A Thanksgiving Miracle
My skates were a little too loose, and I stopped to tighten them. Slow down and wait for me Laura, I said. Weeee she screamed, as she skated fast across the ice. I finished retying my laces, and one foot in front of the other, pushed down hard into the ice, and built my speed in a hurry, and caught back up to her. Laura was my little sister, she was only eight years old. I was twelve, and supposed to watch her after school, while mom and dad were working. We only live two blocks away from the lake, and mom and dad trusted me a lot. I was a great big brother. I always watched out for her no matter where we were. The lake had just frozen over the past couple of days, and I wanted so much to go skating, but mom said the ice wasn't thick enough just yet.


The bus came around the corner near the end of the lake. It was 3:30 and we were almost home from school. I looked out the bus window at the frozen water. There were a couple of kids, out playing in the middle, on the ice. It's safe I thought to myself. I was a good skater. I spent all my free time on the ice each winter, playing hockey with my friends, or just skating around with whoever was there. This year, I had Laura. Near the end of last winter, I had taught her to ice skate. She learned very quickly, and she loved the freedom of sliding all over the place. She said it felt like she was flying.


The bus stopped, and off we got. I want to go skating John, Laura said to me. I want to go too I told her, but Mom said the ice is not safe yet. But we both saw those kids playing on it she said. I know Laura, but we have to listen to mom. I put my key in the door and as I opened it, three more kids with skates were heading down to the lake. See Laura said, every body's going. Call mom and ask her if we can go, please, please John she begged. Alright, after we have our snack, I'll call her.


But mom I argued, "I'm not gonna tell you again John, absolutely not. It's not safe yet". But kids are all over the lake I said again. I said no, and that's final. Okay mom, I said angry, and hung up the phone. We can't go Laura, mom said no. Laura was sad, and continued staring out the window. Look she cried, there is another bunch of kids with their skate over their shoulders. I wanted to go skating so badly, I could taste it, and so could Laura. We would have to suffer though, because mom said no. Then I saw Becky! She was walking all alone with her skates toward the frozen cove. She was the prettiest girl in the school. She was in 5th grade a year below me. I had such a crush on her. I always wanted her to notice me, but I was kind of shy, and didn't know what to say to her. As she walked past our house and down the road, I thought if I was skating, I could accidentally bump into her and start a conversation.


Laura, grab your skates I yelled, we're going skating. But I thought mom said no? She did I said, but it will be our little secret. Everyone else is going, (Meaning Becky), and we should go too. Yay, yay, hollered Laura. We got our skates and headed out the door.


Hurry Laura I said we only have an hour and a half before mom gets home. We need to be back before her. I just really wanted to catch up and be closer to Becky. We walked about a hundred feet behind her. The lake was covered with kids. Some had skates and some were sliding around in their shoes. Laura and I, sat on the second bench, and put on our skates. Becky was on the first bench, and now already on the ice now. I couldn't help but watch her. I'm done said Laura, let's go. I jumped to my feet and away we went. The ice was as smooth as glass. It was the first good freeze and no snow had fallen yet. Snow makes the ice harder to skate. It melts and freezes and causes bumps and ruts. This was good clean ice. We were sailing right along and my laces must have come loose. In my hurry to keep up with Becky, I must have missed a hook or two. I stopped to tighten them. Laura flew right by me. Slow down and wait for me, I yelled. She was like a bird in the sky, and there was no stopping her. She loved gliding on the ice more than anything else.


It took me a couple of minutes, but I quickly caught back up to her . Stay by me I said. I don't want you getting run down by some of these bigger kids. Okay she said. We skated side by side for about fifteen minutes. Laura began trying to do little tricks. She tried to skate backward, then she tried turning fast and stopping, and shooting the ice shavings at me. She also tried twice to spin around, but fell both times. Keep trying I said you'll get it. Then I saw Becky again, and she was heading in our direction. I waited until she was close enough, and clumsily made my move. I "accidentally" bumped into her, knocking her down onto the cold ice. I helped her up, and told her how sorry I was. I asked her if she was alright, and she smiled and said she was fine. We began talking. I was in heaven. Here I was, me, John Mathews, talking to the beautiful Rebecca Tedesco. I kept glancing up watching Laura skate. Then I would again focus on Becky. She was so receptive to me. I should have done this last year I thought.


