On the Run

School With Tess/Part Two

     Joe's Perspective
     "It was banana-vanilla." Robert says nonchalantly. "Why?" I remember that I never had told him about my allergy to bananas. I close my Bible and put it in my sweat-shirt pocket.
     "This might seem weird, but I'm highly allergic to that fruit." I get up. "I'm going to head down to the nurse real quick." Liberty and Tess are now looking at me, worry etched out in their faces. As I head toward the cafeteria doors, I feel my throat swelling. I walk faster, and when I'm in the hallway, I run.
Back to Tess's Perspective
     I tighten the hair-tie that is holding my braid in. When Joe left, he had really looked sick. I wondered how someone could be allergic to bananas. But then, my foster mom, Nevada, was allergic to birds. Not the animal, just their feathers. I remember how once when I was little, I had gathered up blue-jay feathers and had brought them to Nevada. She had started to sneeze continually for a half hour. Remembering her hurts, so I bring myself back to reality.
     "I'm going to see if Joe's alright." Robert stands up from the table, gives me and Liberty a wave, and sprints out of the cafeteria, the lunch-supervisor yelling at him to walk. He does, but then he starts running again when he thinks he is out of sight of the woman's glare.
     "He's too much," sighs Liberty, running a hand through her hair. I laugh.
     "The way he does it, it's like life is a carnival for Robert." Liberty zips up her lunchbox.
     "Sort of. He said he wants to enjoy the life God has given him on earth. He says that by spreading happiness, he is spreading the love of God." I look down at my hands.
     "Do you really believe that Liberty? I mean, that God is love?" She nods. "So, even if a person is guilty of something, God loves them?" Liberty takes a sip from her water bottle before answering.
     "Yes, of course God loves them. He sent His son, Jesus, to die for that person, or any other."
     "Do you really believe that?" She nods again, her eyes shining. "So, you believe what a book says about God? How can you?" Liberty pulls out a Bible from her purse.
     "Yes, I do. This book tells of the beginning of time, to what the end of time will be." I cock an eyebrow.
     "End of time?" Liberty hands me her Bible. I refuse it. "No, I couldn't take it." Liberty presses it in my hand. She smiles.
     "The end of time is written about in Revelation, the last book of the Bible. You need this, Tess. Please take it."
     "But-" Liberty holds up a hand.
     "Say another word and I will..." She taps her chin thoughtfully. "I don't know what I'd do." I giggle, and take the Bible. The lunch dismissal bell rings, and everybody starts to get up and head towards the doors. I look up at Liberty.
"Would you mind..." She starts pushing my wheelchair.
"Way ahead of you, T." She has her brother's sense of humor, which they probably both got from their parents. "Where to?" I grab my schedule.
"Umm, room two hundred. Eleventh grade chorus." Liberty looked surprised.
"You sing?" I nod, my face reddening. She claps her hands to get her for a quick second, careful not to leave me rolling down the hall. "I would sing to, if I had not sounded like a dying duck when I try." I laugh as she pushes me into the chorus room. "Here you go! Pray for Joe, okay? I've never seen him allergic to anything, so..." She flashes me a smile, then leaves the room.
I remember Joe has every single class with me. I look around, but only see people I don't know. They smile at me, and I grin back shyly. I look around for Joe as the you-should-be-in-class-now bell rings. I think about praying, so I quickly fold my hands and pray.
Hi God. It's Tess. I don't really know what to say, so please heal Joe. Ummm, amen. I feel relieved, like a large stone was lifted off me. Even if my first prayer stunk, I feel great!
I face forward as the teacher stands up at the front of the room. It is a woman, of which I am glad. She is tall and gracefully holds herself. She smiles at all of us as the talking dies down, then she opens her mouth.
"Good afternoon, everyone. We will be covering the songs we have picked out for the Christmas concert in two months. Please open your folders and take out Bing Crosby's 'White Christmas.'" I raise my hand, and she smiles as she comes over.
"Hello, I'm Ms. Tuzo." She shakes my hand, and I tell her my name. "I'll have to make you a folder, but it seems as though Joe O'Malley is absent. You can use his." She goes over to a shelf, grabs a blue binder, and hands it to me.
"I'll have to hear you sing to place you in a section. Do you know 'Silent Night?'" I nod, and she smiles. "Good. Will you be willing to do that now? And also, if you want, you could sing this isn't as a duet with Joe. No one else volunteered to do it with him, and if you are good enough, you can get the part!" I smile.
"I'd be happy to, Ms. Tuzo." She sits down at her keyboard, and starts to flip a few switches and press buttons. I'm glad Liberty had rolled me to the front row, just in front of the piano.
"I'll tell you when to start singing, Tess. Do you know the rhythm?" I nod, and she starts to play. To my surprise, it is a version that I had heard in Mrs. O'Malley's car just a few days ago! I notice Ms. Tuzo nodding to me, and I start to sing.

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
     I open my eyes, and find everyone staring at me. Ms. Tuzo starts applauding, and everyone else joins in, some people whistling. I feel a hand on my shoulder.
     "Well done. You going to join me in that duet?" A familiar voice says quietly. I look up.
     "Joe! Are you okay?" He nods.
     "The nurse gave me some sort of medicine, and it seems to be working. By the way, your voice is amazing!" I blush. Ms. Tuzo agrees.
     "Yes, you got the part of the duet!" I blush even deeper, and mutter softly, "Thank you." I finger my bracelet; feeling the cold metal calms me. Joe pats my shoulder, and the same shiver that I felt the day he gave me the bracelet goes up and down my arm.
~Hey guys! How do you like it? What about Liberty giving Tess her Bible? Please vote and comment! Good night, everyone!
~XCountrylover