"Mom?" He shook her, but she was unresponsive. "Mom, wake up!" His voice grew frantic as he tried his best to revive her. "Mom, come on!" Frank held his mother, rocking her as he sobbed uncontrollably. Her skin slowly turned from blistering hot to room temperature, then to cold. They were alone in the house, Cian had a hockey game and their father had taken them. Mother was sick with the flu and Frank had promised to take care of her.
Frank squeezed his eyes shut and recalled the last few hours with his mother.
"We'll be fine, Dad." Frank assured his father for the hundredth time, it seemed. "Go watch Cian kick some butt and bring home that trophy." He patted his twin upon the back and wished him luck. Though Cian didn't seem to need much luck, at least Frank didn't think so. And just like that, Frank was left alone in the house with their mother. Gabrielle was at a friend's house doing make overs or whatever teen age girls do. Left to his own, Frank made busy work to help his mother out. She kept a tidy home, and Frank did what he could to keep that order for his mother.
The kitchen, however, was a disaster area. He had found his mother's cook book and decided to create chicken soup for her as a surprise lunch. Bits of chopped carrots and onions lay about the counter. Spots of chicken stock dotted the stove and surrounding counters. Chicken bones lay upon a plate where Frank had burnt his fingers pulling the meat from the bone.
Frank squeezed his eyes shut and recalled the last few hours with his mother.
"We'll be fine, Dad." Frank assured his father for the hundredth time, it seemed. "Go watch Cian kick some butt and bring home that trophy." He patted his twin upon the back and wished him luck. Though Cian didn't seem to need much luck, at least Frank didn't think so. And just like that, Frank was left alone in the house with their mother. Gabrielle was at a friend's house doing make overs or whatever teen age girls do. Left to his own, Frank made busy work to help his mother out. She kept a tidy home, and Frank did what he could to keep that order for his mother.
The kitchen, however, was a disaster area. He had found his mother's cook book and decided to create chicken soup for her as a surprise lunch. Bits of chopped carrots and onions lay about the counter. Spots of chicken stock dotted the stove and surrounding counters. Chicken bones lay upon a plate where Frank had burnt his fingers pulling the meat from the bone.