Changing Minds, Changing Worlds

The next few days were quiet and Marsha had dropped off Ellie at the clinic once she had done all the paperwork and verified that she was her next of kin. Ellie’s parents and the Doctors back in Massachusetts had done most of the work but Marsha had to do hers now. Marsha didn’t need to be there all day so they told her that they would call her when they were done to pick her up. The first day was really draining as they took a lot of blood, e.e.g’s and psych tests. By the time Marsha picked her up her head was killing her. And it didn’t help when they pulled into the driveway and that kid next door was mowing the grass either.

“Oh you’ve got to be kidding me!” Ellie said as she threw her arms around her head.

Marsha just looked at her and felt bad for her. “Honey your head hurts that bad?”

“Yeah I think between all the damn blood they took out of me and those stupid psych test which just pis… oh sorry ticked me off even more my head just wants to pop. And I swear to God that kid just knew I wasn’t feeling good and decided (in funny voice) ‘Oh I’m going to mow my front lawn so when she gets home I can give her a real migraine!’ URGH!”  She explained to Marsha frustrated.

Marsha wanted to laugh. She remembered those times when she also was upset with a young man who bothered her. Hers thou was in College. Seems he was in most of her classes in her Junior year. How can she tell her the way she solved her problem was she married hers.

“Sweetie I don’t think that John is mowing the lawn on purpose.” She said to her cousin trying not to laugh at her seeing how much pain she was in.

Ellie just rolled her eyes. “Don’t count on it.” She said getting out of the car. As she shut the car door she turned around and didn’t realize that she it did really fast because all she remembered was waking up on the living room couch.

“Marsha! She’s waking up!” John yelled from the living room.

Marsha came in with another cold compress. Ellie opened her eyes slowly and as she did she thought she was seeing things as John came into focus. She looked from him to Marsha then back to him. She couldn’t understand what was going on. “What…what happened?’ she asked them confused.

They both smiled at her as Marsha answered her and putting the compress on her forehead. “Well I was hoping you’d tell me Sweetie. One minute you were getting out of the car then the next thing I know you’re lying on the ground. It was a good thing John was around to help me get you in the house.” She explained.

“Huh? Lying on the ground?” she again asked really confused.

Smiling John said, “Boy you must of hit your head too. You fainted and I carried you into the house.” He told her.

Ellie’s eyes grew big as saucers and she must of gone three shades of red she thought. She wanted to crawl under the couch not lay on it. “I did what?” she asked.

“She’s also deaf. You fainted.” He said now starting to laugh as Marsha smacked him on the arm. He just looked at her and giggled through his lips.

“Ellie it was probably because of all the blood they took from you. I’m going to get some orange juice and I want you to drink it ok?” Marsha said as she went into the kitchen to get it.

John just looked at Ellie and now was serious when he asked her, “Do you feel any better now?”

Looking at him she wanted to be snarky at him but her head was still killing her so she just didn’t have it in her right now. “No I have a migraine and still feel queasy if you really want to know.”

“I wouldn’t of asked if I didn’t.” he shot back. He didn’t mean it to sound as bad as it did but she just brought that side out of him. “I didn’t mean it to sound snarky like that…”

“No it didn’t really it’s ok and Thanks for helping out.” She told him trying to smile.

“No problem and while I have you here I want to apologize for the way I acted the other night.” He told her looking down at the floor.

But before Ellie could respond Marsha came back in with her juice and her meds to take. Marsha could sense something was going on but what. They weren’t sniping at each other so who said what to whom? John could see that Ellie was tired and excused himself and Marsha thanked him for everything he did. He told her that it wasn’t anything and if she needed anything else to just call him. Later that night Michael had picked up the kids from his parents and when they got home Marsha explained everything that had happened. He didn’t like the fact that Ellie had passed out the way she did but had agreed that it could have been because of all the blood that was taken and that they would keep an eye on that. He was grateful that John was around to help out the way he did.

                The next morning Ellie had felt like she had been hit by a bus. She really didn’t feel like doing anything. She finally woke up around ten thirty in the morning which was surprising since the kids would usually sneak in her room to check on her. She went downstairs as Marsha was in her office as she was a Real estate Agent and did most of her work from home. Michael worked for an Insurance company so he could make his own hours since he had the most seniority there. Today in went into the office again as he had paperwork to do. She made herself her tea and told Marsha she was going to take the kids outside with her so they could play and she could read.

