by S G Read
‘Stuart.’ Toby said interrupting the conversation.
‘Yes Toby?’ Stuart replied tiredly.
‘We obviously haven't had time to do anything on the tree house and probably won't until you're out of here but you should have time to design a roof for the thing, you know what's been done up to now. You were the one who said we should do the roof next. It would give you something to do and if we do find time we won't be held up trying to decide how to finish it! As you know we're not quick to agree on things.’
‘Okay. I've got the book in here now, if it's not in there I'll try to do it from memory, if that still works that is!’
‘What's your name?’ Toby countered.
‘Very funny, it's Brian!’
Ben picked up the pack of cards.
‘How many games do you know that thirteen can play?’ He asked.
There was a short pause while they thought.
‘Pontoon!’ C.J suggested. ‘As long as there weren't too many five card tricks!’
‘Thirty ones.’ J.C suggested. ‘That would leave us with-’ He thought for a moment trying to work out the cards that would be left over after the deal but the answer came from Toby.
‘Thirteen cards to choose from!’
After a short game of pontoon the boys played thirty ones. When Brenda came in with Stuart's pills, she was surprised to see all the boys in his room there had been no noise and no trouble. She handed Stuart his medication, as she insisted on calling it, although to him it was now two pills, in the usual plastic cup. Then poured him a glass of orange, which is what he preferred to use to wash them down.
‘Can you get out of the way Ben?’ Stuart asked as he swallowed the pills one at a time.
‘Why?’ Ben asked naively.
‘Because I've just taken my pills!’
‘So?’ Ben replied.
‘If you're still there in ten or fifteen minutes, I'll probably be sick all over you, that's why!’
A large corridor to the bathroom opened immediately, although some were sceptical. Stuart managed to stay in bed a full twenty minutes before he had totter into the bathroom. He did not stop to close the door, as there was not time and the boys could hear him plainly, as he was sick. They hesitated as to what to do for the best then Ben closed the bathroom door and they filed out of the room, heading for the dayroom. They met Stuart's parents and Stephen as they left the room. Simon whispered in Wendy's ear and for once, only Wendy heard what he said. He moved on to whisper into Stephen's ear, while Wendy hurried into the room followed by David. Stephen elected to follow the boys through the ward into the dayroom.
‘He’s looking bad isn’t he?’ Simon exclaimed once they had taken the dayroom by storm.
‘Of course he is but you're not supposed to say that, not to his face anyway!’ Toby cried.
‘What am I supposed to tell him then?’ Simon asked.
‘Tell him that he's looking better, you know something nice!’ Toby explained.
‘What lie?’ Simon asked.
‘Of course lie! Don't tell me you don't tell lies! You're not a George Washington are you?’ Toby retorted.
‘Who's he?’ Simon asked.
‘Someone who was supposed to not tell lies.’ C.J replied, before Toby could answer.
‘Oh! No I'm definitely not a G.W then. I think I'll keep quiet while I'm here!’
‘You can't come in to see Stu and not talk to him Si!’ Sherman exclaimed. ‘What would be the point of coming in here in the first place?’
‘Search me! I'm only here cos you're all here!’ Simon replied. ‘I don't like hospitals!’
That statement killed the conversation stone dead. After a five minute silence J.C said. ‘We're here to help Stu anyway we can, to pay him back for getting us out of the jungle! I for one would be a stain on the jungle floor by now, if it wasn't for Stu!’
‘He's right, we're the thirteen musketeers.’ Denis added. ‘All for one and all that stuff!’
‘So how do we help him?’ Ben asked.
‘We're going to finish the tree house, that's a start.’ Toby answered. ‘If we listen to Stu we might find another way to make him feel good.’
The discussion was ended by the arrival of Charlie, Ben's brother, to take them home. They walked through the ward to Stuart's room, trooped in but only stayed long enough to say goodnight before they left again. Stephen remained with Wendy and David, as he was going home with them. Wendy was very concerned about Stuart, he was weak, had lost a lot of weight in only four days of actual treatment and no one seemed to be doing anything about it. She left Stephen and her husband with him and went in search of some one to voice her concerns to. She pounced on Carol, who was sitting at the desk.
