Home Sweet Texas Home

When Jimmy saw his sister in bed, he rushed over. “Sis, what happened? What’s with the towel and the ice packs?” He frowned at Derek. “What’s going on?”

                She opened her mouth to explain, but nothing came out.

Derek figured the bizarre situation defied description. He patted Jimmy on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, she’s okay now. We were at the cemetery putting flowers on Sam’s and Maggie’s graves and your sister got trapped in the bathroom.”

                Jimmy shook his head. “I don’t understand. How could that hurt her?”

                Courtney sighed. “The knob came off in my hand and I couldn’t open the door. So, I climbed out the window.”

                Derek held out his hands to indicate the small rectangle. “A small, high window.”

                Jimmy looked from his sister to Derek. “I still don’t understand what happened.”

                Courtney snapped, “I got stuck, okay?”

                Now that he knew her to be okay, the week’s tension suddenly snapped Derek and he lost his perspective on the whole situation. He grimaced at Jimmy. “She, um…” He coughed to keep a straight face. “When she tried to go out the window, she got stuck with her head and one arm sticking outside and the rest of her inside.” He stood like a bird with a broken wing to imitate Courtney’s position. A grin spread across his face in spite of all his efforts not to smile.

                Jimmy gaped at his sister. “Courtney? But she’s always so sensible. She’s never does anything stupid.” He began to smile also.

                Both males burst into laughter.

                “Listen, if you two are so amused, go into the other room to discuss my apparently hilarious antics and leave me to suffer in peace.” In spite of her strained muscles and injuries, she threw a box of tissues in their direction. “Go on, get out of here. Now.”

                Derek glanced over his shoulder before he left.

                She’d stuffed a pillow over her ears, to block out their laughter.