Chapter 9
When the Reverend and Mrs. Camden returned to the waiting room, their children greeted them.
"Is Mary okay?" they all asked, concerned.
"She's fine, she just had to have surgery because they discovered that she had ruptured her appendix," Mrs. Camden told the children. Suddenly, Lucy started to cry. Matt, who was sitting next to her, tried to comfort his younger sister.
"Luce, everything is going to be fine, Mary's is going to be fine," Matt told his sister.
"I love her Matt, she has to be okay, she just has to be," Lucy told her older brother, still crying.
"She will be Lucy, she will be, I promise," Matt told his little sister, as her pulled her into a tight hug.
Two hours passed and Mary was still not out of surgery.
"What is taking them so long?" Mrs. Camden asked her husband.
"I don't know, but I am sure that everything is going fine," Reverend Camden told his wife, as he gave his wife's hand a reassuring squeeze. Just then, the doctor walked into the waiting room and approached Reverend and Mrs. Camden.
"How is she?" they both asked the doctor.
"She is doing fine. She is in recovery right now," the doctor told them.
"Can we go see her now?" Reverend and Mrs. Camden asked.
"Not yet, we need to move her to a room first. After that you can but only one at a time," the doctor told them. With that, he got up and left the room.
"Mom, what did the doctor say about Mary?' the children all asked.
"He said that Mary is in recovery right now and that she is doing fine," Mrs. Camden informed the children.
"Can we see her?" Lucy asked her mother.
"Not yet, the doctor said that they need to move her to a room first and after that we can, but only one at a time," Mrs. Camden told her daughter.
A few minutes later, the doctor returned to the waiting room.
"You can go and see her now, but remember only one at a time," the doctor told the Camdens'.
"Mom, can I go first?" Matt asked his mother.
"Sure," Mrs. Camden told him.
"She's in room 234," the doctor told Matt.
"Thanks," Matt told the doctor. With that, Matt went to find Mary's room. Once Matt found the correct room, he entered quietly.
"Hey," Matt said.
"Hey," Mary said, still drowsy.
"How are you feeling?" Matt asked his sister.
"Better, but my stomach hurts," Mary told her brother.
"Didn't they give you medicine for the pain?" Matt asked her.
"They did, but it hasn't started working yet," Mary told Matt.
"Well, once it does, you will feel better," Matt told his sister.
"I hope," Mary told her brother. Moments passed and Mary didn't say a word. Matt sensed that something was wrong; he could tell by the look in his younger sister's eyes.
"Mary, what's wrong?" Matt asked in a concerned voice.
"It's not fair Matt, it's just not fair," Mary said, tears coming to her eyes.
"What's not fair?" Matt questioned, placing his hand on his sister's leg.
"Matt, I can't even move a certain way or walk because every time I do it hurts. I tried to go to the bathroom when I got out of surgery and when I walked it hurt so badly," Mary sobbed, making her stomach hurt even worse.
"You'll be fine Mary, you'll see," Matt reassured his sister. Matt then took Mary's hand in his.
"I love you Mary and if anything were to ever happen to you, I don't know what I would do. I love you so much," Matt told his baby sister, sweetly.
"I love you too Matt," Mary said, hugging her brother.
"Okay, well, I probably should get going," Matt said as he got up to leave.
"Matt, can you send Luce in? I want to talk to her," Mary asked her brother.
"Sure, no problem," Matt told Mary and then exited the room.
When Matt got to the waiting room, he told Lucy that Mary wanted to see her.
"What room is she in?" Lucy asked Matt.
"Room 234," Matt told her. With that, she headed down the long hallway to Mary's room. She opened the door and entered.
"Hey," Lucy said, greeting her older sister with a smile.
"Hey," Mary said, returning the smile.
"I am sorry," Lucy said.
"What are you sorry about?" Mary asked her sister, confused.
"I am sorry that this happened to you. If it weren't for me you probably wouldn't be here right now. I am so sorry Mary," Lucy said, as she began to cry. Mary held her sister tight, allowing her to cry into her chest.
"Luce, don't blame yourself for this. It is not your fault…it isn't your fault," Mary said, coddling her younger sister. After Lucy had finally calmed down, Mary griped her sister's shoulders lightly.
"Luce, listen to me. It is not your fault okay? It was entirely my fault… and I never want you to blame yourself for my mistakes, ever again," Mary told her sister.
"I love you."
"I love you too Mary," Lucy said.
"How are you feeling?" Lucy asked her sister.
"Better, but my stomach hurts," Mary told her sister, as she repositioned herself in the bed.
