CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE
(part two)

Wednesday – 12:20 P.M.
The Castle

Not quite awake, but not really asleep, Katy lay in the guest bedroom next to Jill’s office. She’d developed a fever overnight and had to stay home from the Marlowe school. And today, of all days, Uncle Mike had decided to finally paint the walls of her room.

She was stuck in this plain boring room. Katy rolled onto her side. Scooter was taking up the whole bed! AND there were no fairies in this room. Katy flopped on her stomach.

“Are you awake, Katy-baby?” Jill asked. She came in to sit next to Katy on the bed. “How are you feeling?”

“Mommy, I can’t sleep without fairies!”

“You’ve slept for a long time without fairies,” Jill laughed. “You can get up if you’re awake.”

Katy shook her head at her mother. Scooter rolled over to put his head on Katy’s stomach.

“All right then. Just rest.” Jill leaned over to kiss Katy’s cheek. “I’ll check on you in a bit.”

Katy flopped on her side. Certain she would never get to sleep, she flipped onto her back.

And fell into a trance.

~~~~~~~~

Wednesday — 1 PM

“I’m not afraid Dad,” Noelle said. “I’ve seen ugly things before and I don’t care if Buster is ugly. I mean, he’s our dog. I hope he’s going to be my dog. My special friend. I could really use my own dog.”

Aden was wheeling Noelle through Children’s Hospital in a wheelchair. A nurse walked beside them. Sandy, Buster and Nash were waiting for them outside on the sidewalk.

“Your dog?” Aden asked.

“MY dog! I don’t know. I want him to like me most. Even if I have trouble with my eye and my face is all messed up. Dog’s don’t care about that. Do they, Dad?”

“No, dog’s don’t care and when did you start calling me Dad?”

“I’m almost eleven, Dad. Daddy is for little girls. Not for big girls like me. Big girls who have their own dogs and their own rooms AND their own Moms.”

Aden laughed and Noelle giggled.

“Don’t worry, Daddy. I was just trying on the whole tween thing. That’s what it’s called you know tween. That’s when I get to be snotty and mean to everyone and… I don’t know, Daddy, I don’t think I can do it. Do you think Sandy was like that when she was a tween?”

“I doubt it but we can ask her.” Aden pushed the blue wheelchair button for the doors to open.

“I’m going to have my eye fixed today right?” Noelle asked.

“Sandy’s going to take you to the ophthalmologist to have her do a second procedure,” Aden said. “I have to go to…”

“Work,” Noelle said. “Daddy, you should have worked yesterday. Why didn’t you work yesterday?”

“My baby was in the hospital.”

“Will they fire you?” Noelle asked.

“No,” Aden said.  “Val’s still in town. With Jake, Sam and Val, there’s a lot of us to run the show. But I have to go this afternoon.”

“Daddy, what about Buster? What will Buster do when I’m at the doctor or school or…”

At that moment, Sandy, Nash and Buster came into view. Nash let go of Buster’s leash and the dog ran up to Noelle. Putting his front legs on her lap, Buster licked Noelle’s face. She squealed, laughed and cried.

“But… but… “ Noelle said though her laughter.

Sandy leaned down to hug Noelle and kiss her cheek. Nash hugged Noelle. He gave Noelle her favorite Teddy Bear. Aden hugged Sandy.

“Buster’s not ugly at all!” Noelle said.

“It’s love at first sight,” Aden said.

Denver Cereal continues tomorrow….