Next door John to was just getting up and his mother wasn’t too thrilled about it but she knew her son had gotten in very late. She knew where he was because he told them that he would be at The Fast Lane playing into the wee hours with his band The Atlantic City Expressway. At least it wasn’t too bad it was the summer so he could sleep in not like school where he would go and sit in class with his sun glasses on and sleep in during his classes.

“Well it finally gets up.” Carol teased her son.

John just looked at his mother and made a grumpy face. “Ha ha Ma. Is there anymore coffee left?”  he asked her looking like death warmed over.

“Yes I made you a fresh pot.” She said smiling at her favorite child.

“Thank You.” He told her walking over and kissing her on the cheek. He poured himself a cup and as he was walking back to the table he had a great view of the Levine’s back yard from their kitchen window which he never realized before. He knew he could see it from his window but didn’t know you could see it from the kitchen as well. He saw the kids playing and Ellie sitting on the lounge reading. “Huh she’s up.” He said quietly to himself.

“Did you say something Honey?” Carol asked John.

“What Mom?” John asked distracted.

“See something you like?” she asked him smirking.

“What? See what? Huh no…it’s just that…MA!” he blurted out as he went to sit down.

“My my what’s got you all tongue tied.” She asked him smiling.

“Nothing can’t a guy just have his coffee for crying out loud.” He said looking into his mug.

Carol stood there studying her son. “Johnny you seemed fine until you looked out that window. Would your mood change have anything to do with Ellie? You’re usually not shy when it comes to girls and I know you just broke up with Dorothea so what is it?  Do you like her or not?” Carol asked him outright.

John looked up at his Mom he could always talk to her about anything. “Does it show that much Ma? I saw how pretty she was when she got here then you wanted to go over there that night but you told me how vulnerable she was. You just didn’t tell me she was just a pain in the ass too.” He said grinning.

“So you do like her? Carol said.

“Yah more so since the other day when I carried her into the house.” He told her. “I mean she seams different than the girls around here you know? She may be sick but she’s confident and feisty as hell all at the same time. Plus I don’t think she would hurt someone on purpose just for the hell of it.”   

“Well then why don’t you take my suggestion and ask her if she would like a tour of the place. You know take her around town, maybe the boardwalk, a movie; take her to lunch or dinner but nothing expensive because that does say date. That way you won’t scare her this way it’s just a friend taking a friend around getting a lay of the land.” Carol explained to her son on how to land Ellie as a friend or maybe even more.

John getting up and walking over to his Mom, he kissed her again and said, “Ma sometimes you scare the hell out of me that you can be so devious. Did you get Dad this way?” he asked her smiling.

“Oh Sweetie I can’t give all my secrets away now can I.” she said laughing.

John went upstairs and changed into a pair of clean shorts and his favorite Led Zeppelin t-shirt.

It was now around lunch time and Marsha stuck her head out to let them know that lunch was ready. “I’m not really that hungry Marsha.” Ellie told her not taking her nose out of her book.

“Ellie you have to get something in your stomach or you’re going to be sick.” Marsha scolded her. promise.” She told her finally looking up at her and giving her the puppy dog eyes. That usually worked on her Mom.   

Rolling her eyes, “Marsha I had a late breakfast so I’m not hungry ok? I’ll grab something later I

Marsha thought for a moment then finally agreed with her only because she didn’t want to fight with her. “Ok if you promise to eat something a little later.” She asked her.

“Promise I’ll snack later. Believe me if I get hungry I’ll grab something.” She said to her cousin smiling.

Marsha went in to tend to her kids and Ellie went back to her reading but didn’t get far as John came walking in thru the back entryway. Ellie looked up to see who was coming in the back yard and nearly died at who she saw. She couldn’t image what he was doing here and why. She was thinking he couldn’t be here to see her right? Nah? What would he want to see me about? We don’t even like each other. Right? Right. Oh Boy! It didn’t help that he was wearing these really short shorts that she never seen on boys before and did his t-shirt look a little tight? Or was it just my imagination. Oh God! Now would be a really good time for Marsha to call for me, or for the sky to come crashing in on me.