Blackwood Heights

Chapter Two

  Piper decided to bike to school. It would be a  hour long bike ride but she needed the time to be free from  her step parent. Calling Seth her step dad seemed uncomfortable to her. Since it forced her to say the word dad,  and her mother who clearly did not get why she was so sad. She packed extra clothing so she could shower and put on fresh clothes. Piper, would rush and did not want to be a sweaty mess. 

 Her mother did not check to even see if she had eaten, and the night before Lydia  had a little bit too much red wine and was still hung over. Piper was angry. Her mother was self absorbed and seem to just neglect the fact she was in any kind of pain whatsoever. 

 Piper, pedalled harder and her hands were clutched unto the handle bars. Suddenly, tears came from no where she could barely see and she skidded off to the shoulder where tiny rocks made her lose her balance. Piper’s bike skidded hard and she hurt her knee. Blood was rushing freely unto her jeans staining them in the crimson liquid. Piper, winced in pain. Then she really started crying and screaming and she simply could not stop. Huddled up in a ball crying she stayed that way for what seemed like a very long time. Due, to exhaustion she cried herself to sleep on the side of the road. 

  When, she awoke someone a young lady was gently hovering over her. “Are you okay?” Her voice was soft, and sincere. Piper’s voice was shaking. “I… I fell off, my bike. I’m sorry.” Piper stammered. The woman looked confused and wondered why she said sorry. 

“Your, knee looks pretty bad.” The young lady said looking at the blood soaked denim. “I think it might need stitches it is fairly deep. My name is Lily.” She looked directly at Piper. It was the first time in a while anyone looked directly at her without judgement or disdain. 

 “I was headed to school. I guess I should have taken the bus. I guess it was pretty stupid of me to bike there huh?” Piper, asked through tears. 

 “Nah, it is  a beautiful morning,  I should call your mom.” Lily said as she grabbed her cell phone from her purse. 

 Piper looked terrified. She nodded and gave her the number. Then after a moment Piper took the phone. 

I lost my balance, and fell off my bike. I am sorry, I lost my balance. It’s bad mom, I need stitches. Piper was angry, she asked to speak to the woman again.

 Yes, this is Lily, hi. Umm… Yes, I can take her to the emergency room.  Oh, no payment is not necessary. Okay, yes I guess I can drop her off now. 

 Lily, hung up the phone. “Listen sweetie, I can take you to the emergency room; but I hate to tell you this, I cannot stay, I have a meeting with some investors. I am really sorry.” Lily seemed unsure as to what to do. It must seem weird to  this woman  that a mother could not even pick up her daughter and bring her to the hospital. 

 “Can you tell the school for me. I don’t want to seem like the kid that does not care. I really love school.” Piper said still wincing from the pain. Lily nodded. 

 Lily, put the bike in the back of her SUV and they drove. They talked in silence when they arrived Lily helped get her bike out and then made sure that Piper was able to lock it on her own. 

 “Thank you Lily, I really appreciate it.” Piper said with a small smile. Lily nodded and they waved and Piper waddled into the reception area. 

  The receptionist noticed that Piper was no where near the age of eighteen and walked up to Piper. “I can see your leg needs stitches; however, without a guardian we cannot treat you. You need to call someone so we can actually fix you up.” The receptionist looked down at Piper as she spoke,  and there was really nothing that Piper could do but sigh and grabbed her phone and dialled her mom once again. There was no answer. 

 “My mom is at work and so is my step father. He left early for the office. We just moved here and I don’t have his office number and we are  not close enough for his cell phone number. I am sorry, I should have put it in my phone like my mom asked. Are you mad at me?” Her explanation and question baffled the receptionist. 

 “Well, I will get you stitched up, you are bleeding pretty bad, but we cannot release you until a guardian picks you up. Okay?” The receptionist waited and Piper nodded. 

 The doctor and the receptionist were talking and the doctor kept looking over at Piper. Piper was jealous of a little girl who was being wrapped up carefully in her mother’s arms. Piper was not about to cry in front of complete strangers. 

 The little girl went into the children’s wing and then Piper was called. The doctor gave her a needle for the pain and stitched her up. Piper cried now the needle stung and watching the needle go in and out of her skin  was making Piper dizzy, she passed out on the bed. 

  When, Piper opened her eyes her mom was there. She was angry she could tell her eyes were alight with brazen anger. “How could you, why did you not just leave and walk your bike?” Her mother asked belligerently. 

 Piper was confused and then realised her mother was drunk. There was nothing that Piper could say except a hush “Sorry.” 

 “Sorry, will not cut it you little___”  Piper’s mom got interrupted by the doctor. 

  “Everything, okay; here? The doctor asked looking at the charts.  Then he continued. “I am Dr. Tobias.” 

 He looked nice. A warm smile that brightened the room. He smiled like her dad. 

 He wrote quickly some pain meds that Piper needed to take. “Nothing too strong, just enough to help you once the pain killer from the needle wears off, and you be careful riding your bike, okay?” 

 He smiled and handed Piper the prescription. Piper smiled and then her mother dragged her out in a hurry. She slammed Piper’s bike in the back of the SUV and they drove off. They got Piper’s prescription. Lydia threw the bottle at her. “Did you do this on purpose? I bet you did.” Piper just sat sullen and completely defeated. 

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                                                                                     Summer 1928

 Father Tobias loved seeing Susie and her Aunt Marion in the front pew. Marion was going to the magistrate office the following day to get the paper signed that she would be the sole guardian along with her new husband Emmett. Susie sang boldly and with great conviction. Her voice was strong and melodious. Susie was definitely gifted with music. Emmett was gracefully running his strong masculine hands through her hair, they were the perfect family. God was good. 

 Following the service there was an ice cream social with games and a pie auction. Marion caught up with Father Tobias.“Thank you so much for fetching her. I don’t think my brother was successful in his business he was attempting did not come to fruition.” Marion was discreet in her words but Father Tobias knew exactly what she was referring to. 

 Susie ran up to him and asked Father Tobias to join in the three legged race. He smiled and nodded and soon they were off. They came in second. Susie was thrilled, her bouncy curls going up and down as she jumped up in excitement and the sun kissed her hair, it was the image Father Tobias would always hold her. Father Tobias pinned a second place ribbon on her. Her grin was larger than her vocal chords she was free and happy. She would have the life God would always want her to have.