‘He is looking very poorly!’ She said deeply concerned.
‘I know we have had the result from his last blood test but there is a request for another sample. I don't know if there was a problem with the last lot but we'll be taking some more blood to send to the lab.’
‘But if he keeps being sick all the time he isn't going to get better, he's just going to get weaker!’ Wendy hissed getting hot under the collar and raising her voice to show it.
‘He is taking a course of tablets prescribed by a senior consultant with at least twenty years experience!’ Carol replied, deliberately keeping her voice down.
‘When he's not on holiday!’ Wendy retorted but, realising she was getting nowhere and spun on her heel to walk back to Stuart's room.
Instead of the three playing cards they had the survival book open and were studying roofs. They spent the evening designing a roof for the tree house, so they could build it when Stuart was out of hospital.
Stephen had said that, to keep their plans a secret. The plans were completed before the three left, Stephen took them and said he would show the others.
‘We'll be here in the morning tomorrow!’ Were Wendy's parting words. ‘Daddy will come too as its Sunday!’
‘Is it Saturday today then?’ Stuart asked.
Wendy just nodded and had to leave the room, once outside she burst into tears.
David put his arms around her.
‘Chin up until we are past the side window.’ He ordered.
She nodded wiped her eyes and managed a wave as she passed the side window.
CHAPTER 14
On Sunday nothing much changed at the hospital. After discussing the note requesting another blood sample from Stuart, Carol was told to wait for Mr Follet and ask him about it. Wendy and David arrived at nine o'clock in the morning and stayed all day. They were all waiting for Mr Follet to reappear and take charge. The boys, including Stephen, did not arrive at the hospital until the evening. They had finished putting the roof on the tree house and had started to furnish it. Mr Davis had helped and there was now a lock on the door. They had taken a picture of it so that Toby could make it into a get well soon card, which he hoped to have ready by Tuesday. It worried Stephen that Stuart had changed so much in one week. He seemed to have melted away. Instead of a layer of flesh, Stephen could see Stuart's rib cage when he had his tee-shirt off. Instead of the usual goodnight when he left, Stephen walked over and patted Stuart on the head.
‘See you Stu.’ He said trying to sound cheerful; Wendy's tears the previous day had made him realize that Stuart was really quite ill.
Wendy kissed him on both cheeks. ‘I will see you in the morning. Mr Follet should be here then and boy do I want to talk to him!’
As good as her word Wendy arrived at nine o'clock on Monday morning.
‘Good morning sweetheart have you had your pills yet?’ She asked.
Stuart nodded sheepishly. She knew immediately he had been sick again and opened her bag to reveal a selection of Stuart's favourite sweets and snacks.
‘We need to put some weight back on you sweetie.’ She said and spread the contents on the bed.
‘I'll only be sick again.’ Stuart whimpered when he saw the sweets.
‘Let's see shall we?
’ Wendy replied trying to coax him to eat something.
Stuart unwrapped his favourite bar of chocolate but the smell made his stomach heave. He dropped the bar on the floor and started to cry. Wendy collected the sweets together and put them in the cupboard by his bed then cuddled Stuart. Tears trickled down her cheeks. When she saw Mr Follet walk past the side window, she disentangled herself from Stuart's clinging arms.
‘I'll be back in a minute darling.’
Stuart watched her go then heard her raised voice as she pounced on Mr Follet. He strained to hear what she was saying but could not make out the words through the closed door. Despite the fact that he was unsteady on his feet he swung his legs out of the bed and using the bed as a support, he struggled to the door, for once he wanted to hear his mother in action! All the time he was upright he felt weak and dizzy. At the door, he still could not make out the words as his mother had lowered her voice. He opened the door a fraction, to help and listened.
