Home Alone

I was about 10 or 11 years old.  Lee was about 7 or 8.    Mom and Dad were taking Grandma to Long Beach to board a ship for to visit our relatives in Europe. We were going to be home alone for a whole week.

Well, not exactly alone.  We were supposed to go to Cousin Emile and Elsie's apartment after they came from work at 5 o'clock.  But between the end of the school day and the time we left for our cousin's place, we were left to our own devices.

I didn't see Lee after school.  I walked home and opened the door.  Lee was standing over the kitchen table.  His face looked pained.  Something was wrong.

He told me he had a bad stomach ache, and he couldn't sit down.  His face was pale.  He was really sick.  What was I going to do?  Mom and Dad were gone, and Cousin Emile and Elsie wouldn't be home for another two hours.

I helped Lee out of the house, and we walked to the medical building on Van Ness Avenue.  It was about three or four blocks away.  Our family doctor had an office there.

We went into the waiting room.  Lee remained standing while I sat down. The doctor came out and asked what the matter was.  I told her Lee was sick.  She asked where our parents were.  I explained that they were out of town, and that we were staying with our cousin, but they were at work and wouldn't be home for another two hours.

She examined Lee and then drove us to the hospital.  Lee had appendicitis!  He would have to be operated on.  They took Lee down the hall while I wondered what to do next.

I waited around until it was almost 5 o'clock.  Then I left the hospital and started walking to Cousin Emile's place.  It wasn't far.

Emile and Elsie were there when I knocked on the door.  I told them what happened to Lee, and we immediately left for the hospital.  By the time we got there, Lee had already been operated on.  He was in the recovery room.

Emile talked to the doctor and got all of the information.  We waited around until they moved Lee into a room.  We went in.  He was a little groggy, but he smiled at us and said his stomach didn't hurt anymore.  We stayed until he went to sleep.

The next morning Emile and Elsie went to see Lee before they went to work.  I went right to the hospital after school and stayed with him until Emile and Elsie got home from work.  After dinner we went back to the hospital.

I told Lee's teacher what had happened.  The Sisters led both our classrooms in prayer for him every morning.  Later, after he returned home, I would be bringing his home work back and forth.

Mom and Dad came home Saturday morning.  Emile and Elsie and I were waiting for them.  Emile explained the situation to them.  Dad looked a little concerned, but Mom became extremely agitated and started to blame herself for not being home.  She even suggested that because they hadn't been home, the doctors took advantage of the situation and that maybe Lee didn't need the operation after all.

On the way to the hospital Emile told her that Lee really did need the operation.  He was doing fine, and he would probably be coming home the next day.

Lee was glad to see Mom walk into the room.  Any worries he might have had were now gone.  Mom hugged and kissed him and asked how he was.  Dad stood there and smiled at him.

Lee did come home the next day.  He would be in bed for a while, and we would bring him his meals in bed.  I stayed in all week after school to help him with his school work and play with him.  The 'gang' stopped by almost every day to visit for while.

When he did return to school, he became the center of attention for a few days.  Everyone wanted to know how he felt.  The Sisters watched out for him and treated him like someone special.  This was new to him, he usually lived in the shadow of his big brother.  But this was his week, and he clearly enjoyed it!

Noel

Lovely story again Noel.

I pass your tales around to my own pals who have no interest in flightsim but like me, love your tales.

In-fact Noel, you now have your own mini fan club here in Derbyshire.

 

Very Best Noel.....  Phil

What a lovely story Noel. You have such a nice "voice" that lends a spice of drama to the tale.

Sometime during my seven decades of life I had appendicitis, but I cannot for the life of me remember anything of the experience! Were it not for the small scar from the operation I'd have trouble believing it ever happened... 🤥

Still have mine along with my tonsils!  Knock on wood! 🤕

On 9/10/2021 at 12:50 PM, philmurfin said:

In-fact Noel, you now have your own mini fan club here in Derbyshire.

A fan club no less.  I've never had one before.  I'm glad everyone likes the stories.  I'm almost out of them.  Maybe two or three more.  After that I'll start posting my bird pictures again.

Noel

It is nice to go back to a kinder and gentler time. Thanks for the stories.

Bill W.