Slowly Mary started to wake up. And with it came the coughing. "Here drink this it will help." And a glass of water was handed to her. Very slowly she pulled herself into a sitting position and drank a little of the water. "You'se gonna wanna drink more than that."
Mary looked up to the voice that spoke and saw it was that boy again. The one who talked to her in the alley, Spot she thought. He didn't seem to want to hurt her so she went a head and drank more of the water. It felt very refreshing as it went Mary's dry throat. She handed the glass back and just looked straight ahead, not knowing what to say or do.
Finally she plucked enough courage to speak, when she started to cough again. Immediately Spot was on the bed next to her trying to help. Luckily the coughing fit wasn't as bad as before so slowly Mary quit coughing.
"Are you'se okay?"
"Yeah, thanks."
"You'se ran away didn't you'se?"
At the question Mary looked down into her lap and quietly said, "Yeah." Mary didn't want to seem like a bad person because she had.
"I thought so," replied Spot. He figured that she had when she tried to sleep in a doorway in the middle of winter. Taking a shot in the dark he asked, "Someone was hurting you weren't they." Knowing that was one of the biggest reasons people ran away for.
Mary quickly looked up at this. How could this boy possible know why she left. "Yes, my uncle hurt me."
"Most people run because of that." Spot could tell by her face that she was surprised and scared by his comments. Trying to make her feel comfortable he gave her a little smile. "Its okay, you'se safe here now."
Before Mary could response the door to the room opened up to reveal Thomas walking in with another envelop in his hand. "I see our guest is up. Spot why didn't you come and get me when she first woke up. Never mind, please go fill the glass up with more water."
Spot knew Thomas was not scolding him. They were very close and out all of the boys in the Brooklyn lodge house, Thomas treated the leader like a younger brother and was the only one aloud to talk to him like that. Just the same he quickly got up and took the glass to refill it.
"Now young lady how are you feeling?"
"Better sir." And Mary started to cough again but quickly stopped.
"And the coughing is it as bad as before."
"No sir." Thomas put his hand to her head to feel for a fever.
"Well that is good. It would also seem that your fever is down. Well wouldn't hurt to take some more medicine. And soon maybe we can get some food in you."
Spot walked in at Thomas' last comments. He immediately gave the glass to Thomas who poured more powder from the envelop into the water. Then he handed it to Mary. "Drink this like before and then get some more rest. Spot you gonna stay here?"
Mary took the glass and started to drink the liquid down. Once finished she handed the glass back to Spot who had moved back to his chair by the bed. "Yea, Thomas I'se gonna stay here. Tiger is looking out for the boys till Mary here gets better."
Thomas just nodded at Spot before walking back out of the room and closing the door. Mary looked over at Spot as he sat down in the chair. "You'se don't have to stay with me. If you'se need to do something then you can."
Smiling, "Nah it's okay. I want to make sure you'se okay. Now you should rest like Thomas said. I'se be here when you'se wake up again."
Mary nodded and closed her eyes and the medicine took affect. She drifted off into a peaceful sleep.