The Problem With Crazy Read Online Free PDF

steal my father from me—and it wasn’t like anything I’d ever heard of.
    “What sort of disease?”
    “It affects everything. He’s going to lose control of his speech, his movement—and then he’s going to die.” I felt tears well in my eyes and forced them back. Dave put his arms around me and I collapsed into him. I breathed in his cologne as he stroked my hair.
    “How long?”
    “Mum said maybe fifteen to twenty years? He’s going to die,” I repeated the words, with little to no inflection. I was removed from myself, from this scene.
    “You’ll be okay.”
    His words were of no direct comfort to me, but feeling his arms take my weight and support my body helped. I stood there for a moment, losing myself in him, and let my thoughts fly. I was angry Dad hadn’t told us, furious he’d run away, and devastated about the whole situation. I’d never felt so many emotions before: mad, upset, protective, confused, and hurt. Was this normal? To feel everything, all at once?
    “I have to go back out there.” I forced out the words. I pulled back to look at Dave’s face, his pale skin, his electric-green eyes … he looked so steady, so sure. I wanted to stay in his arms forever.
    “We’ll go together.”
    Dave placed his hand on the small of my back and led me back into the living room where my parents waited.
    “Kate told me.” Dave walked over to the couch. “And I’m sorry, man. That’s really rough.” He stretched his arm out and took Dad’s hand, pumping twice before joining me on the opposite couch. Dad’s forehead creased up.
    “Paul.” Dad nodded slowly.
    “You’ve met Dave, dear, that’s Kate’s boyfriend.”
    “Dave,” Dad repeated, stretching the word out on his tongue.
    Everything my parents had said became somehow more real. Dad had met Dave before, many times. And yet, here he was, acting like he was being introduced to a total stranger. Memory loss.
    Wow.
    “Dude, you like, came to some of our concerts.”
    I gave a sharp kick to Dave’s ankle.
    “Kate, I know you must have a lot of questions,” Mum said. “So feel free to ask us anything, anytime. I’m still—I’m still trying to take it all in myself.”
    “O … okay.” I’d never stuttered so much in my life.
    “And there is something else we need to tell you, dear.”
    “Deb, not now. Give ‘er a rest,” Dad interjected, his voice sounding ever more weary with each passing word.
    “What? Tell me.” My fingers clenched into tiny fists. “What could possibly be worse than what you’ve already said?” I felt Dave place his arm protectively around my shoulders.
    “Maybe we should wait.” Mum eyed Dave’s hand.
    “Anything you have to say, you can say in front of him.” I shook my head. “He’s family. You know that.” Dave and I locked eyes, and he gave me a special little smile.
    “Kate, it’s not a good time.” Mum’s voice was shrill. My heart was beating like a jackhammer, thud-thud-thud , over and over in double-time.
    “If you don’t tell me now, I’ll Google it. I’ll just search the disease and see what I can find. We both will.”
    Silence. Dave took my hand in his, clasping his other hand around it so I was protected entirely within his palms. Mum and Dad looked at each other, her lips pursed, his still loose.
    “The disease your father has …” Mum paused. I nodded at her. Go on.
    Just tell me. Get it over with.
    “It’s hereditary.”
    I struggled to breathe as Dave’s fingers slowly unlaced themselves from mine.



Chapter Three
    W HEN YOUR whole world falls apart, there’s not a lot you can do about it. When I found out my dad was going to lose all body control, and Mum told me the same thing might happen to me, I did what any normal person would do.
    I walked up the stairs, all zombie-like, and shut myself in my ridiculously neat room. I got into my largest T-shirt. I cracked open my emergency packet of Tim Tams and mixed a bottle of cola with some hideous cheap