“Jade, Jade, JADE! How many times do I have to call you?” Mom was calling me after which she muttered under her breath something about how she wished she had never bought me headphones. ” yes mum! coming!” I responded as soon as mum’s voicecut through the music. I took the headphones off and opened the curtains and window as I took in the fresh air. I remembered mum had called for me and rushed downstairs to find out what she wanted. As soon as I was downstairs I scanned the room. Our house was not that big, it was moderate in size.

I heard the television and knew immediately that my younger sister Jessy was awake. OH! drat how could I forget to introduce the family? Please pardon my manners reader. We, the Slashers are a family of four. Mom, whose name is Danielle, dad, whose name is Jackson, my little sister, whose name is actually Jessica which is too long for me and hence shortened to Jesse and last but definitely not least ME! yes, you guessed it, my name is Jade.

Jessy had this television show that she loves to watch every morning. Honestly I do not know the draw to this program my sister  loved to watch since it feels too childish for my taste, but then again, when you think about it, Jesse is five years old. I, on the other hand, am fifteen years old. “Jade! Could you please watch over your sister? Your father and I have some issues to discuss with your teacher!” mom finished with a look that said “Don’t even think about causing any more trouble young lady!”

“yes mom” I respond unenthusiastically. “And please stop listening to music in such high volume on those headphones I can barely talk to you like that! We’ve talked about this Jade!” mom adds. I nod quickly and see her off. You must be wondering where dad is…not to worry though, dad was in the driver seat of the car waiting for mom, too furious with me to even be in the same room.  Mom said with a note of irritation “Jade, please let this be the last time your father and I have to receive bad news about you from your teachers in school!” I did not reply.

Mom rushes out to the car and the next thing I heard was the car rumbling out of the driveway. Jessy was so focused on watching the television that she did not even bother to look my way when I walked into the sitting room. I plopped myself on the couch closest to the television and sighed. What did I do to deserve this? I ponder over my miserable life. “Jesse, why don’t you try watching something else?” I asked as politely as possible. “no… thank you” Jesse replied with her usual high pitched, childish voice.

I think you can guess why I was not in school…I was grounded. Jesse on the other hand was sick…with a cold! I mean….it is a cold! Who does not get colds? Were I in her position I bet I would have been in the first train to school the next day after swallowing Piriton or Cetrizine or whatever. I suppose it was to be expected. I looked at Jesse bitterly for a minute before resuming my initial attempts to save myself from dying of boredom. I decided to take a different approach in trying to make her see reason.

Barely two minutes pass in my attempts to have the channel changed, than the phone rung.  I sigh, I knew who it was, I pick up the phone and say, ” hi mum?” “Jade? I just called to check on you” I knew it! They don’t trust me to stay out of trouble. “we are fine mum thank you for calling.”

ok here is the deal. I live a very – “colorful ” life. somehow mom and dad always manage to visit my school over a hundred times every year- just for me. I seem to be quite the troublemaker but I can’t help it! I just can’t stand boredom! I returned to the sitting room only to see my sister still hogging the remote and the television. I took a stride towards her and yanked the remote from Jesse’s hand.

I walked towards the sofa which is right across from where my sister was seated and started looking for something to entertain myself with. my fingers were crossed though, because knowing Jesse, a tantrum was not too far off. I however was not going to let Jesse bully me so I refused to look in her direction but after too much silence on her part, I found myself glancing in her direction only to find that she was not there! ooooh boy! do you know those times when you can literally hear alarm bells going off from every direction? this was one of them.

I dropped the remote like a rock and trying to keep my calm, I called,” Jesse? I was joking I am sorry…you can have the remote so stop hiding and let us talk about this.” a voice in my head said ” someone’s in trouble.you have gone and done it. how in heavens name are you going to explain this to mum and dad? what part of mum’s warning did you not understand? ” I was beginning to panic after searching all over the house and I still could not see Jesse.

“girl brace yourself because if anything has happened to her, you will never see the light of day” the voice in my head said. Still no response. Now usually when my little sister did not get whatever she wanted, she would break things and scream and more often than not I felt like strangling her but on this not so wonderful day, I begun to wish she would throw a tantrum.  it was when regret started to kick in, that I noticed the open window due to a breeze that I felt on my neck. my heart was pounding and I could not help but mutter “no- this cannot be happening”

“Jesse PLEASE! ” I hoped she had not gone outside but there was evidence contradicting my hopes. I quickly rushed to the door, opened it and ran outside. I looked around and with my head spinning and my heart pounding I begun to think of how I am going to survive in the street because with my little sister gone, there was just no way I was waiting for mum and dad’s return.

I checked the whole neighborhood and asked around if any of them had seen my little sister in description but all the answers were in the negative and with every reply, my heart dropped. Don’t you find it funny how you begin to appreciate those in your life when you have already lost them? In despair, I ran home and locked myself in the room to think of whether I am going to apologize profusely to mom and dad explaining how i somehow managed to lose my “beloved”- previously “bratty” five year-old sister as well as plan how I am going to move out of the house or just disappear without saying anything. I had the picture in mind.

I lay in bed having given in to the fact that I would never see  Jesse, mom , dad and worst of all  my room ever again! I picked up my suitcase and begun to pack my clothes and made sure not to forget the headphones. As I picked up the suitcase miserably content with my packing skills, I heard mom and dad’s car parking. Fear struck me and for the first time, in humble prayer, I said, ” Jesus Christ please help me”.

I opened the window and looked down to see if there was a possibility of me making it if I jumped with the suitcase. With no time to think, I begun to struggle out the window but right before I jumped, I heard Jesse’s high pitched voice ” what are you doing Jade?” then before I replied, she proceeded to tell the news to mom and dad. I could hear her shout , ” mommy!  Jade is trying to commit suicide!” the next thing I knew, mom and dad were in my room staring at me with horror . mom screamed  ” Jade get down from there this minute! This is not the time for your drama!” but I could sense panic and worry in her voice.

The was only one problem, I was stuck in between the window with my suitcase which I had intended to use to soften the blow of my fall had I jumped. Talk about epic fail. in this case though, I was glad. I refrained from asking Jesse of her whereabouts in my parents’ presence. After a lot of effort, I was freed from my predicament. I sat at the side of the bed and my parents sat on either side of me. Finally my dad had calmed down enough to talk and this is what he said,” Jade, I know you are troubled and have been through a lot”, I was careful to maintain my silence, ” but  you cannot resort to suicide whenever you are faced with challenges.” I looked down while trying my best not to laugh.

Mom must have thought I was being emotional because she added, ” Jade we are here for you. When times are tough, talk to us… so promise me you will never attempt to commit suicide again.” I nodded my head still not trusting myself to talk.” I am waiting for your response Jade”. I replied ” Yes mom. I promise.” mom and dad looked at each other as though deciding whether to believe me or not. five minutes later, they left.

In case you were wondering what we were talking about, it was school. Dad told me that he paid enough money to replace the school property that I damaged while experimenting in my boredom. He said that I was to resume classes as soon as possible. Jesse had left the room when my lecture was beginning so after mom and dad left, I wanted to talk to her. I sought her all over the house and found that she had passed out on the floor next to the dolls in her bedroom.

I walked towards her and carried her to lay her on the bed. As soon as I touched her, she moved and said ,”cookies” I smiled and shook my head. I’ll just talk to her later. I covered her and closed the room and returned to my own. in the privacy of my room I looked up and said,” Thank you God. Thank you Jesus Christ.”