Louise groaned when she heard her alarm go off. She hit the snooze button and closed her eyes. Five more minutes wouldn't hurt anything. Just as soon as she had done so. She felt somebody shaking her and calling her name. Why were they picking on her? She almost never slept late. Half the time she was up before even Bob and Tina. Just sitting alone and enjoying some quiet before the chaos started.
"Come on, five more minutes." Louise begged.
"Louise! It's eight thirty! We have to be at school in half an hour!" Tina cried.
"No, it's not it's only seven." Louise yawned.
"No, Louise it's eight thirty! Come on we can't be late today. Jimmy Junior is leaving in third period to go to the dentist. He won't be there for lunch or after school. If I don't hang out with him now. I won't see him all weekend!" Tina cried.
"Fine" Louise moaned.
She drugs herself down the stairs of her loft bed. At least it was Friday and she only had to suffer through one more day of school. Before the weekend. Granted she would be working all weekend, but even work was better than school. She walked to her dresser and noticed she felt out of breath. That had been happening a lot lately. It was strange but she didn't want to bring it up. Christmas was just a few weeks away. She had overheard Bob and Linda talking and knew they had been saving up for a new TV. A real live flat screen TV from this century. She knew with the family's budget an unexpected doctor visit would take the TV money as well as anything else they had. It was probably just allergies. She thought to herself making a mental note to dust. She was exhausted again by the time she made it to the breakfast table. Tina was going on and on about Jimmy Junior. Gene was being his typical a mile a second self. Linda was trying to engage with both Gene and Tina at the same time. Bob kept trying to say something about Thanksgiving. She loved her family, but they were just so loud sometimes. She found herself drifting off to sleep. Before being jolted back to reality by a coughing fit.
"You've had that cough for a while Louise. I think you need to see the doctor." Bob commented.
"No… No ittsss fi…fine…e. Pro… proballly jus… just all… allergies." Louise coughed.
"It is awful dusty in here. I'll talk to Teddy about cleaning the vents when he comes in today." Bob replied.
"Well, you don't feel warm, but I think I am still going to make you an appointment for Monday." Linda commented.
"Can I stay home today?" Louise asked.
"Sorry Louise no fever. I'll send more cough syrup with you, and you can call me at lunch if you aren't feeling better." Linda explained.
"Great" Louise sighed.
Had the walk to school always taken this long? When did Gene get so dang fast? Why was she already so tired? Was she sweating? Why was she sweating? It was cold out. Why was her chest so tight. Those were the thoughts going through Louise's head as she walked to school. More specifically as she trailed behind her siblings. Tina was one thing she had that crazy puberty speed and was eager to see Jimmy Junior, but Gene. He was so big and so slow.
Louise got through her first few classes OK. Though she was eternally grateful that unlike Tina she did not have to change classrooms. It was now late morning. History class, Ms. Labonz was going on and on about local history. Normally Louise was actually quiet interested in history class, especially local history. Seymour's Bay was actually kind of interesting once they decided you were old enough to know the good stuff. Today however she found herself using everything she had to stay awake. Maybe she was sick.
"Jessica?" Louise called.
"What is it?" Jessica asked.
"Do I feel warm?" Louise questioned.
"A little clammy but not hot." Jessica replied.
"Jessica and Louise are there something you care to share with the class?" Ms. Labonz asked.
"No" Jessica replied.
"Very well. Now Louise do you care to answer the question I asked?" Ms. Labonz questioned.
"Seventy-six" Louise replied weakly.
"Yes, seventy-six was the answer to the math question I asked an hour ago. This time I was asking why they chose to film "The Deepening" in Seymour's Bay. I know your dad's friend worked on the movie and you are our resident shark expert. I figured you would at least know this one. You are zoning out in class lately. I am going to call your parents for a conference." Ms. Labonz rambled.
"I'm sorry. I just don't feel good." Louise apologized.
"Lunch is in ten minutes. You can go to the nurse then." Ms. Labonz sighed.
Louise spent the next ten minutes fighting with all her might to stay awake. Her chest was tight again. After what felt like an eternity. The bell finally rang. In a flash her classmates were out of their seats. Louise managed to drag herself out of her seat. She was out of breath before she even made it to the front of the classroom. She noticed that Rudy had stayed back and waited for her. Even though she must have been taking forever. Louise barely made it ten feet from the classroom. Before she fell against the lockers gasping for air.