‘He came in hear looking a normal healthy boy, now he is only skin and bone because you decide to take a holiday and your doctors haven't enough backbone to make a decision that reverses one of yours!’ He heard Wendy say.
‘Doctor Patterson is the junior house officer; he is a very capable man.’ Mr. Follet argued. ‘If there was a need to do anything then he would do it!’
‘He did something alright he ordered another blood test, the results showed that Stuart was getting better but he isn't.’ Wendy retorted. ‘Every time he takes the pills he is sick and dizzy. He's been living on water since he started these pills and you have been away!’
‘I will go and get his file.’ Mr Follet replied, when Wendy paused for breath. ‘I will be right back.’
She watched the consultant go before walking back into Stuart's room, giving Stuart time to get back to the top of the bed and flop down onto it.
‘Did you see old Follet mum?’ He asked.
‘Yes he's gone to get your file.’ Wendy replied, none the wiser.
When Mr Follet returned he carried Stuart's file which was becoming quite thick. He read through the information on each sheet and cross referenced everything as far as he could before he spoke.
‘We seem to have a conflict. In one instance we have a request for another blood sample as the other one was contaminated; on the other hand we have a set of favourable results. We will send another blood sample down and have the messenger wait to bring back the results. When I have the results I will decide if we should cease with the treatment altogether or go for the coated tablets. It would please you if I said you didn't need to take any more of the tablets that are causing the nausea but it is a course that takes two weeks. If I take you off them you will have to start from the beginning again! It is just possible that it will mean a lesser case of nausea but for a full two weeks, that is why I hesitate in suspending treatment!’
‘They kept taking my blood when I was in Colombia! What is it about me?’ Stuart asked. ‘The others had blood tests but only one, even Sherman he's terrified of blood, especially when it's his! You hold a hypodermic needle up to him and he's likely to faint or run!’
‘Don't you mean black out?’ Wendy asked. ‘Thank you Mr Follet I await the results from this blood test eagerly, you haven't arranged any other holidays have you?’
‘Not at the moment!’ Mr Follet replied curtly. ‘Now I do have other patients to see. Good day!’
He left the room.
Stuart smiled.
‘You sorted him out mum!’ He said contentedly.
Mrs Sellars looked surprised.
‘Was I talking that loud then?’ She asked.
‘Must of.’
‘Its must have.’ She corrected and studied his cheeky smile. ‘Were you listening at the keyhole?’
‘Who me?’ He replied innocently.
‘Yes you.’
‘There isn't a keyhole,’ Stuart replied, ‘and you know I haven't got the energy to walk far.’
‘I have realized recently that if you want to do something, then you soon find a way!’
This made Stuart smile. His mother pulled him to her and wrapped her arms round him.
‘I love you Stuart and if that means that I have to do more than shout at him, then I'll do more!’ Wendy assured him.
‘Thanks mum; I love you to and dad.’
Carol was sitting at the desk writing when Billy arrived on the ward, he was late.
‘And where have you been?’ Carol asked.
‘I had to fetch something.’
‘Well you can take the tea round and make sure Mrs Sellars gets one or you'll feel the sharp side of my tongue!’
‘I thought I was!’ Billy complained, as he walked away.
‘Not by a long way young fella!’ Carol called after him.
She walked up to Stuart's room where she found them tightly entwined.
‘I'm sorry to break up a good cuddle but I have to take another blood sample.’
‘Why don't you put in a tap?’ Stuart grumbled.
‘Take no notice Nurse O'Riley, he's just feeling grumpy.’ Wendy added.
‘But they'll only lose it mum!’ Stuart pleaded.
‘Call me Carol, Mrs Sellars.’
‘I'm Wendy.’
‘Well Wendy I am going to take this sample down and wait for the results myself. If you see a red light, will you make sure that Billy Roberts, the porter, deals with it quickly please? They only want a bottle or a bed pan.’
‘No problem Carol.’ Wendy assured her.
She took the blood sample, labelled it and walked of to see John Sykes. It was ten minutes before the first red light flashed, Wendy looked for Billy, then called for him but he was not anywhere to be seen.
