The Time Travelers' Club -- Chapter 124: A Promise

As the fight between Ully and Selwyn got worse, Sissy tried to stop them. "Stop this!  You two shouldn't fight.  You're upsetting mother."

Selwyn pushed Ully back causing him to fall on his behind.  Sissy got between the two boys.  She smacked Selwyn in the stomach with her small hands.  He wasn't fazed by her meager hits.

"Shut up you," said Selwyn and pushed her backwards.  She tripped and fell sideways into their mother's flower garden.  Sissy let out a scream.

Ully jumped up.  "Don't treat her like that," Ully shouted and leapt onto Selwyn. Ully pulled on Selwyn's hair and kicked him in his stomach.  The fight turned bloody when Ully punched Selwyn in the nose.  Selwyn stumbled back, grabbing his nose.

"Ah man, now you're dead!"  Selwyn took a swing at Ully who ducked and was able to jab Selwyn in the side.

"Stop it boys this instant."  Their mother had gotten up and was leaning over the rail.  "Stop it.  Your sister needs help."  The two boys continued to fight.  Getting agitated, their mother called for the housekeeper.

"Lucy, please come out her.  Sissy needs help and those boys won't stop fighting."

Lucy came out of the house and ran over to help Sissy up out of the flower bed.  "Sissy, can you hear me?"   Lucy noticed blood on the side of the girl's head.

"Oh no, Sissy, can you hear me?"  Lucy was yelling at Sissy.

Now the boys had stopped and backed off from each other.  They both looked at their sister.   Lucy was still attempting to get the girl to wake up, gently patting her on her cheek.  Their mother had come out into the yard.

"Quick, get her into the house.  I'll telephone the doctor."   As she turned to go back up the steps, she yelled at the boys.  "This is all your fault.  You two and your stupid feud.  I'll take care of you two later."

With Sissy in the housekeeper’s arms, her mother held the door open and they went inside.  Ully walked over to the flower bed and noticed a sharp rock with blood on it.  He could feel his anger raging inside.

"Now look what you did."  Ully turned to Selwyn.  "This is all your fault.  She's hurt."  Ully felt his hands curl into fists and before Selwyn had a chance to defend himself, Ully hit him.   Selwyn threw up his arms to protect his face and quickly backed away.

Selwyn ran towards the back of the house and headed towards the dock.  Ully tripped in the yard as he ran after him.

"I'm going to get you," said Ully.  "I'm going to make you pay for what you did.  You’re nothing but a bully."  Ully had gotten to his feet and was chasing Selwyn.

By now, Selwyn had made it to the end of the dock and was untying the small row boat.  He grabbed the oars and started to row out in the bay.

"Come back, you coward," yelled Ully, but it was too late.  Selwyn was too far away.  "I'll teach you to pick on a little girl!   I'll get you."  Ully knew he would be back.  He ran back up to the house.

The doctor had just arrived.  Lucy had taken Sissy upstairs. Their Mother was just taking him upstairs to the girl's room as Ully came in.

"Is she alright?" asked Ully.   Neither gave an answer.  He raced up the stairs after them, taking two steps at a time.

They went into Sissy's room.  Lucy was dabbing a wet cloth on Sissy's temple and behind her ear.

The doctor took a look at her.  "How did this happen?"

"She fell and hit her head on a sharp rock in the flower bed," said their Mother.  "Is she going to be alright.  She doesn't seem to be responding."

Ully stood in the doorway and watched, feeling helpless.

Out in the bay, a crack of thunder and flash of lightening illuminated the ocean sky.  The wind picked up and the waves began to roll higher.  The storm was moving in quickly.  Selwyn had stopped rowing the boat and was sitting, watching the dock.  The rowboat began to rock harder and harder.

Soon, the storm clouds rolled in and a soaking downpour hit just a few yards beyond the rowboat.  Selwyn panicked and rowed as fast as he could, but he wasn't fast enough to outrun the rain.  It hit hard.

Back in the house, the doctor had examined Sissy.  "Her neck and the back of her head are swollen where she hit the rock.  We need to ice the areas and see if we can't get the swelling down."

Lucy ran downstairs and came back with a big bowl of ice and towels.  Ully stood by watching as they put ice on her neck and head.  He started to cry.  His mother came over and held him.

"She's going to be alright, isn't she?" said Ully between tears.  He buried his face in his mother's arms.  "Tell me she's going to be alright."

As the words left his mouth, Sissy sighed heavily.  Her head fell to the side and she let out a long gasp of air.  Immediately, the doctor attempted to revive her.  Ully began to cry harder.  His Mother let him go, hurried over to Sissy, and held her hand.

"Sissy, can you hear me?  Sissy!"  Her mother began to shake her arm.  The doctor stopped his attempt to bring her back to life.  He turned to Lucy and shook his head.  She began to sob.

Ully stood frozen, unable to move, staring at his lifeless sister.  He put his forearm to his mouth and began to scream.  He ran to the bed and grabbed her hand.

"Come on, Sissy, let's go have tea.  Come on and get up.  Sissy, you have to get your birthday present.   Wake up, Sissy!"  Ully cried so hard he could hardly breathe.  Lucy wrapped her arms around him, but he wouldn't let go of his sister.

"No!  She's going to get up.  Wake up, Sissy!  Wake up!"  Ully finally laid down next to his sister.

"Let him be," said the doctor.  "Give him some time."  Lucy backed off.  Their mother still held the girl's and Ully’s hands.

Later that evening, Ully still sat next to Sissy, holding her small hand.   "I'll get him for this, Sissy.  I promise I will make it alright.  I'll find a way to make it alright."

His mother watched her son fall deep into grief, fearing what the loss of his sister would do to him.