The news that Louise had at least maintained bowel control was welcome positivity in a sea of difficulty. Another bright spot was her being accepted into a rehab facility in Bog Harbor. Said facility was relatively new and currently only able to host five patients at a time. Previously the closest spot was in Trenton and that would mean a two-to-three-hour drive. Bog Harbor was only forty-five or so minutes away. The one downside was that due to construction. They could only lodge three families and all the rooms were occupied. Thankfully, Teddy's hotel offers still stood. They were only expecting Louise to have to stay for a few days. Mainly she just needed to learn how to operate her own wheelchair, transfer herself, and a few other new life management skills. Louise had pretty good upper body strength. The overall training was not expected to take long. Which was more welcome news because she could not wait to get home.

Louise was unceremoniously released from the hospital and transferred to the rehab center shortly after lunch on Thursday afternoon. Tina and Gene were not present but only because Louise wanted it that way. It was a hard pill for Linda to swallow but Bob was more understanding. As much as she loved and depended on her siblings. Louise was still struggling to accept her injury. He knew even though she wouldn't admit it. She was embarrassed by her condition. He hated the shame on her face when the nurses changed her catheter or cleaned her up after an accident.

"Are you sure you don't want your siblings here? It's going to take a while to get you checked out. I can run get them real fast and make it back." Linda offered.

"Oh yeah because I am sure they will be so disappointed they missed watching their crippled sister be moved to a different even more boring hospital! Seriously even school would be better than this." Louise scoffed.

"Louise, I cannot imagine how hard this must be for you, but you really need to let people in. I agree it's best to keep Tina and Gene in school today, but you are going to have to let them and us in eventually." Bob explained.

"Wh… What if they don't want to let me in?" Louise questioned.

"What do you mean?" Linda asked.

"Oh, come on! I can't use my legs! Their lives are going to be even harder because of me." Louise sniffed.

"Louise, Tina and Gene love you more than anything and they are worried sick about you." Linda assured.

"And yes, things are going to be harder now, but we are going to get through it together." Bob added.

"Alright! You are all ready to be transferred! The van is waiting downstairs!" A nurse called in an overly cheerful voice as she wheeled a wheelchair into the room.

"OK" Louise muttered.

"Do you want me to lift you into your chair or do you want one of your parents to help you?" Sheila asked.

"My dad" Louise whispered.

Bob had lifted Louise numerous times in the past week. The nurses had shown Linda and him sometime during the previous weekend. Tina had learned too but Gene was afraid to lift his sister. While Louise could and should transfer herself as much as possible. It was important that the rest of the family knew how to safely lift her as well, in case of an emergency. He had done it several times now, but this time felt different. Soon they would be leaving the hospital. Even if Louise had to go to the rehab center for a few days. It was still one step closer to home. One step closer to normal. Whatever that may be now. Bob carefully placed Louise in the bulky hospital wheelchair. Louise also insisted that he push her to the waiting van as well. Upon arriving outside the van driver opened the door and pressed a button. A metal contraption lowered to the ground. The driver instructed Bob to roll Louise onto the platform. He pressed another button and the lift closed and the raised off the ground. The driver strapped Louise's chair to the ground and then strapped her in.

"You want me to let her out and have you buckle her up? It'll make it easier if you know exactly what to do when you get your own van." The driver offered.

"We won't be getting an accessible van. At least not right now." Linda sighed.

"We want to make everything as easy as possible for Louise but unfortunately, we can't afford a new vehicle right now. We are just glad Louise can transfer and support herself." Bob added.

At Louise's insistence Bob and Linda returned home for the weekend. Friday night the family minus Louise sat around the kitchen table. Meals and everything else were woefully quiet without Louise. It didn't help that Tina and Gene were barely speaking. Every once in a while, Linda would try to engage the family in conversation, but nobody was biting. After a while she finally gave up.

"Is Chloe Barbash going to go to jail?" Gene asked out of the blue.

"Most likely not. Your mom and I are suing for damages, but we are not wanting to press criminal charges at this time." Bob explained.

"Why the hell not?! Louise is paralyzed!" Tina snapped.

"I know but Chloe is just a child herself." Bob reminded.

"So, what is going to happen?" Gene asked.

"We are going to push for Chloe to have some counseling. Our lawyer wants a restraining order but that's tricky since there is only one fourth grade class." Linda explained.

"Louise is coming back to Wagstaff?" Tina asked.