All of a sudden, some older kids started hollering NO. NO don't go by there. It's not safe. Becky and I looked toward where the commotion was coming from. Everyone else had stopped skating and was turned in the same direction. My heart sunk. Laura was near the mouth of the stream that fills the lake. The ice never gets thick there because of the constant moving water. I began skating toward her as fast as I could screaming stop, and I watched in horror as her tiny body disappeared into the freezing water. The thin layer of ice gave way and plunk, she was gone.


I skated full speed toward Laura. The older boys had stopped about twenty feet away from where she went in. I kept going. Stop they said, you'll fall in too. I stopped about five feet from the broken ice. I fell to my belly and slowly inched my way out near the edge. I could see the pink hood of Laura's coat about a foot under the water. I reached and stretched but I couldn't grab it. I screamed her name but she couldn't here me through the water. She wasn't kicking or thrashing or anything. She was just still. I stood up, and just jumped in. I grabbed her and pushed her upwards as hard as I could. I got her arms and chest on the ice and with a big kick in the water with both legs, and a humping motion of my body, pushed her up the rest of the way. Two of the older boys laid on the ice. One held the others feet, while the one boy reach and grabbed Laura, and pulled her to the safer ice. A woman who lived on the cove came running out, and picked up Laura's wet limp body, and carried her to the shore line by the bench.

I was freezing cold and my body was cramping up. I tried to get out but I couldn't. Grab the shirt I heard one of the older boys yell. I looked on the ice and saw it. I grabbed the end and held it tight. The two boys then pulled me out, and also dragged me to the safe ice. They had taken off their shirts and tied them together by the wrist cuffs, and made a rope. They saved my life.


I took off my coat and was nearing the bench area, when the rescue squad pulled in. The woman was giving Laura mouth to mouth, and quickly she start coughing up water and breathing again. The medics put Laura into the truck, and stripped her fast of her wet clothes, and wrapped her in what looked like bubble wrap. It was some kind of warming blanket. I too took off all my clothes and was given a heavy wool blanket. Laura I said, are you alright?


I was in the ambulance with her and the medics. The siren and lights were on, and we were headed to the hospital. Again I called her name. Laura, Laura talk to me. I'm sorry I cried. Laura didn't answer, she was unconscious.
I had given an officer on the scene our mom's work number. He called and she was at the hospital when we arrived. The medics rushed Laura right past mom and into the emergency room. Mom I cried. She just ran behind the stretcher following, until a nurse stopped her. Give the doctors a few minutes she said. Take care of your boy. Mom turned and looked at me. Tears were flowing down her cheeks. I didn't know what she was going to do to me, for what I had done. It was all my fault. But she just grabbed me with both arms, and hugged me tighter than ever before. Thank god you are alright she cried. I was so scared, and it felt so good to have mom holding me. Just at that moment, dad came rushing through the door. What happened he asked frantically? I began to cry, and cry hard. Mom told dad what had happened to Laura, but did not mention that I disobeyed her. He would have killed me.


It took the Doctors over an hour to come out and talk to us. When the door opened and he came out, mom and dad were all over him. How is she, is she alright, can we see her now? Calm down said the Doctor. Laura is alive, but she is in a coma. Her brain scan looks good and she is responding to pain. I don't think she was without oxygen long enough to cause any brain damage, but we will have to wait and see. When will she wake up dad asked him. I don't know replied the Doctor, the coma is probably due to shock. There is no definite answer he said. Only time will tell, but I feel confident he assured us.
Mom leaned over the ER bed and held and kissed her. It's okay baby we are here with you. I saw dads eye's filling fast. He couldn't hold it back any longer. He put his head next to Laura's and cried. I had never seen dad cry before. It was all my fault. If only I hadn't been so obsessed with Becky, none of this would be happening. It took hours, but finally they found a room in the pediatric ward for Laura. We stayed all night with her. In the morning, dad and I left to go home. Mom wouldn't budge. Alright said dad, we'll be back later and bring you some clean clothes. We both hugged mom and Laura and left. On the way out of the hospital dad made a pit stop. We got a coffee and a buttered roll and brought it back to mom. Thank you honey she said to him. We all hugged again and dad and I left.

