Chapter 6: Bye, Bye, Mike
As the days progressed, Mike got worse. Tim, Sarah and Ryan were getting ready to move out of the lean-to into the cave near the marsh plant and the sunflowers. The bears had agreed to move to the other cave.
They now had plenty of food. The animals sometimes hunted for them. They turned the open space between the trees into a food storage lean-to, and Cathy and Turtle were working on making their lean-to into a cabin. Lee wasn't helping at all. He refused to do any sort of work. Of course, Cathy was too nice to force him to do it, or reject his servant-type orders. So they dealt with it.
Soon they decided to take Mike to the doctor, as Sarah could no longer care for him. And she decided everyone else should get check-ups.
The water was gone outside. Tim and Turtle decided to go and try to find the car to bring Mike out of the forest.
They were gone most of the day. Mike now had a fever. He was feeling awful. Sarah tried to put water on his forehead, but one thing about enchanted water was that it dried seconds after contact. Another thing about the enchanted water was that it perfectly cleaned whatever it touched. Mike's forehead was squeaky clean, but still as hot as ever. This wasn't helping him at all.
Suddenly, they heard a car horn. "Lee, Ryan! Come on! We're going!" shouted Cathy, as she helped Mike get up and to the car.
"Tim, step on it!" said Sarah. The car lurched forward and they sped out of the forest in twenty minutes.
They were soon at a small clinic in a town called Gifek. They walked in, helped Mike in, and sat down. The doctor came almost immediately.
"Hello! I am Dr. Howe. What seems to be the problem?" said a tall, gray-haired man in a doctor's robe.
"Our friend is very sick, but we don't have any money to pay for this visit," Sarah started.
"I see. Where are your parents?" the doctor asked.
"Uh…They're uh…" started Tim.
"Well nevermind that! If your friend is sick, I will help him, no charge."
Everyone gave a sigh of relief.
"Bring him here." The doctor motioned for them to bring Mike behind a door. It was a small room with only a bed and a counter. They helped Mike over to the bed.
"I see," said the doctor. "Your friend has a very bad cold. I'm afraid he will have to stay the night here."
"Alright," said Cathy. "See you tomorrow, Mike."
"Bye," Mike said weakly.
They went back to the forest. No one talked too much. Everyone was thinking about Mike at the doctor's.
The next day, they went to see Mike. Tim drove the car the five miles to Gifek. They got out at Doctor Howe's office.
"How's Mike, Doctor Howe?" asked Tim.
"Oh he's doing much better. But I'm afraid he won't be coming back with you today- or ever. You see, when you got uncomfortable when I mentioned your parents, I figured they were…deceased. Am I right?"
They all nodded.
"Thought so. Any ways, I have decided that I would like a son of my own to hand over my practice to. And last night, Mike was screaming- in his sleep- about parents and family. So I said, why don't I adopt him? He's a handful for you guys. I asked him and he said sure he'd love it but he'd have to ask you guys. He's sleeping right now, so I'll ask for him. So, what do you say?"
All the kids glanced at each other. Tim spoke, "Well, if that's what Mike wants, we want him to be happy. So, I guess our answer is yes. But can we see him before we go?"
"Oh, yes, certainly! I'll go wake him! He'll be so happy!" The doctor raced into the room to wake Mike. He came out, and motioned for them to enter.
"Hi guys!" said Mike. He was sitting up in bed and he looked a lot better.
"So, Mike, you're getting adopted? We're gonna miss you," said Tim.
"Yeah!" shouted Ryan.
"Well, we'll see you 'round. Bye," said Turtle.
There was a chorus of "bye's" when they left. They walked back to the car and drove back to the forest in silence.