"Ouch," Mary said as she moved.
"Are you okay?" Lucy asked her older sister.
"Yeah Luce, I am fine," Mary reassured her sister.
"Are you sure?" Lucy asked, concerned about her sister.
"Yes, I am sure," Mary told her once again.
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. I love you," Lucy told Mary as she got up to leave the room.
"I love you too little sister," Mary told Lucy as she left the room.
When Lucy reached the waiting room, she told Ruthie that she could go and see Mary if she wanted too.
"Will you come with me?" Ruthie asked Lucy.
"Sure, come on," Lucy said, taking a hold of her little sister's hand and leading her to Mary's room.
"Hey kiddo," Mary said, once she saw Ruthie enter the room along with Lucy. Ruthie immediately went over to her big sister and hopped up on the edge of the bed.
"I thought you left," Mary said, directing her remark at Lucy.
"I did but Ruthie wanted me to come with her to see you, so I am back," Lucy explained.
"Oh," Mary simply responded.
"Are you okay?" Ruthie asked her older sister, unsure of what was going on. Mary and Lucy exchanged nervous glances; how do you explain to a five year old what happened so that they are able to comprehend what is going on but at the same time, not become frightened by the news.
"Well Ruthie, I got hurt and had to have an operation to make me all better," Mary explained to her baby sister, hoping that Ruthie was not frightened.
"Oh okay," Ruthie simply said, not quite comprehending all of what her older sister told her nor was she frightened by it.
"I love you Ruthie," Mary told her youngest sister.
"I love you," Ruthie told her big sister.
"Are you ready to go?" Lucy asked Ruthie.
"Do I have to?" Ruthie asked Lucy.
"Yes, now come on,' Lucy responded, holding her hand out for Ruthie to take a hold of. She obeyed.
"We'll see you tomorrow," Lucy told Mary as her and Ruthie left the room.
"See you tomorrow," Mary told them.
"Simon, do you want to go see Mary?" Matt asked his little brother, when Lucy and Ruthie had returned to the waiting room.
"Will you go with me?' Simon asked; it was like he was a scared child.
"Sure," Matt said leading Simon towards Mary's room. Once Simon and Matt reached Mary's room, Simon immediately ran over to his sister and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist; burying his face in her chest, tears in his eyes. Mary hugged him back as she started to cry as well.
"Are you okay?" Simon asked when he looked up and saw the tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Yeah, I am fine. How about you?" Mary asked.
"I am so glad that you're okay," Simon explained to his sister.
"I love you Simon," Mary told her little brother.
"I love you too Mary," Simon told his sister.
"Simon, we should leave now. Mary needs her rest," Matt told his younger brother.
"Okay," Simon replied. With that, Matt and Simon left the room.
After Matt and Simon returned to the waiting room, Reverend and Mrs. Camden went into Mary's room and told Matt to stay with the other kids.
"Hey Mare," Reverend and Mrs. Camden said.
"Hey," Mary responded.
"How are you feeling?" they both asked.
"Better but my stomach is still sensitive from surgery and it hurts when I walk or move a certain way," Mary told her parents.
"Mom, Dad, I need to tell you something," Mary told her parents a few moments later.
"What is it honey, you know you can tell us anything," Reverend and Mrs. Camden told their daughter.
"Well," Mary started, not making eye contact with her parents.
"I sort of lied about not feeling well enough to play tonight."
"Why didn't you say something?" Reverend Camden asked his eldest daughter.
"This game meant the world to me and I knew that if I told you there would be no chance of me playing," Mary told her father.
"Is there anything else?" Reverend Camden asked Mary, sensing that she was not telling the whole truth.
Mary hesitated and sighed, "Actually, there is something else…I made Lucy promise me that she would not say a word to you and mom." Mary told her father in a soft voice. Just then, Mary let out a long yawn.
"Get some sleep, we'll talk more about this in the morning," Reverend told his daughter, as he stroked her cheek gently with his hand. With that, both Reverend and Mrs. Camden started to leave the room.
"Please don't be angry at Lucy, it was not her fault," Mary told her parents, as they got ready to leave. Her parents left the room without saying a word.
When Reverend and Mrs. Camden returned to the waiting room, Reverend Camden turned to his wife, "I'll spend the night here with Mary, you and the kids go home and get some rest."
"Are you sure?" Mrs. Camden asked her husband.
"I am sure. I'll see you and the kids tomorrow. I love you." Reverend Camden responded.
"I love you too," Mrs. Camden responded. She then turned to the children, who were all sitting waiting patiently.
