The Undertaking of Adam Novak

by Sofie Hern

ADAM

  As soon as Jaycob sees Aaron he breaks down and leaves the room, and I don’t blame him. I hesitate at the threshold for a moment and slowly step inside.

  Surrounding the bed are well over a dozen beeping machines, wires and other medical equipment I’m not familiar with. The room seems too bright and Aaron is unrecognizable. His forehead is bruised with a gash on the right side. They put him in a halo to immobilize his spine and prevent further damage to his spinal cord. I feel relieved to see that it isn’t one of those I’ve seen people wear, with pins attached to their head. One small relief in the grand scheme of things.

  He’s covered in bruises and scrapes, his left arm is in a cast from his shoulder to his hand and his shoulder has screws coming out of it. I stand looking down at him, afraid to touch him, afraid to move because I don’t want to cause any more damage to his little body.

  His is the single bed in the room which has a large window, a sleep chair, a couple of chairs and a small plastic table. A nurse walks to the machines and writes on a clipboard.

  “He's in the best care,” she assures me, but I don’t look at her and she takes me by the arm.

  “Are you okay?” she asks but I don’t answer. I can barely move from the shock of seeing this little boy in such a state.

  “I think you better sit down.” She helps me to a nearby chair where I manage to sit.

  With my gaze fixated on Aaron, I don’t notice when the nurse leaves and Jaycob walks in. He’s standing at the foot of the bed with his hands in his pockets. Moments later the doctor walks in and glances at me then at Jaycob. “I'm sorry, but for the next few hours I can only allow one person at a time, for a short time.”

  I stand and make my way out of the room.

  –

  I feel like I can’t breathe and put my hands on the top of my head, trying to draw in air. I promised Tianna I’d take care of her boy and now he’s fighting for his life.

  Dr. Jian steps out of the room moments later and tells me that he needs to discuss a few things with me.

  I follow him to the waiting room where we were moments ago and sit on opposite chairs. I place my elbows on my knees and clasp my hands to keep them from shaking.

  “As you saw, Mr. Novak, Aaron is in bad shape.”

  I nod.

  “Are you his legal guardian?”

  “I… I am. Well, his mother passed away recently and… but… I'm in the middle of adopting him.” Technically not a lie.

  He nods and says, “X-Rays show that he sustained a minor skull fracture,” he says this while touching the right side of his head, above his ear, indicating where Aaron’s injury is and all I can do was nod.

  “We have to make a decision right away.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We must help protect his brain.”

  “How do you do that?

  “We need to put him in a coma. Due to this injury, the metabolic rate of his brain has been significantly altered. This means there is a probability that certain areas of his brain are not receiving adequate blood flow.”

  “Is it safe? I mean, I’ve heard of induced coma before, but what does that do, exactly?”

  “Imagine a switch,” he mimics an off and on motion. “If we shut off energy, or activity, if you will, those affected areas will be protected, until the swelling goes down.”

  It’s dizzying, all the information. Hard to process and difficult to understand.

  “Are there any other options?”

  He shakes his head. “At this point, with his critical state, I'm afraid we have no other options.”

  What would Tianna do? I take a deep breath and say, “If it will help him, then do it.”

  He nods. “The other thing is that it appears he sustained fractures to his spine and two vertebrae.” He pulls out a diagram of the spinal cord and continues to speak. “T6 and T7,” he points them out on the diagram. “The impact shattered his spine in this area, causing bone fragments to embed in his spinal cord.

  “We won't know for certain until he gains consciousness to do a few tests, but this type of injury has caused paralysis in some cases. We need to wait for the swelling to go down so that we can say for certain as this preliminary diagnosis is based solely on what we could see from the x-ray. We need to do an MRI, but not until the swelling goes down.”

  My head is spinning with so much information.

  “The risk of paralysis is quite high.” He looks at me intently, waiting for a reaction, but I’m in a haze, a complete state of shock.

  “But as I said, we will find out soon enough. The important thing to do right now is to protect his brain.”

