Chapter 6

A Friend

Mike woke up, his mind in a fog. He didn't know where he was at first but then comprehension came along with the memory of his ordeal. At the present the pain was not too bad. He was thirsty though. He saw the glass of water on the tray next to his bed but was reluctant reach for it. However after a few minutes his thirst convinced him to try. Slowly he reached out for the glass and was relived the movement hadn't caused more pain.

Mike was returning his cup to the tray, when the door opened and Captain Stanley stuck his head in. Seeing that Mike was awake he stepped into the room. "Hey Pal how you feeling?"

"I've been better."

"You had me worried there when Dixie called to tell me you had been brought into the emergency."

"Well I don't mind admitting, I was worried about a few things myself."

Cap smiled and stepped over to the foot of the bed and sat down. "I need you to promise me, next time some thing like this happens you will let Roy or Johnny check you over."

Mike nodded his head "I promise. I don't ever want to go through that again."

The door opened again and in walked Doctor Early. "I see you're awake, how do you feel?"

"Much better," Mike said with a sigh. "When can I go home?"

"Well we want to keep you overnight for observation and to ensure you take it easy and give your back muscles a chance to relax."

"How long will he be laid up Doc?" Cap asked.

"It's going to take some time, a week or too. His muscles where all in knots, by the time he was brought in. It's going to take some rest and physical therapy to get those muscles to fully relax and get back to normal."

Cap nodded and turned to Mike. "Well is there anything I can get for ya pal?"

"No I'm fine."

"Give me a holler when you're ready to get out of here."

"Thanks Cap, I will."

"We need to let him rest now." Doctor Early said.

Cap said goodbye and both men left the room, and Mike relaxed easily falling back to sleep.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

On the day after, later in the afternoon, Mike was released. He was feeling better and the pain was gone, though he was tired. Doctor Early said that the medication he was taking would cause drowsiness. "But that is good, because what you need now is to rest and relax."

Cap picked him up and drove him to his apartment. As he was walking him up to his door he asked, "Are you going to be okay on your own Mike?"

"Yea, no problem, the pain is gone and I promise I'll take it easy."

"Well give us a holler if you need any thing."

Mike thanked Cap and stepped into his apartment. Closing the door behind him, he moved to lock it but changed his mind and left it unlocked. Then he sat down on the couch and made himself comfortable. It didn't take long before he heard someone trying the door knob, he watched as the door opened and the little girl stuck her head in.

"Hi, come on in." Mike told the little girl.

Alisha came into the apartment just enough to be able to shut the door behind her. She was wearing a sleeveless top and a pair of pants with a hole in the knee and her hair looked like it needed a good brushing. "I wanted to thank you for helping me the other day."

Alisha nodded her head and asked, "Are you all better."

"Yes! Could you come closer please? I would like to get to know you a little better, now that we're friends."

Alisha stood still while she considered the request but after a few moments she slowly walked over to the couch, keeping the arm of the couch between Mike and her self. As she came closer Mike noticed a large bruise on her upper arm.

"Your name is Alisha right?"

She nodded her head.

"Well Alisha, my name is Mike. How old are you?"

"Six."

"Looks like you got hurt too." Mike pointed to her arm. "How did that happen?"

Alisha shrugged her shoulders.

"Alisha I want you to know, I'm not mad at you for coming into my apartment the other day. However, I think that next time it would be better if you knocked first, and I don't want you coming in when I'm not here, is that agreeable."

Alisha once again nodded her head.

"Can you tell me why, you came into my apartment?"

Alisha ducked her head and in a soft voice she said, "I was hungry."

Someone pounded on the door, making both Mike and Alisha jump. Mike got up and opened the door.

"Is my kid over here?" Cliff demanded to know.

Mike turned around to look at the young girl and found she had hid somewhere. Turning back to the man he shrugged his shoulders and said, "Nope."

Cliff tuned and walked off grumbling under his breath. Mike closed the door and said. "It's okay he's gone now."

Alisha stood up from behind the couch and looked up at Mike. He could see fear in her eyes. "Did Cliff give you that bruise?" Alisha dropped her head and didn't answer. But for Mike, he had his answer.

"So are you hungry, would you like a snack?"

Alisha quickly looked up. There was a light in her eyes that had not been there before. And she nodded her head and smiled.

"Well then, let's go see what I've got in the kitchen." Mike held out his hand to the little girl and she took it and followed him into the kitchen.

Later, after sharing peanut butter on crackers, Alisha went home.