Louise knew this was going to be bad, really bad. Bob and Linda weren't exactly the type of parents to just randomly check their kids out, and with Tina so sick. No that couldn't be it. Maybe Tina just had some weird flu and they all had to quarantine. Wait they would probably just close the whole school at that point. Gene and her had been there half the day after all and Tina was there yesterday. At least Rudy was a geeky little gentleman and offered to walk with her to the front office. First stopping off at the classroom to pick up Louise's things. She hoisted her backpack over her shoulder, not realizing that the bag was open resulting in Kuchi Kopi fell out landing on the floor. Another detail Louise missed in her haste. Rudy noticed the bag was open and carefully zipped it before Louise lost anything else. Then they were on their way. She was hit with a feeling of dread upon arriving to the office and insisted on waiting outside until Gene arrived. Which he did about a twenty seconds later. The bell rang signaling the end of lunch.
"Hi Rudy" Gene greeted.
"Hey Gene." Rudy replied.
"I guess we need to get in there." Louise sighed.
"And I need to get to class." Rudy replied.
"Bye Rudy" Gene replied.
"Bye Rudy and thanks." Louise sighed.
"No problem and I hope everything is OK." Rudy stated.
Even though she wasn't much for hand holding Louise extended her hand for Gene to take. He gave her a gentle squeeze, before they stepped inside. Where they found Teddy waiting for them. Louise's heart hit the floor. Why was Teddy here? Where were her parents?
"What the hell are you doing here?!" Louise demanded.
Teddy opened his mouth to speak but shut it immediately. Bob and Linda had made him swear to secrecy. They wanted to be the ones to tell the kids something for which he was actually eternally grateful. He would have had no idea how to break such horrible news. His heart was heavy with grief, and he was fighting a breakdown. He bit his lip and wiped tears from his eyes.
"Your mom and dad are still at the hospital. They couldn't exactly just leave Tina, but uh we need to get there right away." Teddy explained.
"Why?" Louise demanded.
"She's really sick Louise." Teddy replied.
Tina was admitted to the ICU and things were very bad. The swelling on her brain was severe and her kidneys were failing. Bacterial meningitis was a cruel disease and despite being a relatively healthy kid, Tina was not strong enough to fight it. She was fighting with all she had but the doctors did not predict a good outcome. They had urged Bob and Linda to bring Gene and Louise to the hospital as soon as possible. Linda could not leave Tina's side; Bob had called Teddy who thankfully was able to get Gene and Louise. Now all they could do was wait and pray that Tina survived long enough for her siblings to say goodbye. Something Bob and Linda were already doing so if Gene and Louise arrived in time. They would have plenty of time to say their goodbyes.
"Tina, God I never though I would be saying goodbye to one of my children. It shouldn't be this way. You were. You are so amazing. You were the best daughter. Don't tell Louise. She is amazing too, but I could trust you more. I love you. Goodbye." Bob said.
"Oh, my teeny Tina. I hate that you are dying. I am sorry I let you get so sick. I know this is my fault. You were so beautiful, so perfect. I let you down. I am sorry. Goodbye my perfect angel." Linda sobbed.
After saying their goodbyes Bob and Linda stepped out. Bob needed to get away from the ICU and Linda was desperate for the bathroom. Bob paced around the waiting room wondering what was keeping Teddy and the kids. Linda relieved herself and then stepped into the waiting room. She knew she needed to get back to Tina, but she was so tired, her legs would not carry her.
"CODE BLUE ICU BED 6! CODE BLUE ICU BED 6!" A voice called over the loudspeaker.
"That's Tina!" Linda cried, taking Bob's hand, and rushing back to the ICU.
Intensive Care was always chaotic, but it was ten times worse when a code blue was called. Doctors and nurses were rushing to Tina's room. One or maybe more had brought the crash cart. They were slamming the paddles into her chest. Maybe not slamming but they were using such force and turning up the electricity but the flatline alarm continued to blare.
"I think we need to call it doc." Somebody announced.
"No!" The doctor cried.
"If you get her back. What would her life be like? Even if you were able to bring her back now. Would she be strong enough to hold on for her siblings to say goodbye or would she just crash again?" Bob demanded.
"She might hold out for a while but the condition she was in before she crashed. She will not last long." The other doctor explained.
"She's gone. Time of death twelve fourteen PM!" The doctor declared.
Linda collapsed into Bob's chest. This could not be happening. First, they had been told the first hours would be critical, but Tina should still survive but then her condition continued to decline. Less than an hour before her death the doctors had given their bleak prognosis. Teddy should have made it with the kids. Somebody escorted them out of the ICU. No need for them to be there anymore. They both fell hard onto the couch in the waiting area. Linda was wailing like a siren; Bob was crying uncontrollably as well but his tears were silent.
"Mommy! Dad!" Gene cried.
"Where's Tina?!" Louise demanded cutting pleasantries.
"Oh GOD!" Linda sobbed.
"What's going on?" Louise hissed.
"Kids I'm sorry but Tina is gone." Bob apologized.
"Gone? What do you mean gone?" Louise demanded.
"I mean Tina died." Bob whispered.
