Susan Pfeffer - The Dead And The Gone

"Alex, look at me," Bri said. "Do you know where you are?"

That was a tough question, but he'd answered harder ones at school. "Home," he said. That didn't sound like "wugga wugga" at all.

Bri smiled. Alex could see Bri smile. Alex smiled back.

"Alex, we want you to drink some of this soup," Julie said. "Here, take a sip. It's split pea soup. It's your favorite."

Alex was too polite to tell Julie that minestrone was his favorite. He took a sip of the soup. It tasted awful. "You're a lousy cook," he said.

"Take another sip," Bri said. "It's yummy."

Alex did as he was told, but the soup was anything but yummy. "Where are my arms?" he asked.

"They're right by your sides," Bri said. "You're in the sleeping bag."

That made sense, he supposed. "The sun is shining in my eves," he said.

"The sun doesn't shine anymore, Alex," Julie said.

"Santa Madre de Dios," Bri said. "The electricity's back on."

Thursday, December 22

"What time is it?" Alex asked. "What day is it?"

Julie laughed. "It's close to three," she said. "And it's your birthday."

His birthday. There was a reason why that was important, but Alex couldn't concentrate enough to think why. "How long have I been sleeping?" he asked.

"You got sick days ago," Julie replied. "Saturday night. Today's Thursday, so you've been sleeping all week. You were delirious at first, but since yesterday I guess you've been more normal."

"Fluicide," Alex said.

"What?" Julie asked.

"The flu," Alex said. "I must have had the flu."

"You still have it," Julie said. "But now I don't think you'll die."

"Was I that sick?" Alex asked.

Julie nodded. "Especially Sunday and Monday," she said. "You were really crazy on Monday. Then you went to sleep and we couldn't wake you up and we were terrified. But you woke up on your own, and you've been awake a little bit at a time ever since."

"Did I eat soup?" Alex asked. "I seem to remember soup."

"We found a bottle of aspirin, so we dissolved pills in the soup," Julie said. "You hated it, but we got some of it down each time. How do you feel?"

"Awful," Alex said. "Like a truck ran over me. And I'm wet. How come I'm wet?"

"Well, you sweated a lot," Julie said. "And you wet yourself. You were in the sleeping bag, and we figured it was better to keep you in it, because you kept trying to get up. When you're stronger, you can get out of it, and we'll let it dry."

Something about the sleeping bag made Alex think of Kevin. "Kevin?" he said.

"He's dead," Julie said. "That's what you told me on Friday."

Yeah, that was right. Harvey was dead, too.

"I'll be better soon," Alex said. "I promise. I'll be strong enough to take care of you soon."

And with those words, he fell back asleep.

When he woke up again, it was dark, the only illumination coming from a single candle. "What's happening?" he asked.

"Nothing," Julie said. "Go back to sleep."

But Alex felt more awake than he had in days. "What time is it?" he asked.

"I don't know," Julie said. "It's not that late. It's just dark in here, that's all."

"I'm hungry," Alex said.

"You haven't eaten very much the past few days," Julie said. "We still have food, if you want some. Would you like some spinach?"

Alex thought about it and shook his head. "I want something sweet," he said. "Do we have anything sweet in the house?"

"I don't think so," Julie said.

Alex tried to focus. His whole body ached and the throbbing in his head was close to unbearable. "Could you blow the candle out?" he asked. "It hurts my eyes."

"I don't think I should," Julie said. "It's the only light we have. But I can move it farther away." She got up and carried the candle to a table behind the sofa so Alex's back was to it. "Is that better?"

"Yes, thank you," Alex said. "I know this is crazy, but did the sun start shining while I was sick?"

"You thought it did," Julie said. "That was yesterday. The electricity came on. It was on today, too, but you slept through it."

"Electricity," Alex said. "That's a good sign."

"I guess," Julie said. "The microwave sure made things easier."

"I don't suppose Mami or Papi came back," Alex said. It felt like he'd spent a lot of time with them lately.

"No," Julie said. "It's just us. Same as always."

"Where's Bri?" Alex asked. "Is she all right?"

"Bri was great," Julie said. "She and I took turns watching after you. She was really amazing. It's like she didn't even care she had asthma. She said we just had to keep our faith that the Holy Mother would watch over you, and she did."

"And today's my birthday?" Alex asked. "I'm eighteen?"

"Yeah," Julie said. "Happy birthday. Sorry there's no party."

Alex closed his eyes, trying to remember why his birthday was so important. But before he could come up with an answer, he'd fallen back asleep.

Friday, December 23

His throat was parched. He groped for the glass of water he always kept on the end table, but he couldn't find it.

"Julie!" he said. "Julie, I'm thirsty."

"I'll get you some water," she said. "And a couple of aspirin."

Alex waited for her to bring the water to him. When she did, he took a gulp, then swallowed the two aspirin, washing them down with more water. There wasn't enough water in the world, he thought. Or maybe there was too much. Whatever, he was still thirsty.

"Could I have some more?" he asked. "Please?"

"I guess," Julie said. She went back to the kitchen and returned with a full glass. "Don't gulp," she said. "Are you hungry?"

"I don't know," Alex said. "I think I will be. I feel better than yesterday, but I still ache all over."

"The aspirin should help," Julie said.

"What time is it?" Alex asked.

"I wish you'd stop asking that," Julie snapped. "What difference does it make?"

Alex considered telling Julie not to use that tone with him, but it wasn't worth the effort. "Where's Bri?" he asked instead. "Is she still sleeping?"

"Maybe you should go back to sleep," Julie said. "It's still pretty early."

That seemed like a very good idea. He'd go back to sleep and let the aspirin work its magic. When he woke up next, he was sure he'd feel much better.

He woke up with a smile on his face. He'd had a very pleasant dream, although he couldn't quite remember the details. Something about living in a small town, like the ones where he'd spent his Fresh Air Fund summers. People walked around smiling. He remembered the smiles.

"It's daytime, isn't it?" he said to Julie. She was sitting in the easy chair, facing him, but she seemed to be concentrating on the front door. Alex turned around to see what might be interesting there, but it looked the same as always.

"Yeah," Julie said. "It's daytime."

"I remember drinking some water," Alex said. "How long ago was that?"

"Maybe three hours ago," Julie said. "Do you want some aspirin?"

Alex shook his head, and found he got dizzy doing so. "Not just yet," he said. "I hope you and Bri don't get sick. Is there much aspirin left?"

"Enough," Julie said. "And we're not going to get sick. We would have by now if we were going to."

"Why are you so interested in the door?" Alex asked. "Are you expecting company?"

"No, of course not," Julie said. "I'm just tired of looking at you."

"I don't blame you," Alex said. "Is Bri sleeping?"

Julie turned away from the door. "Bri isn't here," she said.

"What do you mean she isn't here?" Alex asked. "Where is she?"

"I don't know," Julie said.

Alex struggled to free his arms from the wet and smelly sleeping bag. "Where do you think she is?" he asked.

"I don't know," Julie said. "Look, I'm sure she's okay. Why don't you go back to sleep. Maybe she'll be back when you wake up."