They were in a decent sized room with wood floors and old wooden walls. Cabinets were against the walls filled with organized and labeled medicines. The town doctor, who should be in high demand this season, sat in a comfortable chair in the corner of the room. A book in his lap he idly flipped through the pages, like a man without a care in the world. With enough time to just waste away. Will felt a flush of anger warm his cheeks as he imagined the poor people of the town (his sister included) sick and without the money to call this doctor and he sat around doing nothing. He was the one person they all needed and he was the one person who didn't care.
Still immersed in his thoughts Will jumped at the sound of the door. The heavy wood had to be shoved open, leaving a sort of scuff mark on the floor. The evening light from the setting sun sent a beam of gold through the opening to reflect of the doctor's glasses, glasses that had fallen low on his nose from reading. Closing the book regrettably and with annoyance the doctor pushed his glasses up to view his 'guest' and found that the boy did the same. Jake scuttled in with a pouch of money he held in front of him, as if he wasn't quite sure what to do with it. Will looked on with wide eyes, aware now that he was only an observer and no longer a player in the scene before him.
Jake made his way to the center of the room until he stood closer but still a good distance away from the doctor. The man in turn looked the boy up and down sizing him, as if weighing his worth with his eyes.
Finally he asked gruffly. "Well, what is it boy? You must have a valid reason for barging into my office."
"Yes, Sir. It's my sister. She's very sick and she's gotten worse. Mum's done all she can for her but it wasn't until now that we could get up the money. But we have it now and everything will be alright. I will show you the way. It's only about four blocks down . . ."
"Boy, you can't expect me to treat a patient I don't know the symptoms of!" The doctor grumbled and pushed himself out of his chair. He met Jake with a stern look and moved to pack things into his bag. "It would have been easier if you brought the girl to me. Then we would know just what she needed and give it to her instead of all this guessing."
Jake looked at the man with wide eyes. "No, Sir. Lotte couldn't leave the house. It's far to cold. Mum wouldn't even let Will leave because of his cough."
Will cringed at the reminder. He should have gone instead of Jake, but mother wouldn't have it. Not after Lotte was sick. She wouldn't let another of her children tempt fate.
"Well then describe the symptoms boy, and be of some use!"
Jake began unfazed. "Well she has a cough that she can't get rid of. It's gotten worse and it makes her weak. She terribly hot but she says she's freezing. She sweats through all the bedding and then gets cold again. She sleeps a lot. And when she can't sleep she's uncomfortable and cries . . ." Jake's expression was solemn and Will saw that his brother was aware, his brother did feel the weight of their sister's illness. And he had accused him of ignorance.
"Cough, fever, sleeplessness and discomfort, you just described every patient that's come to me over the last two weeks." He turned from his rummaging in the cabinets to face the boy. "I am out of the medicine given to those patients."
Jake froze as the words sunk in. Fear gripped him and he looked up desperately to the doctor. "What do I do?"
The man shuffled over to his desk and scribbled something down. Tearing the paper he handed it to Jake. Jake looked puzzled. "This is the address for the doctor that lives in the next town over. I have written what I need from him on this paper. All you need to do is give it to him and bring what he gives you to me. His address is written there also."
Jake looked down at the paper and back up at the man. Will looked on with a feeling of dread tightening in his stomach. "B-but. My mother says I'm not suppose to go past-"
"Listen son," The man dropped his large hands on Jake's small shoulders. "There comes a point in every young man's life where he must make a decision and take on the responsibility of a man. Your sister needs that medicine and now you are the only one to insure she will get it. So what will it be . . . ?"
Will wanted to rush at the man, push him away, tell Jake not to listen. There has to be a better way. This was where Jake would get hurt, he could feel it. But he could do nothing but watch.
Jake looked down at the paper and then moved to the door. The doctor stopped him to hand him the money pouch now about half empty. "You will need to pay the doctor there for the medicine. I will meet you at your house. Don't dally." And with that Jake left and turned outside the door as the doctor put on about three layers of coat.