"What do you mean she died? How did she die? Aren't hospitals supposed to make you better? Why did they let her die?" Louise rambled.
"Hospitals are supposed to make people well again but sometimes they are just too sick." Bob explained even though he knew Louise was aware of that fact.
Louise wanted to simultaneously scream, throw up, and cry, but above everything she wanted to give those idiot doctors a piece of her mind. She knew meningitis was bad, but Tina had a direct order not to die. Tina would never just die. She would never leave Louise without a big sister. It had to be the doctors' fault. They had to have done something wrong. They had to. Louise felt tears stinging her eyes. She could not cry here. Not in front of all these people. Not in front of the doctors who had murdered her sister! She ran as fast as her tiny legs would carry her out of the hospital. God, she wished that Rudy were here. If she couldn't have Tina, she needed Rudy. She needed Rudy, God Dammit! She fell on her knees, on the sidewalk letting out the most horrible cry. Once the tears started, she wondered if they would ever stop. She wondered if she ever wanted them to stop.
"Louise?" Gene called.
"Gene?" Louise replied wiping tears from her face.
"Are you OK?" Gene asked.
"Oh yeah, I am fine. Just peachy. Super happy my sister is dead." Louise snarked.
"Louise" Gene whispered.
"Why did she have to die, Gene?" Louise questioned.
"I don't know." Gene sighed.
"God, I loved her so much. She was my hero and I never told her. I should have told her." Louise sobbed.
"You didn't know she was going to die at fourteen." Gene replied.
"Yeah, but that shouldn't matter. I should have told her. I should have…" Louise rambled before completely breaking again.
"She knew you loved her." Gene assured.
Gene was swamped in his own grief. He had no idea how he was supposed to be the oldest child. He was the oldest child now. He always figured he would take on the role of oldest one day, but it wasn't supposed to be like this. Tina was supposed to leave for college or some other exciting adventure, two years before Gene and four years before Louise. Gene was supposed to step up and be the oldest for the two years before he graduated and moved to a big city to become a famous musician, but Tina was supposed to still be around. He was supposed to be able to call her when Louise got her heart broken or when high school got to her. Now he was thrown into the role of oldest child four years early and Tina was not a phone call away. Tina was dead, Louise was hysterical, and Gene did not know what to do.
Bob assumed losing his mother at fourteen was the worst thing that could ever happen to him. Even his strained relationship with Big Bob paled in comparison to losing Lily. Never in a million years did he imagine he would lose his eldest daughter, ironically Tina's life ended when she was the same age he had been when he lost Lily. Tina also being the eldest daughter of her family. The similarities were uncanny. Save for one crucial detail. It really should have been him lying on a cold metal slab, in a hospital basement. Linda continued to wail in his arms, and he felt his heart shatter. Why was this happening to him?
Linda's entire world had shattered. Her daughter, her teeny Tina, was dead. How could this have happened? She screamed into Bobby's chest, endless tears flowing down her cheeks. She wondered if she would ever feel happy again. Of course, she wouldn't Tina was dead. Tina was dead and it was her fault. There was legal stuff to handle at the hospital, they could not leave just yet, but she wanted to get home. She wanted to drink a bottle of wine and try to forget this horrible day had ever happened. Except she would never be able to forget as long as she lived.
The next few hours were a blur for the Belchers. Bob filled out the paperwork associated with Tina's death while Linda sobbed, and Gene and Louise did whatever they were doing. The hospital aspect of Tina's death was complete. Now came the process of planning the service. Of course, they wanted Mort to handle it, but not right now. They were going to need at least twenty-four hours before they could even think about planning Tina's funeral besides the hospital still needed to perform the autopsy. Even though they knew Tina died of meningitis they wanted to know more. They wanted to know exactly what had happened. Even though they knew.
"Bob I am so sorry." Mort announced over the phone.
"Thank you, Mort." Bob replied.
"I will make arrangements with the hospital right away but is there anything I can do now?" Mort questioned.
"Can you come get us? I brought the car, but Linda is hysterical and I uh I just can't." Bob requested.
"No problem" Mort replied.
Mort arrived about half an hour after talking with Bob. Louise had no memory of leaving the hospital. She had a vague flicker of standing outside of Mort's car. Thankfully, his regular car not the hearse. Normally Louise would jump at the opportunity of riding in Mort's hearse. She was already rehearsing her plea to get Mort to teach her to drive in the hearse, but today knowing Tina would soon be riding in that hearse. In the coffin hole. Knowing she was gone. Her memories were gone until they arrived home. Her collectables scattered around her loft bed where she had left them that morning. Except for good Kuchi Kopi. Where was he? Where was good Kuchi Kopi? Then she remembered. She had brought him with her to school. She was supposed to have to go to the hospital to see Tina after school. She was supposed to need good Kuchi Kopi to make her feel less anxious. She must have left him at school. She knew it was stupid considering everything with Tina, but she needed her toy.
Rudy had a longer than normal day. Thinkgineers didn't typically meet on Thursdays, but Mrs. Tamara had to take her son to the dentist the next day. So, she had moved the Friday meeting to Thursday. Mandy was supposed to pick him up, but she was down with the flu. He was stuck waiting until one of his parents got off work. He spent the next hour sitting in the library with Mr. Ambrose, Ms. Labonz, and a few other faculty members who were talking about things inappropriate for a child to hear.
