9-1: A Narrative Fiction

"I didn't say that," Poppy said. "I said I would help you defend yourself."

"Frank, can I talk to you for a minute?" Mom said.

"I want to talk to you, too," Dad said.

LARRY'S JOURNAL

The paramedics arrived at the house minutes after I called 9-1-1. They told Martha and I that they have arrived a little less than 10 minutes, but it felt like an hour.

Martha and I sat beside Emily as the ambulance took her to the hospital. We tried to wake her up, but she barely responded. It was like Emily was asleep for the first time in days.

Meanwhile, Martha was on her phone.

"Steve, where are you?" Martha asked. "Emily's in the hospital. I said she's in the hospital. I'll pick you up as soon as I can. I'll pick you up from work."

"You're not picking

"That ungrateful little brat hit me."

"I have a better idea. I'm going to pick up Steve and you're coming with me. While we're in the car, you and Steve can work out your issues."

"Steve can go fuck himself as far as I'm concerned."

"Get your ass in the car or I'll beat you."

"Is that a promise?"

Martha grabbed my ear and dragged me to the car like a child.

When Martha picked Steve up from work, the silence was so tense that you can cut it with a knife. We never said anything throughout the entire ride. When we arrived at the hospital, we went to Emily's room. Emily was finally awake and Dad was there talking to her.

"Sorry we're late," Martha said. "I had to pick up Steve."

"Guess what," Emily said. "Poppy's going to teach me to fight."

"Oh, really," Martha said.

"I didn't say that," Frank said. "I said I would help you defend yourself."

"Frank, can I talk to you for a minute?" Martha

"Violence is never the answer."

"Then how do you propose we stop those kids from bullying my granddaughter?"

"We outlaw bullying."

"Bullying includes assault, defamation, and uttering threats. There are already laws against those things."

"So, you want my daughter to commit assault to stop bullying."

"No! She needs to defend herself. Self-defense is not the same as assault."

"Oh, my God!" I said. "You two are giving me a headache!"

Steve left Emily's hospital room.

"What's wrong?" I asked. "You look crooked. You better get that look off of your face."

I'll never forget that snarky look Steve gave me.

"Mom, guess what Dad said to Emily before you came home," Steve said. "Dad said that all Emily does is eat and that she's getting fat."

"Don't be so foolish," I said.

STEVE'S DIARY

When Mom picked me up, the silence was so tense that you can cut it with a knife. We never said anything throughout the entire ride. When we arrived at the hospital, we went to Emily's room. Emily was awake and Grandpa was talking to her.

"Sorry we're late," Mom said. "I had to pick up Steve."

"Guess what," Emily said. "Poppy's going to teach me to fight."

"Oh, really," Mom