The evening wind was howling outside the wooden slide door. Winter may have been slowing down, but it was still cold. Frost was creeping up the window, but since the blinds were down, it wasn't noticed. The room was dark and quiet, except for the quiet snoring coming from Eddy.
"Eddy!"
Eddy's eyes widened at the sound of his voice. He then heard banging on his door. He sat up and brought the blanket up to his neck. "Eddy, open! Please!" Recognizing the voice, Eddy dropped his blanket and scowled.
"Ed! Go home!" Eddy shouted at the door as he laid back down. He glanced at his clock. It was only one in the morning. "Idiot," he mumbled as he slowly closed his eyes.
"Come on Eddy! Trouble! Big! Help!" Ed was getting desperate, and it didn't sound like he was going to stop anytime soon. Reluctantly, Eddy got up and opened the door.
The cold hit Eddy like a basketball to the face. He was instantly cold, and wished he would've brought his blanket with him. "What do you want, Ed!" Eddy shouted, glaring at his tall friend.
Ed had a worried look on his face, and was shivering. But that wasn't a surprise, since he was only wearing his winter coat, pajama pants, and slippers. It was probably only 30 degrees outside, and he was practically in his pajamas! "My tummy says that Double D needs us! He's in trouble!"
"Ed, Double D is still at the hospital, remember?" asked an agrivated Eddy, realizing that he had been woke up for nothing, "and you probably just had a nightmare or somethin'. Just go home!"
Eddy was about to slam the door in Ed's face like he usually would, but Ed's hand stopped the door from moving even an inch. "Eddy! We need to visit Double D! The tummy never lies!"
"We can't even visit him!" shouted Eddy, "Everyone in the hospital's asleep! It would be a waste of time! Now let go of my door!"
"No!" Ed shouted back, looking determined. Eddy gave him a look of surprise. Ed wasn't really the one to argue. But Eddy scowled and tried to slide his door closed again. "No!"
"Let go, you idiot!"
"No!"
"I said...!"
"No!" This arguement continued for nearly two minutes, and it probably would've continued if Eddy wasn't freezing. Unfortunately, boxers and a tee shirt weren't the warmest. And so finally, Eddy gave in. Eddy got on some pants, shoes, and a coat, and both friends walked to the hospital. And Eddy hated every minute of it.
"Why couldn't we've just waited until morning, Ed!" shouted Eddy as he walked down the cold sidewalk with Ed following him.
"The tummy never lies," replied Ed, "and friends never wait to help!" Eddy rolled his eyes, and kept trudging on. After almost forty five minutes, the two boys finally made it to the hospital. Eddy nonchalantly walked up the front desk.
"Hey, my friend thinks our friend, Edd Mathews is hurt or somethin'," said Eddy, "Can you check on the computer to make sure everything is fine with our friend, it would make him (gesturing to Ed) feel better." Quick and to the point. The sooner Eddy got out of here, the sooner he could get back to sleep.
"Eddward Mathews?" asked the blonde nurse. She quickly typed in the name, and after a moment, she sadly answered Eddy's question. "I'm sorry boys, but according to the computers, your friend is in an ICU room. You aren't allowed to visit him."
"What do you mean?" asked Ed.
"Yeah, we were allowed to visit him when we came two days ago!" shouted Eddy. They had not been allowed to visit the day before because Edd had been sleeping, and his mother didn't want him to be disturbed.
The nurse gave Eddy a look. "Young man, I know your upset but there are people sleeping just down the hall. Please try to quiet yourself down." Eddy gave the nurse a silent glare as she turned back to the computer. "He was put on oxygen and a heart monitor. His charts say that at 12:01 am, his heart stopped."
Eddy's blood went cold, his face went pale. Edd's heart stopped. Did that mean, that he had died? Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Ed's eyes filling with tears. But Eddy wasn't going to allow himself to cry. "The doctors were able to revive him, but his heart rate was weak. He was immediantly moved to a room in the ICU wing."
"When can we visit him?" asked Ed, tears running down his face, "When will he get out of the ICU?"
"He'll be moved to a regular room once his heart rate is back to normal and his immune system regains its strength," answered the nurse, her eyes filled with pity for the two boys and their friend, "The ICU wing only allows certain people in. Doctors and family members, and even they have to take precautions."
"But Double D's heart wasn't bad when we came last time," said Ed, feeling confused and afraid.
"If just one small flu virus gets in, it may be hard to fight off for some sick people, and even be fatal. Because of radiation, your friend's immune system was weak, so it was easy for him to get very sick. I'm so sorry. But if your friend's heart rate starts to go up, you may be able to visit him in a few weeks."
"Thanks," mumbled Eddy, walking away. He felt tired, and sad. He found his way over to the waiting room couch and sat down, not saying a word, or making a sound. After a few moments, Eddy felt another person sit down. He looked up and saw Ed, lip quivering and tears rolling down his cheeks.
