Chapter seven: Parker

Wednesday (8 28)

"Honey make sure you feed the cat!" Mom called as she hurried out the door.

Dad patted my head and kissed my forehead as he passed by me. Link stared at me with his big doe eyes as I rushed to put together a decent lunch.

"Hey Munchy, don't forget to text us when you're on your way back from the field trip."

"Yes ma'am I will."

"Munchy? Really?" Ezra asked as Ollie stifled a snicker.

"Look man. He couldn't say my name when he was little. Now shut up and help me get this stuff ready!"

"Geez okay." Ezra began packing the rest of Links' lunch. I threw a cup of noodles and crackers in my bag.

"Any one heard from Micah?" Ezra asked breaking the rushed silence.

"No. But this isn't unlike him."

"Yea but he normally texts someone."

"He's fine stop stressing."

"Come on park! We're going to be late for the bus!" Ollie nagged as I grabbed my bag.

"I'm closer to the front door than you are!"

"Don't nag at me!"

"Then don't nag at me!"

"You're both pretty now let's go." Ezra pushed us out the door.

"Do you guys want anything to drink?"

"No!" Ollie and I both yelled in unison as the car started.

"Alright relax. I'll make sure you get to your bus on time."

The day was dismal and cold. A light rain fell from the clouds making the morning darker than normal. It was the perfect day to stay home with tea and a book. We all had woken up late that morning but we always managed to make it to school on time. Ollie and I practically did a tuck and roll out of Ezra's car as he pulled up to the school.

"Thanks for the ride!" Ollies called out to him as we rushed to the bus that was already pulled up in the front of the school.

"You two barely made it!" Mr. Moore said as we stood at the back of the line.

"Yea. We woke up late."

"I'm glad you two could make it."

We took our seats at the front of the bus and let out a heavy sigh. I looked at a very disgruntled Ollie. He hated rain and being late.

"What the hell are you smiling for?" He scowled.

"You." I couldn't hold back the laughter.

"Oh haha very funny." We did a roll call before pulling out of the parking lot. It was about a thirty minute drive to Blue Bay so we had time to nap or relax.

The rain had stopped by the time we pulled into the parking lot of a very large building. There was one central building with wings sprouting I'm from it. It looked like a sun that kindergarten would draw. The doors open and a very short lady with black hair and a clip board boarded the bus.

"Hi everyone! My name is Dr Perez. As you know this is a rehabilitation facility.I'd really appreciate it, it if you would remain quiet as we enter the building. Patients are just now starting to wake up. If you see some please do not interact with them." She stepped off the bus and our teacher stood up.

"Alright class, when you get off the bus stay together and wait for Dr. Perez's directions. Make sure your phones are silenced and please remain quiet and respectful." He remained standing as we began to get off the bus.

"Alright! When we go in there will be hot beverages and snacks for you to have during the lecture. If you need to use the restroom alert one of the nurses and they'll show you where the closest one is. If you'd just follow me inside and we can get the lecture started!"

We quietly followed her into a large round building. Inside were rows of chairs and make shift stage with a white back drop behind it. Off to the side was an assortment of hot drinks and cookies and muffins. We all sat our stuff off to the side and got what we needed for the lecture. As we took our seats nurses handed out white boards and markers.

"During the lecture there will be multiple choice questions and you'll use these to answer. Once you have what you need please take a seat."

Ollie and I took a seat towards the middle edge.

"It's so quiet." I mumbled into his ear.

"No shit it's quiet." I pulled out my sketch book and flipped to an empty page.

"Are seriously gonna draw?"

"No it's for notes." There was a low murmur about the room as the class tried to settle down.

"Hi everyone! Welcome to Blue Bay rehabilitation center. I'm sure you were briefed by your teacher about what we do here. But I'd like to tell you myself. We are a home. We have a large range of patients. We have elderly who can't care for themselves to teens who are in desperate need of help. Each wing that branches off this building is suited for a particular group. For instance the wing I work in, to the right of me, is for those who are a danger to themselves. But I digress, we take in anyone who needs help. Now for what I do personally, I evaluate and diagnose patients. I come up with treatments based off their needs and conditions. I also administer therapy and medications." I saw a student raid e their hand from the corner of my eye.

"Yes?"

"So, do you make your medicines here? Do you use a different location?"

"Great question! We make our medicines here. This building is separated into multiple floors. Once you go past those double doors you'll be in the commons room. But if you go outside to the side of the building you'll see a set of stairs to a second level. Above the commons is the lad. There we have nurses who make medications for our patients. We also have a kitchen on that level too."

"Do all the patients get free roam of the building?"

"No. We have a separate ward for those who are a dangers to others. They remain in their ward and in their rooms at all times. Unless they show signs of improvement they have minimal range of the buildings."

"How long-"

"Please hold questions for after every slide." She stepped to the side as the projector turned on. I began to zone out as a video started playing.

"Not what I thought the field trip would be." I wrote on the white board.

"What did you expect?" Ollie asked.

"I dunno. Evaluation of a patient."

"We were told that this would be about the history of how wards became what they are today."

I sighed and watched the old documentary. The doors squeaked open casting a beam of light on the projector. We all turned as the video continued to play on. My eyes adjusted to the bright light. Standing the door frame was a very familiar small frame. Micah stared at us wide eyed and shocked. He was dressed in a light blue pajama like outfit with white slippers.

"Nurse Harrison! Would you like to speak?" Dr. Perez sounded like back ground noise as I locked eyes with Micah. Fear. Fear was the only emotion that showed on his face.

"Hey Micah." I called to him. He gasped and rushed out the building.

"Hey wait!" The nurse ran after him.

"I told you no interacting with patients." Dr. Perez said in a stern tone.

"We'll have a talk on the bud."

"Okay." I groaned as I sunk into my seat.

"Was that Micah?" Ollie wrote on his bored. I nodded my head and took a deep breath.

After a power point and several more videos we were released for lunch. The sun had come out by now and we were allowed to eat in the courtyard.

"Alright class when you're done eating we're headed back to the school." Mr. Moore said as he walked over to Ollie and I.

"Why did you call out to the patient he asked sitting down."

"We know him."

"So you thought it was okay to talk to him even though a doctor told you not to?"

"I just-"

"You don't know why he's here. And we're not to speak to them because It could frighten them or mess distract them from their treatment."

"Don't talk about my friend like he's some freak."

"Parker, do not get smart with me. You went against a rule and now smarting off to me. Do you want to be banned from future field trips?"

"No sir."

"Then remain quiet for the rest of this trip."

Ollie snickered at me.

"Not funny." I mumbled.

"But it was funny when I was in a bad mood this morning." He hid his mouth as he continued to chuckle.

"Shut up."

I had to sit next to Mr. Moore on the bus ride back. It was hard to stay silent when Ollie kept making funny faces and texting me. But I managed to keep my vow of silence. By the time we got back to the school, it was time for second lunch group to go to lunch. I spent the rest of my day listening to lectures and working in my sketch book. I was grateful for the final bell to ring.

"How was the field trip?" Ezra asked catching up to us.

"We saw Micah." I cheered taking a doughnut hole from his bag.

"Wait what do you mean you saw Micah?"

"He was there. Wearing the patients outfit."

"So you mean he's a patient there?"

"I don't really know. But we can ask when he gets back." Ollie took Ezra's bags as we walked to the field.

"Is that a good idea though? "

"Not like you were at the field trip."

"Hey but he has a point though."

" I mean don't you think we deserve an explanation."

"Maybe we do maybe we don't but it's not our place to ask him."

"I just want him to come back." Ezra looked down trodden.

"Me too."