Chapter 17

That afternoon I went home and slept for what seemed like weeks when it was only a couple of hours. When I woke up, I had a terrible headache, my nose was stopped up, and my throat hurt. 'I can't be getting sick' I thought, 'not before Thanksgiving.' Thanksgiving was only a couple of days away. I slowly dragged myself out of bed. To my surprise, the gang wasn't in the living room. There was only Soda and Davanee. Darry was in the kitchen making dinner.
"It's about time you got up. You sleep good?" asked Darry.

"No, not really. I don't feel good."

"You're not running a fever, are you?" asked Darry.

"I dunno. I just got up."

Darry handed me the thermometer from the medicine cabinet. I stuck it in my mouth and waited for a little while.

"102" I read aloud.

"Maybe you should go back to bed so you don't get everyone else sick" suggested Darry.

"Ok. You guys mind watching her for a little while longer?" I asked.

"Not at all. Now go back to bed before you get Davanee sick. We can handle you being sick but we can't handle you and Davanee being sick at the same time" said Darry. He did have a point. I would love to see those two handle a sick baby. So I went back to bed and slept the rest of the night. But of course, Davanee started crying around 3 or 4. I was about to get up but Soda stopped me.

"You stay here. You're sick. I'll get her."

I said "thanks Soda" and went right back to sleep. I didn't wake up till ten the next. Unfortunately, I felt much worse. Not only was my nose stopped up and my head and throat hurt but I was coughing, I was tired, and everything hurt. But, I still had to get out of bed.

As usual, Darry was cooking breakfast in the kitchen while the rest of the gang was in the living room.

"You feelin' any better?" asked Darry.

"No. I'm feelin' worse."

"I called the doctor. You have an appointment today at 2. Soda's gonna take you."

"Doesn't he hafta work today?"

"Not today" replied Soda from the living room, "I have the day off."

I just shrugged and went back to my room. I climbed back in bed. For some reason, I was freezing cold. I slept for most of the day, that is until Soda came in and woke me up so I could get ready for my doctor's appointment.

Getting a shower felt really good. Getting a shower always feels good when your sick and it helps. I pulled on some clothes, shoes, and waited for Soda in the living room. I brushed my hair but I didn't bother putting grease in it.

"Hey soda" I called, or at least I tried to call.

"What?" asked Soda.

"Where's Davanee?"
"Oh, Johnny and Two-bit are watching her until we get back."

"You let Two-bit watch her? Are you crazy?"

"It's just for an hour. Besides, it's not like it's just Two-bit who's watching her. Johnny's watchin' her too." That did make me feel a little bit better.

About ten minutes later, Soda and I where on our way to the doctor's office. It's kinda funny that Davanee and I have the same doctor. We waited in the waiting room for what seemed like forever, amongst all the little kids and their runny noses.

"Ponyboy Curtis?" asked the nurse.

"That's me" I said, getting up. Soda and I followed the nurse back to an exam room. We waited even longer for Dr. Irene. I started to think that she would never come until finally I saw the door handle move slightly.

"Ponyboy" said Dr. Irene, "it's been a while. How are things going?"

"Fine I guess. I'm sick but Davanee's ok."

"I guess that would explain why you're here. What's the problem?"

"I dunno really. I went to go take a nap yesterday and when I woke up I was running a fever. So I went back to bed and when I woke up this morning I felt worse. It's like headache, stomachache, soar throat, really tired, weak. Stuff like that."

"Sounds like the flu but let's take your temperature first." Dr. Irene stuck the thermometer in my mouth. We waited a couple minutes until she took the thermometer out.

"101" she said, "I'm going to write a prescription for an anti-biotic. This should go away in about 2 weeks."

"2 weeks? I can't be sick for two weeks. Thanksgiving is in a week. I got a kid to take care of."

"Well, I'm sure your brothers can handle things for a couple of days. Besides, you should be better by thanksgiving. Now your suppose to take this medicine every four hours. And don't take it on an empty stomach, it'll just make you even more sick. Now, if you don't mind, I have many more sick children to attend to today."

