As Trudy was in the waiting room she saw a girl who seemed about her own age.

"Hi," Trudy said, "I'm Trudy."

"I'm Angela," the other girl said, "What are you here for?"

"I have akemia," Trudy explained, "What about you?"

"I have cancer in my shoulder," Angela replied, "I need Memo and Treatment"

"Me too," Trudy said, "Don't be scared. It doesn't hurt. They put you asleep… not like a dog so you don't feel it."

"Thanks," Angela said, "Where do you live?"

"I live at 1314 Pencil Drive Hollywood."

"Wow. I live right down the block. 3218 Pencil Drive."

"Trudy honey," Marsha asked, "Who's this girl?"

"This is my new friend," Trudy replied brightly, "She has cancer like me only hers is in her shoulder."

"I live right down the block from you," Angela said.

She looked at her parents.

"Mommy," she said, "Daddy– can I get together with my new friend?"

"Absolutely," Alan answered, "As long as it's okay with her parents."

Dwight smiled.

"Trudy's friends are welcome any time," he said, "How about we arrange a playdate for tomorrow?"

"Great," Eva answered, "Is 12 o'clock too early?"

"Not too early– not too late," Dwight answered, "We can take the kids to the toy store and then the playground."

"Sounds like fun," Ava replied, "Just let us know how much you spent so we can repay you."

Dwight held up his hand dismissively.

"That won't be necessary," he said.

Marsha nodded in agreement.

"What kind of cancer does Trudy have," Alan asked.

"Leukemia," Dwight remarked, "We found out on Saturday."

"So did we," Alan said, "It was a shock to say the least."

"Not a good shock either," Ava said.

"Does such a thing as a good shock exist," Marsha asked.

"When we found out we were pregnant with Angela it was an amazing shock,"

"You had a hard time conceiving?"

"We found out we were pregnant with Angela when I went into labor with her," Ava said with a chuckle.

"How do you go nine months without knowing you're pregnant," Marsha asked, "By the time Trudy was born I knew I was pregnant for about 8 months."

"It's a VERY long story," Alan replied, "She implanted low instead of high so she didn't have any symptoms."

"Didn't you miss your period," Marsha asked.

"Technically yes but I still had bleeding once a month. It was just due to other causes."

The door opened and Dr. Piccare signaled to Dwight and Marsha that it was Trudy's turn for her chemo and treatment. Trudy and Angela hugged.

"See you tomorrow," Angela said.

Trudy was so excited about Angela coming over. It was all she could talk about.

"We're going to the toy store," Marsha told her, "And after that we'll go to the park."

"Awesome," Trudy exclaimed.

That night she slept beautifully. She woke up at ten o'clock. Ava dropped Angela off at 12 PM. The girls went to the car and they headed over to the toy store. Immediately they both went to the life-sized fairy-tale dolls.

"What's your favorite fairy tale," Trudy asked Angela.

"Cinderella," Angela replied, "How about you?"

"Sleeping Beauty," Trudy said.

She paused.

"Can we go to the pet store after the toy store," she asked.

"Just to look," Dawn remarked, coming into the fairy tale section of the store.

"I don't recall asking your opinion," Marsha retorted, "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Buying a present for my niece and I'm sorry but I don't think someone her age is ready for a pet."

"I don't think it's your decision to make," Angela interrupted, "You're not her Mommy or her Daddy."

"Of course we can go to the pet store," Dwight told Trudy and Angela.

"If you get her a pet," Dawn warned, "You'll be doing all the work and she'll have all the fun. Why don't you wait until she's older?"

"We already have a dog named Peaches," Trudy said, "I named her Peaches because she kept playing with her peach toy."

"Girls," Marsha said, "Why don't you two go with him (as she motioned to Dwight) to the pet store. I have to talk to Dawn."

The girls followed Dwight.

"I know you think I'm being judgmental and not minding my business," Dawn said, "But when I see a family in need, I feel like it's my place to help. When you spoil your daughter, you don't think of the consequences. When she's older-"

"ARE YOU THAT CLUELESS," Marsha yelled at Dawn, "WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT TRUDY IS GOING TO GET OLDER. SHE HAS LEUKEMIA. IT'S A TYPE OF CANCER. YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE A DYING CHILD. YOU TOLD US YOUR SON HAD A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT-"

"Yes," Dawn said, "And when he was sick I appreciated all the help I could get."

"IF YOU WANT TO HELP US THERE IS PLENTY YOU CAN DO. TRYING TO MAKE UP NONSENSE RULES FOR MY DAUGHTER ISN'T ONE OF THEM."

"Can I have your phone number?" Dawn asked.

"Why?" Marsha questioned.

"Because it looks like you could use a friend," Dawn said.

Marsha sighed.

"I can," she said.

They exchanged numbers.

"Have you considered going to PODC," Dawn asked.

"I never heard of PODC," Marsha answered.

"It's a support group for Parents of Dying Children. It helped me when Ambrose was dying."

Marsha shook her head.

"I need to be with Trudy all the time," Marsha explained, "What if she has an emergency?"

"I felt the same way," Dawn said, "You have to detach. It helps to-"

"I can't detach," Marsha replied, "Trudy is my daughter. She's the best thing that ever happened to me."

"I don't mean to detach from her. What I mean is to detach your emotions. If you don't you'll never be able to discipline."

"Disciple means to teach, not to punish," Marsha said.

"Do you ever say no to her?"

"Only when it comes to her safety. We won't let her skip chemo and treatment for example."

"As well you shouldn't," Dawn remarked, "She needs that to get better."

Just than the girls got back with a dog treat for peaches and a new guinea pig for Trudy. Dwight and Marsha paid for the toys and then went to the playground.