I don't own the Professional or any of its characters...
Shattered
Chapter Seven: Packing
"Mathilda, I hate to do this but we must talk." said a very stiff, irritated looking Headmistress. An old, haughty man stood behind her in an expensive suit. Mathilda watched them through bored eyes.
"Is this about sneaking out yesterday? If so just give me the detentions and let me leave please. I'm really tired and have to study for my History test." said Mathilda.
"It's not about the sneaking, Dear." said the Headmistress.
"Well, I don't know what else I did."
"It's not something you've done. It's what you can't do."
"Oh shit, did my algebra grade drop again?"
"No. It's about tuition. According to my collegue here, if you can't pay the tuition for the remainder of the year, you have to be expelled."
"What?" her heart sank, she'd only just made close friends with Kiesha. She never thought she'd be upset about having to leave school but now she couldn't see herself anywhere else.
"Young lady, this is very unfortunate but it must be done." said the old man gruffly.
"Why? So you can get money from someone else? This is supposed to be here to help people like me not throw us out."
"We have to pay taxes. You have to pay tuition." he responded. The Headmistress just looked down, utterly ashamed of her boss.
"So this is so you can get more money then? So you can buy another expensive suit, a fancy car, and some whores right? Whores that were cast out as I am now by people like you? Because like me they had nowhere to go."
"Watch your mouth. You do have somewhere to go."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"A foster family. One has already been selected and contacted for you."
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"Ready?" asked the nurse. Norman was standing with his hand on the edge of the bed. He was clad in sweatpants and a NYPD shirt.
"Of course I am." he said arrogantly. Kim gave him a dirty look. He must be getting better. Mister perfect has returned. She thought.
He took his hand off the bed rail and took a step. He took another step and felt barely any pain in his back. His ribs felt awful though.
"How do you feel?" asked the nurse.
"Back doesn't hurt at all." he lightly lied.
"What about anywhere else?"
"Ribs kinda hurt." he lightly lied again as he repressed a grimace. He walked the length of the room and back while supressing any grimaces.
"Wonderful. Very good Norman." said the doctor at the doorway. Norman looked at him.
"Is that so?" he asked somewhat condescendingly. He was slipping back into his usual dickhead attitude.
"It is. I think you could maybe even go home tomorrow."
"Really!" shouted Luke, jumping up from his squishy chair. The doctor laughed and nodded.
"I'll need to have a talk with you first Kim. If you don't mind." said the doctor. She nodded and followed him into the hall.
"Are you okay with taking him home tomorrow?" asked the doctor, entirely serious expression.
"Well, other than his awful attitude, I think so."
"I mean it. The responsibilities of taking care of him."
"I've taken care of him a lot more than you think. What all will I need to be doing?"
"Well, I hope you have a good comfort zone with him."
"Oh, great. Sure. What all do I have to do?" she replied wondering how close this "comfort zone" was going to be.
"Well, you'll need to be certain he's taking his medication. All of it has been changed to pills now. You'll need to be sure he eats three times a day, lots of protein. For the first week, I want him doing nothing alone, with the exception of using the restroom. Also, he will not be moving around a lot. The first seven days he needs to be sitting and laying down while not bathing. I know his son is excited but they can't be rough housing. Speaking of bathing, here comes your comfort zone part. He cannot do it alone. No showers, we can't chance him falling and he will. He may be able to walk but because of the pain his balance is still very off. Only baths and during those, after the first day his back needs washed with certain medicated soap. We'll give you the soap. Don't get his back wet until over 24 hours after he's been home. Once out of the bath, there is medicated cream and bandages that must be applied. Getting all this?"
"Um...yeah." she replied, her mind still lingering on how awkward the bath situation was going to be.
"It's okay. I'll have it all written down. Your answer?"
"Yeah. Luke wants his Dad home and I'm tired of hospitals. I can take care of him."
"Great. Thank you very much. Get some rest, this is your last night here. We will have all the medications and information ready before you leave tomorrow."
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Mathilda was pissed when she entered her and Kiesha's room for the last time. Kiesha looked up.
"Damn, girl you look fit to kill." she said.
"I have to leave."
"What?"
"They are making me leave."
"Those muthafuckas. How can they do that? Where you gonna go?"
"A foster home." she looked at Kiesha with anger and tears in her eyes. Kiesha walked over and hugged the girl who had only just become her best friend. And would be gone.
