Debora laughed before wrapping herself in her bathrobe “I’ll go talk to the head doctor and try to get the proper uniform.” She shook her head, finding this situation rather funny “I’m Debora by the way. And you are?”

Claudia laughed along with her. “Sounds like a good idea.  I’m Claudia.”

“But not bad?” She asked, looking down at her hands. “ I just hate feeling so restless. I thought about taking a wheel chair and rolling myself around so I’m still technically resting and I can still go places. Enough with the depressing stuff, tell me, what do you think of the people so far?” 

“A wheel chair sounds like a good loophole. Like you said, technically you’d still be resting. If I were you, I would. I couldn’t stay in here for that long. Umm, most of the people here have been really nice so far.

“Mm? Jacques. Dr. Chevalier. Err— you’re a patient? Comment allez-vous? Are you alright?” he answered, rather confused but still in a sense of urgency with the possibility that a suicidal or even anxious patient was on the other end.

“Doctor...? Yeah, definitely the wrong number. Sorry. Yeah I’m fine, I must have just hit a wrong button or something. I really didn’t mean to wake you up  if I did.”

“Thank you, miss!” Shawn smiled big and pulled the tie right over his head, handing it over to the girl.

“You’re welcome!” Claudia said and took the tie. She untied it and wrapped it around her neck to tie it loosely before handing it back. “Here you go. When you put it on, you just have to pull on the skinny end to tighten it.”

“There’s some people that don’t like me cause I annoy them or cry too much, but I think they complain too much so that’s on them.”

There’s nothing wrong with crying sometimes. You shouldn’t listen to those people.

“I like you. You’re nice. And pretty.”

Aww, well thank you. I like you too. I don’t you’re adorable, I don’t know how anyone couldn’t like you.

Ooooh, that sounds like.. especially intimidating, I’m going to have to use that one of these days. Oh wait — wow, like, really sick that you had to go to the hospital? Or like throwing up really sick? But, at least they’re not here, and most people won’t know if you’re pretending.

Go for it. I’ve found that as long as you sound intimidating, you don’t necessarily have to actually be intimidating. No, not throwing up sick, but I didn’t end up in the hospital either. That’s true. I didn’t think of that.

And, sometimes, you have to be mean, like when people are mean to your friends. Like, you can be mean to me all you want, but I don’t like when people are mean to my friends. Oh.. well, I’m glad you told them, because you probably could have gotten really sick or something, and well, you shouldn’t have had to suffer alone.

Yeah, exactly. Mess with me all you want, but do anything to my friends and you’re dead meat. I already had gotten really sick, I probably should have told someone sooner. I’m glad I talked to my parents, but now it’s not as easy to pretend. 

I don’t think you are, don’t worry. And, we all have moments where we’re mean, but.. you know. But, why did you want to? Wouldn’t it be easier to deal with if you had some kind of support? And, if they’re your friends, they should still love you and think you’re the best person ever, even if you’re sick. How did you find out? Did you go to the doctor’s by yourself or something? 

Yeah, I know what you mean. And I think that’s true. Sometimes being mean just happens. It was easier that way, not telling anyone. There was nothing wrong with me, I didn’t have anything to tell anyone. I only told my parents because I couldn’t do it anymore.

Somehow.. I believe you when you say that. So, I’m gonna like.. be your friend, if that’s okay. I promise I will try to kick butt, though. I throw a pretty pathetic punch — or so I’m told. Wait — how did you keep it from them? Where do they think you are right now?

I’d only do it if they actually deserved it. I’m really not a mean person. That’s definitely okay though, friends are good. Well, it’s the thought that counts? That can apply to more than just presents, right? I don’t know, it was pretty easy to keep it from them. When I first got sick I didn’t tell anyone for a while. I didn’t even tell my parents right away. I don’t know where they think I am. Boarding school maybe. My parents had talked about sending me to private school, so it wouldn’t be that weird for them to think that.

“I don’t get it, but I shouldn’t argue. Y’know, it’d be nice to be able to talk to someone about stuff without hearing them tell me that I talk too much.”

Arguing probably wouldn’t end in your favor so that’s probably a good idea. But if you want that then a therapist probably is a good thing.

That’s true. And, as long as it didn’t happen to you, I guess I don’t have to hire anyone to kick butt just yet. What about your friends from home? Do they know you’re here?

If that ever happened to me, or one of my friends, the guy would not live to tell about it. But if I do need you to kick anyone’s butt, I’ll let you know. Umm....no. Well I don’t think so. They don’t know that I’m sick.

Casper looked up once hearing a voice, quickly standing up, stumbling slightly as he stood up. “Oh, Hello.” He mumbled, leaning down to put the game away. “Uh… Its not, I was just testing it out, making sure it was all good for the kids.” 

Claudia let out a small laugh as she tried to hide her amusement. “Okay, sure, we can go with that.” She shook her head slightly and added, “But I gues I don’t really blame you, Twister is a great game.”

“I didn’t? Do you think you can show me how ta do it?”

Don’t feel bad, it’s hard. There are some adults that don’t even know how to tie them. But. yes. I can show you. 

Does that really happy to people?! Like, I just figured.. wow, that would be so mean, though. They could at least take you to the dance and then dump you after. Just so you get something out of it.

Well I’ve never actually seen or heard of that happening, but that doesn’t mean it never has happened. It would be awful if someone did that, but there are some pretty mean people out there. 

“I found this on my bed… I doubt this is the nurse uniform I was supposed to get…”

Yeah, I’m going to assume you’re right in saying that that’s not the nurse’s uniform.