Trixie Chapter 7
Day 5

Alan came in, Don was still sleeping. He went near his bed and saw that the covers had gone halfway to the floor, he picked it up and covered him once more, didn't want to wake him, he put his things down and he went out for a walk in the garden.

He sat down on one of the benches and started reading his paper.

"Hello?"

He did not pay attention and it came again, "Hello Mr. Eppes!" a bit louder.

Alan turned around, 'where are you?" actually he saw her by the big pots, he blue sling was a give away.

Some giggles were heard, "I'm here!"

"Oh there you are. And how are you this morning? Why are you here alone?"

"There's nothing to do, I am so bored. I woke up early and Daddy's gone and I can't see Mommy and Nana's not here yet. Daddy forgot to bring my books, he worried about Mommy, I think. "

'Oh dear' Alan thought,' this is not so right. She's all by herself and she's just a kid!'. So you come here and sit all by yourself?"

"Yes, I was hoping Don would come for me soon. I want to go and see him but he said he will come for me, so I don't want to go and disturb him." Trixie said to the amusement of Alan.

"Oh, I see, Don is still sleeping." And in a quieter tone he said, "I don't think he slept well yesterday, so I left him and let him sleep more."

"He's not sleeping well because of what my daddy did to him?" Trixie asked.

"Come and sit here, I don't want to talk to you so far away."

More giggles and she came over in her pink PJs this time with purple teddy bears and her little blue sling. She really made a colourful little imp.

"Hey, I like your pink PJs." Alan said and helped her to sit next to him.

"Thank you. My daddy bought it for me. Daddy bought for me from China, he said he wanted to give me as part of the birthday presents but because of the accident, I get to wear it now. Its Blue Monday, Pink Tuesday, Yellow Wednesday, Green Thursday, Purple Friday, Orange Saturday and Red Sunday! "She said proudly.

"How do you know if it's Pink Tuesday? And not Orange Tuesday?"

"I've discussed with daddy what colours are for which day. I didn't wear it on Sunday so I started wearing them yesterday. See at the bottom here," she lifted the edge of the PJ top, "I put the numbers here, in case I forget." She giggled.

Alan looked and saw a figure 2, "I see, and its all bears?"

"Yes, I love bears. I have many many bears in my room. Many, Many." She emphasized.

"So what happened yesterday? Besides taking the long way back to your room?"

Trixie looked at Alan and didn't know what to say. Alan quickly said, "Oh its OK, don't have to tell if you feel uncomfortable."

"No, I'm afraid that you'll be angry at me." Trixie said looking at Alan.

"No, no, it's not your fault, it's a misunderstanding." Alan assured her.

"OK" and she went on to tell Alan what had happened from Don taking her back to her room and her dad slamming Don to the wall.

Alan's heart dropped when he heard about Don being slammed into the wall, just like Don not to mention it. He said, "thank you for telling me. "

"You are not angry with me?"

"No, have you eaten your breakfast?"

"No, they don't come so early, yesterday Daddy bought me muffins to eat."

"Oh? Tell you what, you come back with me, I have some muffins in Don's room."

"OK" she said gleefully.

Alan was amused and he said he wanted to talk to the nurse at the nurses' station first.

"Excuse me?" Alan spoke to the nurse at the counter.
"Yes?"
"Trixie …"he turned to her and asked for her room number. Trixie pulled his hand and Alan bend down to her level.

"I'm not supposed to tell, but it Room 308."

"OK,' he straightened up and said to the waiting nurse. "Eh.. Room 308, Trixie? She's with me at Room 588 my son Don Eppes' room. Can you tell her grandmother when she comes that she's with her friend Don?"

"Room 308, Patricia Charmaine Whitney Cameron?"

Alan looked at Trixie and she nodded, Alan said "Yes."

The nurse jotted something in her writing pad and stuck on the notice board behind her and she told Alan, "OK, will let her grandmother know about it."

Alan thanked her and walked with Trixie towards Don's room.

"Umm Patricia Charmaine Whitney eh? So Trixie is your family nick name for you?"

"My mom started calling me Trixie when I was small, so I prefer Trixie to Patricia. Whitney is my mother's surname."

"When you were small, do you think you are big now" Alan asked.

"Yes, Daddy said I'm a big girl now, I must know how to look after myself while he's away. He'll be back soon."

"OK here we are, let's see if Don's awake. Oops! "the door opened just as Alan about to open it.
"Sorry, Mr. Eppes." Clara came out, holding a tray with syringe.

"What's that?"

"Don's fever up a bit and Dr. Stewart ordered an injection for him."

"Oh dear, how high?"

"A bit higher than yesterday." She said, looking pointedly at Trixie.

"Oh, Ok thanks." Alan said nodding.

Trixie pushed the door opened and went to Don's bed but he was not in bed, Alan went near the washroom and pointed that he was inside.

They sat at the couch and Alan took the bag of muffins and a piece of tissue and handed one to her.

He said, "Sit here and eat with Don. I go and get something. OK?"

"OK, thank you Mr.Eppes."

"You're welcome, Trixie."

Alan went out and the bathroom door opened.
Don was coming out of the bathroom with a towel wiping his head with his right hand. He felt good for he had managed to shave with one hand and he was not scruffy looking anymore. He left his shirt on his bed, taking off was easy but putting back was another matter,
He needed his dad to help him.

He also managed to give himself a good wipe with a wet towel.
He felt better and his body is not so hot anymore. The jab had help plus the cold wipe.

He didn't see Trixie sitting on the couch and suddenly he heard giggling, he turned and saw Trixie sitting on the couch eating.

He squint his eyes and looked at her and said, "Who's been sitting on my couch."

She didn't say anything but started giggling.

"And who's been eating my muffins and I see you, I will come and tickle you to death!" Don made a threatening step towards her, one hand whirling his towel in the air and the other held against his stomach, "Haw Haw Haw and here I come!"

Trixie quickly put down her muffin and screamed then laughed as she crawled to the edge of the couch.

He took another step and Trixie gave another loud scream.

"Sh shhhh shhhh." Don suddenly stopped, he didn't want another incident.

He whispered,"Trixie, shh shh…, the nurses are coming!"

Don put a finger to his lips, stopped his 'attack', went to his bed to retrieve his sweat shirt, and draped it round his shoulder.

He went to the couch and sat beside her, "How are you this morning?"

"Umm OK. You?"
"Umm OK. Can I trouble you to help me?" Don asked her.

"No problem. Yes, I can help you put your shirt on?"

"Smart Aleck, ain't you?" Don said and handed her the shirt.
"Help me put my left hand inside; it's a bit stiff because of the shoulder."
Trixie was smart, she took hold of the left sleeve, she stuck her hand inside the sleeve and came out near the collar and she said, "Take my hand."

tbc