"Guys, time to go," Mrs. Camden told them.
"Do we have too?" Ruthie complained.
"Yes, all of you have school tomorrow," Mrs. Camden told the children.
"Mommy, is Daddy coming too?" Ruthie asked her mother.
"No, sweetie, daddy is going to stay here with Mary. You will see daddy tomorrow," Mrs. Camden told her youngest daughter. With that, Mrs. Camden and the children headed to the car and drove home.
Once they got home, all the kids started up the stairs to get ready for bed.
"Lucy," Mrs. Camden said before she had a chance to escape up the stairs.
"Yeah, Mom," Lucy said, turning around to face her mother.
"We need to talk," Mrs. Camden told her daughter.
"Okay, what do you want to talk about?" Lucy asked her mother, confused. Meanwhile the rest of the kids were all sitting at the top of the stairs listening in on the conversation, they were all confused as well. What could Lucy have done? they all wondered.
"How could you cover for your sister?" Mrs. Camden asked her daughter sternly.
"I don't know. I am sorry," Lucy said apologetically.
"You are grounded for three weeks. School, church and back. No phone and no TV. Do you understand me?" Mrs. Camden asked her sternly.
"Yes," Lucy said in a weak voice.
"I love you," Mrs. Camden told Lucy.
"Yeah," Lucy said in almost a whisper as she headed up the stairs. The rest of the children scattered quickly to their rooms when they heard Lucy coming up the stairs, making sure that she didn't see them. Once upstairs, Lucy entered her room, shutting the door hard behind her. She walked over to her bed and buried her face in her pillow and stared to cry. How could Mary do this to me? Lucy thought angrily to herself, now I am grounded for three weeks and it's all her fault.
Just then, Lucy heard a knock on her bedroom door.
"Go away!" Lucy shouted. Matt, who was standing outside the door, ignored his sisters' response and entered anyway.
"I can't," he responded.
"Please Matt, just go away," Lucy told her big brother.
"Come on Luce, tell me what's going on," Matt pleaded.
"Mom got mad at me and now I am grounded for three weeks!" Lucy shouted at her brother.
"Lucy, calm down," Matt ordered.
"Now, tell me again what happened," Matt said a few moments later, after Lucy had settled down.
Lucy took a deep breath before starting again, "Mary got me in trouble because she told Mom about me promising not to say anything about her not feeling well enough to play tonight," Lucy told her brother angrily.
"How do you know that it was Mary who told her?" Matt asked his sister.
"Who else could it of been?" Lucy asked her brother.
"Good point, I guess that you're right," Matt responded.
"Still, how could you let yourself do that? Mary could have died Lucy. How could you!" Matt asked his sister, annoyed.
"I don't know. I would never want that to happen, now can you please get off my back?" Lucy asked her brother in an annoyed tone.
"No, I can't," Matt told her.
"Why!" Lucy said in an agitated tone.
"Because you're my little sister and I love you Lucy. It's my responsibility as the oldest to watch out for you and the others. If anything ever were to happen to you or any of the others I don't know what I would do. I love all of you very much." Matt told Lucy.
"I love you too Matt," Lucy told her big brother. " I love you too," Matt told his sister, as he pulled her into a tight hug.
"Do you know how scared I was when Mom came up to the bleachers with Mary and she was obviously in pain? I was terrified. I didn't know what was wrong with her or if she was going to be okay," Matt told Lucy.
"I know. I was scared too. I love Mary as much as you do," Lucy told Matt.
"I know you do. That's the reason that I am so upset. I want you to know that what you did was wrong because I love you and I would never want to see you get hurt," Matt told his sister.
"Thanks Matt," Lucy said after a few moments.
"Don't mention it," Matt told Lucy as he left the room to let Lucy finish her homework. Meanwhile, Matt went to his room to finish the rest of his homework.
About an hour later, Mrs. Camden called the children down to dinner. Each one of the children hustled down to the kitchen and all took a seat at the table.
"Are we going to see Mary tomorrow?" Simon asked his mother as he took his seat at the table.
"Yeah, we'll go see her right after school tomorrow okay?" Mrs. Camden asked her youngest son.
"Okay," Simon responded.
"Matt, bring the kids home from school and then when your father gets home we'll all go to the hospital togeather," Mrs. Camden told him.
"Okay. No problem," Matt responded.
The next morning Mary woke up and looked around and noticed someone sitting in a chair next to her hospital bed.
"Dad?" she asked in a sleepy voice.
"Good, you're up. How are you feeling?" Reverend Camden asked Mary, who was still unsure of who was talking to her.
