Chapter 13
It was another week before the doctors were assured that there was no trace of the virus left in Ralph's system and would let him out of the isolation chamber. He was still weak and had to walk slowly. He had lost weight and looked even thinner than his usual lean build. As he passed people in the hall, they all told him how happy they were to see him back up and improving. He wanted to go home, but the doctors didn't want him to fly yet. So Pam drove the car to the Hero compound and picked him up. They drove home, and Ralph was so happy to see their house, remembering how he thought he would never see it again.
A box had arrived at the house while he was recuperating. It was from Chile. Many cards and small packages from around the world were also addressed to him. He opened the box from Chile first.
Pam said, "I didn't open anything because I knew you would want to when you got home."
He opened the box full of homemade 'Get Well" cards and drawings from Jose and Enez's children, Maria and the other children from San Miguel. There were Spanish villagers' letters thanking him for saving their homes. Suit had to translate the letters for him. Ralph said, "I am definitely learning Spanish."
He opened all the other cards and packages containing even more cards from the children attending the Ruby Corporation schools for Hero children worldwide. He was in tears by the time he got through them all, not believing the children he had never met would do this. He vowed to make trips where possible to visit the children from all the schools.
Pam told him, "All the children have heard the story of the 'First' and how he saved the world from invasion. To them, you are the ultimate Hero."
"I got that from Jose's children. It was adorable how they reacted to me. I had no idea," Ralph declared.
"Think about it, Ralph; you now have saved the world twice that they know about. No other Hero has done that. We have all contributed but not to the extent you have, by selflessly almost giving your life each time. You are the Hero they look up to and want to be like. If you watch the children at the Hero compound, they argue over who gets to be the First and save the world in their school ground games."
"They do?" he said, surprised. "I will have to pay more attention, especially now that we will have a child there in a few years. I feel bad for not thinking about observing the children more closely. I am always so busy organizing the education programs and the teachers' training that I still need to get to that level. And that is the most critical level. I told Jose's kids I was their principal, and they seemed impressed. I'll have to start visiting schools and areas as the principal to show that I care about all the children."
"Just like the old days, eh?" Pam reminisced.
"Yes, just like the old days," Ralph agreed.
The End