July (The Year of The Change Book 1) (25 page)

"What's wrong with Sue, did she get sick again?"

He sat her on the side of the bed to take her shoes off and she fell back with a thud to the springs.

"No, she was doing very well with the fresh air. I kept her close to the rail just in case. We talked to another couple, who said they had some great pills that cured his sea sickness. Before I could stop them, the wife whipped out a bottle and gave Sue two pills. Sue put them straight into her mouth and swallowed."

"Why'd she do that?"

"She wanted to feel better. The other couple apologized. It seems the woman was giving Sue one pill for now and the second one for later. Or if she broke them in half, four dosages, like her husband took."

"Oh my gosh."

Dad dropped her shoes on the floor. "Yep, Sue's going to be out for a while." He pulled her head to her pillow as I put her legs up on the bed. With Tam's help, we covered her.

"And to think how many times Sue lectured us kids never to take pills from strangers." I tsk’d and heard Sue in the sound. I shivered.

Dad took me by the arm and led me over to the table. "Tim, Tam, pick up the rest of these cards and go play on your bunk."

Tim scoffed as Tam got to her knees. "Ah Dad, do we hafta?"

Dad gave Tim the Kennin eye and the boy dropped to the floor with his sister. They retrieved the rest of the cards. Dad and I sat on the benches. It was a nice change. I was usually the one picking up after them.

"Okay, Sylv – uh, Sylvia, what happened?"

"Well, you guys left and I was playing solitaire when he was suddenly in the room sitting right where you are now."

"Who is he?"

"He's the guy I told you popped up in our window and scared the bejeevers out of me yesterday. He said his name is Drew something … what did he say his last name was? I think it started with an L." Dad huffed. He was a bottom line kind of guy. "It doesn't matter. Anyway, he said he came through the door when you guys left.”

“No one came through the door when we left.”

“That's what I said. Anyway, he wanted to know if I was a Phase Walker, whatever that is."

"A Phase Walker?" Dad just stared at me.

"Yeah, weird, huh?"

No words came out as Dad’s mouth dropped open.

When all he did was blink, I went on. "Well, he said no one could see him when he didn't want them to. And you didn't see him just now so he must be telling the truth."

Dad looked concerned. He should be, that guy was really creepy.

"Sylv, are you sure there was a guy in here?"

"Yes! How come you always doubt me?"

"Okay, Sylv, if you say there was a guy in here, which walked past me two times without me seeing him, then, there was a guy in here." He may say he believes me with his mouth, but his eyes couldn't lie. He didn't believe me.

Sigh. "I know it sounds crazy, but if there wasn't a guy in here, then who was I talking to?"

He pursed his lips as he thought. "Maybe you fell asleep and he was a dream?"

"Dad, did I look asleep when you came in?" Parents can be so frustrating.

"No, you looked hysterical." He not so much as batted an eye.

"I wasn't hysterical." I don't get hysterical.

He stared at me for a moment. "Maybe he was a hallucination."

"So you agree with Sue that I'm crazy."

"No, no, not crazy, you’ve just been cooped up in here too long. I don't think we should leave you alone anymore."

Now he’s going to treat me like a mental case, great.

"I haven't been alone, Sue's been here."

Sue snorted and rolled over.

Dad raised a brow. "I think you need someone who’s awake."

"You can't babysit me every minute." This trip just kept getting worse.

"I know, but I can leave one of the twins with you."

"Hey, no fair!" Tim peeked around the bunk at us. "I don't want to babysit Sylv."

I chuckled. "You wouldn't be babysitting me." Of course payback for all the times I had to babysit them would be nice.

"Don't worry, Tim, you and Tam will get the same amount of time on deck, you'll just go at different times."

"That wouldn’t be no fun." He huffed.

Tam hit his shoulder. "That won't be fun." She corrected.

"See, Tam doesn't like it neither."

His sister shook her head as she rolled her eyes.

Dad snapped. "That's the way it is, so get used to it."

Tim mumbled as he turned back to Tam and their card game. Dad decreed and we would obey.

The time came for them to go see the ranger's presentation. Who would go first? As both twins readied to go Dad busied himself, putting off the inevitable. Time snuck up and he had to face it.

“Tam will go first and then we'll come back and I'll take Tim.”

“What if all the cool stuff is in the beginning?” Tim whined.

“They always save the coolest stuff for last.” Dad said, obviously not thinking.

“That's no fair.” Tam was half into her coat. “I don't want to miss the coolest stuff!”

“Too bad, Dad said you have to go first.” Tim smirked

“Dad, I don't want to go first.” Tam looked near tears.

My father really stepped into it this time.

“Okay, the ranger is giving two presentations. Tam you'll go to the first one and Tim you'll go to the second.” Dad looked back and forth between them. “Is that okay with you, Tim?”

“Sure, the second presentation is going to be better than the first one, anyway.” Tim settled onto his bunk.

