Chapter 39
Sisterly Love
Part 1
It was almost daybreak when I woke that Monday morning; my back was killing me and on fire as I laid on it all night long. Shane was still asleep, snoring lightly beside me. I didn't want to wake him, considering it was most likely the best sleep we'd have had over the past week.
I laughed, thinking about Will and Robert and how I missed them even now as I listen to Shane sleep. I couldn't resist yelling, "Fire! Fire! The hospital is on fire!" watching Shane jump and fall to the floor and two nurses come running in, seeing Shane's hair sticking up as if he was a punk rocker, his makeshift bed ruined.
I laughed as he glared back at me. I said, "I couldn't resist," but it seems I got myself in trouble again. Oh well, it was worth it. Shane said I would pay dearly for that. I just smiled as if it was me that had all the cream. The cream soon soured as they brought in more needles and a blood drawing kit. I wanted to say which one of you wants to land on the floor, but I didn't. Shane smiled, knowing how much I hated needles, and then took a seat, snuggling under his blanket to enjoy the remaining warmth, and to watch the show that was about to happen.
It took eight nurses to hold me down, calling for backup by the time they'd drilled me for oil. Two of them were on the ground. Remarking for a scrawny little boy, I was strong as an ox while I wailed with terror being strapped to the bed just so they could take my precious blood. When they were done, they calmly released me. Shane was busy busting a gut. I didn't think it was a bit funny. The nurses, who were on the floor, didn't find it funny either. I hated needles with a passion.
It was another hour before they brought breakfast in. Shane lifted the lid on his tray, waving it in his faces saying. "Just smell that aroma of fresh scrambled eggs, French toast made of white, thick, slices of white bread and hot maple syrup." We both knew Mom would disapprove, but she wasn't here, so we dug in. Shane saying "Oops we forgot to pray." Taking another bite as if it was to die for while I watched his eyes roll as he savored each bite he took.
Shane made his manly trip in nothing but his boxers with toothbrush and toothpaste in hand and a white hospital towel over his bare shoulder to take care of some business while the nurses took care of me. It wasn't my first rodeo having a sponge bath in bed. In a hospital, I quickly learned to get over my modesty. I don't know why it's different, but it is.
Shane and I figured that nursing staff hated seeing people wearing clothes even more so if you're a guy. Quote 'flaunt it if you got it,' as I watched Shane talking to a cute girl in a candy stripe uniform. Wearing nothing but his boxers, and her giving him her phone number; giving the hand sign to call me and giggled as she watched his backside return to my room.
I was told that if my temperature leveled out to almost normal, they would move me to a more private room. I could have my own private bathroom instead of peeing in a hospital container. But I refused to sit on a plastic toilet while the world watched me do my business. They agreed, telling me the walk would do me good. By the time Shane came back into my room, I had already put on a hospital gown and was taking a trip in the moonlight, with my bare butt and back exposed because of the small size of the gown, With the I.V. stand attached to me, preventing my gown to close in the back.
It was better than sitting on a plastic toilet in the middle of the room. Unlike home, once the bathroom door closed, I exhaled, having complete privacy to do my business alone and in peace, unless the annoying nurse knocked on the door and opening it every five minutes; to check if I was alright.
When I got back to my room, I saw Shane had dressed except for his shoes and socks, and Kerry and Jody were sitting in my room, waiting for me. I sighed as the nurse helped me down the hall and had me sit for a minute while I waited for them to finish changing my bed. She asked if I wanted them to wait outside while they put me back to bed. I shook my head and said. "They can stay. It's not like that they hadn't seen me naked before, considering they are my sisters." The nurse smiled and nodded as she went to check the supplies she was going to need for my back.
Jody hugged me and kissed every inch of both my cheeks just like Anna and Julie would, oh how I missed them. Jody stepping back to let her big sister to do the same. Shane just laughed, telling them he was just about ready to go, slipping on his shoes and socks and tying the laces. Jody telling me she would be back with Mom after my social worker left and spend the night with me. With Kerry's support, Mom could effectively run the house while providing attentive care for Jared and Jason. To make sure I wouldn't feel alone, they agreed to rotate and keep me company. I nodded while Shane told Kerry a white lie, that we had already said our morning prayers.
