Jamie awoke to the sensation of someone shaking him and he sat up on the couch, not sure of where he was or who was trying to awaken him at first.
"Jamie. Son, wake up."
"Huh? Dad?"
"Jamie, wake up."
Jamie opened his eyes and then pushed his glasses back into position on his nose. Immediately the image of his father popped into focus.
"Dad? What's wrong?"
"I don't know son. Now, don't be scared."
Jamie looked at his father who was now wearing a heavy sweatshirt and still shaking despite the hot humid summer night. His face seemed pale and his forehead was covered in sweat.
"Dad, what's wrong?" Jamie asked him again, his voice quavering a little even to his own ears.
"Son," Joe began, "I need you to do something very important, okay?"
"What?"
"I don't think this is a summer cold. I thought it was and I thought I could shake it, but I now know that I can't. And, I just checked on Philip and he isn't getting any better. Now, I need you to listen to me and do exactly what I say, okay?"
"Yeah," Jamie nodded.
He then waited patiently until his father coughed a few times.
Joe handed him the keys to Amanda's Jeep.
"Do you remember how to get to the store out at the main highway?"
Jamie thought for a minute.
"You go back the dirt road and when you come to the fork, you go left?"
Joe nodded and then coughed again.
"Right. Once you go left, you stay on that dirt road. You need to follow it all the way out to the main highway. The convenience store is right there. Now, I need for you to go inside and ask them about getting a doctor to come down here. The people that own that store are good people, so don't be afraid of them, son."
"In the middle of the night? Are they still open?"
Joe frowned. "I can't remember if they're a twenty-four hour store or not. But, if not, there's a pay phone. Dial the operator and tell her where you are and ask her to help you get a doctor. Tell them it's an emergency."
"Dad, are you going to be okay?"
Joe nodded.
"I will be. But I think Philip may be getting pneumonia or something and I can't drive Jamie. I'm too dizzy to even stand up for very long. I can't take the chance of trying to drive you fellows back out there without passing out at the wheel."
"I guess I can do that. Won't Mom be mad if she finds out I'm driving her car?"
Joe gave him a weak smile.
"Trust me, your Mom won't say anything except that she's proud of you for looking out for us. Now, just drive slow, keep your lights on and you'll do fine. The road's curvy, but if you take it slow, you can do it Jamie, I know you can. Just put it into drive and go slow. And remember, when you get to the store, put it into park first, then, shut the engine off. And don't lock the keys inside."
Jamie looked at his father and for a moment, tears seemed to tickle his eyes and threaten to spill. But, with another look at his father's glazed eyes and pale face, he knew that he was being counted on and this was really important.
Jamie reached over and hugged his dad tightly.
"I can do this. I love you Dad."
"I love you too, Jamie. Now, get going and be careful."
Jamie stood up and ran to grab his shoes. Then, after one more hug, he made his way out to his mother's vehicle.
He took a very deep breath before he climbed in and then, after he had slid the key into the ignition, he said a quick prayer.