Tam zipped her coat. “How do you know that?”

“I read the brochure. That's the one Dad and I really wanted to see because it's the coolest.”

Tam turned her big watery hazel eyes up to Dad. “Dad, I want to go to the second one.”

If I didn't do something quick, the water works would start. I couldn't handle any more of their arguing, whining, and Tam's tears. Backed up against a wall, I'd had enough.

The twins bickered and pleaded with Dad, who looked completely out of his element. He glanced at Sue's sleeping form.

“Dad … just take them both.” I pleaded.

He shook his head. “Sylv, I don't want to leave you alone anymore.”

“Dad, I'm fine. Drew must’ve been a dream. You know how vivid my dreams have been this year. I promise I won't sleep while you're gone.” I spoke quicker. “If you don't take them both, we won't hear the end of it.” I grasped his arm firmly. “I can't take much more of this.” Controlling myself I let go and backed away.” It's just better to keep them together.”

Dad slumped his shoulders. “You're right, it is. Okay, Tim, get your coat.”

Tim already had his coat on and they were standing at the door impatiently waiting. The little twerps knew they would get their way. I hated being manipulated.

I not only hated being manipulated, but cried at, argued with and being cooped up in this stupid little room with only a small window without a view! There, I'd thought it all together so remorse stampeded in and I flopped on my bunk.

Dad looked over as he put his coat on. I smiled for his benefit and waved good-bye.

When they opened the door and escaped our dungeon I watched closely to make sure Drew, my hallucination didn't slip in. I didn't see him and rolled off my bunk to bolt the door and smooth the tape down over the door jam.

What do I do now? I was determined not to sleep. I was bored of reading, playing solitaire and staring at the four walls.

Sue snorted and rolled over.

And I was bored of watching Sue sleep. I’d already showered and dressed and combed my hair … twice.

I needed exercise. Sue was dead to the world, so I doubted any noise I made would bother her. I jogged in place for a couple of minutes before jogging from the door to the corner by the couch and back. My trek took all of two seconds. Jogging wasn't helping, just getting me more frustrated. I needed to really use my legs, I needed to run.

I stretched my arms above my head before bending down to touch my toes. My hamstrings screamed at me. If I wasn't careful I was going to lose all my conditioning from swimming that I'd worked so hard to achieve. If my buddy Donny were here he would be chewing me out for letting myself go. If Donny were here I wouldn't be bored.

Sigh. My arms dropped and dangled as the pity washed over me and took me lock, stock and barrel. Lowering myself to the floor I lay on my stomach with my chin on my hands. I needed more exercise. Then again, I was too depressed to move.

There was a knock at the door. Oh great, another affected boy.

Slowly, I rose to my knees. Did I truly want to even look? Not really. I leaned over to lower myself back down to my depression.

Knock, knock! “Housekeeping!” It was a woman's voice. Someone new to talk to!

Jumping up, I rushed to the door and ripped the tape up as fast as I could. “Just a minute!”

I peeked out the spy hole to make sure she was alone before I flipped the dead bolt and wrenched the last of the tape to open the door. “Hello!”

The small Asian woman, heavily laden with towels, was startled by my enthusiastic greeting. “Hello? Your friend told the purser you desperately needed towels.” She didn’t say anything as she eyed the tape on the doorframe.

I stepped back to let her in. “My friend?”

“
Yeah me.
” Drew stepped into view.

“Yes, he said he was your friend. About your height, thin with brown hair.”

“Uh, yeah, I know who you mean.” The impulse to leap past the housekeeper and slam the door warred with the need to look normal.

“Good, here are the towels.” She held them out to me.

“
You want to come out and play?
” He sneered, almost a smile, for him anyway.

“I don't know.” I wanted to get out of this suffocating room, but there was nowhere to go on this boat.

She cocked her head at me. “They don't cost anything.” She held the towels closer to me.

“
Come on out, you know you want to
.” He sidled in and slouched against the wall behind the woman and peered around her, eyes gleaming.

“You know I can't.”

The woman furrowed her brow. “They're just towels.”

I looked at Drew who smirked, kind of, then looked back at the woman. Her dark almond eyes widened and her dark bushy brows almost touched her hairline as she glanced over her shoulder. It finally dawned on me that she couldn't hear Drew. Of course not, he was
my
hallucination.

“Oh, sorry, thank you.”

“
Come on Sylv, come out and have some fun
.” He bounced his eye brows and motioned for me to join him.

I shook my head at him.

I hadn't moved and the woman, who kept looking to see what I was looking at, became impatient. “I'll just put these in the bathroom for you.” She pushed past.

“Uh, okay.”

Drew moved to follow the woman, and I motioned for him to stop. I was still waving my arms when she turned from the vanity where she’d placed the towels with the clean stack that was already there. She eyed me as I put both arms behind my back.