"Yeah. Why wouldn't she?" Bob questioned.

"Because Wagstaff is not exactly accessible. There's no ramp, there's only one bathroom on each floor and Benj says they use the elevator for storage." Gene commented.

"Huh I never noticed any of that before. God, that's awful." Bob gasped.

Jessica lay in the fetal position on her bed, tears pouring down her cheeks. She wondered if the pain in her stomach was ever going to go away. It was unbearable. She couldn't eat, she couldn't sleep. The pain was horrific. It was the worst thing she had ever endured.

"Jessica? Are you hungry?" Her mom asked.

"No" Jessica whimpered.

"Is your stomach still hurting?" Her dad questioned.

"Yes" Jessica replied.

"I think we need to go to the hospital." Her mom declared.

"Please no" Jessica pleaded.

"Jessica, it has been a week and a half. You are barely eating you have already lost weight. This could be serious. We put it off because we know you hate hospitals but it's time." Her dad insisted.

"It's not because I am afraid of the hospital. It's because I deserve this." Jessica sobbed.

"Why on Earth would you think that you deserve to be sick?" Her mom gasped.

"Because I did something terrible!" Jessica sobbed.

"What did you do?" Her dad asked.

"I betrayed Louise." Jessica sniffed.

"How on Earth did you betray Louise?" Her dad asked.

"Her accident." Jessica sobbed.

"What about it? Ms. Labonz said you were on the other side of the jungle gym when she fell." Her dad recalled.

"I saw what happened! What really happened! I was going to come forward, but she intimidated me, and I chickened out!" Jessica sobbed.

"Who?" Her mom asked.

"Chloe Barbash!" Jessica sobbed.

"Why on Earth would Chloe intimidate you?" Her dad questioned.

"Yeah, she's a very sweet girl." Her mom commented.

"No, she isn't!" Jessica cried.

"What do you mean?" Her mom asked.

"Because she is the one who made Louise fall." Jessica sobbed.

"What do you mean?" Her mom asked.

"Lou… Louise was on… was on the monkey b… bars. She… she wa… was do… doing the… the dead… the dead man's drop. And Chloe… And Chloe. She… she grabbed Louise's hat. I don't know if she pulled too hard or… or if it startled Louise but she… she fell." Jessica sobbed.

"Oh My God" Her mom gasped.

"I am sure it was an accident. Why did she threaten you? And how?" Her dad questioned.

"Maybe it was an accident, but I was going to tell. Chloe knew she would get in trouble if the truth came out even if it was an accident. I was going to go to Principal Spoors after school, but I saw Chloe in the bathroom before that. I confronted her about it, and she threatened me." Jessica explained.

"How did she threaten you?" Her mom asked.

"I wet the bed at her sleepover a couple of months ago. She took a video of me after the accident. She said if I told she would show it to everyone." Jessica explained.

"She did what?!" Her mom cried.

"She was going to tell everybody I wet the bed. Now Louise is hurt in the hospital and her parents are struggling and you know everybody will believe Chloe. She's the most populate girl in fourth grade. She's rich and her parents always buy her way out of trouble." Jessica sobbed.

"Not this time" Her mom hissed.

"We will go to the school on Monday, and you can tell Principal Spoors and Mr. Frond everything. We will be with you the entire time and we will make sure that Chloe doesn't hurt you." Her dad assured.

Tina tossed and turned, that book was still on her desk taunting her. She could not believe she had been so stupid. She knew she was far too naïve for her own good, but she never imagined that she was actually stupid. How could she have been so dumb? How could she believe that life was the way it was in a silly book? What on Earth was wrong with her? What had she been thinking? There was a lot she did not understand right now, but there was one thing she knew for certain. This was entirely her fault. If she had never bought that stupid book. If she had never mentioned that ridiculous alternative punishment to Mr. Frond. Then Louise would still be able to walk. She would be safe at home in her loft bed. she pulled herself out of bed and stormed over to her desk. She tossed the book in her trashcan, but it was still there. Still tormenting her. She grabbed it out of the trash. She tucked it under her arms and bounded down the hall to the kitchen. She shoved it into the kitchen trash stuffing it down underneath the nasty garbage including her half-eaten dinner. She removed her slipper and stomped it down harder, hot tears falling down her cheeks. She hated herself so much. Once she was done, she shoved the slipper on her nasty foot and vigorously washed her hands in the sink. She stumbled back to her room weeping uncontrollably. It was nearly two in the morning, but Bob and Linda were still awake and having what sounded like a serious conversation. Even though she knew it was wrong. She let curiosity get the best of her and pressed her ear against the door to listen in.

