The car ride was silent. Kasey had all sorts of questions she wanted to ask Calvin, but she had to wait until he came home on Thursday. She tried to make her heart stop pounding so much by singing songs in her head. It wasn't working.

Instead of turning onto the road Kasey and Susie lived on, Janey drove past it. When Susie looked at her, puzzled, Janey had a smirk on her face.

"You girls were very brave. Let's celebrate." She pulled into a local Baskin Robbin's. "Ice cream for everyone!"

Kasey perked up, although she didn't like how often Janey kept bringing up bravery. Especially since she wasn't scared.

"None for me, thanks," Susie said quietly. She folded her hands in her lap and looked down.

"Susie," Janey said seriously, "You need something to make you happy or else you're going to spend three days worrying until Calvin gets home. Now let's think about you for a second. Are you going to have ice cream or not?"

Susie's eyes searched around the floor for nothing. "Ok…" she mumbled, "But…but can I stay in here? In the car?"

"Sure, honey, I'll get you something strawberry." That was Susie's favorite. "Come along Kasey."

Kasey followed Janey with a smile on her face. She was looking forward to ice cream.

When Kasey was licking her ice cream and Janey was holding Susie's, they headed out to the car. But before Janey reached the Baskin Robbin's exit, she stopped.

"Maybe you should eat your ice cream in here, dear."

She scowled. "Why? I want to see Mom and go home."

"Your-your mom wants to be alone right now. I'll go give her ice cream to her and you stay here and eat, ok?"

"But…"

Janey looked at Kasey seriously. "Kasey, stay here." Then she went out to the car.

Kasey did as she was told, still confused. She looked out the window and ate her ice cream. The cashier looked at her suspiciously, as if this was all some elaborate plan to rob the ice cream store. They were probably trained to be suspicious of everyone.

"Little girl, where did your Mommy go?" he said.

Kasey glared at the cashier. "For your information, the woman in here previously wasn't my mother. My mom is in the car. When I'm done eating my ice cream I will join them."

The cashier laughed. "Ok hun, you finish your ice cream."

She did, and when she exited the store she was surprised to see Susie's face buried in Janey's shoulder. Janey saw Kasey and let go of Susie. Kasey frowned and got in the car, feeling as if Janey and her mom were keeping secrets from her. She didn't like not knowing what was going on.

When the car was pulled into their driveway, Susie grabbed her wallet to give Janey some money for gas and ice cream.

"Don't even think about," Janey said seriously with a smile, "I won't accept it."

Susie cracked a small half-smile and put her wallet away. She summoned Kasey, who followed, and unlocked the door.

The house seemed empty and cold.

Susie slapped her forehead. "How am I going to make dinner now? I totally forgot to pick up any food!" She crouched down to Kasey, tears forming. "I'm sorry, sweetheart, I don't know what we're going to eat."

Seeing her own mother cry made Kasey awkward and she stiffened. "We have other food in the house. I can just make myself a sandwich." Her stomach grumbled. She hadn't been hungry at the hospital, but now she was starving. Honestly, she didn't mind there wasn't going to be an official dinner, and didn't understand why her mom was getting so upset.

Susie left her in the entryway to go to her bedroom. Kasey decided to watch TV. Or maybe read. Or draw. Actually, she wasn't sure was she was doing. She ended up sitting on the couch not doing anything for a long time. She had a book in one hand, a pencil in the other, and the TV was blank. The thoughts from the hospital were running through her mind, making her uneasy. Kasey thought that sitting around doing nothing wasn't helping and, although she was hungry, went to her bedroom instead of eating.

Unfortuntely, Hobbes was sitting on her bed looking chipper, which made Kasey irritable. She didn't want to look at happiness. But sadness made her more uncomfortable. She didn't know what she wanted, but didn't dare say it.

"Hello, Kasey. What's wrong?" Hobbes noticed his new friend's sullen expression and frowned.

Kasey crossed her arms and frowned. "Nothing," she said quickly.

Hobbes raised an eyebrow. "Nothing?"

"Nothing." Kasey was being stubborn. Only little kids freaked out when something bad happened. Big kids just take it. Right? Her friends never talked about anything bad that's happened to them, and neither do adults. So why shouldn't she?

"Something happened. I'm going to keep bugging you about it until you tell me." Hobbes knew something was off about Kasey. He had only known her since today, but she acted a lot like Calvin. This morning she was excited and eagar to talk. Now, Kasey wouldn't even look Hobbes in the eye. This wasn't like her, he could tell.

Kasey sighed through her nose and stared at the floor. He would keep bugging her, she knew, so she might as well tell him. "Dad was in a car accident." She spoke quietly, in a low tone, hoping Hobbes wouldn't hear but not ask again.

His eyes widened. "Oh my gosh. Is he ok?"

