"Nigey, can I pleeeeease make your bed go up and down?" Numbah 3 begged.
"More flowers!" called a Nurse, bringing a huge case of white and yellow daisies in. "I'll just add them to your collection. You seem to have your own personal fan club!" she set the flowers with the others.
Numbah 1 picked up the flowers. The notecard read: Dear Numbah 1, I am so sorry to hear about your accident! Get well soon, love Numbah 365. Numbah 1 grinned and set them with an assortment of other flowers.
His room was beginning to look like a gift shop. Piles of cards stood on his bedside table. In the drawer, were comic books, magazines, and regular children's books. Balloons floated in diffrent directions in one cornor of the room. On the other side, stood a table with his flowers. He had teddy bears to snuggle up with at night, and under his bed, held boxes of chocolates and other assorted sweets.
"Hey guys!" called Mashi, walking through the door with some heart shaped balloons. She added them to the other balloons. They barely fit through the door.
"Anymore balloons and we'll have this hospital floating in mid air!" Numbah 1 cried, and chuckled.
Just then, a nurse wheeled in the lunch cart. Numbah 1 went green as he looked down at his platter. It contained a limp peice of broccli, a peice of baked chicken, soething white he couldn't identify, and pudding.
"I'm hungry" Numbah 3 complained.
"Chill...we're going out to eat after we leave" said Numbah 5. "Can you hold it till then?"
"Well...okay!" she went back to being her normal, Happy-go-lucky self.
"I'm not hungry, thank you" said Numbah 1 politley. The truth was, he was hungry and was planning to dig into a bag of potato chips and a can of rootbeer Numbah 5 had snuck him after the nurse left.
The nurse nodded. "Allright then. Visiting hours are over, by the way. You can come back tommorrow" and she shooed everyone out.
"Bye! Bye Nigey! Have fun! Cya!" everyone called as they left. He was glad to have some peace and quiet, even though it was a little lonely, since he had no roomate. But that was about to change...
"Nigel?" a nurse peered her head in the doorway.
"Yes?"
"If it's okay with you, you're getting a roomate. Her name is Katie, and she's 10 years old like you are."
"That's fine" Numbah 1 nodded.
With that, 2 male nurses wheeled a bed in. In it, contained a bald little girl wearing a hospital gown.
"Have fun" said the Nurse, and they walked out.
"Hi there...I'm Katie" she said softly.
"Hi...I'm-I'm-Nigel" he stuttered. She was beautiful. Even without hair, she had shining eyes and a nice complextion. She smiled with dimples, and was freckle-less.
"What are you here for?" she asked.
"I had to have my appendix out" he repsonded.
"I'm sorry to hear that" Katie said with sympothy. "Did it hurt?"
"Yes...well at first but then they removed it. It still aches a little, but not as much." he said and smiled. "What are you in for?"
"I have Leukemia Cancer...the bad part is it's spread. The doctors told me the chemotherapy and radiation didn't work. I'm going to die soon, Nigel. I'm here because they're trying to make it more comfortable for me"
Numbah 1 gasped. "Aren't you upset?"
"Of course I'm upset. I'm scared and nervous also. But then, I will be going to heaven soon. No more pain or suffering. My mom said I'm going to be an angel now. We all will be one someday"
"You're so brave"
"I have to be...for my family" she smiled a sad smile.
"That's very strong of you" he said. He was almost in tears.
"Thank you" she said.
"Let's change the subject" said Numbah 1. He did not want to talk about death anymore.
They chatted for 2 hours. They laughed and told stories. Numbah 1 shared his candy with her and Katie showed him her Calvin and Hobbes collection. At last, it was time for bed.
"I'm leaving tommorrow...but not till the afternoon. We could hang out all day?" Numbah 1 suggested.
Katie smiled. "I would love it"
"Goodnight Katie"
"Goodnight Nigel"
Numbah 1 woke up at the sound of sheets ruffeling. He yawned and sat up. "Good morning. Where's Katie?" he asked to the nurse who was making her bed.
"Oh dear...you're her friend aren't you?" she said.
"Yes"
"I'm afraid I have some bad news, Nigel. Katie passed away during the night peacefully in her sleep. The cancer became too much for her body to handle. I'm so sorry." the nurse said, looking down.
Numbah 1 gasped. "No..it can't be...she was fine last night..." now he started to cry for real.
The nurse came over and put her arm around Numbah 1. "It's okay. Katie wouldn't have wanted to see you this way. She lived her life filled with radience, joy, and hope. She always looked on the positive side. We were lucky to have her in our lives"
Numbah 1 smiled through tears.
"You're friends will be here soon. I'll get your stuff ready for you?" she suggested.
He nodded.
"Okay then"
Numbah 1 got out of his parents car. A huge banner hung over the treehouse. Everyone was smiling and waving. Everyone except him. He was happy, but lost in thoughts.
Numbah 2 carried his bags inside. "Welcome home Numbah 1!" everyone cried.
Numbah 5 sensed something was wrong. "Umm...why don't you guys go in the kitchen for brownies and punch Numbah 5 made...we'll join you in a sec"
"You don't seem very happy to be home?" said Numbah 5.
"I'm sorry, Numbah 5. My friend I made passed away from cancer this morning."
"Oh Numbah 1...Numbah 5 is so sorry to hear that. What kind of cancer?"
"Leukemia"
"Numbah 5 has heard of that. Once, Cree and a bunch of her friends did a car wash and bake sale to raise money for kids with cancer. They raised money."
"Numbah 1...that's it!" said Numbah 1, suddenly perking up.
"What is?"
"We can have an event to raise money for Kids with Cancer! " he cried, snapping his fingers.
"That IS a good idea!!!!" Numbah 5 cried and grinned.
"I'll call sponsors. You find voulnteers, we can..." Numbah 1 was talking a mile a minute. The rest of the KND were notified and were eager to help. Would everything go as planned?
End of chapter 51 Stay tuned for the last chapter!
