A Call To Him

I've tried so hard to make mends with my mother and father, but they don't want me anymore. When Cori left, I did too. I got a job at a cafe and began my life. When she called me, I think I died. He's gone. Even now as I sit in this truck, I'm scared. I wish I was a better sister

I remember back when we were kids, my brother would save me time and time again from bullies. Some mean kid would try to steal my lunch, and I would call Cori's name, and he would suddenly appear like a superhero. But I was never able to come to Cori's rescue when he needed it.

Jackson's steps sync with mine for a moment. Callie's swift yellow legs jitter between us so Jackson's shoes look like they're in a zoetrope. For a second I forget my regrets, then Callie jogs after a falling maple leaf & the moment ends. I look up at Jackson to see he's studying

his speech again. "Don't know if I can read it," Jackson says. Callie rubs her head on Jackson's knee as if to say: you must. "We're so close," I utter. We walk to the van, breathing the crisp autumn air. Jackson reaches for the door and suddenly freezes before tumbling over.

“Jackson! Not now!” I thought as a sprang into action. I did what I could to help him. I thought for sure the seizures would scare Callie away but she stayed diligently at his side whimpering. Those two really did form a bond. She licked his face and just then Jackson recovered.

Jackson chuckled softly. “What a sweet pup!” He said, scratching Callie behind the ears. “Good doggy!” Then he cleared his throat. “Thanks for your patience, everyone. I think I’m good to go now.”