Pamucklian for Chocolate

Chapter Nine

177 nine T he moment that Bree told Johnson Davis and Josiah and Josiah’s mother that she was pregnant and it was Josiah’s, Josiah ’s mother, who had been standing at the kitchen counter, passed out. When Josiah’s mother passed out, she hit her head against a drawer that she had earlier opened in search of a whisk with which to stir the waffle batter, knocking her unconscious. When Josiah stood and stepped around the kitchen table to a point where he could see his mother, who was lying on the kitchen floor, he saw that she was bleeding from a cut on the left side of her forehead. “Oh, shit,” said Bree, who had also stood and stepped toward Josiah’s mother. Johnson Davis quickly approached Josiah’s mother and knelt down beside her, shaking her slightly by the shoulder and calling her name. Bree handed Johnson Davis a paper towel which he then pressed against the cut. “Call 911,” Johnson Davis said. “Wake her up,” Bree said. “I know what I’m doing,” Johnson Davis said. “Slap her lightly,” Bree said. “I know what I’m doing,” Johnson Davis said. “Call 911.” 178 • parnucklian for chocolate As Bree left the kitchen to call 911, Johnson Davis lightly slapped Josiah’s mother twice on the cheek. Josiah’s mother still did not wake up. Johnson Davis looked up at Josiah, who was standing over them, watching. “Kneel down here,” Johnson Davis said to Josiah. Josiah kneeled down beside his mother. “Say something,” Johnson Davis said. “What?” “Anything. Just talk to her.” Josiah stared at his mother. “Tell her you love her,” Johnson Davis said. Josiah said nothing. “Tell her.” Josiah stared at his mother. “Tell her, Josiah. Tell her you love her.” When the ambulance arrived to take Josiah’s mother, who still had not regained consciousness, to the hospital, Johnson Davis, after being told that only one person could ride along in the ambulance with Josiah’s mother, handed his keys to Bree and said, “Follow in the car.” “I don’t have a license,” Bree said. “Oh, piss,” Johnson Davis said. “It’s an emergency. Just follow.” “I don’t drive,” Bree said. “Josiah drives,” Johnson Davis said as he stepped into the ambulance . Bree and Josiah got into Johnson Davis’s car, Josiah in the driver ’s seat and Bree in the passenger’s. Bree said to Josiah, “I didn’t know you could drive.” “I just started,” Josiah said. “When?” “Yesterday.” “Yesterday?” “Yes.” “Are you sure you can do this?” “I think so.” b.h. james • 179 By the time Josiah had driven Johnson Davis’s car one block, Josiah driving much slower than the driver of the ambulance, the ambulance was completely out of sight, prompting Bree to tell Josiah that it was okay because she knew how to get to the hospital, after which Bree said to Josiah, “I’m sure your mother will be fine.” “When will you have the baby?” Josiah asked. After a pause, Bree responded, “Eight months. A little more,” adding, “It’s just a cut. She’ll be fine.” When Josiah reached the ramp that led onto the freeway, he stopped. “What’s the matter?” Bree asked him. “I can’t drive on the freeway.” “I don’t know how to get there any other way.” A car pulled up behind the car of Johnson Davis, which was stopped at the entrance to the onramp, and began honking its horn over and over. “You have to go,” Bree said. “People have to have sex to get pregnant,” Josiah said. “I know,” Bree said. “They have to fuck.” “I know.” Two more cars drove up behind the car that was behind Johnson Davis’s car and began to honk their horns as well. “You said you didn’t fuck me.” “You came, didn’t you?” “Yes.” “And I came?” “Yes.” “Then we fucked.” “That’s it?” “That’s it. That’s how it happens.” Josiah pushed down on the gas pedal and entered the freeway. When Bree and Josiah arrived to the hospital, Josiah’s mother, with Johnson Davis by her side, had already been taken to a curtain area in the hospital’s emergency room, where her cut had been cleaned and dressed and where the doctors had used smelling salts to awaken her. 180 • parnucklian for chocolate Bree and Josiah were told...