Take The Jump

Chapter One

"Brick! Brick. Brick, come on, talk to me. I'm right here. Please, Brick." Pleaded Madison. She heard sirens in the distance, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. The ambulance pulled up to the school and five men quickly hopped out. Maddison kissed Brick's forehead as three men carefully picked Brick up and placed his body on a stretcher. "His name is Brick SoDale," Someone said to the EMT. One man went inside to calm the audience and alert the coaches and refs. All the adults were on their phones talking to someone. All the teenagers were standing, pacing, or talking to one another.

When the last man approached Madison and asked, "Could you please describe to me what happened?" Madison swallowed and wiped her tears. "Yeah, yes. Um, we were," Madison took a shaky deep breath "We were all sitting up in the stands watching his race. He climbed up on the block, and he dove off like he always does. Right after he dove in, he immediately wasn't moving. The other swimmers kept racing, and people got really worried. After, like, half a lap, his coach dove in after him and they stopped the race. He pulled him out, and he looked paralyzed. Like he was fighting so hard. But then he just passed out, we called 911, and you guys got here." Said Madison. The EMT said, "Do you know where his parents are today?" "Yeah," she said, "They're on a business trip for the day. They should be back late tonight. But his little sister is sitting with me and my parents. We can look after her until his parents get back." The EMT nodded his head, "That would be great. We're going to Lehigh Valley Hospital, have his coach get his folks on the phone." Madison nodded as he walked to the ambulance. They took off with sirens and flashing lights filling the air.

Madison walked over to her parents and said, "Hey guys, I'm gonna take Mariah to the hospital with me. I'm not sure what time we'll be home, if I'll have her with me, or if I won't. I'll call you to let you know though. Okay?" Her parents looked worried but said, "Okay honey. Be careful. We love you." "I will. I'll see you later." She said. Madison and Mariah walked to the car, and Mariah said, "Maddie? Is Brick gonna be okay?" Maddison looked down at Mariah and said, "I'm sure everything will be fine." Maddison got a small, "Okay." In return.

It was quiet as they drove, but they both had so much to think about. Maddison was thinking about her boyfriend, and what had happened. She told herself she couldn't think about it too much or she would get distracted from the road. Mariah was thinking about her big brother, and if he was going to be okay. She was thinking that she was worried and that she loved him so much.

Maddison walked up to the front desk of the Hospital and said, "Hi, um, we're looking for Brick SoDale?" The receptionist handed them two pieces of paper and said, "He is in the emergency room, but they're clearing out his other room now. Fill out your full name, age, and relation to the patient. I'll let you guys know as soon as you can go back and see him. He'll be in room 318." "Thank you," Maddison said. They sat in the waiting room with their papers ready to go. Maddison Smith, Age 17, Girlfriend. Mariah SoDale, Age 6, Sister.

The receptionist looked up from her desk, and said "Brick SoDale?" Maddison and Mariah stood up and walked to the desk. "You can go ahead, room 318." Said the receptionist. Maddison and Mariah walked into the elevator and pressed the floor 3 button. The doors closed and they both simultaneously took a deep breath, and let out a big sigh. The elevator dinged and the doors opened to reveal a long hallway. They walked down the hallway and followed the numbers. 315, 316, 317. They rounded the corner of the hallway. 318. Madison stared at the door handle and then grabbed it. She turned it very slowly, then pushed the door open. Mariah walked in first and saw her brother sitting in a hospital bed in a bland grey-blue nightgown. "You guys came." Said Brick. "Of course we did," said Madison. Madison and Mariah walked over to Brick's bed and sat in the chairs beside it. "We aren't leaving until you're good as new," said Madison. She and Mariah put their heads down on Brick's hospital bed and fell asleep in the arms of their favorite person.