She's Different

                                                                        PROLOGUE

Casey and her sister, Jazabell, were laughing it off at the local pool. The two of them were mucking around, and having a ball. Jazabell, at the age of 4, needed help in the water-a floatie or two. So Casey, at the age of 13, needed to keep her eyes on Casey at ALL times.

Just a little glance away, and a life could be lost.

They were sitting by the pool, eating lunch- Fish and chips- and chatting. After they had finished, Jazabell wanted to get back in the pool.

"No, no, wait for a few more minutes, Jaz!" Casey would say.

But, after a few more minutes were up, Casey couldn't hold it off.

"Fine, but stay down in the shallow end with me."

They climbed into the shallow end of the 50m pool and swam around a bit, cooling off in the hot summer afternoon. Casey's 4 friends- Jess, Karly, Isabelle and Pheobe- walked into the gates. They called out for Casey to come over and meet them, but she declined. She had to look after Jazabell.

"Come one, Case! You can spare a few seconds!" Isabelle said.

Pheobe even started singing a song she just made up. 

"Come on, Casey!

I don't want to play kiss chasey!

Just come to the change rooms for a quick second.

What can happen? Someone be beckoned?

Do you want me to give you money?

I'll offer you $10, honey.

Just come and chat, 

And show me your hat.

Nothing will go wrong." She sang.

"Uhhh, fine then! But I can only be quick!" Casey gave in after a bit of begging from her friends.

"How much money do you want?" Pheobe asked.

"Just buy me an ice-cream later." Casey replied. "Jaz, do not go into the deep end, and don't talk to anyone unless it is someone that you know. Ok?"

"Ok." Jazabell answered. Casey rushed out of the pool and into the Girls Change Room. The small group of teenagers were in there, admiring Karly's new bikini. They were huddled around her, each with their little bikinis on. None of them even thought about wearing a rash shirt. Pheobe was plastering on a layer of sunscreen-she had very fair skin and got burn really easily. The heard someone yell out: "Help the toddler!" Casey's blood rushed from her face, and she bolted outside.

Sure enough, Jazabell was sprawled on the concrete, dripping wet.

"Jaz?" Casey screamed as she bolted forward. "Oh, no! No, Jazabell! What happened?"

"Uhh, I saw it all." A lady said.

"What happened to her?"

"Well, she was heading toward the Ladies Change-rooms, when a group of boys ran straight in front of her, knocking her into the pool. She had no floaties or gear on, and she bent her neck backwards when she hit the water, then her body smashed into the wall underwater, and a man dived in and pulled her out. She's breathing, but unconscious."

"Oh." This was all her fault. If she hadn't have gone in with her friends, Jazabell would be having a great time at the moment swimming, splashing and having fun. Someone had called an ambulance and Casey could hear them around the corner. Not long after, three paramedics ran into the pool gates, with a mini stretcher, two first aid boxes, and a splint. What on earth could she have broken?

They studied her and then lifted her onto the stretcher, with the splint not in any use. Maybe she didn't break any bones after all...or maybe she broke big bones that the splint has no use for?

"Is she ok? Is Jazabell allright?" Casey asked the paramedic as they were carrying her out.

"We're not sure yet. Broken back, fractured leg, 3 broken ribs, and internal bleeding."

"Oh."

"So are you her sister?"

"Yes, I'm Casey."

"Ah, well you can come in the Ambulance Van with us, your Mum said that she will meet us at the hospital when we arrive."

"Did someone call her?"

"Yes, the pool owner. Now, hop in and sit in the seat there-" He pointed  "- next to the bed." James -his name was- said, as they exchanged Jazabell onto the bed.  Casey sat down, staring at her 4-year old sister, watching James connect her wrist to a drip.