"Louise! You need this!" Rudy cried tossing his inhaler into her hands.
"Thank you" Louise gasped after taking two hits.
"Do you have asthma now?" Rudy asked.
"No, I mean I don't think so, but I hope not." Louise replied.
"Yeah, it's a pain." Rudy admitted.
"No, I don't want asthma. Because asthma is expensive, and we are finally getting a new TV. Asthma would ruin that for sure." Louise explained.
"Yeah, but Louise if you do have asthma and don't get treated. You are going to get really sick. You could even die. That has to be more important than a new TV." Rudy commented.
"Ugh what are you a grandfather?" Louise sighed.
By sheer willpower Louise made it through her day. Her interaction with Rudy was a huge wake up call. Yeah, she knew she should have gone to the nurse but if she went home sick. Her parents would definitely take her to the doctor. She did not want to cost her family a new TV because her chest hurt. She just had to tough it out. She fell asleep at lunch. Yeah, she was starving but at least she had some energy to get through the end of the day. The sound of the dismissal bell was music to her ears. Once again, she was the last one out of her desk.
"Are you alright, Louise? I thought you were faking at first, but you always fly out of here on Friday. Unless you have detention. Which you actually don't today." Ms. Labonz questioned.
"Fine just allergies." Louise lied.
Louise was drenched in sweat and exhausted by the time she made it to the school's exit. Tina and Gene were standing on the steps impatiently waiting for her. She knew her siblings just wanted to get home and she certainly did as well, but she was so tired. She took a seat on the second step down from the door.
"Louise are you OK? You are breathing really hard." Tina asked.
"Just a little out of breath." Louise wheezed.
"Out of breath? From walking to the door? That doesn't sound good." Tina commented.
"I am fine. Just. Just ti…tired." Louise coughed.
"Are you coughing again? Did you get your medicine at lunch?" Tina questioned.
"No I didn't need it." Louise lied.
"Well you need it now. Come on lets get to the nurse." Tina insisted.
"No, I am fine." Louise insisted.
The Belcher children made it about halfway home. Before Louise could not walk anymore. At least Linda had thought to give Tina the emergency phone that morning. She called Linda. Who immediately rushed over to pick her children up. Tina had to help Louise into the backseat. She fell asleep on the short drive with her head resting on Gene's shoulder.
Louise ended up sleeping through the night Friday. Waking only a couple of times to use the bathroom and once to attempt to eat the chicken noodle soup Linda had made for her. She woke Saturday morning feeling somewhat better. She still felt weak and pretty crappy but at least she could walk to the bathroom without getting winded. Bob and Linda decided it would be best to give her the day off from the restaurant. That one came as a huge victory. Yeah, she was feeling terrible but at least she had a free Saturday. A free Saturday all to herself. She spent the morning watching "Hawk and Chick" and "Kuchi Kopi" specials. By lunch time she was feeling pretty bad again. She made herself a sandwich. Before shuffling back off to bed. She was a little winded by the time she got to her room, but still not as bad the previous day. She grabbed the puzzle book Bob had brought her. She turned to the Sudoku section. She had another coughing fit, this time her vision was blurred. She decided that she was just tired, closed her eyes and fell asleep.
"Louise!" Linda called sometime later.
"What?" Louise asked weakly.
"Do you feel up to eating with us?" Linda asked.
"What did you make?" Louise asked.
"Chicken and rice" Linda replied.
"I think I can." Louise replied.
To her surprise Louise actually had some energy. Boy that nap sure had worked wonders. She was still out of breath after walking to the kitchen, but she was not overly tired. Linda gave her a small serving of dinner. Still a little worried that she was sick and not wanting to overwhelm her. She ate her entire plate and even managed to have a slightly smaller plate of seconds. She felt well enough to join the rest of the family for family time. Much to her surprise. Tina, Gene, and Linda actually wanted to watch "Hawk and Chick." They watched two more of the movies and played Monopoly. Louise was in second place when she started feeling weak again.
"I think I am going to go to bed." Louise yawned.
"Oh, come on Louise! is it really that bad I am winning!" Tina snapped.
"I am in second place." Louise reminded before falling into another coughing fit.
"Aw man Louise I am sorry. I forgot you were feeling bad." Tina apologized.
"Apology accepted." Louise sighed.