I felt terrible. On the ride home, I told dad the truth about everything. He was driving and couldn't do too much damage to me. I was so afraid. He sat quietly for a few minutes and then began to speak. It's not your fault John, he said. Things happen in life whether we like it or not. Yes, you should have obeyed your mom, and for that you will be punished. The rest is in God's hands he said. You and your sister were just being kids. All children want to follow the crowd. You went skating. I probably would have done the same thing when I was your age. I was stunned. I never saw this side of my father. He truly was not angry with me. He understood. He even asked me if Becky liked me. I told him how sorry I was. It's okay John, he said, try and relax. When we got out of the car, he told me to come here. Here it is I thought. But dad put his arms around me and hugged me and said, "I love you John, you are the best kid anyone could ever want". I hugged him back as hard as I could and buried my face in his arm. I didn't want him to see me crying, but it was uncontrollable and he was crying now too.


    Mom stayed at the hospital every day and every night. They set up a bed in the room for her. Dad and I traveled back and forth. It was the following Tuesday after the accident. Dad asked mom what we should do for Thanksgiving. We were supposed to go to my aunt;s house, mom's sister. Call her and cancel said mom. I cannot leave her alone. I am in total agreement he said, we will spend Thanksgiving here, together as a family. They asked me if I would like to go to my aunt's alone for the holiday. No way I said, I'm staying here with you guys.


Thursday came, it was Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving I thought, what is there to be thankful for. Here is my little sister, just an empty shell lying in a bed in a coma. I thought about that day all the time. There was no denying it, this was my fault. I disobeyed mom, but mostly, I was more interested in Becky, than I was in watching out for Laura. We're going to the coffee shop dad said. Do you want to come? It was the first time mom was leaving the room since day one. She needed a break. It would be great for her to see something other than Laura laying here. No, I said, I want to stay here. Okay said dad, we'll be back up in a little while.


I stared at Laura. We were alone for the first time since she fell through the ice. I sat on her bed, then I laid next to her. I could finally talk to her. I'm sorry I said, I should have watched you better. I miss you Laura, are you ever gonna come back to us? I should have listed to mom I told her, and you would still be fine. I started crying. I was so sad. I sat up and leaned over her and kissed her forehead. Mom and dad came back in. They have turkey on the menu for dinner said dad. Tonight we can bring our meals here to the room and have a nice quiet Thanksgiving together. That would be great I said. Mom just stared at Laura.


The doctor came into the room. I would like to schedule another EEG, and a cat scan he said. Could one of you come to the nurses station and sign the authorization forms. Mom and dad both went. I sat with Laura on her bed. More tests I told her. Oh Laura I'm so so sorry. I began crying again. I missed her so much. Please come back I cried. I leaned over and kissed her head again. My tears were really gushing hard and falling all over her face. It's all my fault, I wish it was me I said, I'm so sorry. All of a sudden, Laura's hand went up to her face, and wiped my tears away. Laura I said excited to see her move. But she didn't answer. I gently shook her saying her name, but she didn't respond. I was leaving the room to go tell mom and dad, when I heard, It wasn't your fault, you saved me. I turned around and Laura's eye's were wide open. She had a smile on her face. I ran to the bed and hugged her and kissed her face over and over. I was crying so hard and laughing at the same time. Mom and dad walked through the door and broke into tears both falling onto the bed on top of her and me. Oh my God cried mom. Welcome back honey dad said the tears running like a leaky faucet. We missed you. His voice was all broke up. Seconds later there were nurses and doctors and even other visitors and patients at the door cheering and clapping their hands. It was a miracle.


Mom called her sister Mary and gave her the great news. Within an hour, our entire family was at the hospital and in and out of the room. They brought all the food with them, and the nursing staff set up a utility room as a dining room. Every one was crying, hugging , laughing and just so happy to be all together again. Laura was the first to eat. We served her in bed. She only had cranberry sauce but it was the best sauce ever. Everyone else walked back and forth from her bedside to the dining room and back again all day long. It was the best Thanksgiving ever had in our families history.
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If you are alone, or sick, or have lost a love one, or for whatever reason you and family can't be together, close your eyes and join with us in Laura's room. A place where wishes and miracles do come true. I want to wish everyone, the most peaceful and blessed Thanksgiving ever, and may your lives be filled with happiness and love forever more.
<3 Your friend, Mike ;)