"I told you the tummy never lies," said Ed, before he broke down and cried. But Eddy had no words of comfort to offer, because he wouldn't be able to believe them himself.
()()()()()()()()
"If you want this plan to work, just remember to follow my lead."
"Right Eddy."
It had been a week since Edd was moved into the ICU. A week without visiting him. There was no change in his condition, and he was incredibly weak.
It had been hard for Ed. Edd was his best friend besides Eddy, and even Eddy seemed to be gone all week. Ed felt all alone, and even comforting words and buttered toast from his mother couldn't make him feel better. Finally, one Friday morning, while waiting at the bus stop with Eddy, Ed just couldn't take it anymore!
"I want to go see Double D!" said Ed. Eddy just made a face, not even looking at Ed.
"You know we can't, we aren't allowed to," Eddy replied with little enthusiasm.
"But Double D wasn't allowed to go outside, and we helped him do that," reminded Ed, "and I miss Double D. Friends never wait to visit."
Eddy thought for a minute. "For once Lumpy, you're right. We should be able to at least try and visit. After all, he's our friend! Meet me at the hospital after school Monobrow, I've got a plan."
Even though he didn't say it to Ed, Eddy thought this might be the only chance they had to see Edd. And he wasn't going to give that up, no way.
That afternoon, after the two boys found each other, they snuck some doctor uniforms from a laundry basket. After all, only doctors were allowed in.
"And if you're going to talk to me," reminded Eddy as he adjusted his shower cap-like doctor's hat, "call me Dr. McGee, and I'll call you Dr. Nichols." If they used their last names, it would make it seem more like they were real doctors.
"Whatever you say, Dr. McGee," said Ed, giddy with delight that he would get to see his friend.
The two quietly snuck past the nurse at the front desk, and walked nonchalantly to the ICU wing. They made sure no other doctors were in their path, and then set off to find their friend.
Each room had a window to see in the room. The two friends walked past window after window. One had a man, about the age of forty, asleep and with oxygen. Another had another man, this time about sixty, with a tube in his neck. A teenage girl hooked up to a heart monitor and IV, a boy with a bunch of wires connect to him, none of these people were who Ed and Eddy wanted to find.
Finally, they stopped at a window. Neither of them said a word. They had found Edd.
His arms, were pale and more skinny than before (which was saying a lot). He had an oxygen mask on, and an IV and heart monitor hooked up to him. It was a steady beat, but Eddy could tell it was weak since the lines on the monitor didn't go up that high. But the thing that made the two silent was his head. Because of germs, the doctors had removed Edd's hat, exposing the burnt skin.
Eddy and Ed have never seen their friend like this. Sure, he was sick sometimes, but he was up talking, and he still had his hat on. Now, it didn't even seem like he was Double D anymore. He was just a kid, laying in a hospital bed barely breathing, who was probably going to...
"C'mon Ed, we need to get out of here," Eddy said quietly. Ed just kept staring. "C'mon Ed, there's nothing else to see." Eddy started to pull on Ed's sleeve to make him go.
"Wait," said Ed, "I thought I saw Double D open his eyes."
"It was just the lights or something, Ed," Eddy said, not wanting to get false hope, "let's just get outta here before we get caught." Finally, Ed agreed and followed Eddy out the door.
Eddy stared at the floor as he walked in the used, doctors uniform, towards the hall where the laundry basket was. Seeing Edd like that, he didn't really know what to think.
"Excuse me."
Both Eds looked up and almost jumped at the voice. They saw an old woman in front of them, sitting in a wheelchair. She had short, silver hair, and was wearing a hospital gown. She looked weak, but her icy, blue eyes looked like they were from a younger woman. She had a blanket on her lap, but one of her feet was sticking out from under it, wrapped in a cast. Her voice didn't seem like an old woman's, it was strong but kind. Her voice could easily been from a younger woman as well.
"Oh, um hello," said Eddy. The woman stared at Eddy, as if staring right through his disguise. Eddy began to get nervous. "Can we help you?"
"No, but I think you two boys should take off those uniforms before you get caught," said the woman. She must've seen their worried faces because she then said, "Don't worry, if you take those off now I won't tell anyone. She accompanied the two Eds to the laundry basket to make sure they returned the uniforms.
"My name is Ed," said Ed as he put the uniform back where he found it, "and this is Eddy."
"Nice to meet you both," said the woman, "my name is Marian. Now, why were you wearing those uniforms. You must've had a reason."
Eddy considered lying, but this woman already saw through his disguise, so she would probably see through a lie. "We were visiting a friend. He needs a lung transplant, and his pretty sick."
"His name is Ed with two D's!" said Ed happily, "but we call him Double D. But he's sick and can't talk. We just wanted to see him. We couldn't see him for a week."
"I'm sorry to hear about your friend," she said with a caring tone, "I know what its like to have someone you love and care about in the hospital."
