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Author's Note:
This story contains disturbing mental/physical themes that may cause discomfort. Readers be advised.
This is Part 2 of 4. Previously the story title was incorrectly shown as "Woulds Pt.02", it should be "Wounds Pt.02"
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Wounds: A Seaside Story
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CHAPTER 2
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A few days later, Janelle saw Mrs. Anderson at the Bright House cafΓ©. It was Mia's second day at the preschool and Mrs. Anderson asked her how the first day went.
"Good! She actually really likes her classmates and teachers!" Janelle was proud of her sweet 4-yr old adapting to a new environment so quickly, "She still says she misses visiting you!"
Mrs. Anderson was apologetic, "I would love for Mia to come soon! Once Ezra settles into a routine, Mia's presence may be good for him. He likes kids."
Janelle looked around. There were no customers at the restaurant, so she felt emboldened to ask, "What happened to him?"
Mrs. Anderson, in her usual reserved manner, explained that she didn't know the full details. All she knew was that six months ago, she received a call from the Marine Corps headquarters that Ezra was wounded in action. At first, she didn't know the scope of his injury. Then, she was told that he had both of his legs blown off, that he was already going through double amputation at the field trauma center and would be sent back to Walter Reed for recovery. She flew to Maryland to look after him for a month, but then Ezra asked her to leave him there, saying he didn't need help. The doctors were still waiting for his wounds to fully heal before he could be fitted for prosthetics. They said he would be re-evaluated in the next three months.
When Mrs. Anderson did not receive word from Ezra about when he would be ready for a prosthetics fitting, she reached out to him. Ezra was reluctant to give her more information. It sounded like he did not want to go through the painful process of learning to use artificial limbs. The doctors informed Mrs. Anderson that he had lost even more weight and was physically diminishing. Mrs. Anderson called Ezra once more and urged him, with all the motherly power she had in him, to come home. She pleaded him to come and stay at Seaside until he was physically healed enough before considering going back to Walter Reed or any facility for prosthetics. Ezra said he didn't want to come home, but for once in her life, Mrs. Anderson was insistent. Ezra obliged.
"You can see he's not well. He needs to be healthy again before anything else can happen. Right now, he's not even strong enough to move around in his wheelchair and he refuses to go into those motorized ones."
He's more than just unwell. He's fading
. Janelle thought to herself.
"Is there anything I can do to help him? Or help you?" Janelle asked.
Mrs. Anderson smiled that warm, appreciative smile, "He needs friends. I wish there are more friends he could talk to, but he says most of his Marine friends are still deployed and most of his childhood friends no longer live here. I can help him with taking him to the doctors and tending to his daily needs, but he needs to talk to somebody closer to his age. You are a few years older than him and you have a kid. I think that will make him respect you and listen to you."
Mrs. Anderson thought for a bit, then continued, "Maybe you can bring Mia over for a playdate next week. I think he'll be ready by then."
"I will be happy to do that!" Janelle answered.
Mrs. Anderson called the following week and arranged for Janelle to bring Mia.
Janelle's heart beat wildly as she pulled into the driveway. She had instructed Mia about Ezra's condition, but was still worried that Mia would say the wrong things. Heck, she was worried she would say the wrong things!
She didn't want it to be obvious that she was there to be a "friend". She knew that wouldn't work. Instead, she was going to act like she was there because Mia really missed Mrs. Anderson's backyard. They brought mini ceramic gnomes and houses to decorate the garden. Mia wanted to make the backyard a secret fairyland.
To her relief, Mia did not really pay attention to Ezra. As soon as she got to the house, all she wanted to do was run into the backyard to water the plants and find a good place for her gnomes. Mrs. Anderson pushed Ezra's wheelchair to the backyard so he could watch his mother play with Mia.
Janelle stood awkwardly next to the wheelchair; Mia was not interested in her mother at the moment. She searched her mind for the appropriate conversational topic, "How are you feeling today?"
Uh, that's a terrible question!
She reprimanded herself.
"I'm fine. Thanks for asking." Was Ezra's curt reply.
Janelle sighed inside. This wasn't going to work unless she became more straightforward, "Are you able to sleep at night?"
"No." Came the answer.
"At least that was an honest answer." Janelle then realized she actually said that out loud and was immediately embarrassed.
She was surprised that he followed up with a longer answer, "I don't want to get hooked on opiates and I guess regular drugs don't work." Ezra paused, then said, "It doesn't matter anyway -- whether I sleep or not."
"Sleep will help you heal faster. It's the most important thing." Janelle channeled her mom attitude. She decided she might as well pretend she was talking to another 4-yr old, "You are too skinny. You need to eat, sleep, and exercise!"
She glanced down at his upper limbs resting at his side. Thin skin covered the long forearm bone. His hands were like big spidery skeletons. His whole body lacked color.
But it was really the eyes that got her -- that thousand-yard stare into nothing. Mrs. Anderson must have been seeing what Janelle saw in his eyes. Otherwise, she would not have asked Janelle to be his "friend" -- as if that sort of direct request ever worked for anyone.
No, Janelle determined that while she would not befriend Ezra, she would be there as a family friend. It was her way to give back to Mrs. Anderson for taking care of Mia.
Easter had just passed, and Mia decided she wanted Mrs. Anderson to hide plastic eggs in the garden for her to find. Janelle remembered helping Mrs. Anderson put the eggs away on the top shelf in the kitchen pantry. She offered to go with Mrs. Anderson back inside the house to retrieve them.
"Ezra, can you watch Mia in the garden while Janelle and I go get the eggs?" Mrs. Anderson asked her son. It was her not-so-subtle way of giving Ezra something to do.
"Yes, ma." A sad smile came over Ezra's pale face, "I can do that."
"Help her fill up the pail if she wants to water the plants again, but don't let her water the succulents anymore or they will die!" Mrs. Anderson pointed to the garden hose that was a few feet away from Ezra's wheelchair.
Back in the kitchen, Mrs. Anderson brought a stool for Janelle to stand on to retrieve the plastic eggs. Mrs. Anderson wanted to wash the cabinet dust off the plastic eggs before giving them to Mia. Janelle thought that was unnecessary -- Mia touched way dirtier things all the time -- but she did not stop Mrs. Anderson.
"Go back outside and make sure they are OK." Mrs. Anderson urged her.
Janelle walked to the back door leading out to the yard, but stopped before reaching for the door knob.
Mrs. Anderson had said Ezra liked kids. Perhaps, by leaving them together longer, Mia's innocence and energy would invigorate him.
She could hear the garden hose being turned on. Mia was blabbering about wanting to water all the plants again. Ezra reminded her that succulents would suffer from overwatering.
"They're desert plants. You should only water them when the soil is dry."