Chapter 6 - Autumn of 2019

My arm hurts in the place you’re least expecting.

The stands were surprisingly full for a middle school volleyball match, an away game, nonetheless. Marco flipped through a notebook where he had been keeping track of the rules to the game. Six players worked together to keep the ball from hitting the ground on their side. They got three hits to pass the ball to the other side. If it landed on the other side but outside of the lines, it was out. If it was lifted instead of set, it was out. If the server’s foot crossed the line, it was out. It was far easier to define the game by what’s wrong than what’s correct.

Six girls in white and green jerseys�"the opposing team�"marched courtward with the confidence of a warhorse. Prideful and ready for battle. An equal number filed onto the other side of the net, sporting navy and gold. They wandered into position with the confidence of a box of tissues. Juniper and her father caught eyes while she crouched into her spot playing middle back. 

It was the opponent's serve. A girl with blonde hair in a tight bun stepped back to the line. Upon the ref’s whistle, she lanced the ball far above her head. As if in slow motion, she jumped up high and smacked the ball firmly with her palm. It went soaring across the court, only to be intercepted by the player to Juniper’s right. The ball ricocheted off her forearms and was set over the net by her teammate. The ball landed barely inside the line; a point for Junie’s side. The players rotated to the next spot in a clockwise direction, and just like before, the server stepped into place. She held the ball out before her, and neatly swung her fist to meet it. It flew in a perfect arc. The green side shuffled calmly to receive it. The ball was bumped to the setter, and set to the outside hitter. Harshly, she spiked it down over the net. Before anybody could realize what had happened, the ball made impact with Juniper’s face. The force of the collision tripped her backwards, and soon she was flat on the floor with a bloody nose. The ref called all players off the court, and coaches from her and the opponent’s team alike crowded round. Marco sprung to his feet and scampered down the steps of the bleachers. 

“Stop it, I’m fine!” Juniper growled as her eyes blotted with tears and blood seeped from her nose. She tried to stand, but quickly tumbled right back to the floor. 

“How many US states are there?” Her coach asked.

She took some time to respond with, “Shut up, everybody knows that.”

“Can you try to track my finger with your eyes?” She requested. 

“…Why?”

Someone brought Juniper a handful of paper towels. She held them up to her nose and glared at everyone around her. 

The coach turned to Marco. “You’re her father?”

”Yes.”

”I would encourage an ER visit. It seems like a concussion, but it could be more severe.” 

“Should I call an ambulance?” Marco asked.

”Sure.” 

While Marco spoke on the phone, Coach Harlow knelt down to be on Juniper’s level. 

“Don’t tip your head back, honey,” she said. 

”Why?”

”Because the blood only drips down the other way. It could upset your stomach.”

An eye roll came from Juniper, and she let blood fall out of her nostrils again. 

“Like this?”

”You’re doing great.”

Junie raised her brows. “Really?” She snarked. 

”Let me know if you start feeling nauseous or are in pain.”

”…Okay.”

Marco and Juniper sat down on opposite ends of the long, thin kitchen space. The tile was cool to the touch, but got warm if you sat down for a while. Juniper was wedged in the corner near the window, and Marco leaned against the last counter closest to the front door. 

“Long day, huh?”

”Went to the hospital, puked twice. What an adventure.”

“Can I get you anything?”

”No.”

”Water?”

”No.”

”Have some water, it’s good for you.”

”Fine.”

It was late at night. Juniper couldn’t sleep for long periods of time, for the possibility of brain damage. Her father couldn’t sleep for long periods of time because that’s just how he was. Hudson sat near the sink with his arms crossed. Marco grabbed a glass from the cupboard. Begrudgeoningly, the ghost drifted away to let Marco fill the cup. 

“I really wanted to play in that game.”

”I know you did.”

”I don’t even know why. Everyone there is so much better than me and they make sure I know it. I guess I just want to prove myself. But they’re absolutely correct. I suck at it.”

”You know, Coach Harlow speaks highly of you,” Marco pointed out.

“Oh sure she does,” Juniper said sarcastically. 

“I’m serious.”

”What did she say?”

”She told me how compassionate you are, how you always go the extra mile, and you don’t complain. Not gonna lie, some of those girls take it way too seriously. A middle school sport isn’t that big of a deal.”

”I guess.” Junie sipped her water.

“And don’t worry about being good. Being good is overrated. Besides, you’re only twelve. You have so much time to develop your skills.”

”Why does it matter anyway? It’s not like I’m going to the PFV. This won’t take me anywhere in the long run.”

“Maybe think about it this way,” Marco said. “If there were no rude teammates or head injury, would you love playing volleyball?”

”Of course.”

”Then you have your answer. You get joy out of it now.”

“Not right now I don’t.”

“If the teammates were nicer?”

”Yeah. And also if I didn't have a concussion.”

”Once you’re healed, we could find a team outside of school.”

”Isn’t that expensive?”

”Doesn’t matter. I love you, Juniper.”

”I know dad. Love you too.” 

Marco yawned. “I think you can go back to bed now. I’ll set another four hour timer.”

”Wait, dad,” Junie said.

Marco halted. “What’s up?”

”You know that disease everybody’s talking about?”

”I guess so. Where are you hearing about this, the news? Do kids watch the news?”

”Not really. I guess I hear stuff online. Anyway, are you worried about it?”

“Psh, no.” He gestured it away. “That’s happening on the other side of the globe. It isn’t gonna affect us.”

”Are you sure?”

Marco tilted his head. “God is watching over us,” he assured.

“If you say so. Goodnight dad.”

”Yeah, sleep well.”

Juniper did not sleep well. Despite the two ibuprofen she had taken half an hour prior, her head throbbed with pressure. She slept fitfully on and off until about six in the morning, when she gave up and decided to start her day. She checked her school computer and found an email from Nancy, titled “GIRL ARE YOU OK”, it read:

”Hey, Irene told me about how you hit your head. Just making sure you’re still alive and all that jazz. Are you still thinking about doing jazz club. You totally should cuz you rock on the keys. Man i miss you. I guess school is only starting in a couple days tho. Aren’t you with your dad now? What happened. Is he cool is he chill? Anyway, I’m excited to see you. Much love, Nancy Vang”

Juniper thought for a moment. She soon typed up her response. 

“Ya i’m good tho I can’t be on screens too much. Yes I’m hoping to join jazz, yes I’m with my dad, yes he’s awesome for the most part. See you soon, Juniper Rodriguez-Glenn”

At that hour, her father was still fast asleep. For respect of him and the neighbor downstairs, Junie dodged the squeaky patches of floor. She made herself a bagel with cream cheese, and ate it on the couch. As she fed on her early-morning snack, Juniper was joined by the cat. Maddison was a Russian Blue, rescued from god knows where, and happily adopted (for a discounted price) by Juniper’s dad. She was an odd creature. Something seemed to be off about her sense of balance, so the cat was prone to falling over. Despite her mysterious ailment, Maddison was highly curious and friendly. The cat jumped up on the sofa and sniffed the hands of Junie, who had just finished her meal. She crouched down near the kitchen counters filled the feline’s food bowl with a healthy helping of it’s meal, though Maddison didn’t seem to be hungry. Instead, the strange and gentle creature rubbed it’s head against Juniper’s hand in a plea for attention. 

Reviews

[RomaJ]

The standout of this chapter is Maddison, the cat. Her quirky personality and odd little habits mirror the uniqueness of the ghosts, and the way Marco adopts and cares for her feels like a small, tangible reflection of how he embraces Hudson and Lucien--accepting the strange and unexpected with warmth.