‘Dad___dad can you come to the hospital quickly?  It’s Kaz!’

‘Slow down my boy,’ Pastor Ralph’s calming voice touched Josh over the ear piece.  

‘She blacked out at school, dad.  She__she does not look good,’ Josh’s voice sounded strained.

‘I’m on my way Josh.  Just hang in there,’ Pastor Ralph cut the call.

Josh wanted to rush into the emergency room.  He needed to see for himself how Kaz was doing.  He looked up expectantly as the doctor walked towards Ms. Shaw.

‘What can you tell us Doctor?’ Ms Shaw rushed to meet the doctor.

The doctor looked from Josh to Ms. Shaw, not sure if talking to them would breach doctor/patient confidentiality.

‘Tell us!’ Josh demanded.  ‘Is Kaz going to be fine?’ Josh’s voice broke at the end of his sentence.  Ms. Shaw placed her arm consolingly around his shoulders.

‘Are you Josh?’ The doctor smiled.

‘Y__yes.  How did you know?’

‘The young lady has been calling your name,’ he smiled. 

Ms. Shaw looked surprised.  Josh’s face was inflamed.

‘So I guess it’s okay for me to report on her condition,’ the doctor looked down into the newly opened file.  ‘Ms  Edwards has a case of ecchymosis,’ he paused.  ‘There was not a lot of bleeding,’ he quickly added.  ‘My observation concludes, that is what caused her system to go into shock, hence her delayed black-out___.’

‘Ecchy___what!’  Can you speak English please?’ Josh interrupted.

The doctor exchanged a look with Ms. Shaw.   She slowly shut her eyes, then proceeded to explain Kaz’s condition to Josh.

‘Kaz has internal bleeding,’ Ms. Shaw murmured softly.

Josh looked stunned, too afraid to think of the extent of the external bleeding.

I should have dragged her to the hospital yesterday!

‘I understand Ms. Edwards, is a ward of one Mrs. Myrtle Bairns?’ The doctor verified, thinking he’d already revealed more than he should.

‘I’ve called her,’ Ms. Shaw spoke in a deflated tone.  ‘She’s at work and says she can’t get time off right now.’

‘I want to see Kaz,’ Josh demanded and this ecchy__mosis, ___can it be cured?  What can we do for Kaz?  How do you treat it?  Will you operate on her or something?’

The doctor placed a calming hand on Josh’s shoulder.  Luckily, it’s just a mild case of bleeding, just beneath the layer of her skin,’ he smiled.  ‘No damage to any arteries.  She won’t need surgery.’

Josh’s weight visibly slumped beneath the doctor’s palm.

‘She’s a very strong young lady,’ the doctor nodded.  ‘All she needs is strict bed rest so the skin and tissue can repair themselves.’

‘Thank God,’ Josh lowered himself into the chair.

The doctor turned to Ms. Shaw.  ‘Ms. Edwards’ injuries can have only been caused by deceleration due to an automobile accident, from running into a sharp object; or ___a violent altercation.  I have an obligation to inform Social Services,’ he paused.  ‘Should I also be alerting the police?’ he questioned.

Ms. Shaw looked away.  Josh studied his shoes.  The doctor tapped the file against his palm as he awaited an answer.

‘Had the young lady sustained injury to the brain or blood vessels, the bleeding would compress her organs and cause their dysfunction.  The loss of blood would cause brain damage and ultimately death.  We would then be facing a case of homicide___.’

‘She was involved in a fight with another student,’ Ms. Shaw blurted.

Josh looked up in shock.  He did not suspect that Ms. Shaw had known how Kaz had sustained her injuries.  He was not going to rat on Kaz, although if her life depended on it, he would speak up.

‘She told me,’ Ms. Shaw murmured to Josh.  He swallowed and looked away nervously.

‘I don’t know what it was about,’ Josh added, ‘but I got there in time to help Kaz up.  ‘She spent the night at my home.’

It was Ms. Shaw’s turn to raise her eyebrows in shock.  She had had no idea things had progressed that far between Josh and Kaz,’ ‘Perhaps you will allow Ms. Edwards to fill you in on the details,’ Ms. Shaw requested, reluctant to give information without Kaz’s consent.

