Dwight felt his blood run cold at this. Tears pooled in his eyes. That could have been Trudy.

"Oh Billy," he said softly, "I know this sounds cheap, but I am so sorry."

"That doesn't sound cheap at all," Billy said, "I know what you're going through. I can't imagine what must have been going through your mind."

"Your child is in heaven now," Dwight said gently, "I know how much you're hurting but he's not anymore."

Years later when Dwight and Marsha would find out that Trudy survived the bombing he remembered this moment. He was so blessed. His friend on the other hand, not so much. Dwight wondered how he was going to tell Trudy that she would have to wait to meet Billy. She would be so disappointed.

"I'll call you tonight," Billy promised Dwight.

Marsha called him and it sounded like she was in Trudy's room.

Dwight came into Trudy's room. She was throwing up into her garbage can. Dwight saw she was crying.

"She's burning up," he said, "We have to get to the hospital."

At the hospital, Trudy was taken in right away. The doctor's ran all of their tests and gave her something for the pain. Her fever was 106.7.

"Okay," Dr. Blue said coming into the room, "Her spleen is infected. We can't wait until Wednesday to take it out. We have to take it out right now."

She gave her something to bring her fever down and waited about ½ an hour. It was down to 102.3.

"You'll need to sign the papers to give us permission to operate," Dr. Blue told Dwight and Marsha.

They immediately signed the papers. They went out to the waiting room.

The surgery took several hours. When Dr. Blue came into the room, Dwight and Marsha both stood up.

"We got the entire spleen," she told them, "And we irrigated the infection. We'll have to keep her here for a few days though."

"How many days is a few," Marsha asked.

"Probably about 4 days," Dr. Blue said, "And then she'll need to be resting for a couple of days until the 14th."

Dwight and Marsha glanced at each other.

The pool party, they both thought at the same time.

"Can we stay with her," Marsha asked.

"Of course. I'll get a couple of cots for your room."

As Dr. Blue left, Dwight called Alan from his phone.

"Hello?"

"Alan… it's Dwight. Trudy's in the hospital. Her spleen got infected, so we won't be able to make it to the pool party on Monday."

"Dwight," Alan said, "First of all, I'm so sorry that happened. We can change the day of the party."

"You would do that?" Dwight asked.

"Of course," Alan said, "Angela wouldn't want the party without Trudy at it. Could she come visit tomorrow?"

"Absolutely," Dwight said, "Trudy would be happy for her company. She has to stay in bed until the 14th."

"Is the infection still there?"

"They irrigated the infection and took out her spleen," Dwight explained, "But the Dr. said she's still pretty sick."

"How about if we have the pool party on the 21st," Alan suggested.

"That would be perfect. Thank you," Dwight replied.

"Of course," Alan answered, "You're welcome. Don't even mention it."