Chapter 8: Where am I?

I opened my eyes and tried to focus on anything. On my right, I heard someone moving around. I turned my head and recognized Heather sitting next to the bed I was in.

"Where am I?"

"Oh my God, you're awake. Mom, Emily, he's awake."

Emily came running into the room and right to my left side. She reached her arm around me, kissing me on the forehead at the same time. Liz came in and stood at the end of the bed.

"I'm so glad that you're awake. You've had me so scared that I might have lost you."

"Where am I Em?"

"You're in the hospital."

"How long have I been here?"

"Two days."

"What happened?"

"You pushed Heather out of the way of a falling bale of hay. It landed on your back and knocked you to the ground. Your head hit the floor and knocked you out." Emily explained.

"You suffered a concussion which is part of the reason you were out. You also suffered a few broken bones that required surgery. The drugs involved for that are what caused you to be out for the last 2 days." Liz added.

"Where's Dad?"

"He had to get back to the farm. It doesn't run itself." Liz replied.

"I know that. When do I get out of here?"

"Another day or two."

"Good, I want to get home."

We talked about nothing in particular for a little while before Liz had to be back to the house to work on dinner and the girls had to handle the animals. That left me alone with a nurse that would make Hitler look kinda cute.

I took a look at my wounds when 'Hitler' was taking care of me. I had a cast on my right arm and my right leg up to the hip. I also had bandages wrapped around my ribs as well. She told me that I had a few cracked ribs and the bandages were holding them in place. That was why it hurt to breathe.

She was actually a very pleasant person to be around. My first impression would have been that she was a bitch. After talking with her, I could tell that she was a big teddy bear inside.

"Good morning Richie. I hope you slept well."

"I slept like crap. You weren't there to keep me warm Em."

"Oh God, don't make me puke," Heather blurted out.

"Jealous" Emily asked.

Heather turned and left the room when Emily bent down to give me a kiss. Liz walked in and coughed to get our attention.

"Don't worry Mommy. We can't do anything in the hospital."

She rolled her eyes at Emily before looking at me.

"How are you feeling today Rich?"

"Better. When do I go home?"

"The doctor should be in here shortly. You can ask him."

"How are they handling the chores without me?"

"Emily, could you give Rich and I a minute alone?"

"Sure Mom." Emily got up and left the room. Liz turned to me before answering my question.

"Heather feels a bit guilty over what happened. She has actually been pulling her weight without complaining for the last few days. Emily has been a bit down. It is evident that she misses you being around."

"I miss her too."

The doctor interrupted us. He told Liz a few things and told her that I could go home. I was going to need to be cared for though. I would not be able to do any of the chores for about 6 weeks. That was going to put a strain on the family, but we could handle it now.

"It's good to be home. The hospital food sucked. I could have done better myself."

"That's quite normal Rich," Liz responded.

"I get to nurse my Richie back to health."

"Only when the chores are done Emily. Those animals will need your attention much more than this animal will during those times."

"Ok. Mom, how is he going to get upstairs?"

"Dave will be coming over later tonight to help Frank get him upstairs. I'm afraid that once he's up there, he will be there to stay for a while."

We sat down around the dining room table to enjoy lunch. It was good to have a home cooked meal. Hospital food sucks.

Uncle Dave arrived a while after we finished and between Dad and him, I was delivered in my bedroom where I guess I was going to be confined to for the next month. Dad and Liz seemed to worry a bit with me being confined upstairs and out of plain sight. They also figured that it wouldn't take me long to get sick of Emily, since she seemed to worry about everything.

Just before dinner, Heather popped in for a visit.

"Hey Rich. How are you doing?"

"Well, though the thought of getting out of my chores seems good, I can think of a few more pleasant methods for doing it."

She stifled a giggle before continuing. "Rich, I'm really sorry. You told me to stop and I totally ignored you. If you hadn't pushed me, that would have landed on my head. I'm told that if it had, I would probably be dead or at best, a cripple. I've treated you like crap since I we moved in, why would you risk your life for mine?"

"Like it or not, once our parents got married we became siblings. I'm sure Emily is going to be ignoring that." This got another giggle from her. "I don't want to see you hurt either. We need to stick up for one another."

"I guess I've been a pig of a sister, haven't I?"

"You were not the sweet girl my father told me about just before I met you. I know this move was a shock to you, but you need to make the best of it. There is a lot of fun to be had if you let yourself enjoy it. There will be time later to find a boyfriend."

"It looks like my sister didn't waste any time with you."

This time is was my turn to giggle. "No, I guess she didn't. She told our parents and me that she felt that she had to before you changed your mind and decided that you liked me."

"I think I'll let her have this conquest. I will help you anyway you need it, just ask."

"I'll try to remember that. But I think if I do, Emily might get a bit upset, at least for a little while. Speaking of whom, where is she?"

"She's helping Mom with dinner. She's going to bring yours up personally and feed it to you. She is going to eat with you. Then she gets to work on chores after dinner."

"Believe me when I say, I wish I could help you guys."

Emily entered carrying two plates of food with her. She placed them on a table that sat next to my bed.

"What are you doing in here? Trying to finish him off this time or steal him away from me?"

I could tell by her tone of voice that she was just joking. Heather seemed to get defensive. I guess the guilt she felt was a big factor on that.