"Rudy you're with me. Your dad has some issue at the office and your mom had to meet a client in Bog Harbor." Ms. Labonz announced.
"Can we at least get out of here?" Rudy sighed.
"Yeah, I just have to grab a few things from the classroom." Ms. Labonz replied.
Rudy sighed and grabbed his backpack. This may have been bearable if Louise had had detention. If she had maybe, he could have convinced her to hang out with him. She was better company than disgruntled teachers. He made a mental note to call her when he got home. Until he remembered that she had gone home early. He wasn't sure why, but he suspected it had something to do with Tina being in the hospital. How had he forgotten that? Ms. Labonz entered the classroom and began rifling through her desk. Rudy stood in the doorway until he noticed something bright and green sitting on Louise's desk. It was Kuchi Kopi! Louise had forgotten Kuchi Kopi! She was going to need her beloved toy to get through Tina being in the hospital to fight both her fear of hospitals and her worry about Tina. Rudy grabbed Kuchi Kopi and shoved him into his backpack.
"Come on, Rudy! I've got reservations at Pickles!" Ms. Labonz called.
Rudy sighed once again and followed Ms. Labonz out the door. He just wanted to get out of this school. He started to run well his version of running. Until he heard the sound of crying coming from the eighth-grade classroom. He ignored Ms. Labonz' calls and pushed the door open.
"Ms. Jacobson? Are you OK?" Rudy questioned.
"No but uh Rudy I can't really talk about it right now." Ms. Jacobson replied.
Rudy did not press further besides Ms. Labonz was calling. He let the door close behind him and left the school. He climbed into Ms. Labonz' car and she dropped him off at his mom's house. Rudy used his inhaler and grabbed an apple out of the fruit basket. He took a seat on the couch and turned on a rerun of "Golden Girls." He took advantage of his mom being home and put his feet up on the couch. He was drifting off to sleep when the door swung open.
"Feet off the couch Rudolph!" His mom warned.
"Sorry" Rudy sighed.
"It's OK but uh I need to talk to you about something. It's pretty heavy. You may want to get Pancake." His mom informed.
"OK" Rudy cooed.
"What's up?" Rudy asked after returning with Pancake a few seconds later.
"Rudy I am sorry your friend Louise's sister Tina died this afternoon." His mom announced.
"What?!" Rudy cried.
"Tina Belcher died." His mom repeated.
"NO!" Rudy cried.
Rudy took three puffs from his inhaler. This could not be happening. Oh God! Poor Louise! He grabbed Kuchi Kopi out of his backpack and hugged him to his chest. Louise was going to need him more than ever now. He shoved his inhaler in his pocket and raced out the door.
"Rudy! Where are you going?!" His mom called.
"I have to help Louise!" Rudy cried.
"Rudy give the girl space!" His mom ordered.
For the first time in his life Rudy ignored both his mom and his aching lungs. He ran as fast as his lungs would allow to Ocean Avenue. He pounded on the door, but nobody came. His mom had followed him in her car and was now ordering him to get in now. Again, ignoring her. He grabbed a pen and sheet of paper out of his pocket. He scribbled a note and wrapped it around Kuchi Kopi, he opened the door slightly and slipped the nightlight inside. Before reluctantly walking to his mom's car. He got an earful but at least he had helped Louise.
Louise buried her head under her blanket, there was a frantic pounding on the door that she wished would go away. Her parents had started telling people. Well, they had called the school and she guessed the school had sent out some mass email. Had the casserole and flower bringing "well-wishers" shown up already? Did they really think noodle dishes and pansies would bring Tina back? That they would do anything? The door opened. God were there people inside to observe their grief and say how sorry they were? Would a priest come and talk about God's plan? The idea made her sick. She cupped her hand over her mouth and ran to the bathroom. The bathroom where Tina had had her seizure. The bathroom that had not been cleaned up from the effects. Louise vomited all over the floor adding to the mess. Where was everybody? Then she saw it sitting on the table in the entry way. Kuchi Kopi. She ran down the stairs and grabbed her beloved toy. There was a note.
"Louise I am so sorry about Tina. I know I can't say anything that will help but I am here, and I made sure Kuchi Kopi was too. XO RS Rudy."
Rudy hugged her beloved toy to her chest and made her way back upstairs once again curling up on her loft bed. She again buried herself in her blanket but at least she had Kuchi Kopi now. Now more than ever she was eternally grateful for her best friend.
Linda stumbled to the kitchen. She had already polished off one bottle of wine and was going to need at least one more. She wanted to drink until she forgot, and she was not forgetting. It had just happened that afternoon, it was supposed to be fresh in her mind, but she just wanted the pain to stop.
Bob watched Linda stumble around. She tripped and fell to the floor but immediately picked herself up again. She was already halfway through her second bottle of wine. He wondered how much wine it took to get alcohol poisoning. He knew he should tell her to slow down but what was he supposed to do? How could he tell a woman who had just lost her child to slow down her drinking? How did he say or do anything?