An attack
1220 Words
Linda offered to help Fred take care of Junior since he was always busy with work. So, Linda always came over to make breakfast for them and prepare Junior for school while Fred made himself ready for work. She then dropped him off at school and picked him up after he had closed. She took him to her home and took care of him there till Fred came and picked him up to their house.
This became their new routine and it went on for six months.
Today, was no exception. It was almost five in the evening but the sun was still high in the sky, even though it looked like it was about to set. Linda was in the kitchen preparing dinner, when Junior ran into the kitchen, shouting excitedly.
" Auntie Linda, I have finished with my homework. Can I go to the park and play with the other kids?" he jumped excitedly.
His excitement amused Linda a lot, so she began to smile at him.
" Okay, tell me what you are so excited about?" Linda asked.
" Well, my friends and I are going to play football together", Junior replied.
Linda frowned. " I thought your father has told you he does not want you to be playing football or any other sport. So, why do you want to go there and play? If that is the reason why you want to go out, then it's better to stay here and study or watch television".
" But, Auntie Linda... " Junior tried to protest.
" No, Junior. You are not going out and that's final. Please listen to me and go to the living room and watch the kids channel on television. I'm sure there are lots of educative things you can watch there. Besides, Grandma will be home very soon and I have to finish preparing dinner", Linda said firmly.
" Okay", Junior pouted.
Linda smiled as he walked away to the living room. She did not like refusing Junior when he needed anything, but, she had promised Fred she would not let junior partake in such sports, due to his condition. Linda quickly turned her attention to the food she was preparing and Junior used that opportunity to sneak out of the house.
After some minutes, Linda was finally done with the food. She called Junior to come wash his hands but did not get any response. She put some of the yam she had cooked into a bowl and covered it, then sent it to the dinning table. She went to the living room, calling Junior's name again, but still did not get any response.
She was curious. So she began searching the whole house. She searched everywhere for him, and she still could not find him.
" Where could this boy have gone to?" she wondered to herself, as she stood outside looking around. Just then, her mother arrived from the market.
Linda looked at her and walked up to her to welcome her. She took her mother's bag, with her mother following right behind.
" So, how was your day?" her mother asked.
" My day was fine. How about yours, mother?" Linda asked back.
" It was very busy. I am so tired. I don't know where I slept today, because people came to the shop to patronize my wares. I almost sold all of them", her mother narrated.
" Then you were indeed busy. I am happy you were able to sell most of your wax prints, since these days, people hardly buy things", Linda said.
" You can say that again, my daughter. Anyway, where is Junior? Or did his father come for him already?" her mother asked when they got inside the house.
" He is the one I was looking for before you came in. He was here with me a while ago, when I came out to serve the food, I could not find him anymore", Linda said.
" Have you gone to the park? I am sure he is there playing with the other children", her mother remarked.
" The park. How could I forget that? Earlier he wanted to go there and play football with his friends but I said no. I can't believe he disobeyed me. Let me go and get him. I will be right back", Linda said and began heading towards the door when a loud bang was heard at the gate.
" Who could be that?" her mother frowned.
" I do not know. Let me go and check", Linda said and rushed outside.
She opened the gate and a boy, not more than 17 years, rushed inside with Junior on his back. The boy looked like he had run a marathon to get here.
" What happened to him?" Linda asked, looking agitated.
" He was playing with his friends when he suddenly started coughing and gasping for air. He almost fainted, so I picked him and rushed him here", the boy replied, handing Junior over to Linda, who said a quick thank you to the boy and rushed Junior inside.
" Mother, mother!" Linda shouted, as she ran in with an almost unconscious Junior in her arms.
Her mother ran out of her room, with a cloth wrapped around her upper body.
" What is it? What happened?" Her mother asked.
" It's Junior, mother. He can't breath. Can you please watch over him while I get his inhaler from his back pack?" Linda said, placing junior slowly on the chair.
Her mother nodded and sat by the boy. She put his head on her lap. Junior was breathing very slowly and heavily. It seems the boy was having difficulty in breathing. Linda found his back pack and hurriedly searched inside, hoping to find his inhaler, but it was no where to be found. She took out everything in the boys bag and placed them on the centre table, but still could not find the inhaler.
" I can't find it, mother. I can't find his inhaler", Linda began to panic.
" Listen dear, I think we should take him to the general hospital and let Fred know about this. There is no time", her mother said.
Linda nodded and picked the boy up after she had picked her car keys from her bag. She rushed out and put the boy on the back seat, softly. She opened the gates, and quickly drove out. She got to the hospital in no time. She rushed to the reception, called on the nurses who brought along a stretcher outside. They placed junior on it and rushed him to the emergency ward.
Linda waited outside. She searched the pockets of her jeans and found her phone. She called Fred to tell him what had happened. Fred picked up after the first two rings.
" Hi Lin, I am already on my way to your place..."
" Fred, please come to the general hospital", Linda said, trying not cry.
" Hospital? What happened?" Fred panicked
" It's Junior. He... He had an attack. I brought him here. Please, hurry", Linda began to cry.
" What! Okay, I'm on my way there. Please stay with him. I will be there soon", Fred said, and headed towards the direction of the hospital.
- Writer