Shane put his hand on my shoulder, telling me not to worry about Dad. He just needs time to cool off and he'd come back around. He knew Dad scared me more than Mom. She only frightens me when I am in a tub of water. I doubt I would ever get the image out of my mind. Even today, I still dream of it and the many beatings that Dad had given me and the other dark secrets that linger on the horrors I faced in that home.
I whispered. "If he would look after Arthur," even though he hated me for good reason, didn't mean he deserves to be treated so unfairly. As he nodded, a small smile played on his lips, showing his willingness to treat him with more kindness. It is difficult to break away from cruelty when you were raised in it.
I consider myself lucky to have had the Fry's and the Steeds and most of all the Downings. I hated to see Shane leave because of how close we had come over the past two weeks. However, I knew he would return eventually and couldn't be by my side every minute of the day. Leaving Arthur to do all my chores, I could already imagine the sound of his grumbling and the sight of his annoyed expression.
I quickly stood and hugged him and thanked him as my gown showed my bare backside, feeling the chilly breeze. He hugged me back. Charging Kerry with my safety; she promised nothing would happen to me in his absence. Shane lifted his duffel bag over his shoulder, and Jody placed another kiss on my cheek before leaving with Shane.
Kerry made herself comfortable in Shane's spot, taking off her shoes and socks, rubbing her feet. Groaning how good it felt to take them off. Opened up her bag of books and supplies to keep herself busy with some needlepoint. While the nurses and the doctor came back to play with my back, or should I say, to torture me.
I had worse things to worry about being naked in front of my foster sister Kerry as she took my hand. While I laid there screaming and crying in pain as they removed the old bandages and replacing them with new ones. Waiting for the pain drugs to kick in through the I.V., while it seemed like forever as I laid there holding my sister's hand as I sobbed against the bed. When it was done and they covered me, telling her I should sleep now, feeling the dizziness and the pain was subsiding. Kerry held my hand as I fell asleep.
It seemed like hours before I woke, finding Kerry gone and Mom and Jody taking her spot. Mom quickly came to my bedside as I panicked and bolted, arching my back only to be brought back down as the pain took hold of me. I laid there on my stomach to let the sting die down and slowly and painfully rolled over groaning, breathing fast. Listening to my heart beep faster, until I could get a grip. When my heart rate and breathing slowed; I slowly opened my eyes.
I pressed the button for the nurse like they told me to do if the pain became unbearable. Taking quick breaths letting out a painful scream, bringing Mom and Jody instantly to my side. It seemed like hours, but it was only minutes as the nurse put the pain medicine in my I.V. and I slowly let out a sigh of relief, letting the soft tears of pain roll down my cheeks. Mom asking if I was alright, saying she was sorry she frightened me. I told her it was my fault for reacting and I should have known better. While lying there, I allowed the pain medicine to take effect and pressed the cool button, enabling me to sit up with no movement. I tell you every bed should have one.
Mom asked the nurse how I was doing, telling her I had a good chance of moving me to another room later today. Since my fever had broken and I didn't need critical care. Mom sighed with relief, asking when I might go home. The nurse stating it could be by the end of the week, but depends if they can keep the fever from coming back and the infection to a minimum. Mom frowned nodding letting the nurse go as another brought me in a late lunch.
Mom frowning as she opened the lid, finding nothing healthy except the small green salad. Everything else was unhealthy; sliced turkey on thick slices of white bread and frozen carrots and peas, a pudding cup and orange pop to drink. Jody stated. "Mom, let it go. It will not kill him." Taking her finger and tasting the gravy, and stealing my chocolate pudding cup and my spoon.
I glared, saying. "Hey that's my dessert," she just laughed, taking a huge spoon full going; "mmm." You just got to hate annoying big sisters.