"Hey, he's our best friend but it's not like we want to marry the guy," said Eddy.
"I see you are only familiar with one type of love," said Marian, "But there are many other types. The love between family, the love between friends. You can even give love to someone you've never even met. My granddaughter taught me that. She's loved so many people, and has given so much to all of them." She spoke with such compassion and heart, but with sadness as well.
"How did she love people she didn't know?" asked Eddy, "that doesn't even make sense."
"Maybe you'll understand it yourself one day," said Marian, "somethings are only explained throught experience."
"Um, excuse me," said Ed, interrupting the conversation, "how did you break your leg?"
"Well, I'm from Boston, but I heard that this quaint, little town called Peach Creek had some excellent peaches. I came down here to try some and get a break from the city, but I ended up slipping on some ice."
"Does it hurt?" asked Ed, pointing at her leg.
"Not as much as it did a few weeks ago," replied Marian, "speaking of which, I should probably get back to my room." The woman grabbed the wheels of her wheelchair and got ready to leave. "I'll have your friend in my prayers tonight. Good luck to all three of you."
"Thanks," said Eddy. The woman started to roll forward, when Eddy remembered. Edd's letter. "Hey wait, Marian!" he shouted. Marian looked back. "Do you know anyone with the intitials JWC?"
She gave them a smile. "Yes, a long time ago, but she's still with me." And with that, she left.
()()()()()()()
"Edward, Eddy, the principal would like to see you both."
Ed and Eddy looked up at the secretary who had just entered their classroom. It was a Monday afternoon, and the two boys had actually not created any trouble that day. They had seen the secretary plenty of times before since she always supervised the detentions. That was probably why she didn't like them.
"Very well," said Ms. Withers, turning her head to the two Eds, "you two may go."
Ed and Eddy got up and followed the secretary. "But we haven't even done anything," mumbled Eddy, not really in the mood for another lecture from the principal.
"It isn't about you," said the secretary, sharply and harshly. She didn't say anything after that. What did she mean by that, thought Eddy, unless. Unless it was about Edd. Had he, had it finally happened?
Well, it's his fault, thought Eddy. He's the one who wanted to go outside in the rain. So what if he's gone? All he did was complain and nag. Some friend. He wasn't going to start bawling his eyes out for him. He didn't care if he was gone, he didn't care.
The two entered the principal's office. Being six foot seven, the principal could be scary at times. He seemed to glare down at everyone. His black hair was neat, and he was wearing a purple dress shirt and tie. Very principal like. "Mr. McGee, Mr. Nichols, you both know that Mr. Mathews is in the hospital."
"Yes, Mr. Principal, Sir," said Ed.
"Yeah, what about it," asked Eddy. Whatever the principal said, he didn't care.
"Well, his mother called..." said the principal, "and she wanted me to tell you two..."
Just say it, Eddy thought, he's dead! I don't care, I don't care, I don't...
"He was moved out of the ICU this afternoon, at about noon." Eddy and Ed looked at the principal. What was that? "His mother said that Mr. Mathews heart rate increased in the night two nights ago, and it stayed stable throughout the day. He was even awake for a few minutes today when the doctors came in the room. He still can't breath without an oxygen tank of course, but his heart is healthy and you should be able to visit him in about a week, according to his mother. Normally, I would only take students out of class if it was bad news about a family member, but Mr. Mathews mother made it clear, since you two are his best friends, you should know."
Ed was smiling widely. He even got up to hug the principal! "Oh thank you good news principal man for telling us our Double D friend is okay!"
"Your welcome, Ed," said the principal, who couldn't help but smile, "but please let go of me." Ed obeyed. Eddy was still in his chair.
"So, can we go back to class now?" asked Eddy. The principal nodded his head, and the two boys left and started to walk down the hall towards their class.
"Isn't it great Eddy?" asked a happy Ed to the back of Eddy's head, "Double D's not sick anymore! Now all they need to do is find new lungs for him, and the three of us will be together once more!" Eddy didn't reply. He just stopped in the middle of the hallway. Ed gave him a curious look. "Eddy?" Ed looked over his friend's shoulders and saw him wipe his eyes. "Are you crying, Eddy?"
"Shut up Ed!" said Eddy, wiping the moisture from his cheek, "I just got somethin' in my eye! I'll-I'll meet you in class in a few minutes, okay?"
Ed smiled. "Okay Eddy." The tall boy continued to walk to class with a big smile on his face. A few minutes after Ed returned to class, Eddy returned as well. He had cleaned himself up well, you couldn't even tell he had been crying. He returned to his seat, and looked as bored as ever during the teacher's lessons. But now, he seemed to sit up a little bit straighter.
Aww :) Please review. Also, if you've read the One Last Wish book The Legacy: Making Wishes Come True, then you probably recognized Marian. If not, go and read the book! Trust me, it's so good! Futureauthor, out.