‘I'll just go and see what they want.’ She assured Stuart, not wanting to leave him but feeling it was necessary.
She hurried up the ward wanting to get back to Stuart as soon as possible. A boy of the same age as Stuart lay on the bed with tubes coming out of his nose and his body.
‘I want to go!’ He announced.
Wendy held up the bottle which was on the cupboard of the next bed covered with a paper bag.
‘No not that! I want to go now!’
Wendy ran to the sluice room, collected a bedpan and hurried back to the boy. She drew the curtains round the bed and slid the bed pan under the right area. His hand found hers and she held it while he struggled to use the bedpan.
‘Feeling better now?’ She asked.
‘Yes thank you!’ The boy replied, still holding her hand. ‘Will I be going back to the orphanage soon?’
The word orphanage threw Wendy completely but she tried to think like a nurse, she was a hospital visitor!
‘You look healthy enough, how do you feel?’
‘Awful! I felt better before I came in here!’
‘Well I happen to know that all the test results are back from the lab, I'm sure the consultant will be able to tell you what the problem is.’
‘Consultant! I don't get to see a consultant! It costs too much! Dr Patterson is the doctor who is looking after me.’
‘What's your name?’ She wanted to go but she was drawn by his plight.
‘John.’
She looked at the name plate above his bed, it read. ‘John White.’
‘I'll come and see you tomorrow John, if you like.’
‘Do you have to go?’ He asked with a plea in his voice.
Wendy looked up the ward toward Stuart's room in time to see Billy go in.
-At least Stuart will have some company- She thought. ‘I'll stay for a little while, what do you want to talk about?’
‘What's it like outside, you know, going places. I've never been out of the orphanage; we've even got a school in there!’
Wendy made herself comfortable; this was going to take some explaining.
Stuart was lying on the bed when the door opened. Instead of his mother returning Billy came in pushing a trolley which had a slightly V shaped metal
top to it.
‘See this.’ He asked elbowing the door shut behind him.
‘Yes it's a trolley.’ Stuart replied suspiciously. ‘What about it?’
‘It isn't the tea trolley is it?’ Billy asked.
‘Of course it isn't, there are no cups on it or a tea whatsit.’
‘This is what we use to take the dead bodies down to the mortuary, to be cut up!’ Billy explained. ‘They call it a gurney.’
‘So?’
‘I brought it up for you!’
‘That's a mistake, I'm not dead!’
‘No not yet but you will be! I've seen lots of kids come and go, some walk out some go on one of these!’
‘Well I'm walking out; and soon!’
‘You can hardly stand let alone walk!’
‘I can walk!’ Stuart eased himself out of bed and stood up using the bed to prop himself up.
‘Try walking away from the bed!’ Billy challenged.
Stuart knew that it was a silly thing to do but he was a boy and accepted the challenge. He promptly fell over.
‘See I said you couldn't!’ Billy said with a big smile on his face.
‘Well help me up! You do work here!’ Stuart hissed.
‘Sod off, you shouldn't have tried to walk!’ Billy chortled. ‘You can crawl back to the bed.’
Stuart swore at him.
‘I'll park this outside you'll need it soon.’ Billy replied ignoring Stuart. He pushed the trolley outside then poked his head back through the almost closed door. ‘I hope!’
Stuart wanted to throw something at Billy but he was in no position to. Tears started to flow freely, once Billy was gone. Stuart was left to crawl back to the bed and drag himself up on to it. He had now resolved to stay alive, even if only to spite Billy. Once he was safe in bed again he found it hard to stop crying and when his mother finally returned, the floodgates opened again. She held him tightly while he sobbed.
‘Now what's this all about I was only gone for a few minutes and you did have Billy as company!’ She asked when he finally stopped crying.
Through his renewed sobbing Stuart said, his chest heaving. ‘It's that porter, he's put that trolley out there he said that it was for dead people and it would be wanted for me!’