Mom wiped my chin, setting the tray on the table meaning it was time to talk. Starting with everyone misses me at home. I had my doubts about that one. Thinking of Shawn and Arthur, I asked how it went with the social worker. Mom frowning avoiding my eyes saying it didn't go well. Mom told me she told her I was in the hospital because of a high fever from an infection and asked her to reschedule, but she said she would be by to see me later today around four. Kerry went home to start dinner so it would be done by the time Dad came home from work. I looked at the clock on the wall telling me it was 2:30 pm.
Mom indicated she would like to kill time having me read to her from my scriptures. Personally, I would have liked to watch TV or go hang gliding. So I did what she told me to as she placed them in my hands. The words were kind of blurry because of the drugs, but I knew better than to disobey.
Jody took off her shoes and socks, then climbed into bed with me, sharing my pillow. Again, it was nothing new to have a sister like Anna or Julie climb in bed with me or any of her brothers, but I can guarantee that Susan and Becky or any of my parents didn't. Just the thought of it gave me an icy shiver. Mom smiled, taking a seat and scooted it close to my bed. After everyone settled, I focused on reading while Mom worked on some sewing, working on one of Dad's work shirts.
It was almost four when we stopped. Having the nurse announced I had a visitor. Seeing the social worker walking in the door noticing Jody snuggled next to me, frowning. Mom stood to shake her hand and put on a pleasant face. My caseworker staring at me said. "Young man; you are deeply in trouble, and in only two short weeks. That's got to be a record even for you," smiling sweetly. Asking Mom and Jody to leave the room for a few minutes so she can talk to me alone.
Mom didn't like the idea as her eyes said don't tell her. I said. "Mom, I am not going anywhere, and I'll be alright." My caseworker closed the door and the blinds calling for a nurse to attend to me; wanting to see the damage for herself.
The nurse obliges, helping me turn over as I groaned with pain. Doing her best not expose me, not that it matters much, considering the entire world had seen my butt by now. But I was glad that the nurse didn't expose it all the way. I heard my caseworker gasp, seeing the damage for the first time asking me how it happened. I really, really wanted to tell her the truth, but with Mom so near.
I stayed with the lie for my safety. Family court has taught me one thing. It didn't matter if my father or my mother beat me even with documented proof of pictures. They still favored the abuser over the child. So I did my best to say. "Ma'am, it was a skateboard accident." Repeating the lie about how it happened. The nurse slowly rolled me back over as I groaned and breathed really hard, trying to get a grip on the pain and letting it die down while I waited for her to confer with the nurse about my fever caused by the infection.
I knew she didn't believe me as she asked how long ago this happened. I told her a week and a half. Her eyes popped, getting angrier as she swung open the door and started yelling at Mom outside my door. Going toe to toe with her, asking her why I wasn't in here sooner? Their voices died down instantly, having the nurse take them to the waiting room. Jody slid in behind them and climb back into bed with me shaking as I held her in my arms. Letting her put her head on my chest, telling her everything was going to be alright, knowing it would never be alright.
It was almost thirty minutes later than Mom and my caseworker came back in apologizing for their display, telling me they just wanted what was best for me. I nodded said I understood, and that I was tired, hoping she would go away. But she wasn't done with Mom yet, as she stated she would meet with Arthur and James tomorrow and ensure that everything was in order. Mom's face paled told her James had run away and Arthur was down with the flu. Thinking it would be best to come by another day. But she didn't let my suffering in bed put her off, as she looked at me and said. "In that case, I will be by with a doctor so he can examine him to just to be sure he doesn't end up here with him."
Mom knew she was in trouble while I watched her trying to get out of this slippery slope; nodding that it would be fine since she couldn't get out of it. Personally, I didn't want to be in her and Dad's shoes and felt a glimmer of hope. It wasn't long before the Doctor came in telling them they would move me in a few minutes to another floor. My caseworker said she would be back to check on me in a couple of days and walking the doctor out. Mom and Jody quickly gathered our things as they wheeled me out, bed and all. Having them follow them.