Good Neighbor (eBook)

FALLING IN LOVE

As everyone is eating, CJ asks, “Mom, are you still going to start your college classes this summer?”

“Yeah, I think it’s about time I do.” She replied while avoiding eye contact with Chance, her husband.

Chance took another bite of his breakfast and said he was done, although he really wasn’t finished eating. He quickly lost his appetite since he hated the idea of Nyla going back to college. He wanted her to stay home and take care of the house, kids, and himself.

Chance said his goodbyes to the boys, kissed Nyla and whispered in her ear as he hugged her, “We need to talk.”

Nyla didn’t answer, but smiled so everything appeared to be okay.

After Chance had left and the boys finished their breakfast, Nyla took them to summer camp. On the way, she remembered when her and Chance first met. It was twelve years earlier when she and her family moved to a city where they’d lived before. Since she already had friends there, she spent most of her free time walking around the block with one of her sisters named Debra and best friend, Tangee.

Back then, walking around the block was fun, and almost every female in the hood did it, especially on weekends. The females would put on their little outfits and make sure their hair was styled nicely, just to go outside and walk around. The guys looked forward to the weekend too because most of them were fishing for females to hook up with. Their attention getter was the music that they played, which could be heard booming long before their actual vehicle arrived on the scene. It was nice, almost like a block party and just like most block parties, a fight almost always broke out because some girl found out that she and another girl or two were sharing the same guy. Most times, their guy would be there when the fight started, but by the end of it, he’d be long gone.

One Sunday afternoon, everyone was lounging around the house after returning from church. When Nyla was done eating dinner, she went to her bedroom that she shared with three of her younger sisters.

Debra walked in and said, “I’m bored! Let’s go walking!”

“Dee, I don’t feel like walking.” Nyla responded as she laid lifeless on her and her baby sister’s full-size bed.

“You don’t ever feel like doing anything!” Dee said. “Stop being lazy and let’s go!” She grabbed Nyla by the arm and pulled her out of bed.

Dee was two and a half years younger than Nyla, but always had a bossy way of getting people to do whatever she wanted, whether they wanted to or not. She was a lot more developed than Nyla also, which made her appear to be about the same age if not older. Either way, Nyla had no choice, except to get up. She got dressed and they went outside to walk around the block. Halfway around, the two stopped by Tangee’s house to see if she wanted to join them, and she did.

There were people of all ages outside enjoying the remaining hours of the day. Some of the younger boys rode around on go-carts and bikes while young men drove around in nice cars playing their loud music. Little kids played in yards and along the streets while other groups of girls walked around in their cliques like they did. Everybody appeared to be having a good time.

Nyla, Dee and Tangee walked around the block about three times when Nyla noticed up ahead at a corner house, a little girl about three years old playing with a ball. She said, “That little girl is going to run in the street after that ball and get hit by a car.”

“Yep, she sure is! I don’t think anybody can see her over there neither! Let’s hurry up so we can tell somebody to get her,” suggested Dee.

They walked faster. When they were about two houses away, they heard loud music approaching and knew there were only seconds before a car would turn the corner. So, they started running, just in case. About two seconds later, the little girl bounced the ball and it went rolling towards the street, and like all little kids do at that age, unaware of danger, she ran after it.

By this time, Nyla and the others were yelling for someone to get the little girl. A group of guys that were standing in front of a big SUV parked in front of that same yard saw them, but since they were playing their loud music too, they couldn’t hear what the girls were saying.

Only a house away from the yard where the child was supposed to be in, Nyla yelled as loud as she could, “Get that baby!”

The guys that were already looking puzzled finally noticed the little girl had ran into the street, but it was too late. A car had reached the corner and made a turn in her direction. Nyla waved her hands wildly for the car to stop, but it kept coming. So, she darted across the street in front of the car just in time to grab the little girl out of harm’s way. They both fell to the ground as the car squealed to a stop and people ran to see what had happened.

“My baby! Give me my baby,” cried a lady’s voice!

Nyla held up the baby while she remained on the ground. The lady took her little girl as she thanked Jesus over and over that she was safe, but said nothing to Nyla. The little girl began to cry as she was carried away, not because she was hurt, but because she didn’t understand what had just happened.

“Are you okay?” Dee asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Nyla answered.

“I’m so sorry!” A man voice said. “Let me help you up.” He reached out his hand and Nyla held out hers and tried to stand, but when she did, she screamed and fell back to the ground.

“What’s wrong, Nyla?” Dee asked.

“My leg…oh my foot…it hurts!” Nyla cried as she reached towards her foot, but wouldn’t dare touch it. At that point, she and everybody that stood and watched, noticed that her right sneaker was knocked off. It was obvious that she was hit by the moving car and hadn’t noticed until she tried to stand. Nyla was in so much pain that she passed out.

Dee screamed, “Somebody, help my sister! Call for an ambulance!”

The same young man that tried to help her up, checked Nyla’s pulse. Then, he picked her up and put her in the back seat of his car. “Go home and tell your parents what happened. No need to call for an ambulance. I’m taking her to the hospital...hurry!”

Dee and Tangee ran home to tell her parents what had happened.

Meanwhile, on the way to the hospital, Nyla opened her eyes and almost immediately started crying again. The pain was too excruciating to bear. When they reached the hospital, the young man carried her inside and shortly after, she was out again.

A few hours later, Nyla was awakened by a somewhat familiar voice. She slowly turned in the direction of it, and as her blurred vision regained its focus, it was the voice of the man that tried to help her up after the accident. He was talking on his cell phone until he saw that she was awake. He hung up and began to apologize over and over for hitting her and for not paying attention to the road where children were playing.

Nyla looked down at her leg and saw that it was all wrapped up. “It’s okay and I’m okay. I’m just glad I was there.” She paused and then asked. “She was okay, right...the little girl? I can’t quite remember how things turned out.”

“Yes, the little girl is fine. Her mom came by to see you a little while ago.” He pointed at a flower arrangement set aside her hospital bed with a balloon attached to it that read Thank You. He walked over to the flowers and took a small envelope from it and handed it to Nyla. She pulled out a little note that read,

I apologize for not acknowledging you for what you did at the time of the accident. I was so disturbed by how close my baby was to death, I couldn’t think straight. I am and always will be grateful to you for saving her. If there is anything you ever need, please don’t hesitate to let me know. My phone number is 411-121-1973.

Much love,
Tabby and Ashley Martin

Nyla smiled in appreciation for the note. “Have you seen my parents?”

“Yes. They’re right outside finishing up paperwork.”

“Is Dee here?”

The man looked clueless and asked, “Who’s Dee?”

“My sister.”

“Oh, I’m not sure, but I didn’t see anyone else with them.”

Nyla noticed the sadness in his eyes and regret by his body language. She asked, “How long have you been here?”

“Since I brought you here.” He answered. “I couldn’t leave until I talked to you and knew that you’d be okay.”

She smiled, “I think I’ll be fine.”

Nyla’s parents entered the room.

“How are you feeling?” Her mom asked with a sign of worry written all over her face. Her dad never showed his worry, but Nyla knew something was wrong and would soon find out what it was.

“I feel okay.” Nyla answered.

Then her dad said, “Nyla baby, you’re going to have to undergo surgery on your leg and foot. Your hip was thrown off, your knee is messed up, and several of the bones in your foot look shattered. The impact of the car did a number on you. After the surgery, you will have to go through a lot of therapy to regain full use of your leg. Now, that’s the bad news.”

“Okay, what’s the good news?” Nyla asked.

“The good news is that you will indeed be able to walk like normal again. It’s just going to take a lot of time...