A moaned snapped the tense air. The woman jumped, with her hand on her heaving chest she stared at the mound that was Sue. Little did she know, Sue wasn’t the only other scary person in the room, there was also my hallucination.

“Is she alright?” The tiny woman straightened her t-shirt and wiped her hands on her jeans.

“Yes, just sea sick.”
And drugged to her eyeballs
.

“Is there anything else I can get you?”

“
Hey, how about some freedom?
” Drew inched closer and I waved him away with my hand behind my back. He laughed.

I frowned at him.

She cleared her throat. Why wasn't she leaving? She continued to just stand there, looking at me and over her shoulder where she couldn’t see Drew.

“She's waiting for a tip.”
Drew scoffed.

“Oh yes, sorry, a tip.”

I strode over to Sue's purse on the table and stared at it for a moment. This was uncharted waters that I’d been warned never to go into. Sue was still out cold. I reached in, pulled Sue's wallet out and looked up to smile reassuringly at the nervous woman who inched towards the door.

Drew reached for the woman's hair, a wicked grin on his irascible face.

I spoke before I thought. “Don't even think about it!” I stepped toward Drew and the little woman squeaked and ran out the door.

Drew doubled up with laughter, steadying himself against the wall where he’d jumped out of the woman's way.

“That was mean!” I whispered forcefully.

“
I wasn't going to do anything.
” He wiped a tear from his eye.

“I didn't know that.” I shoved the wallet back in Sue's purse.

He chuckled. “
Yeah, I know. You're fun to have around
.”

“And you’re infuriating!” Sue flopped over in bed making me jump. “You shouldn't be here. You're going to wake Sue.”

His sneer was back. “
I won't wake her. She can't see or hear me. Now you, on the other hand, are definitely going to make too much noise. I think you need to go outside where you can yell and not disturb anyone.
”

“For a hallucination you sure are persistent and annoying.” I moved around him and closed the door.

He crossed his arms. “
I'm not a hallucination
.”

“If I'm the only one that can hear and see you then you have to be a hallucination.”

“
If I prove I'm not a figment of your imagination will you believe I'm what I say I am?
”

“How are you going to prove it?”

He shook his head. “
No, no, you have to promise me you'll believe me.
”

“Okay, I promise to believe you …
if
you can prove it.”

“Good, I want to try something I've never done with a person before.”

“I can just imagine what you want to try.” I backed away not ready to trust my hallucination.

A smirk spread across his face. “
Yeah, I'd like to try that too, but that's not what I had in mind.
”

“What did you have in mind?” I still wasn’t sure trusting him was a good idea.

Suddenly, he was excited, his frown only a shadow in his eyes. “
I've taken things, like an apple, into Phase, but never another person.
”

“You want to take me into Phase?” Now I’m a piece of fruit?

“
Yeah, if no one can see or hear you, then I'll have my answer and you'll have to believe me.
”

“I don't know, Drew.” Experimenting with my life didn’t sound like a good idea.

“
Come on, it’s better than staying cooped up in here.
”

“Oh, you're talking about taking me outside the room to show me?” Now he wants to risk the safety of others, great.

“
Of course, it wouldn't be much of a test in here.
”

He had me there. I couldn't think of any reason, besides my safety and the safety of everyone on the ship, not to give it a try. And to be honest, it did sound like fun ... if he could do it.

“Well ...” I hesitated.

“Good, let's go!” He put his hand out to me.

I recoiled. “You have to touch me?”

“Yes.” He snickered. Still holding out his hand, he scrunched his fingers at me. “Come on, it'll be fun.

“At the very least, it will be different. I've never gone for a walk with a hallucination before.” He frowned as I picked up the extra room key and put it in my pocket as I walked to the door and opened it.

Reluctantly, I put my hand out to him. This wasn't like putting my hand out to Calvin or Kevin or even Rob. This was much scarier.

When our hands touched, he squeezed mine. “
How do you feel?
”

I looked around and thought a moment. “
The same, am I supposed to feel different?
”

He shrugged. “
Not really, I guess. The difference will be how others can't see you. Shall we?
” He gestured to the door as he tugged me forward.

It would be nice to get out of this room. On the other hand, if this didn’t work, I could cause a minor catastrophe. I’ve never sunk a boat before. Oh. My. Gosh. We’re in the ocean.

With the door open he tugged harder. At the threshold I hesitated. “
I'm not so sure, Drew.
”

He looked at me scornfully. “
Somehow, I hadn't figured you for a coward
.”

“
I'm not a coward, but this can't be safe.
”

“
If anything happens, I'll protect you.
”

“
Yeah, but who's going to protect everyone else?
”

“
Let everyone else take care of themselves for a change.
”

What a lovely thought.
Unfortunately, if anyone gets hurt it’ll be my fault
.
Maybe it will work and I’ll get to see the sun
and the Alaskan shoreline. Oh, how I wanted to see land.