  My heart hammers inside my ribs. I don’t know what to say or what questions to ask. I only nod. He hands me a paper and tells me it contains some helpful information. He stands and puts a hand on my shoulder.

  “I know this is not easy, Mr. Novak, but please know that we will do all we can for Aaron. The good news is that he’s breathing on his own. That’s a great sign. In the meantime, I suggest you get his guardianship resolved because decisions will have to be made.” With that, he leaves the room.

  –

  The paper he gave me explains in detail the type of spinal injury, Aaron sustained, but I’m afraid to read it. Thank God Jaycob walks in.

  “What did the doctor say?” he asks as he sits.

  I tell him about the coma and the concern with Aaron’s spine. He only stares and whispers, “A coma?”

  “For his own good, Jake.”

  “How the fuck do they figure?”

  “It will prevent brain damage. Something about blood flow. I don’t know exactly, Jake.” I throw my hands up as I’m losing patience.

  He says nothing for a few minutes. Rubs his face with both hands in frustration, then says, “How the fuck is this happening?”

  I assume it’s a rhetorical question.

  I attempt to read the information sheet again, but stop, fold it up and place it in my back pocket.

  “You okay, Jake?”

  He shakes his head and stands. “This is all my fault.”

  “What?” I get to my feet and go to him. “How the fuck is this your fault?”

  “I don’t know! It just… It feels like it’s my fault. Somehow.”

  “I cup his face in my hands and he looks at me. “This isn’t your fault, okay? It was an accident.”

  “I can’t even listen to what the doctor says because I freak out, man.”

  “Look at me.”

  He does.

  “You can do this. We can do this. Okay?”

  He nods and I let go.

  “Do they know who hit him?” His question shocks me simply because I haven't thought about it.

  “Man, I don't even know.” I scratch at my stubble.

  “Do you want me to find out?”

  I hesitate a moment, then realize I can’t take care of everything by myself, even if I wanted to. Plus, he needs something to do. “That’d be great, Jake. Thanks.”

  He nods and turns to go, but pauses, “Thanks, Adam.”

  I nod.

  What happened? Why was he running? Was it a hit and run? If so, was there an arrest? Was it indeed an accident? These questions have me pacing the small room. I have to trust Jaycob to get a good report. Right now, Aaron is all that matters and I go back to him.

  –

  An anesthetic is being administered through an IV. I stand in the middle of the room with my arms crossed over my chest, watching the chaos. While a nurse checks his blood pressure, another is studying the monitors, others write things down on a clipboard and Dr. Jian examines Aaron’s eyes. Words are being exchanged in a language I don’t understand.

  “How long will he be out?” I ask no one in particular.

  Dr. Jian speaks without looking at me. “We’ll stop the anesthetic in seventy-two hours. I’ve had patients wake up within minutes after the anesthetic has been ceased.

  “Is that going to be enough time for his
brain to go back to normal?

  “I am certain it will.”

  “Will he come out on his own?”

  “He will. It varies, though. As I said, I’ve had patients wake up with minutes.”

  “And if he doesn’t?”

  Now he turns to me and says, “Then we’ll assist him.”

  His answer isn’t what I want to hear, but I nod nonetheless. Dr. Jian makes some quick notes on Aaron’s chart before leaving the room. The remaining nurse makes Aaron comfortable by adjusting tubes, fixing his pillow and then covers him with a crisp white sheet. “I'll come and check on him in a couple of hours,” she says and follows the doctor out.

  I walk over to the bed, look down at Aaron and I’m relieved knowing that at least he isn’t feeling any pain. His poor little body is so beat up. I take his small hand, ever so gently, and hold it in mine.

  “You’re going to be okay, buddy.”

  42

  IRENE

  Irene is waiting for Levy to call. He promised he’d call once he has the boy. Jordyn left for school earlier, thank God. Now Irene spends the minutes pacing the office, smoking cigarettes, and drinking wine. She constantly checks her phone, which she holds onto like a precious jewel. She’s about to light another cigarette when her phone rings. This is it!

