Bisbee.
I was working in my office tonight when I heard movement downstairs.Walking downstairs to investigate, Natalie exclaimed, “Ma!! We found Jimmy! He was in the clubhouse all sick an stuff!”
I was filled relief to hear my boy was okay and said, “Oh, thank God he was found. We didn’t want to tell you sweetie because we didn’t want you to worry.” I looked out the window and saw Payton standing on the front porch. “Payton honey, you can come in too.”
“Ma... Miss Abi said he gotta stay at the orphanage. Cause then he won’t make us sick too.”
“The orphanage? What about the other kids?”
“Payton says the other kids are gettin’ sick too.” Natalie shrugged.
I sighed and said, “Guess he’s in good hands, sweetie. I don’t want you visiting him there in case you get sick too. Payton, how many kids are getting sick?”
“Well… it’s Jimmy… Jeffery… and possibly Aspen so far from what I have gathered.”
“They know what’s causing it yet? When did it start?”
“Might be Millard too since he hangs around Jeffery.. well.. from what I can figure it’s been just this week.. but its seems ta be spreadin.”
“And only kids are gettin’ sick? Miss Abi ain’t sick?” I sighed.
“Not that I seen.”
“Well that’s good then. And you’re still with miss Joan, right?”
“Which is rather odd.. well.. umm.. sorta.”
“Well, you’re not at the orphanage though.”
“Oh… no ma’am.”
“That’s good.”
“Though.. didn’t Aspen give you a hug Nat?” Payton asked her.
“I think I want to go talk to miss Abi.”
“And.. I hugged you too,” Payton said.
“Oh no! Then we all gonna get sick!” Natalie looked down.
“Maybe.. maybe not.. We don’t know what it is .. or how it gets around.. though I don’t think Jimmy would be kissin Jeffery.”
“I hope not.” Nat giggled.
“I should hope not.” I stifled a laugh.
“And if they both have the same thin.. we need ta find out how Jeffery gave it to him.. maybe.. sneezed on him or coughed on him.”
“But... do you think I could get sick?” Nat asked.
“I hope they ain’t kissin too… would be rather odd,” Payton said.
Tombstone.
I let the girls continue to talk and went over to the orphanage in Tombstone. “Abi…” I started, looking at her as she talked to a woman about seeing someone. “Abi... what’s going on with the kids? How are they all getting sick?”
“I must go home and change...I stand out like a sore thumb right now. How foolish of me to think I could celebrate the New Year now of all times….” The woman in the Chinese dress said.
“If you need clothes, I can give you some,” Abi said to her.
“Sorry ma’am, didn’t mean to interrupt,” I told her.
“I have some at home.” She shook her head. “No.....this is important news that you bring. Do the children need help?”
“They seem to all have come down with something. I’m not sure what.”
“I will go home to my shop and come back with some Eastern medicines that I have. What are their symptoms?”
“Sneezing, cold, sniffling..”
“Jess will protect you too,” Abi said.
“Protect you? Something wrong, ma’am?” I asked her.
“I will be fine.” She shook her head quickly. “Give me a moment and I will be back shortly.”
Abi walked back into the orphanage without a word to me and then Bree came over to me. “Hello Trin, did you find Jimmy?” She asked with concern.
“Yes, we did. I’m going to head to my office while the kids are getting looked at. At least then I’m close by.”
I walked up to my office and tried to focus on writing, though my worry was on my son being sick and my daughter possibly catching the same bug.
No comments:
Post a Comment