All Chapters of Don't Play Your Rock And Roll To Me: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

I went to school really early the next morning, at around seven am. My mother had helped me with my tattoo again just before I left. I parked in my usual spot and got out. I had my guitar with me but I would take that out later during break to make sure the two people who requested the songs are happy with what I could do.I went upstairs to drop off my bag in front of the class before sauntering down to the quad. I made myself at home next to the hall, headphones on, listening to gentle country music. Charlie was the first one of the group to find me.

My friends went home with me after school. We had formed our own study group and we hoped that, between the five of us we could make some sense of some of the harder subjects. We got home and started taking everything out. I cleared the instruments from the sitting room so we could work there. I made some popcorn and pulled out bottles of soda from the fridge. I took all of that to the sitting room. We sat on the carpet and started on chemistry.An hour later my own mother interrupted our studying. “Andy!” she yelled from the front door

We got our plates and joined the line in the dining room to get our food. Heather invited George back to the flat to eat with us. I frowned at the thought but did not say a word to either of them. We watched Lucifer while we ate.“Look at this dude! He walks the earth, cool as a cucumber, no one suspects a thing.” George giggled half way into the episode. “He’s smooth.&rdquo

It felt as if I had been asleep for five minutes when my father woke me, shaking my shoulder gently.“You slept in. You’re going to be late.” He said when I opened my eyes.I yawned lazily and said“I know. My back is killing me.”

When I came to I was in the emergency room in the hospital, a couple of concerned doctors around me, all of them with their back to me.They were talking softly amongst themselves.“We have to get that fluid drained. It’s putting too much pressure on the spine.” One doctor said. “I agree, what was it that her mother said that they were doing?” another asked.

When I came around again I was in recovery, my mother was seated in a chair next to me. I turned my head and stared at her tousled hair.“Mom.” I croaked softly.My mother lifted her head and smiled at me.“Did it go all right?” I asked her worriedly.

I got home on Tuesday afternoon. I was walking by myself but my father refused to allow me to carry the overnight bag, even though it had only two sets of PJs, or the new guitar case. But instead of going into my house my father led the way to the main house.“We thought you should stay with us for a little while, until you can move around by yourself.” He said shyly.“I can move by myself dad.” I replied and followed him hesitantly.

I woke the next morning in the bed with no idea how I had gotten there. The sun poured into the room through the open curtains but I had no desire to get up and close them. Instead, I pulled the covers over my head and stayed put. Gwen’s words kept repeating in my head. I thought of ways I could’ve handled it better, or maybe could’ve said something. Perhaps I should’ve just gone along with them, did what they wanted, perhaps they would’ve left me alone then.I was awake for nearly half an hour when the door opened and my mother called my name softly. I did not answer her at all.

My mother had barely left when Gwen poked her head into the bathroom door.“You okay in there?” she asked and opened the shower door where I sat, butt naked, on the stool my father had put in there. “Almost done. Just need to get the suds off.” I replied and wiped the water from my eyes.I felt Gwen’s eyes wander over my body. 

It seems to me that it was a previous agreement between Miss Preston and Miss Sheldon as to who would take me to school and take me home in the afternoon. My mother was free most afternoons but Miss Preston still insisted on taking me home. On afternoons when my mother was home, a group of my school friends would drive along and we would form a study group at my house. It was easier for me to walk at home than at school. Usually when I got home Miss Preston would stay in the living room while I go to my room and change.Sometimes I would discard the back brace and sit in my chair but mostly I would soldier on with the back brace, walking against the walls until I reached the sitting room table.