Louise stumbled back to bed. Once again, the short trek left her out of breath. She found herself having to crawl up the steps of her loft bed. She climbed on her mattress and grabbed Kuchi Kopi. She held him close and closed her eyes. She was getting sick of feeling so bad. She woke up again around four in the morning, desperately needing the bathroom. She could hear Bob and Linda talking as she made her way back to bed. She was beyond exhausted and winded, but she heard her name being mentioned. Curiously she cupped her ear against the wall.
"This is serios Bobby. Louise never sleeps as much as she has the past couple of days. Not even when she was a baby, and she's getting winded just walking around the apartment." Linda explained.
"I know Lin. This is terrifying to me. I think she is really sick." Bob agreed.
"I made an appointment for her with Dr. Francis on Monday. It's at eleven thirty and they said they would work her in earlier if they could. I am just going to keep her home." Linda explained.
"Good she needs it. We have the TV money saved which is lucky. I am just glad we decided not to tell the kids. I would have to have to disappoint them. I mean I am sure they would be understanding but damn I am a little disappointed. No that's terrible. I am scared though." Bob replied.
"I feel the exact same way, Bobby." Linda sighed.
Well, it was official Louise had officially cost her family the new TV. Exhausted and utterly defeated. She struggled back to her room. Once again, she had to force herself up the stairs. She held Kuchi Kopi close and pulled the blanket over her head. She sure was glad that Tina and Gene did not know about the TV. She was sure they would absolutely hate her if they knew the terrible truth.
Louise woke up Sunday morning feeling just awful. Part of it was whatever was going on with her. Whatever was making her chest hurt all the time and making it increasingly harder to breathe, but mainly it was the TV thing. Yeah, it was stupid and immature to be upset about something she never had, but she still felt just awful. It wasn't even Thanksgiving yet and she had single handedly ruined Christmas for her family. The tightness was even worse, and she struggled to sit up, but she knew what she had to do. She had to fake like she was OK. She had to act like she was magically cured overnight. Then Linda would cancel the appointment and they would still get the new TV. She stumbled to the kitchen. Only to find her family had already gone down to the restaurant. She ate a meager breakfast. Before forcing herself downstairs. Technically she was supposed to take the weekend off. Something had been so thrilled about just a day ago. Today, however. She had to make it seem like she was eager to work. She had to fake it until she made it and by made it, she meant made her parents pick the new TV over a doctor's appointment.
Louise made it through the morning by sneaking sips of Linda's coffee and finding any excuse to sit. Lunch time came around. Once again, the family was too loud, and Gene was too obnoxious. She ate half her burger. She was so hungry but everything she had done that morning had drained her of what little energy she had. She rested her head on the table and closed her eyes. She just needed to rest her eyes for a minute. Turns out it was more than a minute. Because the next thing she knew she was back in her bed, in desperate need of the bathroom. She opened her door and to her shock the apartment was completely dark. She drug herself to the bathroom. Just barely making it in time. She flushed the toilet and stumbled to the sink. She was washing her hands. When another coughing fit washed over her body. This was by far the worst one. She could not catch her breath no matter what how hard she tried. She felt something wanting to come up her throat. She cupped her hand over her mouth and tried to run for the toilet. The coughing only got worse and a big glob of something came flying out of her throat. Her entire body trembling she raised her hand to her eyes. Her vision was still pretty blurred, but she could tell. She hadn't thrown up. She had coughed up. She was coughing up. No this wasn't real. She knew she was sick but active little kids did not get sick like this. She used the limited strength she had to let out an ear-piercing scream.
Bob and Linda Belcher were awakened by the sound of their youngest child screaming for help. In a flash they were out of bed and racing to Louise's aide. Linda just a few steps behind Bob, due to her need to get her glasses. It was Bob who flung open the bathroom door and discovered Louise sitting in front of the toilet gasping for air, tears were pouring down her cheeks. Her mouth, chin, and pajamas stained by a red substance. Louise started coughing again and Bob was forced to watch a nightmare play out. Louise covered her moth with her hand and wretched. The horrible liquid was now oozing out from between Louise's fingers.
"Oh my God! No!" Bob cried.
"Bobby? What's going on?" Linda asked.
"It's blood. Louise is coughing up blood. A lot of it. We have to get to the hospital now!" Bob cried struggling not to get sick.