JUNE 1937
As usual, Higher for Higher was in a state of high chaos. Baloo had made it in on time, proving that there was a God in Heaven, but two shipments had arrived at the same time, with both owners clamoring for Rebecca to deal with them "right away!". Rebecca dealt with the problem by flipping a coin and taking the owner who had called it. The other one stalked off, grumbling, but then Rebecca knew that he'd be back.... she was the only shipper who would take Carpathian Dancing Beans with the proviso that they had to be turned over mid flight to keep them in shape.
Finally, as the day continued, the cargo was loaded onto the Sea Duck, and Baloo and Kit took a quick break while Wildcat finished tuning up the engines. Baloo lay back in his overstuffed stair giving a sigh of contentment.
"OK, Beckers, I'm ready for my bonus now."
"Bonus... for being on time for once, HAH!" Baloo looked at his boss from lowered eyebrows.
"Now, I've been on time before...."
"And for that I had to put a fake add in the paper claiming that Louie was getting ready to open a new place in town!"
Kit grinned... he could easily tell this was a bantering argument and not a serious one, and so he got ready to enjoy the show, when the phone rang, startling Rebecca. Recovering, she picked it up.
"Higher For Hire, Rebecca Cunningham speaking..... yes, what! Yes, I'll be there right away." Both Kit and Baloo sat up at the worried sound of her voice.
"What's wrong, Beckers?" Baloo asked.
"Molly's sick at school, they asked me to go pick her up." Kit sat up at that one, Molly almost never had to come home from school. "Baloo, could you handle this?" Rebecca continued, going for her coat.
"Sure Beckers... you tell Molly to get better quick, y'hear?" Rebecca nodded.
"Ms. Cunningham, should I stay here?" Kit asked.
"No Kit, it's probably just a bad cold or stomach flu... you go with Baloo." The young bear nodded uneasily. "I'll give you a call tonight," Becky finished, heading out the door. With a sigh, Baloo got up and headed for the door himself.
"C'mon Britches... Becker's probably doesn't need us being late, so we'd better get started now.... and no Louie's," The Big gray bear finished mournfully.
When Rebecca got to school Molly was sitting in the office, looking pale and ill.
"I don't feel so good mommy." Molly said, without a sign of her normal energy. Rebecca picked her daughter up and felt her forehead. Her brow wrinkled... Molly definitely had a fever.
"We'll go home so you can rest then, Sweetie." Rebecca said, reassuringly. The nurse met her outside the room where Molly had been laying down.
"It's probably just a case of the flu, Ms. Cunningham." The kindly fox assured her. "Still, if she doesn't feel better by tomorrow, and especially if the fever doesn't go down, you should go to your doctor— just in case." Rebecca nodded and headed to her car with Molly.
Getting into the car, she settled molly down in the seat next to her, buckling her in.
"So Molly... would you like a little Frosty Pep when we get home, before you go to bed?" Rebecca asked.
"No mommy, I'm not hungry. Could I just go to bed?" Molly said listlessly. Rebecca shot a look at her daughter, feeling a twinge of real concern.
"Ok, Sweetie." Rebecca said. By the time they got home, Molly had fallen asleep. Rebecca carried her daughter up to the room and put her to bed, before settling down to do a little paperwork in the room so she could keep watch on her daughter.
As the day continued, she kept checking Molly at intervals. By 2:30, her daughter drank a little, and then dozed off while Rebecca watched. She was getting ready to work on another set of accounts when Molly woke up again.
"Mommy?" Becky looked down, alarmed at that weak tremor in Molly's voice. "Mommy, I hurt all over." The golden bear cub said fearfully, without a hint of spirit. Rebecca leaned down and felt her daughter's forehead, and snatched her hand away. She was burning up... had become feverish in less then two hours.
"Well, don't worry, Sweetie.... we'll go over to Dr. Gozzlin's and he'll make you all better." Rebecca said with false confidence. She quietly left the room ,,and then called Dr. Gozzlin on his emergency number.
"Dr. Gozzlin's office, Nurse Detha speaking," A familiar voice came over the phone.
"Oh thank God, Janice." Rebecca said, unable to disguise the relief in her voice. "Molly's very ill, she has a fever and I need to bring her over right away!"
"Come on then," The nurse said, "Dr. Gozzlin was going to leave early anyway... today has been very quiet."
Rebecca buckled Molly into the seat of the car, and then kept up a stream of chatter as they drove through the afternoon traffic to the doctors office. Her fear deepened as Molly remained listless and silent. By the time she got to the office, Rebecca's initial worry and panic had blossomed into something far worse.
The office was done up in cheerful colors, but Janice met Rebecca, at the entrance and motioned them around to the other side.
"Janice... what's this?"
"Just a precaution, Ms.Cunningham." Janice smiled. "We don't want her to catch anything else from somebody in the waiting room." Rebecca nodded uneasily as they walked into the office... forgetting that Dr. Gozzlin had been about to leave because he had so few patients.
"Hello Molly," Dr. Gozzlin said as the door to his office opened. A elderly Crane, he had an ability to tease the fear out of any child... and reassure parents without patronizing them.