"That's ok, we understand. It's cold and flu season" I said, wiping my nose with a tissue.

"The worst season" said Dr. Irene, leaving the room

Soda and I went straight home. He was going to hang out with Steve for the rest of the day and I was going to bed.

I slept for what seemed like days when it was really just a couple of hours. Darry woke me up around 7. He brought me soup and that antibiotic the doctor prescribed. The medicine made me really sleepy so of course I fell back asleep. Surprisingly, I didn't wake up during the night but on a less positive note, Darry made me stay in bed all day. I'm not one of those kids who can sit at home all day in front of the TV. I have to be up and doing something.

"You can read" suggested Darry.

"Read what? There's nothing here" I said, crossing my arms, a bit angry. I think that was more the fever talking then me.

"Well, you're smart. I'm sure you'll find something. Now, I'm not gonna be home till late but if you need anything, you can call Soda at the DX, ok?"

"Ok. Who's watching Davanee?"

"Soda took her to work today and he said he'd watch her after he got home too. I gotta go or else I'm gonna be late."

"Ok, bye."

"Bye."

I could hear the front door shut. After that, the house was silent. It was never this quiet at the our house and quiet frankly, I liked it. It was nice to not have the gang over making a lot of noise. Not that I didn't like the gang or anything it's just that it was a nice change for things to be so quiet.

I didn't really do much that day. I mean, how much can a sick person do? I mostly read books all day. Fun, I know.

Soda and Davanee came home around 6:30.

"How ya feelin?" asked Soda, changing out of his work clothes.

"Sick" I replied, "how was work?"

"Fine. Your daughter was a bit of a handful today."

"Why? What'd she do?"

"Nothing really just got into stuff."

"What stuff?"

"For instance, she broke one of the Coke bottles in the front of the store. I picked up the glass before she got hurt" said Soda, pulling on a clean shirt.

"Well, that's good. I mean it's good that she didn't get hurt but bad that she broke the bottle" I said.

"It's ok. We've got more than enough Cokes." Soda seemed a bit distraught that night, like something was bothering.

"Are you ok?" I asked.

"Yeah fine." At first I believed him but then something clicked. I remember him telling me a couple of days ago about Sandy being pregnant.

"Did you hear from Sandy today?"

"Yeah, she stopped by."

I waited for him to say more but he fell silent.

"Well, what'd she say?"

"She said her parents are thinking about sending her to Florida since she won't get an abortion. She said that her parents didn't want her to see me again. I can't stand not being around her." Just then, Davanee started crying. Soda had left her in her crib before he changed out of his work clothes.

"I'll get her" he said, walking out of the room. I could hear him talking to Davanee softly in the other room. I couldn't help but think that, if this baby is his, he would be a good dad. He seemed to be doing ok with Davanee and he was always careful with her.

I fell asleep before Darry came home that night. I woke up around 1 that night. I had another nightmare, but this time I remembered it. I dreamt that Jamie had come back and she tried to take Davanee away from me. She didn't want me to see Davanee again. I woke up in a cold sweat. 'It was just a dream' I thought to myself. But it seemed so real that I had to go in and check on Davanee.

She was sound as sleep in her crib with her Mickey mouse blanket and teddy bear.

"What are you doing up?" asked Darry from behind me. The sound of his voice made me jump slightly.

"I had a nightmare and I had to come and check on her. I actually remembered it this time. I dreamt her mom came back and tried to take her away."

"Well, she's safe and sound in her crib. How ya feelin'?"

"Better" I replied. Spending a whole day in bed helped.

"Good. Maybe you'll be better by thanksgiving after all." I smiled at the thought. I didn't want to miss Davanee's first thanksgiving.

I said goodnight to Darry and went to bed. To my surprise, I woke up early the next morning. I didn't feel too terrible but I still didn't feel all that great. But Darry sent me right back to my room. I had a fever of 100. I swear, if I had to stay in that room one more day I was going to die. You can only be cooped up in one room for so long.