She stared at her sickly complexion in the bedroom vanity. Jocelyn
Nevlondial Padoga had been sick for several weeks now with pneumonia, and
had been too weak to go anywhere or do anything on her own. She even
required assistance to get to her bathroom, even though it was attached to
her master bedroom. Her best friend Charlie Mitchell had stopped by almost
everyday after school, and once a week dropping off her homework she was to
do.
Jocelyn stepped over to her bay window and slowly crawled inside it to lean against the window frame. She stared outside at the cars filled with teens driving through her neighborhood after classes, at the children jumping off the buses and playing with each other for a few minutes before their mothers called them inside. All this she missed, she wanted to run and play again, and she just wanted to attend high school. She was just wiping away a stray tear when she heard Charlie walk in with another small stack of assignments, just like every other Tuesday for the past 2 and half months.
"Oh Pipes, hey, I didn't see you pull up." Jocelyn choked a smile.
"I'm not surprised, you've been staring out that window around this time everyday for the past couple of days, I'm just happy you've been able to get to the window." Charlie dropped the papers on the bed and strode over to the window and sat across from Jocelyn. "How do you feel today Jaws?" She asked.
"How do I feel everyday? Sick, weak, but surely happy. I watched the "Newsies" and "Bayou Ghost" again today." Jocelyn smiled softly.
"Another daily occurrence." Charlie laughed. "Mmm. Ensemble." she patted her tummy laughing. Jocelyn laughed loudly.
"Mush on the mind, eh?" They laughed together for a moment before Charlie grew serious again.
"Jocelyn. when do you think you are going to be well again? I mean, have they found out why you've been sick for so long yet?" She questioned.
"I don't know Charlie, I don't know for sure." Her face brightened as she remembered something. "But I have been feeling a little stronger each day! I made it to the bath and back myself yesterday and today." Jocelyn beamed. Charlie leaned forward a stretch and pulled Jocelyn into a hug.
"Oh Jaws, that is so great." She smiled. "Oh gosh! I have a great idea. I'm going to wait a week or two until you're really strong and ready, but we are going to have another "Newsie Night", whaddya say?" Charlie grinned, her big blue eyes dancing with delight. Jocelyn smiled brightly.
"Sure! That sounds simply fabulous. I think I need a "Newsie Night"." She smiled and stood up slowly to gather her week's homework. They went to Jocelyn's study and helped each other with some work; Charlie stayed for dinner but left right after to let Jocelyn rest.
Jocelyn finished off her weekly worksheets and read her Bible until lights out at 8:30 PM. While she lay there she prayed to GoD for strength for what tomorrow may bring. Little did she know He would give it to her in abundance.
Jocelyn stepped over to her bay window and slowly crawled inside it to lean against the window frame. She stared outside at the cars filled with teens driving through her neighborhood after classes, at the children jumping off the buses and playing with each other for a few minutes before their mothers called them inside. All this she missed, she wanted to run and play again, and she just wanted to attend high school. She was just wiping away a stray tear when she heard Charlie walk in with another small stack of assignments, just like every other Tuesday for the past 2 and half months.
"Oh Pipes, hey, I didn't see you pull up." Jocelyn choked a smile.
"I'm not surprised, you've been staring out that window around this time everyday for the past couple of days, I'm just happy you've been able to get to the window." Charlie dropped the papers on the bed and strode over to the window and sat across from Jocelyn. "How do you feel today Jaws?" She asked.
"How do I feel everyday? Sick, weak, but surely happy. I watched the "Newsies" and "Bayou Ghost" again today." Jocelyn smiled softly.
"Another daily occurrence." Charlie laughed. "Mmm. Ensemble." she patted her tummy laughing. Jocelyn laughed loudly.
"Mush on the mind, eh?" They laughed together for a moment before Charlie grew serious again.
"Jocelyn. when do you think you are going to be well again? I mean, have they found out why you've been sick for so long yet?" She questioned.
"I don't know Charlie, I don't know for sure." Her face brightened as she remembered something. "But I have been feeling a little stronger each day! I made it to the bath and back myself yesterday and today." Jocelyn beamed. Charlie leaned forward a stretch and pulled Jocelyn into a hug.
"Oh Jaws, that is so great." She smiled. "Oh gosh! I have a great idea. I'm going to wait a week or two until you're really strong and ready, but we are going to have another "Newsie Night", whaddya say?" Charlie grinned, her big blue eyes dancing with delight. Jocelyn smiled brightly.
"Sure! That sounds simply fabulous. I think I need a "Newsie Night"." She smiled and stood up slowly to gather her week's homework. They went to Jocelyn's study and helped each other with some work; Charlie stayed for dinner but left right after to let Jocelyn rest.
Jocelyn finished off her weekly worksheets and read her Bible until lights out at 8:30 PM. While she lay there she prayed to GoD for strength for what tomorrow may bring. Little did she know He would give it to her in abundance.