Inside the office, Dr. Gozzlin put Molly on the examination table and gave the listless child a quick examination.
"So, Molly... I've heard that you're trying to get out of school?" Molly didn't even respond. Dr. Gozzlin gave a tiny frown. Usually, even when she was sick, Molly was all over the place, both mentally and physically. She was definitely sick. Gozzlin checked her, and then rechecked her.
Rebecca waited, more and more worried. Gozzlin had shoed her out after a few moments. In the waiting room Rebecca tried to concentrate on the magazine in her lap.... and hadn't even learned its name yet.
Finally, the door opened, and Janice came out.
"Ms. Cunningham?" Rebecca looked up.
"Yes."
"Could you... could you come in please. Dr. Gozzlin needs to talk to you."
Clutching her purse, Rebecca walked into the room. Molly was curled up on the table, shivering despite the cover that Gozzlin had put over her. The doctor came over to Rebecca and when she looked into his eyes for some sign of good news, it felt like her heart would stop.
"Rebecca...." He paused, and motioned for her to sit down. Becky shook her head. Bad news always comes when you're sitting down, she thought irrationally, if she was standing then the news had to be good. Gozzlin sighed.
"Rebecca.... I can't be certain, but I've called Suzette community to come and get your daughter..."
"What's wrong?" She felt her voice beginning to scale up. "She was fine this morning, I've been watching it's just a cold-" Becky stopped herself with what remained of her will. "What do you think is wrong, Dr. Gozzlin?"
"Rebecca.... I believe that Molly might have contracted Infantile Paralysis....Polio."
Becky felt herself begin to fall, as Gozzlin and Janice rushed forward.
*Oh God, oh God, no, no, no, no....." At some point the wail in her mind merged with her voice... but Rebecca didn't notice.
The Sea Duck lay moored at Louie's.... for once not due t o a detour on the part of Baloo. The Sea Duck had fought headwinds for the entire trip, and by the time he had been heading back to Suzette, the need for fuel had required the stop. However, Kit knew temptation, so he sat in the plane while Baloo got a take out lunch. Papa Bear meant well.... but Kit intended to be certain, especially since the bear cub wanted to get back to the city. He was worried about Molly.
Inside, Baloo waited at the counter while Louie finished up his last sandwich. Kit's lone meal sat besides Baloo's four sandwiches... but then Baloo was a growing boy, the bear reasoned.
"So Cuz, I hope shortstuff is feeling ok..."
"Ah, I'll be she is, Louie.... y'know how kids are, fine today, sick tomorrow fine the next day." Louie nodded, then turned as one of his workers came up.
"Boss.... there's someone on the radio for Baloo."
"Line out again, Louie??" Baloo mentioned, pointing at the phone.
"Storm took out the line, Cuz." Louie said, as he and Baloo headed towards the radio. Baloo picked it up and clicked the mike on.
"This is Baloo."
"Hi Baloo...." Wildcat's voice came over, sounding oddly serious. "Ya gotta get back quick."
"What's wrong, Wildcat?" Baloo asked, worried. Wildcat *never * got worried.
"Molly's real sick Baloo...." Wildcat said, then continued. "Rebecca said she has.. Pollywogs?" Baloo blinked, then Louie took the mike.
"Was that Polio, Wildcat?" Wildcat's unhappy voice came back over the airwaves.
"Yeah, Louie, that's it." The color drained from both faces.
"Awww, man no.... not short-stuff." Louie said.
"Wildcat, tell Becker's we'll be there." Baloo said and then headed towards the door, bouncing a few unwary patrons off of his bulk. Louie grabbed his battered hat and headed after the bear.
Kit was waiting in the plane when Baloo and Louie got into the plane and without any ceremony, started the engines, turned the plane around and headed off, driving the engines as fast as they would.
"Kit, dump the cargo." Baloo said shortly.
"What... Papa Bear, Ms. Cunningham..."
"Won't care at all..." Louie said. "I'll give you a hand..."
"What's wrong?" Kit asked, getting scared. "Is Molly?"
"She's.... pretty sick." Baloo said uneasily. "We need to get back so Becker's can be with her." Kit looked at the two adults... and then turned to the cargo bay. Not even listening to the sound of the cargo getting dumped, Baloo continued staring out into the air in front of the Duck.
*Aw man... not Molly....." Was one thought... the other one was worse.... *Nobody knows how people catch this stuff.... what if Kit's got it?*
Jereem paused in his talk, then looked over at Michael. Michael still had Molly in the shelter of his arm.
"Well, shouldn't we get back if that is the case?"
"Won't matter." Molly said shortly. "If I got it.... won't matter at all."
"Regardless." Michael said, getting up and pulling Molly to her feet. "I don't fancy climbing down as it gets darker. Jereem can continue on the way down." Molly opened her mouth, but Michael quelled it with a look.
"Molly," He said softly. "We can't stay up here forever.... and when we get back, you need to tell your mother about this. You owe her that." Molly didn't reply. But didn't resist either. Behind them, Jereem and Hannah walked forward.
"I take it things got worse?" Hannah asked.
"Oh yes, much worse." Jereem said soberly, worriedly looking at his friend.