  “All done?” She doesn’t mean to snap, but she’s beyond nervous.

  “It’s all fucked up!” Levy’s voice is high and he sounds out of breath as if he’s running.

  “What?”

  “The boy. The fucking kid was just hit by a fucking truck. I have to get the fuck out of here.”

  “Is he… dead?”

  “I don't know!”

  “How did it happen?” They are both screaming now.

  “I was chasing him and—”

  “What?” She’s in full panic mode. “That wasn’t the plan! What the fuck are you doing chasing him? Did anyone see you?”

  “I. Don't. Know!” he bites each word. “But I gotta get the fuck out of here. Now!”

  “What about the house? You can't leave without—”

  “Fuck the damn house!”

  “Wait! You can’t leave,” she begs him. “You need to finish the—”

  “Are you fucking stupid?”

  Irene is shaking, pacing the floor. She places a hand on her forehead and feels perspiration as tears burn behind her eyes. “Please, Levy.”

  “You’re fucking crazy,” he says and the line goes dead.

  A strange sound escapes her. Something like what a dying animal might emit. “Fuck!” she screams.

  Think Irene, think. She has the sudden realization that the boy may be dead and smiles a manic smile. She takes a deep breath, decides she’ll wait and see what will happen next then go from there. Her mood changes as the possibility grows. She wanted the boy gone for good, now he may be gone forever.

  –

  Moments after she’s calmed down she goes upstairs to draw a bath, but it’s useless. She once again becomes restless with no idea what the hell is going on. Phone in hand, she paces her bedroom, tempted to call Adam and find out what’s going on, but he never answers her calls. Think, Irene. She sits on the bed and calls the only other person she can think of.

  “Hello.”

  “Jaycob, hi, it’s Irene.”

  “Okay.”

  “I was wondering if… if you know when Adam is planning to get his stuff? His clothes?”

  “I can pick them up for him if you want?”

  Irene thinks he sounds normal. Does he know what’s happening? “Why? Is he busy?”

  “Yeah, a little bit.”

  The lack of information frustrates her. “Oh, I see. What’s he been up to?”

  “Listen, Irene, I have to go. I'll try to stop by later to get some of his clothes, okay?”

  “Is everything okay?”

  Jaycob clears his throat and takes a deep breath. “Aaron’s been in an accident.”

  “Oh, no. Is he okay?”

  “Not really. He’s in the hospital, the doctors have to put him in a coma and Adam can’t leave his side.”

  A coma? “Oh. Uh… that's sad. What… What happened?”

  “I have to go,” he says and the call ends. Irene needs to find out the name of the hospital because she should be there consoling Adam.

  She holds onto the phone for a moment longer, then proceeds to gather some of Adam's things. Only temporary, she reminds herself and tries to keep calm. The thought of Levy getting caught scares her. Will he throw her under the bus? She shakes her head and decides to stay focused on the task at hand. After all, she has plenty of dirt on Levy. If he’s smart, he’ll keep his mouth shut.

  43

  JAYCOB

  Jaycob stops in front of the school, but doesn’t see anything out of the ordinary. He drives on and makes a right on San Bruno. A few yards away, he sees the yellow tape blocking the street. There are two police cars with other city vehicles and personnel behind the tape. He parks his truck nearby, gets out and makes his way to the scene.

  A red pickup truck is in the middle of the street, surrounded by small yellow tags. Evidence, Jaycob assumes. The truck has its doors open; the left side of the windshield is pushed in. Jaycob feels a chill down his spine when he sees blood on the ground. Aaron’s.

  “Can I help you?” A man of about sixty approaches Jaycob. He’s wearing a polo shirt with the school’s logo on the left breast pocket.

  “My nephew. He um… was the one hit by the truck.”

  “Oh, I'm so sorry. How's he doing? I'm a monitor at the school, by the way,” he tells Jaycob and they shake hands.

