Ch.10
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Luckily, all Angel had wanted was her beverage. I managed to lay down in the living room and fall asleep.
RRRRRING! I lazily opened my eyes trying to realize what the disturbing noise was. I tilted my head and discovered the phone was ringing. "Hello?" I sleepily answered.
"Is this Mr.Richardson?"
"Yes."
"This is the school nurse at Tampa Elementary." School nurse? To say I confused was an understatement. "Leslie came in the office this morning not feeling well, and she's running a pretty high fever."
"How high?"
"101."
"101! I'ii be there immediately."
"Nick!" I hollered up the stairs. "Nick!"
The blonde appeared at the top of the staircase. "Huh?" he yawned.
"Can you keep an eye on Angel? I have to go get your sister."
"But she's in her room," he said still fighting sleep.
I shook my head. "No! Not THAT sister, your other sister!"
"BJ?"
"NO!" I opened the door grabbing the keys to their van they had left behide. "Just go sit with Angel!"
I quickly drove to the school, second guessing myself for leaving an eight-year- old behind with Nick. What was I thinking? And I being a Kentuckian, I did not know where the building was located. So, after stopping at a gas station, twice for directions; I reached my destination. I walked into the crowded office. "Hello, ma'am. Could you please tell where Leslie Carter is?"
The woman lifted up her thick glasses. "Nurses' office. Down the hall to your left."
"Thank you."
I made my way down the hall turning left. I saw Leslie awkardly laying on a tiny cot in the corner. "Hey cutie."
She limply waved.
The nurse stepped infront of me. "Are you Mr.Richardson?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry, but you are not allowed to take Leslie off this property." "Why not?"
"You are not listed on her emergency card as either a relative or a family friend. We would have to telephone her parents to ask for special permission." "Her parents are in New York."
"Well, I'm afraid that she will have to stay here until someone can be contacted."
I could feel my temper rising. "That's absurd! She is pale as a ghost and has a fever. She obviously needs to go home."
"And she will. With a listed adult."
Leslie tugged on the woman's sweater. "Miss......"
"Yes?"
"I'm gonna'.."
"You're going to what?"
Suddenly, Leslie bent over coughing and- vomiting all over the rude employee. I was secretly pleased.
The woman looked at me in disgust. "On second thought- take her!"
Her harsh tone brought Leslie to tears. I went to her side. "It's okay, sweetie. Let's get you home."
She wrapped her arms around my neck. "I don't feel good."
"I know," I whispered wrapping my jacket around her shivering form. "You ready to go?"
She nodded.
"All right," I thought to myself as I carried her to the van. I now am dealing with a fatigued teenager that thinks he's an adult, a teenage girl with hormones, two sick children and the ever-hyper Aaron!
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