Jack

Anaphylactic shock

Knock Knock, I listen through the door wondering if she’s sleeping. Then suddenly the door flies open and I practically fall in.  I see Mama (My grandma), she is very short and old, she wore an Indian drape and had short black hair. She has an apartment on the 28th floor of the Winston towers. 

“Hi, Jack! It's been so long since I’ve seen you,” says Mama, “I heard you are doing well in 5th grade.”

I reply, “Aw Mama I love you, I had all A’s” 

Almost screaming, “No! I love you more!” Mama and I  both laugh. I begin to take off my shoes when my mom walks in. 

“Oh my god parking was awful! I can’t believe I dropped you off at the front Jack.” Not even acknowledging my mom Mama keeps talking, she wants to hear every detail about everything. We move over to the couch and both sit down. It is an old dusty couch with rips and tears, but it did the job. 

Mid-sentence, Mama suddenly stops and excitingly says, “Cookies?” 

I Loudly reply, “Yes!” Mama gets up and hobbles over to the pantry, she grabs the stool and reaches up to the top. 

Mama screams from the kitchen, “These are my favorite.” She comes back to the living room and begins to snack on one. Mama exclaims, “These are too die for.” I proceed to reach for one, I grab the biggest one and slowly chew it savoring the taste. It tastes so very chocolatey with a hint of something that tastes odd, but nevertheless, I instantly reach for another and crunch down on it. 

Mama asks, “ They are good, right?” I nod slowly enjoying them. After almost three I stop eating, Mama says, “That’s it? You’re a growing boy.” Whilst squeezing my cheek ever so hard. I nod. Mama asks, “So Jack how's school.” I go to reply when I get a sharp pain and a feeling of having to throw up. 

I mumble, “Mama can you get mom.”  

“Jack! Are you okay,” my mom shouts. I try to speak, I really do nothing would come out, it feels like my voice is paralyzed. Squinting my eyes trying not to close them, I see my mom pick up the cookies and look at them for a while.“Almonds!” she screams. Mom yells at Mama, “Jack is highly allergic to Almonds, what were you thinking!”  

Mama almost crying, “No, no! I am so sorry I didn't know. I feel awful.” Before I knew it, I am in the car as I gasp for air. It feels like my air is progressing slowly till it runs out. I am hacking away, the coughs feel like I am gonna cough up my lungs. My stomach is cramping, I could almost feel it beating like my heart. 

For a second I came to realization and blurt out, “Mom what’s happening?” she is on the phone with a doctor. 

She then turns around and says, “Jack don’t worry I will not let anything happen to you.” I try to process what she said and truly try to believe what she is saying,  but I couldn't, it just feels like the flu, but ten times worse, worse than anything before.  

I then hear the doctor from my mom’s phone say, “He has 5 minutes left, you must get him to the hospital immediately, I will let them know your coming.” I began to close my eyes losing hope, when I suddenly got awaken and my mom picks me up out of the car, I am not light either. I could see a tear dripping down her eye as she sprints me inside, It is the fastest I’ve ever seen her run, she looks like a cheetah hunting prey.

We made into the hospital and hear a tall scrawny fellow in a white jacket screaming, “MCCRIMLISK MCCRIMLISK!” My mom looks at him ever so intently, she is staring him down, I could see the hope in her eyes as she lowers me down on to the ground and let the doctor take me. The doctor is very calm, he says, “Hi I’m Tom do not worry Jack we will make sure you are okay.” 

I look him in the eyes and sincerely say, “Thank you.” He brought me into one of the rooms, wasting no time, he put a clear tube through my veins.  “This may hurt a little bit,” says Tom as he abruptly stabs me with an Epipen in the thigh. 

“AHHH!” I yell. Then I feel a sensation of numbness and a sudden head rush. I close my eyes. My life flashes in front of me. I begin seeing memories from the past. I began to realize how good my life is and how I should be more grateful. I think of all the things I have never done before I die. I think its over, I say to myself. Until I wake up to a familiar voice, 

“Jack please, wake up, it can’t end like this.” My dad cries. 

Whilst gasping for air I say, “Dad!”

“Son you have been out for 4 hours, we thought you were gonna die.” Says dad while wiping his tears. 

“ I thought I was gonna die too.” In my head, I knew the only thing that saved me is god, ever since that day I have learned to love life for what it is, and take responsibility, never rely on someone else.