"I am feeling better. Did you spend the night here with me?" Mary asked, now realizing that it was her dad that she was talking to.
"Yeah. I wanted to make sure that you were okay. I love you Mary," Reverend Camden told his daughter.
"I love you too Dad," Mary told her father.
"Can I get you anything?" Reverend Camden asked her.
"Yeah. Can you get me the breakfest menu? I am starving," Mary asked her father.
"Sure honey. I'll be right back," Reverend Camden said. With that, he left the room.
A few minutes later, Reverend Camden returned with a breakfest menu.
"I found one," Reverend Camden said, handing the menu to Mary. Mary checked what she wanted and then Reverend Camden took it back to the desk where the orders were sent to the hospital cafeteria.
"So when are Mom, Lucy, Simon, Matt and Ruthie coming to see me?" Mary asked, once Reverend Camden had returned.
"I don't know, but I would imagine after school," Reverend Camden replied.
"Did the doctor say when I could go home?" Mary asked her father.
"He said that you could go home tomorrow," Reverend Camden told his daughter.
"I just want to sleep in my own bed," Mary said. Reverend Camden chuckled at Mary's comment.
"I know what you mean," he told her. Just then, the nurse came in with Mary's breakfest order.
After Mary finished, she started to get tired again.
"Dad," Mary said to get her fathers attention. He was busy reading the newspaper.
"Yeah, honey?" Reverend Camden responded.
"I am going to take a nap for a little while," Mary told him.
"Okay, I think that is a good idea. I am going to go get something to eat from the cafeteria. I'll be back soon." Reverend Camden told Mary.
"Okay Dad,' Mary responded. With that, Reverend Camden headed to the hospital cafeteria and Mary closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Later that day, at around 1:30, Reverend Camden told Mary that he was going to go to the church to work for a little while but that he would be back around 3:30 with the rest of the family.
"Okay Dad," Mary responded.
"You'll be okay by yourself for a little while right?" He asked her.
"Go Dad. I'll be fine," Mary reassured him.
"Okay. I love you."
"I love you too," Mary told her father. With that, Reverend Camden left the room.
At around 2:30, the children came home from school with Matt.
"Hey guys. How was school?" Mrs. Camden asked each one of the children.
"Good, " they all said together.
"Do you have any homework?" Mrs. Camden asked .
"Yes," all the children replied.
"Well, go and do it now. We'll go see your sister when your father gets home," Mrs. Camden told them.
"Okay," they all responded as they started up the stairs to their rooms.
Lucy didn't feel like doing her homework. Instead, she decided that she was going to call her friend Nicole. In the back of her mind, Lucy know that she was going to get in trouble, but she went ahead anyway. She sat down on the edge of her bed and picked up the phone on her nightstand.Lucy dialed Nicole's number and waited for her to answer.
"Hey," Lucy pipped when she heard her friend's voice.
"Hey Luce. What's up?" Nicole asked.
"Nothing. You?" Lucy asked Nicole.
"Well, I got an A on the History test that we took yesterday," Nicole told Lucy.
"Oh, Congratulations," Lucy said.
"Thanks. How did you do?" Nicole asked Lucy.
"Let's just say that I wish Ihad your grade. I got a Dminus." Lucy replied. Just as Lucy told Nicole, Mrs. Camden picked up the phone to make a call and overheard Lucy and Nicole's conversation.She hung up. Mrs. Camden could not believe that Lucy would hide that from her, especially since she knew how important her grades were. She decided that she would let Lucy continue talking to Nicole but afterward she would confront her daughter. Meanwhile, upstairs, Lucy was still on the phone.
"Oh, I am sorry." Nicole was saying.
"Yeah, so am I. If I don't keep my grades up, I'll be in major trouble with my parents." Lucy explained.
"Same here." Nicole said.
"But you always do so well in school," Lucy remarked.
"I have my days," Nicole said. Both Lucy and Nicole started laughing at Nicole's remark.
"Okay. Well, I have to go. I have homework," Nicole told Lucy.
"Sure. Rub it in." Lucy said, laughing.
"Hey!" Nicole said defensively.
"Bye," Lucy said, laughing.
"Bye. See you tomorrow." Nicole said to Lucy.
"See you tomorrow," Lucy said, as she hung up the phone.
Within minutes after Lucy getting off the phone, Mrs. Camden was standing in the door frame of Lucy's bedroom. She stared at her daughter with a stern look. Lucy know that look and it was not a good look, especially at this moment.