‘Can I see Kaz now please?’ Josh questioned, pleadingly. 

‘Okay,’ the doctor nodded.  ‘Not for too long though.  She needs to rest.’

Josh looked at Ms. Shaw, expecting her to join him.  ‘You go ahead,’ she spoke softly.  I will come in just now.’

Relieved, Josh rushed into the ward.  He stopped, not able to believe it was Kaz lying there, helpless, defenceless. She would never want to be seen as vulnerable.   There was a tube feeding her oxygen.  Her blonde hair was spread over her pillow.  A glucose drip was injected into her arm.  He stood at the foot of her bed, not wanting to disturb her.

‘Hey Preacher Body,’ she smiled.  ‘Come closer, I don’t bite.’

‘Kaz,’ he mumbled.  ‘Are you okay?  Are you in pain? Yes, stupid me, off course, you must be in pain.’

Kaz laughed, then cringed as the effort was too painful.

‘Sorry,’ he whispered, taking her hand.  ‘The doctor says you need to rest.’

‘What do you think I’m doing?  Manual labour!’

Josh grinned.  ‘Can I get you anything?’ He offered.

She needed girls’ stuff.  Personal effects, toiletries, but she could not ask Josh.

‘I’m cool thanks,’ she responded.

‘I was worried,’ Josh whispered, his hands curled into hers.

‘I’m fine Preacher Boy,’ she disentangled her hand.

‘Josh?’ There was a knock on the door.  ‘May I come in?’

‘Hi dad,’ Josh spoke softly.  ‘Yes,’ he nodded.

‘Hi Kaz,’ Pastor Ralph smiled.  ‘I’m glad to see you’re awake.’

‘Hi Pastor Ralph,’ Kaz drew out.  ‘I’m feeling okay,’ she spoke tiredly.

‘The doctor gave me strict instructions that you need your rest,’ Pastor Ralph smiled, ‘would you mind if I prayed with you, before I leave, Kaz?’

‘No, go ahead,’ she looked uncomfortable. 

Pastor Ralph nodded at Josh.  They each held one of her hands and Pastor Ralph bowed his head and prayed for Kaz’s healing.  ‘Father God, In the name of Jesus, we stand in agreement according to your word in 1 Peter 2; 24...by your stripes Kaz is healed and made whole again.  We believe Kaz is healed and we thank you for the miracle you have performed in her body.  Amen!’

‘Amen,’ Josh repeated, agreeing with his father’s prayer.  ‘God has healed you Kaz,’ Josh prophesied.

Whatever!

‘Thank you,’ she acknowledged Pastor Ralph.

‘Ms. Shaw is waiting to come in,’ Ralph addressed his son and Kaz.

‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ Josh leaned over and kissed her cheek.  ‘Take care Kaz,’ he smiled.  ‘And no walking about the hospital ward,’ he wagged his finger.

‘Just go,’ she smiled.

‘Hey Kaz,’ Ms. Shaw walked in with two bags.

‘Hi,’ Kaz murmured.

‘You look a little better Kaz,’ Ms. Shaw smiled.

‘Don’t feel anything.  Guessed I’m pumped up with medication,’ Kaz studied the drip injected into the vein in her arm.

‘I got you some stuff downstairs at the pharmacy,’ Ms. Shaw murmured.

‘Oh thank you,’ Kaz wondered what the contents of both packets were.

‘Shall I unpack them?’

‘Please,’ Kaz pointed to the drawer beside her bed.  She watched as Ms. Shaw placed a tooth brush, soap, tooth paste, bath sponge and expensive looking body deodorant in the drawer.  Ms. Shaw lifted items out of the second packet. 

‘The labels say, one size fits all,’ she smiled, holding up a pack of ladies sleep shorts, and matching vests.  ‘I didn’t think you’ll be comfortable with a bra,’ she whispered, ‘but if you want them___.’

‘No!  Thank you so much.  That is fine.  I shall pay you when I get out of here,’ Kaz stated.

‘You don’t need to Kaz,’ Ms. Shaw touched her hand gently.

‘I will pay you,’ Kaz insisted.

