well lately, she said she’ll call Kelly later and that she just has to get home for now. 117

A: (walks from the bedroom and into the kitchen) Mrs. Lovelle, Doesn’t look like I have time to have breakfast with y’all. I am gonna’ call Kelly sometime later today. (looks to Joey) And…I’ll see you later lil’ guy. (smiles)118

S: I’ll walk you out. (walks to the front door and opens it)119

ML: Okay, I’ll see yah’ later then.120

A: (walks out of the door, Steven follows behind)121

S: I’ll call you later.122

A: Okay (sighs, but smiles)123

S: What’s wrong?124

A: I have a lot to think about right now. (her voice is flat)125

S: Well…you can talk to me about it. I can help. (pulls her pant loops over to his body, pulling her close to him)126

A: I wouldn’t want to worry you. (she looks down)127

S: (lifts her chin) Hey now, You can tell me anything. (his voice soothing and kind)128

A: (smiles and lays her head on his chest)129

S: (Kisses the top of her head. Smells of her hair lightly scented by her shampoo enter his nose) I’ll see you later, okay? (gives her an extra tight hug and slowly let’s go of his grip, wishing he never had to let go of her)130

A: Okay. (pulls away from him and gets in the front seat of her truck and shuts the door, turns on the car and drives home)131