"I don't know, Bobby maybe the kids have a point. Maybe we should try to get a little extra from the Barbash's. I don't want to bankrupt them or anything, but we could use a cushion and then maybe we could get one of those vans for Louise. At least something newer." Linda commented.

"I don't want a cushion and our car is fine. We are not after a windfall. We just want to make the people responsible pay. Money won't undo this. So, it's pointless to try and get rich off of it. We are going to make every person guilty help cover the necessary bills for Louise and that is it. Now let it go because I do not want to hear about this again and definitely don't go saying anything about this to the kids!" Bob ordered.

"OK" Linda sighed.

"Lin I am sorry. I just don't want this to be anymore complicated than it already is, and I don't want to risk ending up with nothing." Bob apologized.

"No, you are right." Linda admitted.

Despite barely sleeping the previous night, Tina was up before the sun on Saturday morning. Bob's words constantly echoing in her head. "Every guilty person needs to help cover Louise's medical bills." She knew her parents were suing the school and the Barbash family for damages. They had a lawyer to get the money out of them, but she did not want to put her parents through anymore grief. She did not want what was bound to be a long legal battle to stretch out any longer. She was going to give her parents the money herself, without being asked. The only trouble was she did not have much money. She had fifty-four dollars in babysitting money saved up but that would barely cover gas for the drives out to Bog Harbor. She was going to have to really step up her sitting game, but that would still not be enough. So, with a heavy heart she loaded her horse figurines into her backpack and snuck out of the house. It was a long walk, but she knew that Seymour's Bay was hosting their monthly swap meet that Saturday and she knew that anyone could rent a table for ten dollars. That would be a huge cut in what she had and if she didn't sell any horses. She would be ten dollars short. As much as it hurt, she needed to sell all of her figures to make this worthwhile.

It took over an hour to walk to the swap meet. By the time she arrived she was sweaty and exhausted. She found the operator and paid the entry fee. With his large and grimy hand. He pointed towards an empty booth way at the other side of the swap meet. "Great more walking." She sighed as she trudged towards the booth. She was struggling to keep her eyes open, and she did not notice that her shoes were untied. She was just a few feet away from her table. When she tripped over her shoelace and lost her footing. She fell hard on her knees and her backpack fell from her hands. The contents spilled across the empty lot. One of her ceramic figures shattered completely and the leg broke off one of her plastic figures. The ceramic figure was the one she was expecting to earn the most money and the plastic palomino was one of her favorites. Fresh hot tears stung her eyes.

"You OK, T Bird?" Zeke asked, extending his hand to help her up.

"No!" Tina cried.

"Where does it hurt? Do ya need a doctor? My cousin Leslie is selling his Man Handles. They are uh manly potholders. Sports teams and what not. It's not important right now but he can drive ya to the hospital if ya need." Zeke offered.

"My knee hurts really bad, but I don't think I need a doctor. I am just upset cause my horses broke." Tina sniffed.

"Oof that's rough. I know how much ya love them horses. Which begs the question. Why didja bring em here?" Zeke questioned.

"Because I am going to sell them." Tina sniffed wiping blood away from her knee.

"Oof that's bad. I'll help ya get cleaned up and while I'm doin' that you can tell me why the hell you are selling your horses." Zeke insisted on helping Tina stand.

Zeke helped Tina pick up her horses while Leslie swept up the remains of her ceramic horse. He carefully escorted Tina to a medical tent on the right side of the swap meet. There was nobody manning the tent. So, Zeke grabbed a first aide kit off the table. He helped Tina sit in one of the chairs. He sanitized his hands and carefully cleaned the pieces of gravel and dirt out of her knee. Before dabbing her knees with a tissue covered in peroxide. It stung like hell and Tina had to bite her lips to keep from screaming.

"So why were you sellin' yer horses?" Zeke questioned.

"Because I have to help my parents pay Louise's bills." Tina whimpered.

"Don't your folks have insurance?" Zeke asked.

"They do but it's not covering much. My parents want to make the people who are responsible pay her bills." Tina explained.

"Now how the hell are you responsible? You would never hurt a soul, especially not your baby sister. Besides ya were on the other side of the playground when the accident happened." Zeke questioned.

"Chloe Barbash pulled Louise's hat off." Tina sighed.

"That was Chloe! Not you." Zeke commented.

