The Immortals by Mary Hallberg (chrysanthemum read aloud txt) 📗

people who were famous for doing nothing.

The week before the Feed the Needy benefit, Luke got sick. It was only a cold, but he seemed to think his days were numbered. Typical guy behavior, I guess. His car was in the shop and mom was working all day, so I had the dubious honor of driving him to the doctor. When he wasn’t coughing and hacking up phlegm, he played with the air conditioner, turning it up a little more each time, even though it was still cool outside.

“Luke, stop it,” I said, whacking his hand away when he attempted to touch it for the billionth time.

“It’s hot,” he protested. “I probably have a temperature of one hundred and thirty just from sitting in this car.”

“If you keep turning it up, I’m going to be the one with the cold.”

“Oh big freaking deal,” he mumbled. “Nothing a quick shot can’t cure.”

We went to a free clinic which meant we had to sit in a cramped waiting room already full of people for nearly an hour. Some of the younger children played with blocks or one of the old games lying around the room. Most of them screamed or cried or yapped the entire time. I’ve always wanted to get married and have children, but now I was starting to question that decision. Luke read a book for awhile, but quickly abandoned it and dozed in his chair with his head resting in his hand.

Finally, a nurse called Luke’s name and we were led down a cramped hallway with a bright blue rug. She led us into a room and told us the doctor would be with us shortly. I hadn’t been to a doctor in well over a year — I wasn’t even sure  had come back here with Luke. But everything was immediately memorable — the thin, crinkly paper on the table, the large glass bowl full of tongue depressors, even the faint smell of alcohol. I would probably have to get used to it again when I became a doctor. I sat in the cold leather chair and Luke hopped on the table, swinging his feet like a little boy.

We sat there for almost ten minutes. Every now and then the cry of yet another child would drift inside from down the hall. Luke coughed and coughed.

Finally, I couldn’t deal with it anymore. I grabbed his arm and said, “Get down.”

“What? Where are we going?”

“I’m going to help you,” I said. “Now get down.”

Nobody paid us any attention as we walked back down the hall, out of the waiting room and into the parking lot. As soon as we were out of sight of, I reached into my purse and pulled out a syringe filled with TNV. “Hold out your arm,” I said. He hesitated but obeyed. I stuck the needle into his forearm, pushing the TNV into his veins. He would be fine in less than 48 hours.

chapter sixteen

Jacey and I met up at the convention center on the morning of the 30th. I was hoping to catch up with her since I hadn’t talked to her in several weeks, but she seemed distracted by a paper in her hand.

“Is that the schedule?” I asked.

She nodded. “Matt is seventh and then you. Guess I’ll zone out until then.”

“I’m sure biology class gave you decent amount of practice.”

She laughed halfheartedly. “I don’t know how many poems he’s reading. He tends to drone on sometimes so don’t get too eager once he comes on.”

“I like Matt’s poetry,” I said.

“I do too. But, you know, he doesn’t always know when to quit.”

“So what else has been going on around here?”

She looked up from fiddling with her nails. “You mean you don’t know?”

“Know what? What happened?”

“Well...a lot. Haven’t you talked to anyone here?’

“Just you. How is everyone?”

She looked bewildered. “Fine, I guess. Not much around here has changed.”

“You all lead such boring lives.” I snickered. “Hey, did I tell you what I found in my dad’s stuff a few weeks ago?” For some reason I had been carrying that old letter portion in my pocket, even though I wasn’t sure why it was important to me.

“Uh-oh. Kenzie, please don’t tell me you found your dad’s old porn.”

“What? No...I think it’s a letter or something. It’s really weird.” I pulled out the laminated paper.

“That’s just a bookmark,” Jacey said.

“But it has writing on it. Look.”

She took the paper and read. After she finished, she shrugged and handed it back. “It looks like one of those inspirational bookmarks they sell in grocery stores. Only it’s handwritten.”

“It’s from Dr. Cooper, you know,” I said. “At least I’m pretty sure it is. He basically admitted it to me when I talked to him on New Year’s Eve. And why would someone hand write a bookmark? Why would someone hand write anything anymore?”

“No idea, Kenzie. But it’s probably nothing. He just got a letter he liked and wanted to save part of it. Hell, I probably would too. Besides, think about it: If you really thought  in your subconscious it was this important, why didn’t you mention it to me on New Year’s Eve?” Gage walked by and she excused herself. He looked even better than he had the last time I had seen him. He had gotten a haircut and, unless it was my imagination, a little bit more muscle definition. He was newly tanned which was surprising in New York at the end of May, but it looked good so I didn’t question it.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hey yourself.” He stuck his hands in his pockets.

“How have you been?”

“Good. What about you?”

“Good.” I hesitated. “How’s...your girlfriend?”

“She’s good.” He took out one hand and rubbed the back of his neck.

“So what are you doing today? I mean, are you making a speech or anything?”

“Nope. Just going to stand here and look pretty, I guess.”

“You’re good at that.” He posed, and I actually laughed.

“So what are you doing?” he asked. “I’m guessing a speech, since you brought it up.”

I nodded.