"I wonder. I wonder what happened to Jennifer's boyfriend," Lucy said.
"I don't know. I just hope that they catch him, though," Mary replied.
"Me too. It makes me uncomfortable," Lucy said.
"I just hope that Ruthie's alright," Mary replied.
"Me too. I've heard that if you bring someone back to life, they could be brain damaged," Lucy said.
"Yeah. I've heard that too. Let's just hope that that doesn't happen to Ruthie," Mary replied.
"Yeah," Lucy said.
"I'm getting tired, but I don't know if I can sleep," Mary explained.
"I know that I can't sleep," Lucy replied.
"If we can't sleep, you know that mom and dad are up," Mary said.
"Yeah," Lucy agreed.
In the morning, everyone was tired. No one had slept, not even Happy. Even a dog knew that something was wrong. The twins only slept about two hours, they were in that stage. Lucy and Matt were eating cereal in their pajamas when Mary came down in a black shirt and nice jeans. She was wearing make-up and her hair was pushed back with a headband.
"Why are you all dressed up?" Lucy asked.
"I have a day-date," Mary replied.
"Are you kidding me? Our little sister is in the hospital and you're going on a date!" Matt exclaimed.
"Oh look who's talkin'! You didn't even come to the hospital! What is up with you? You're a lousy brother!" Mary replied.
"For your information I turned down a date because of Ruthie. I stayed here and I cried and looked at Ruthie's baby pictures. I was afraid to admit it but now I realize that I had a right to cry! She's my sister!" Matt exclaimed.
"You don't understand," Mary replied.
"What? Tell me what I don't understand!" Matt yelled.
"My life! You don't know what I have to do to get a date. You don't know what it's like to be a woman. We look our best to impress guys and they don't even know you're alive!" Mary replied.
"Is guys all you think about?" Matt asked. Mary picked up the keys and threw them at Matt. Then, rushed upstairs, in a flood of tears.
"I don't understand her sometimes," Matt said.
"I wouldn't go there," Lucy replied. She followed her sister upstairs.
Later that day, the hospital called. Ruthie was aloud to come home. She was to stay in bed and have lots of fluids. She had to stay on a bland diet for a week. She came home, but Eric and Annie had to leave. They went to court with Jennifer. At home, everyone was around Ruthie.
"Hey Ruthie. Was it horrible there?" Simon asked.
"I was asleep most of the time," Ruthie replied, wearily.
"What was it like when you died?" Simon asked. Lucy and Mary looked at him.
"What?" Ruthie asked.
"When you died," Simon replied.
"I didn't die, did I?" Ruthie asked. She looked at Mary and Lucy.
"Ruthie, the truth is, they lost you for about two minutes. That's all," Mary replied.
"No! No! I didn't die! I couldn't have!" Ruthie said, as loud as she could, which, at the time, wasn't loud.
"Ruthie, Jennifer's a jerk," Lucy replied.
"I don't care if I died. As long as I'm here right now," Ruthie said.
"Exactly," Lucy replied.
"Mom and dad better put that witch in jail," Ruthie said.
"Yeah, let's hope so," Simon said.
"I better go help Matt with the twins," Mary said. She walked out.
"I'm so glad that you're ok," Lucy told Ruthie. Ruthie smiled.
Eric and Annie came into the house and upstairs to Ruthie's room where they found everybody, including Happy and the twins.
"Well?" Matt asked.
"Jennifer's been given 15 years for child abuse with the intent to kill," Annie replied.
"Did they ever catch her boyfriend?" Lucy asked.
"I'm afraid not. They think that he left town," Annie replied.
"I just wish they'd find him. I don't feel safe anymore. We don't know what he looks like, what if he comes to our door and we let him in our home," Mary said, "It's a scary thought."
"Yes, it is a scary thought. A very scary thought, and we're going to have to take extra precaution," Eric replied.
"What about the counterfit money? How do we know where it is?" Simon asked.
"I don't know," Annie replied.
"Can you remember what dollar it was? A dollar, a five dollar bill, a ten, a twenty?" Eric asked Simon.
"I think that it might have been a ten because I bought something that came out to ten dollars even and I only had a twenty," Simon replied.
"How many tens do you have?" Lucy asked.
"Three, I think," Simon replied.
"I think we should dispose of them. I'll pay you back Simon," Eric said.
They took his tens and ran them through a shredder before throwing them in the trash.
Within a week, Ruthie was doing much better and had gained all her strength back. She walked into the living room and Annie came up and hugged her.
"Oh Ruthie! I am so glad that you're ok," Annie said. Ruthie smiled.
"So am I, and I promise, if this is happening again, I'll tell you," Ruthie replied.
"And I promise that I'll believe you," Annie said. She led Ruthie into the kitchen and when they got in there, they saw the family with cake and balloons.
"Happy birthday Ruthie!" They all screamed.
"What? It's my birthday! I forgot! I actually forgot! I'm eight years old," Ruthie replied.
"Let's eat!" Matt said. Ruthie cut the cake and they had a great time.
The End