"Lucy Marie Camden, I am very disappointed in you," Mrs. Camden told her daughter.
"I am sorry. I had no right to use the phone when you told me not to," Lucy told her mother apologetically.
"You know how important your grades are. I overheard your little conversation about your Hisotry test." Mrs. Camden told Lucy.
"Oh That." Lucy said, cringing.
"So you're not angery about the phone thing," Lucy asked, hopeful.
"I am still angery about that but I'm more upset about the fact that you didn't tell me about your grade on your History test," Mrs. Camden told Lucy.
"I was scared that you would be mad at me," Lucy confessed.
"I am disappointed in you but I am not mad at you," Mrs. Camden told Lucy, her tone becoming softer.
"So what's my punishment?" Lucy asked her mother.
"You are grounded for four weeks instead of two," Mrs. Camden told her.
"I thought so," Lucy said, sighing.
"Next time promise that you will tell your father and me what is going on." Mrs. Camden said.
"I promise," Lucy told her mother.
"Thanks for not punishing me too much."
"You're welcome," Mrs. Camden replied, laughing. With that, she left the room, closing Lucy's bedroom door behind her.
Minutes later, there was a knock on Lucy's bedroom door.
"Who is it?" Lucy asked.
"It's Matt. Can I come in?" Matt asked from outside the door.
"Yeah," Lucy responded. "How are you doing?" Matt asked his sister.
"Okay," Lucy told him. Matt could tell by the tone in his sister voice that she was lying.
"Come on Luce, tell me what is wrong, " Matt urged.
"Okay. Mom got angery at me after she caught me using the phone without her permission," Lucy said, sighing.
"And to add insult to injury, I got a D minus on my History test and she is disappointed in me for that too," Lucy told Matt.
"So shegrounded me for three weeks. I am so stupid." Lucy told her brother.
"Lucy Camden, you are not stupid. You are the smartest person I know," Matt told hiss little sister.
"You really think that?" Lucy asked her brother.
"I know," Matt reassured Lucy.
"Thanks Matt. I love you," Lucy told him.
"I love you too Luce," Matt told her. "Now, need some help with your homework?" Matt asked Lucy.
"Well, if I am going to keep my grades up I suppose you better help me," Lucy said.
"Yeah, because you won't want to see the reactions on Mom and Dad's faces if you don't," Matt said.
"You got that right," Lucy said, as she and Matt started to work on her homework...together.
About twenty minutes later, Reverend Camden came through the door.
"Hi," Mrs. Camden greeted her husband, as he went over and gave her a kiss.
"How's Mary?" Mrs. Camden asked him.
"She's fine. The doctor says that she can come home tomorrow," Reverend Camden informed his wife.
"That's great. I can't wait for her to come home," Mrs. Camden said.
"Neither can she. She told me that all she wants to do is sleep in her own bed again," Reverend Camden said.
"I can imagine," Mrs. Camden said, chuckling.
"Are you ready to go to the hospital?" Mrs. Camden asked.
"Sure. She can't wait to see you and her brothers and sisters," Reverend Camden replied.
"Lucy, Simon, Ruthie, Matt, time to go!" Mrs. Camden yelled up the stairs. A few minutes later, all four children came trooting down the stairs. With that, everyone got in the car and drove to the hospital.
Once they arrive at the hospital, they found Mary's room and entered. Once she saw them, a huge smile spread accross her face.
"Hey guys," Mary said to her family.
"Hey Mary. How are you feeling?" they all asked her.
"A lot better then yesterday. My stomach is still a little sensitive from surgery though," Mary told them.
"Well, we're glad that you are feeling better. We can't wait until you come home," Mrs. Camden told her.
"Yeah," everyone said.
"It's getting pretty loney without my late night girl talk partner," Lucy told her sister.
"Hey, what about me? Don't I count?" Ruthie said, feeling left out. Lucy laughed at Ruthie's comment.
"Of course you do, I'm sorry." Lucy said.
"Thank you," Ruthie told Lucy.
"I miss you too Luce. I miss our girl talks," Mary told her sister.
"I miss all of you. I can't wait for tomorrow when I finally get to go home," Mary said.
"We love you Mary," Mrs. Camden told her daughter. She was speaking for everyone. They all loved her very much. Just then, a nurse entered Mary's room.
"Visiting hours are over. We need you to go home," the nurse informed them.
"Okay. We'll see you tomorrow. We love you," Reverend and Mrs. Camden told Mary.
"See you tomorrow guys. Love you." Mary told her family. With that, they all left the room. Shortly after, Mary closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. She was exhusted.