Because his temperature was so high and the machines were doing the breathing for him, Simon was placed on life support. He still hadn't come out of his coma and his cheeks were a little more flushed than before. Sweat drenched his face. His temperature managed to stay at 109 for about an hour, yet his breathing had not gone back to normal and he still couldn't hear anyone or anything.

Dave was sitting next to Simon, holding the child's hand. He wanted to feel a squeeze or something. Simon had been in a coma for two days already. What if he never woke up? Dave shook that thought out of his head. He told Alvin himself that they had to think positive.

Hollie quietly entered the room to take Simon's temperature. Simon's temperature had gone down, but only one degree. How long was it going to take before it went back to normal? There were just so many things that Simon hadn't gotten to do in his life.


At the Miller residence, Brittany was sitting on her bed in the girls' room. Miss Miller had told her to stay there and think about what she had said for awhile. Tears flowed down her face. How was she supposed to know that what she said would get her in trouble? The bedroom door slowly opened and Miss Miller walked inside.

"Brittany, are you ready to come down and apologize to everyone?" said Miss Miller.

At first Brittany couldn't answer. She wiped away the tears that flowed down her face.

"Brittany?" said Miss Miller.

Brittany let out a deep breath. "Yeah, I'm ready" she said quietly.

"And I hope you never say anything like you did ever again. I understand that you want to look cute, but some things are more important and Simon's life is one of those important things" Miss Miller said.

Brittany just sat there quietly for awhile. "Am I punished for what I said?" she asked.

"I have to say that you are. No TV or telephone privileges for one week" said Miss Miller.

"So what am I supposed to do for one whole week?" asked Brittany.

"We have books; read. Now, let's go" Miss Miller said as she stood up.

Brittany sighed and stood up. Then followed Miss Miller out of the girls' room.


Alvin, Theodore, and Brittany's sisters were downstairs watching TV when they noticed Miss Miller and Brittany. Jeanette shut off the TV.

"Kids, Brittany has something to say to you" said Miss Miller. She looked down at Brittany. "Don't you?"

Brittany was silent as she stepped forward. The other kids just looked at her with their arms folded.

"Look everyone, I'm sorry for what I said today. I wanted my hair done so badly that I didn't think about what was important" said Brittany.

"It wasn't just us you hurt, Brittany" said Eleanor.

"You hurt Dave's feelings too and he was already miserable" Alvin said.

"Well Brittany, you better be glad tomorrow's Saturday" said Miss Miller.

"Why?" Brittany asked.

"Because we're going back to visit Simon and if David is there before we are, you going to apologize to him yourself" said Miss Miller.

Brittany sighed. That sounded fair.

"Now back up to your room, young lady. Dinner will be ready in about 10 minutes" said Miss Miller.

Brittany made her way back upstairs like she was told. She went to her room, where she helped herself to a magazine. She had read it before, but what else was there to do? She was grounded.


Dave looked at his watch. It was getting late and it was about time to pick Alvin and Theodore up from Miss Miller's.

Before leaving, Dave turned to Simon. The child's condition had not improved and his temperature had gone back up to 109.

"Hang in there Simon, you'll feel better soon" Dave said quietly. Then he left the room and gently closed the door behind him.


Miss Miller and the kids were eating dinner when the doorbell rang. Miss Miller got up to answer it. Dave was on the other side.

"Come on in, David" said Miss Miller.

Dave stepped inside.

"I take it Simon's not feeling any better" Miss Miller said.

Dave looked at her. "How did you guess?" he asked.

"I could see it in your eyes" Miss Miller said.

Dave sighed. "What am I going to do, Beatrice? Simon's entering his third day of his coma. If he doesn't wake up soon, I may as well face the facts" he said.

"What facts?" asked Miss Miller.

"That Simon is going to die" answered Dave.

"Listen to me, David. Don't talk like that. Simon isn't going to die" said Miss Miller.

"But how do we know that?" Dave asked.

Miss Miller didn't know how to answer. The two of them then noticed Brittany entering the room.

"Hi, Brittany" said Dave.

"Hi, Dave" Brittany said in a low voice.

Dave knew that voice. "Is there something wrong?" he asked gently.

Brittany let out a deep breath. "I wanted to apologize for what I said today" she said.

"Thanks Brittany, but it's no big deal" Dave said, his voice still gentle.

"You mean you're not mad at me?" Brittany asked.

"Of course not. I know you didn't mean it. You have a bigger heart than that" said Dave.

Brittany smiled. Dave was so understanding.

"Thank you, Brittany. That was very polite of you" said Miss Miller.


AN: Hey everyone. Sorry for the long wait. I lost my flow for a good while and it's slowly starting to come back. So what did you think of this chapter? Review and let me know and please nothing negative. By the way, with my flow starting to come back, my other stories should be updated real soon.