‘Okay,’ Ms. Shaw relented, understanding her fierce pride not to be indebted to another.  ‘And this is if you feel peckish,’ she handed Kaz a huge chocolate bar and a bottle of soda.

‘Thank you again,’ Kaz grinned as she reached for the chocolate bar and ripped it open.

‘Want some?’ Kaz offered.

‘Umm___no thanks,’ Ms. Shaw laughed, ‘watching the figure.’

‘Don’t know what you’re watching,’ Kaz spoke with her mouth full.  ‘You are as skinny as a rake!’

‘Why that is the nicest thing you’ve said to me, Kaz.’

Kaz wanted to laugh, but she chocked on the chocolate.

‘OH my God!  Oh my God!’  Ms Shaw gently lifted Kaz up and tapped her back.  ‘I’m so sorry,’ she whispered.

‘You’re not trying to kill me off, are you?’  Kaz coughed, tears filled her eyes.

‘No!’

‘I’m just teasing,’ Kaz smiled.  ‘You’re cool, Ms. Shaw.’

‘I---I’m not saying another word,’ Ms. Shaw laughed.

‘Ms. Shaw?’

‘Yes Kaz?’

‘I don’t want Social Services to know what happened.’

Ms. Shaw sighed.  ‘There is protocol the hospital must follow Kaz or else the doctor could jeopardise his job here.’

Kaz looked away.  ‘I guess,’ she mumbled.  ‘He started it, Ms. Shaw.  He hit me.’

‘Kaz,’ Ms, Shaw took Kaz’s hand in hers.  ‘Rest for now__please.  We will talk about this another day.  I can promise you, you are not in any trouble, whatsoever.’

‘What about Principal Taylor?’ Kaz questioned.

‘Leave him ___to me,’ Ms. Shaw murmured, and tucked her hair behind her ear.

Kaz raised her eyebrows, questioningly.

‘We___have an understanding, besides, you are the victim here,’ Ms. Shaw answered.

‘Does your boyfriend know about this ___ “understanding?”

Ms. Shaw laughed uncomfortably.  ‘Kaz!  There’s nothing going on between Mr. Taylor and I.  We just have a working relationship,’ she murmured.  Ms. Shaw loved her boyfriend Ryan, but there were some things she did not need to discuss with her students.

‘Right,’ Kaz replied, unconvinced.

‘You need to close your eyes and get some rest,’ Ms. Shaw instructed.

‘Yes teacher,’ Kaz grinned, admiring the way Ms. Shaw’s chestnut hair and chocolate coloured eyes made her look so beautiful.  She seemed unaware of how her natural beauty drew attention to her.

Ms Shaw laughed.   A new bond seemed to have formed.

‘So tell me about you and Josh,’ Ms. Shaw teased.

‘There’s nothing to tell,’ Kaz looked away.

‘Yet you spent the night at his place!’

‘His parent’s home.   Not his bed!  Besides he wouldn’t take no for an answer.’

Ms. Shaw grinned. ‘I gathered you don’t much do anything you don’t want to.’

Kaz looked away.  She had been starving last night.  She had not eaten the entire day.  She had been in so much of pain.  For the first time, in a very long time, she had felt something akin to fear and had not desired her own company, hence her surrender to Josh’s demand.

‘I was in too much pain to argue with him.’

‘Kaz,’ Ms. Shaw tore a page from her note pad.  She scribbled her mobile number on it and placed it in the drawer.  ‘Please call me whether it is day or night, if ever you need to talk to somebody,’ she urged.

‘I promise,’ Kaz answered truthfully.  She knew they had cemented a new bond today.

‘Thank you for everything Ms. Shaw.’

‘Only a pleasure,’ Ms Shaw stood up.  ‘Now you get some rest, before the doctor throws me out.’

‘I was just about to do just that,’ the doctor returned, his eyes trained on Ms. Shaw.  Kaz guessed his visit was not for his patient.

Ms. Shaw looked away.  ‘I’ll call on you tomorrow Kaz.  Take care.  Good bye, doctor,’ Ms. Shaw walked out.

The following morning Josh pleaded with his father to allow him to skip school so he could be with Kaz.