  “He’s not doing so good,” says Jaycob and surveys the scene. He speaks without looking at the man. “What happened? Do you know?”

  “Not so sure. The cops are inside doing interviews.”

  “Who was driving the truck?”

  “The suspect was taken in, I believe. I bet he was going too damn fast. I keep saying we need a crossing guard here.”

  “Did anybody see anything?”

  “You should go talk to the principal,” the man suggests.

  –

  Jaycob is not sure that he can handle talking to the cops and get all the details of what happened to his nephew.

  He sits in his truck for a moment, unable to move. I have to man up, he thinks. Adam needs help and I have to step up. He doesn’t want to be a burden anymore. He has to show his brother that he can handle shit. He can’t just run out of a fucking room whenever his anxiety hits.

  God, he misses Tianna so much. He grips the top of the steering wheel and rests his forehead there. “Please help me do this,” he whispers and hopes that his sister can hear him. “You can do this, Jake,” She’d say. “Deep breaths. You’re all right. You can do this. Just breathe.” That’s what she always told him whenever he was overwhelmed. He inhales deeply and releases a shaky breath, then takes another and another. His heart slows down and his hands stop shaking. “Okay, I can do this,” he says and drives back to the front of the school.

  –

  He can hear kids playing outside as he walks the hall toward the main office which is decorated with autumn leaves and hand turkey cutouts. He signs in at the front desk, then goes to the principal's office where he approaches the secretary and he asks to see the principal.

  “She's extremely busy right now.”

  “My name is Jaycob Novak. Aaron is my nephew. The boy who got hit by the truck?”

  She’s quiet for a moment, eyeing him. “One moment,” she says and disappears into the principal’s office.

  Jaycob looks around. He attended the same school when he was a kid, but now the place seems small. The smell remains the same, though, a mixture of wood polish, pencil eraser, and pine. His anxiety wants to kick in but he takes a deep breath and the woman returns a moment later to take him to the principal.

  –

  Two police officers flank a boy who is sitting in front of an old wooden desk. The
principal greets Jaycob and tells the boy to return to class. The boy obliges and closes the door behind him.

  “Mr. Novak, how’s Aaron?” she asks, inviting Jaycob to sit in the chair the boy vacated.

  Jaycob informs her of Aaron’s status, limiting the information with vague details because he doesn’t want to tell her that he’s too scared to talk about all the injuries.

  “We’ll be praying for him,” she says and invites the officers to join in the conversation.

  One of the officers looks too young to be a cop, not much older than Jaycob. He’s thin, with acne scars on his cheeks and a thin brown mustache. The other officer is older, mid-thirties, Jaycob gauges, with a bald head and sad eyes.

  “What happened?” Jaycob asks and the principal gestures the officers to take over.

  “According to the driver,” sad eyes begins. “Aaron ran into the street, but it's unclear, at this time why.”

  The other officer examines his notepad.

  “He lost his mother recently,” the principal offers. “He didn’t do well last week and had to stay home. I assume he was feeling nervous about returning to school which may have caused him to run?”

  Jaycob shakes his head. “No. Not Aaron.”

  “Witnesses say that Aaron was talking to a not yet identified male subject.”

  “A man?” Jaycob sits on the edge of the chair.

  Sad eyes nods. “Numerous witnesses, mostly children, have told us that they saw a man running behind Aaron, or after him, it’s unclear at this point. We have to take everything into consideration, and with the park across the street, there are quite a few joggers at that time of the morning.”

  “Did they describe him? This man they saw?”

  “Unfortunately—and even though we have various accounts—the description at this time is vague. Some say he was wearing a black baseball cap while others say it was blue. Some say he wasn’t wearing a cap at all. A few say he was wearing shorts and others say pants.”

  Jaycob’s thoughts immediately go to Levy. Who else can it be? He shakes his head; it is too much of a coincidence, but he says it anyway. “It could have been his father,” Jaycob suggests and mustache takes out his notepad.