"Yeah, but Louise was only spending time with Chloe. Because I…. Because I was the one who suggested that idiotic buddy program." Tina whimpered.

"Maybe ya were the reason Chloe was with Louise, but Chloe was still the one who made Louise fall." Zeke insisted.

"But I was the reason she was there." Tina sobbed.

"Hey girl, it was not your fault!" Zeke insisted.

"Yes, it was I am a monster!" Tina sobbed.

"Tina Belcher you sweetheart. This was not your fault. You don't need to sell your horses." Zeke assured.

"What if my parents find out! They will disown me!" Tina sobbed.

"Yer parents would NEVER disown you. They love ya and your siblings more than anything." Zeke assured.

"And what about Louise? She would hate me for sure." Tina sobbed.

"Tina she may tease ya and she may not say it, but Louise idolizes you. She would never hate you or blame you." Zeke assured.

Bob and Linda Belcher paced around the apartment nervously. They could not believe that this was happening. One daughter was paralyzed in the hospital and the other daughter was missing. This was the kind of thing that was only supposed to happen in the movies. They had called Susmita and Tina's other friends. Everybody they called said the same thing. They had not seen her, but they would gladly help form a search party if she did not turn up soon. The only friend they could not get a hold of was Zeke. Bob's hands shook as he dialed 911, Linda was on the verge of having a panic attack. Bob's eyes fell on Gene's door. They were working so hard to be quiet as to not wake their son. There was a knock on the front door. Bob pressed the phone to his ear and signaled for Linda to go see who that could be.

"Yes, this is Bob Belcher. My thirteen-year-old daughter Tina Belcher is missing."

"Yes, we have already called all her friends."

Linda's body trembled as she stumbled down the stairs. "It's going to be a police officer telling us that Tina is dead." She thought to herself as she opened the door. All she wanted to do was breakdown, but she knew that she had to be strong. The door opened and she breathed a heavy sigh of relief when she saw Tina standing on the sidewalk with a bandage on her knee and Zeke standing protectively at her side.

"My baby! My sweet baby! Oh, thank God! We were so worried! Oh, my baby!" Linda cried pulling Tina into a tight hug.

"I kept her safe Ms. B." Zeke assured.

"Thank you, Zeke." Linda replied.

"Yes, she is about five feet four inches with short black hair and thick black glasses. She would be wearing a baby blue shirt and a navy-blue skirt. With knee length white socks with a red stripe and black Chuck Taylor's. Well, some off brand. I don't remember the name of, and she has very thick black glasses."

"Bobby! She's back!" Linda cried.

"Never mind officer, she just walked in. I am sorry and thank you."

Moments later Bob, Linda, and Tina were sitting at the kitchen table. Zeke stood protectively behind Tina, his hands resting on her shoulders.

"We are not mad Tina. just disappointed." Bob began.

"I know it's cliche but it's what we are." Linda added.

"Anyway, where were you?" Bob questioned.

"At the swap meet." Tina muttered.

"The swap meet? Why on Earth were you at the swap meet?" Bob questioned.

"I was selling my horses." Tina sniffed.

"Why were you selling your horses?" Linda gasped.

"To help cover Louise's medical bills." Tina admitted.

"That's very generous, Tina, but you do not need to be worrying about Louise's bills. That is for us to worry about." Linda explained.

"Yeah, but you keep saying you want the people responsible to pay her bills and It's actually all my fault." Tina sniffed.

"How on Earth is it your fault? Chloe is the one who pulled her hat off mid Dead Man's Drop and the school is the ones who didn't remove the block or at least properly re-cover it." Bob reminded.

"Yeah, but I am the one who made Louise hang out with Chloe. I am the one who suggested the buddy program to Mr. Frond. Louise would not have been anywhere near Chloe if it weren't for me." Tina sobbed.

"Oh Tina, honey." Linda gasped, pulling Tina into a tight hug.

"You are inadvertently responsible for what happened to Louise. I won't sugar coat it, but you are not the reason she fell. You are not the reason she is paralyzed. We know you would never hurt Louise and Louise would be furious if she heard you talking that way." Bob assured.

"I know that, but I still feel terrible. I just want Louise to be OK. I want her to walk again." Tina sobbed as she collapsed into her father's arms.

"It's OK, It's OK." Bob whispered.

"We are here." Linda assured.

"Please stop blamein' yourself." Zeke begged.

"OK! OK" Tina sobbed.