A Pretty Pill by Criss Copp Read Free Book Online Page A

present company!  As for his lunch, he’ll be hungry if he hasn’t got something in there.
    “I thought you did that for me!” he says, but then smiles.
    “Go get on your bike!” I say, giving him a playful kick in the arse.
    He salutes me, and heads for the door with his helmet.
    The best thing about being 16 years old and on your learners for a bike is that you can ride without supervision; after you’ve done the mandatory classes for the RTAs purposes.
    He’s riding my old 250, since I’ve upgraded to a 650, as a graduation present... to me!  Before I bought it, we’d share my bike; so he’s pretty happy he doesn’t have to ask my permission to go anywhere.
    I nearly died when he was offered the job as a Sheetmetal Fabricat ion Apprentice.  It’s a four year apprenticeship, and he’ll be at work four days and at Tech for one.  It’s so good, I can hardly breathe.
    Even better is the fact that I have secured a graduate position with a major teaching hospital.  I’ll begin working in March as a Registered Nurse.
    This should mean that both Silas and I are on the rise ; both working, and earning money... we should be able to move into something a little nicer soon.
     
    ...June…
    “Hello?” I answer the phone groggily , looking at the clock.  I did a night shift and only got home three hours ago... I am in dream land.
    “Jade?  Is that you?” Brian, Silas’ boss says frantically down the phone.
    “Yes Brian, you woke me, I just did a night shift.” I explain.
    “Shit... Jade, I need you to come and get Silas... now!  He’s gone nuts... We’re scared, and if you can’t come down here, I’ll call the cops.” He explains.
    “Shit... I’m coming!” I say frantically, before hanging up, jumping out of bed and pulling off my pyjamas and pulling on jeans.  I just put a jumper on over my pyjama top, and I grab my boots, pulling them on without socks, and then throw my helmet on... I’m now flying out the door.
     
    ***
     
    “Quieten down Silas.” I shout at him.  He’s in a corner of the workshop, a wild look in his eyes and a hammer in his hand.  He’s screaming out intermittently that he’s ‘not like that...’ and he ‘won’t do that!’   He’s super scary and I decide he’s too much for me.
    “I’m so sorry Brian... but we need to call an ambulance.” I explain.  I don’t want the cops involved , the ambulance can do the same thing; they can come and get him and take him to get observed.
    I’m crying . Brian is dialling on the portable phone, and Silas is warning everyone away.  I’m walking toward Silas now, and crooning to him to come to me.  It’s heartbreaking that this has happened in front of all these big burly men. He reminds me of a cornered dog; scared as all hell, but baring his teeth in a standoff.  He throws the hammer hard at the wall and begins to run to the side of me, laughing in a high pitched giggle.  He ducks out of the workshop; he’s climbing a ladder towards the roof.
    I run after him and grab his legs.  He kind of kicks but I’ve got my arms around both legs and I’m holding on for dear life.
    “Jade... no Jade... your stopping me from jumping!” he reasons gleefully.
    I look to the roof and then back down.  “You’ll die if you jump Silas... you can’t jump!”  I plead.
    “No.... don’t be stupid!  I know parkour!  I’ll be okay... you’ll see!” he reasons.
    “No you don’t!  You know Muay Thai and boxing... and swimming!  Now please... get down!”  I cry.
    “Jade... Jade... you don’t understand... I do know how to jump... I’ll roll at the end, and you’ll see I can do it!” he says in softer tones.
    “Please Silas... show me another day... not today... I’m tired because I just got off of work!” I reason.
    “But I need to do it now... Logan says it needs to be now!”  he shouts.
    “Who’s Logan?” I cry ; I can hear the ambulance’s sirens in the background. Wow, that was quick, they