Sorry for the wait! All my readers thanks for the reviews! Here is the post you all have been asking for.
I had almost given up. I didn't think there was anyone reading. It's nice to be proven wrong. Here's your next chapter. I'll try to start posting more regularly.
Why?
By: Blade
All disclaimers still apply
Chapter 9 – Homeward Bound
Maurice became aware of someone gently shaking him. He cracked his eyes open and looked up to see Nurse Janet standing over him. "Hey, you're back!" he said relieved it wasn't the Nurse from Hell again. Remembering the nurse he looked and the restraints had been removed.
Noticing where his focus had turned, Janet explained, "I took them off. They never should have been put on you in the first place."
"Then why did she do it?"
"Anne doesn't like kids very much. Actually I don't think she likes kids at all."
"Well I don't think she needs to be working with kids at all. She is like the nurse from hell."
Janet laughed, "Yes, I'll have to agree with you on that. She normally doesn't work in Peds. She is actually a Trauma nurse. The nurse that usually takes the other shift when I work called in sick yesterday, so they sent Anne up from Trauma." Then Janet snickered, "I guess it's probably a good thing that her normal patients usually are unconscious."
"Yeah," Maurice laughed with Janet.
"Ok, Mr. Boscorelli, are you ready for some good ole fashioned scrambled eggs?" Janet asked bringing the tray around filled with eggs, toast, and some more applesauce.
"Yes, I'm starved," Maurice said digging into his food. "That food, if that's what you want to call it, last night was terrible," he said around a mouthful of food.
Janet looked at him, "What did you have? You should have had a hot dog and potato chips last night."
Maurice shrugged, "I don't know what it was, but it didn't look like a hot dog to me."
"I bet she gave you what the other patients get," Janet said shaking her head, "The children up here get 'real' food. I'm going to put in an official request for her not to be placed up here again."
"You mean the grown-ups have to eat that food all the time?" Maurice said scrunching up his nose in disgust. Janet just grinned and nodded her head.
"Bummer."
****************
Maurice had finished eating breakfast and was watching TV when his doctor came in.
"So Mr. Boscorelli, are you ready to go home?"
"Yes sir!"
"Well I've called your parents, and as soon as they get here, and fill out the necessary release forms, we can let you leave."
"Yippee!"
The doctor turned and left the room as Nurse Janet walked in. "Well Maurice let me unhook your IV and make you a little more comfortable."
Maurice turned to her, "you know what Ms. Janet?"
Janet turned to him, "What Maurice?"
"I'm going to miss you. You've been so nice to me."
Janet bent down and gave him a quick hug, "I'm going to miss you too. Come back to see me sometime, but not as a patient." Maurice laughed. Janet then proceed to gently take the needle out of his arm and replaced it with a Mickey Mouse Band-aid. "I tried to find something a little more macho for my little man, but this was all we had right now," She smiled.
Maurice fingered the band-aid, "it's fine." 'I wonder how many of these things it will take to fix me up after I get home and meet up with dad.'
****************
It was about 45 minutes later that his mom and dad came to pick him up. His mom came to his room carrying some clothes for him to change into while his dad filled out the paperwork. Maurice quickly changed and promptly sat in the wheelchair Nurse Janet had brought for him. 'I'm supposed to be better now, why am I still having to ride in a wheelchair?'
Nurse Janet seemed to know exactly what he was thinking, "It's just procedure Maurice, every patient has to be wheeled out of here. I guess they want to make sure that you don't fall and re-injure yourself before you make it out of here," She said chuckling.
Maurice laughed at her and settled in the chair for the ride. Nurse Janet pushed him out into the hallway with his mother close behind. She took him past the play room where there were many kids and their parents already playing. He smiled to himself. 'Today, I have a parent with me as well. It's too bad we're not going in there to play. I would love to show them that I have parents too.' Nurse Janet pushed him to the elevators where they all stepped in. When they reached the first floor, she pushed him out to an awaiting father. He was standing by the front desk with his arms crossed looking as if they were taking their time getting there. Janet didn't seem to mind and took him straight to his father who abruptly turned and headed for the car, which was parked right outside the front door.
When they reached the car, Janet helped Maurice up and settled him into the back seat. She grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her. "You take care of yourself, you hear?" she said with a smile. He just smiled back her and nodded. She gently closed the door and smiled at his parents before walking away.
His mom and dad silently climbed into the car and started home. 'Why do I get the distinct feeling that I'm not going to like it at home?'
About halfway home, his dad broke the uneasy silence in the car. "Things are going to change when we get home."
'Well maybe it's going to be better. It can't get much worse.' He thought to himself.
"Mrs. Jeffers has stated that she is going to be making unscheduled visits to our home to make sure you are being taken care of," his dad started, obviously annoyed with this, "Therefore, your punishment has been reduced. There will be no more beatings for either you or your brother from now on."
'Cool! This is great. But why do I all of a sudden feel like there is a *but* coming on?'
"From now on," his dad continued, "All punishments will be done to your mother."
Maurice looked at his mother, who had turned to stare out the window. Obviously this topic had already been discussed between them. 'Okay, so I was wrong before. This has gotten much worse.'
"Also, for the rest of your suspension, you will spend each night locked in the closet,"
tbc... for now!
Sorry for the wait! I'll try to have the next post ready for Thursday!