‘No son,’ Pastor Ralph declined calmly.  ‘Kaz needs rest, and she is getting all the care she requires from the hospital.  I shall take you there after school.’

‘Fine,’ Josh sulked.  He strapped his bag on his shoulders and waited for his mum and sister.

It was a long day in school.  Josh could not wait for school to end.  His dad should have let him skip school.   His productivity was at zero level.  Every teacher questioned him about his pre-occupied mind.

When the bell sounded, signalling the end of school, Josh sprinted to the car park.  He had already texted his father, reminding him not to be late.  The car had hardly come to a standstill at the hospital, when Josh scurried out and ran to Kaz’s ward.

‘Hi, Ms. Shaw,’ Kaz smiled.

‘Hey Kaz.  You look so much better.’

‘Thanks,’ Kaz grinned.  ‘Although I feel like I have been panel beated,’ she groaned.  ‘The medication has been reduced.  You don’t want to look at my body,’ Kaz sighed.  It’s black and purple.’

‘I’m so sorry,’ Ms. Shaw touched her hand gently.

‘So the good looking doctor was asking about you,’ Kaz grinned.

‘What!  You did not give him my number did you?’

‘I did,’ Kaz looked apologetic.  ‘He’s so hot and ___.’

‘Kaz, my number was for you only!’

Kaz laughed.  ‘Just teasing, Ms. Shaw.  He did ask, though I told him, he should be man enough to ask you himself.’

‘Thank you Kaz, for not circulating my number,’ she murmured.  ‘I__don’t desire for your doctor to know it,’ she spoke softly.

‘Yeah___yeah, you’re dating that hot shot TV guy Ryan___’

‘Hi Kaz?’  Josh was standing at the door.

Ms. Shaw and Kaz looked at each other.  ‘The boyfriend's here,’ Ms. Shaw teased.

‘He’s not my boyfriend,’ Kaz hissed.

‘Hi Ms. Shaw,’ Josh greeted, though his eyes remained on Kaz.

‘Hey Josh,’ Ms. Shaw smiled.  ‘You should have told me you wanted to come to the hospital.  I could have given you a lift.’

‘My dad did not want me to cut school.  He’s in the waiting room.’

‘Let me go say hi to him,’ Ms. Shaw tactfully excused herself.

‘Are you going to stand at the door, the entire time?’ Kaz questioned.

‘Um___these are for you,’ Josh handed her a bag containing candy, and some soda.
‘Oh wait,’ his hand dipped into the bag.  He took out a stuffed toy.  ‘Hope you feeling better,’ he smiled and kissed her cheek.

‘Um___thanks,’ Kaz stared at the stuffed animal.

‘Oh__here,’ he handed it to her.

‘Thank you,’ Kaz smiled, running her fingers of the furry toy creature.

‘Would you like me to open a coke for you?’

‘Yes thanks.’

‘So how you feeling__?’

‘So how was school?’

They spoke simultaneously and laughed together.

‘Sit,’ Kaz patted the bed.

‘How are you feeling?’ Josh’s eyes were filled with concern.

‘A little bruised, but I feel a lot better.’

‘That’s great.  School was okay.  I missed seeing you around,’ he smiled.  ‘Everybody sends their regards.’

‘I see,’ she did not believe Josh.  He was probably just being polite.  Nobody care two hoots about her, except this mad Preacher Boy and Ms. Shaw.  She liked having to look up to Ms. Shaw, but she did not want this Preacher Boy hanging around her.  They were from different sides of society and they did not have anything in common.

Kaz felt a little more comfortable, when Josh’s father came in to greet her and pray with her again.  This time the Preacher Man took her hand.  He made Kaz confess after him that she was healed and made her thank God for her healing.

Whatever!  I’m still in pain.  I don’t feel healed!

Kaz could not wait to get out of the hospital and get away from these Preacher men, they were driving her crazy!  She needed to tell this Preacher Boy that he should stop assuming there was something between them.  There was nothing.  She did not need him.  She did not need any help and she did not want him assuming she needed anybody.  Kaz hoped she was strong enough to work again.  The orphanage needed her.  The kids depended on her.  She had to get out of this hospital.

                                                                                         -end chapter eleven-