"Yeah," Kasey replied not looking up, "He just broke his leg. He'll be home Thursday."

Hobbes wasn't convinced Kasey was telling him everything. "Are you ok?"

Kasey froze for a second, then looked Hobbes in the eyes again. No one had asked her that yet, except Janey, but she had asked her mom first. Hobbes asked her first, instead of asking how Susie was doing. He cared, which made her happier. But she couldn't tell him that. Because she wasn't scared. She was happy. Kind of.

She threw her hands up, angry. "Everyone's asking me that! Of course I'm ok! Why wouldn't I be? He just broke his leg! It's not like my dad is dying or anything! Why shouldn't I be ok?" She plopped down on her bed so hard she and Hobbes both bounced. She crossed her arms again and scowled hard.

"Because it's scary," Hobbes said quietly, "Parents getting hurt is scary."

Kasey glared at Hobbes. "Maybe to you. You're a little kid. I'm not!" The angrier she got, the more tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn't cry. Not in front of Hobbes. Kasey kept blinking and stopped talking so her tears stopped.

Hobbes noticed the tears and didn't try to convince Kasey she was a little kid. "Your dad will be ok. I promise." He smiled at her. He was so caring, and Kasey knew she would start crying if she let him try and comfort her anymore. She stood up sharply.

"I don't need your sympathy! I can take care of myself!" Then she huffed out of her room, but not before she saw the hurt in Hobbes' eyes. She started regretting her anger, Hobbes was only trying to help. No, she thought, I don't need his help. I can work through this like Mom is.

As she was heading downstairs to see what Susie was doing, the doorbell rang. She jumped. She never jumped when the doorbell rang. Kasey got angry at herself again. Why am I so jumpy all of a sudden? I'm fine, I'm fine…

"Hello dear," Janey said with a smiling face as Kasey opened the door. Kasey smiled back to make sure Janey didn't suspect anything. Janey lifted up the bags she was holding. "I brought food!"

Susie appeared in her bedroom doorway. Her eyes were red-rimmed, but she smiled with delight when she saw what Janey had brought.

"Janey!" she cried, "You didn't have to do all this!" She run up and hugged her friend.

Kasey raised an eyebrow. "Yes she did! How else would we have gotten—"

"Shhh! Kasey!" Susie whispered harshly and looked angrily at her daughter, who got the hint, and shushed up. Then Susie turned back to Janey. "It's extremely kind of you to do this. How can I ever repay you?"

"How about you don't," Janey said, "This is my treat. Now let's start eating before this little one starves to death!" She and Susie both chuckled and walked into the kitchen to lay out the food.

Little one. The words rung in Kasey's ears and she frowned. I'll show them. I'll show them all. I'm not little one. No, I can do this. I won't break down like a little child. I'll be strong for Mom. For Dad. I'll prove Hobbes wrong!

But as she thought those words, hospital memories came flooding back and her heart beat faster. She felt sick. She thought of doctors running. All those doctors, saving lives. They can't save everyone. What if they didn't save Calvin? What if something went wrong? What if Calvin caught one of those deadly diseases in the hospital? What if he can't come home Thursday? The smell of the hospital filled Kasey's nose and she grabbed her stomach.

Janey exited the kitchen and found Kasey. "Are you ok, honey? You look terrible." She put her hand on Kasey's forehead. "You're sweating. What's the matter?"

Susie heard Janey. "Kasey? What's wrong?"

Kasey didn't answer, she just ran to the bathroom. Standing above the toilet, she heaved. Nothing came out.

Janey looked at the worried Susie. "She's just scared. The hospital is new for her. I'm sure she'll be fine, she just needs rest. And so do you. How about I stay here for awhile? I'll clean and cook and take care of Kasey. You rest, ok?"

Susie was about to argue, but couldn't. Janey was right. "Ok. You can stay here till Calvin gets home."

Janey shook her head. "I'll stay here until you and Kasey are both stable again. It could be longer than just a couple days."

"But—"

"Susie…"

"Ok…you can stay…"

"Good. I'll be back later. I need to go get my things. I'll only be a few." Then she left.

Susie went back to eating, though she wasn't hungry. But she needed food, so she kept eating.

After it was clear she wasn't going to throw up, Kasey went back to her room. Hobbes was waiting for her on her desk chair, but kept silent. She sat on her bed. Her hands were shaking. She breathed harder and slower, trying to get her heart to slow down. Trying to get her hands to stop shaking so much. It wasn't working. She put her head in her hands and kept breathing hard.

Hobbes watched her, knowing any words he said would only induce anger. So he just got up and sat next to her in her bed. He lifted his fuzzy arm and put it around Kasey's shoulder.

For a second, Kasey embraced Hobbes and sniffled. Then she realized what she was doing and shoved him off.

"I'm fine," she mumbled, "I'm fine."