My Dawn

Chapter 8

Mark ran out to see Dawn under the treehouse holding her leg with one hand and holding a strange stick with another hand.

“Dawn, are you okay?” Mark asked.

“There’s a snake.” Dawn said.

She tried sounding calm but she didn’t remove her gaze from the snake. Mark noticed it. He looked at the boys.

“Call animal patrol and stay inside.” Mark said.

They nodded and shut the door. Mark tried squatting down but it startled the snake. Dawn gripped tighter on the snake to distract it.

“What are you doing to it?” Mark whispered.

“A friend once told me that snakes get distracted easily. When I squeeze it, it loses focus and looks for a way to escape.” Dawn said softly.

“Do you know much about snakes?” Mark asked.

“No. Just that if you even get bitten, try to trap it to find out its type in case it’s poisonous. The snake is needed for an antidote.” Dawn said softly.

“I should have told them to call an ambulance.” Mark whispered.

“No, I don’t like hospitals.” Dawn said.

“You need to make sure you aren’t poisoned.” Mark said.

“I don’t care if I am. I would rather be poisoned than go back there.” Dawn said.

“You’d rather be poisoned than go back to the hospital?” Mark asked.

“No.” Dawn said.

“Then where?” Mark asked.

“The fake carers.” Dawn said.

“Just hold in there. I talked to Tate and he’s going to help me try to get you to stay with us.” Mark said.

Dawn looked at Mark shocked.

“You want me?” Dawn asked.

“You are always welcome here. You are Laura’s friend. I can put two and two together. I have noticed her be happier since you came into her life. She was grieving her mother before you came into her life.” Mark said.

Dawn looked at the snake.

“You should probably step back.” Dawn said.

Mark stood back. Dawn grabbed the snake properly and started dragging it to a container they had for balls and other sporty toys. Mark put the lid on it after Dawn put it into the container by dragging it over the gap. Mark grabbed a drill from the shed and drilled a couple holes in the top to help it breathe. He clipped the lid closed then he carried Dawn inside to keep her foot elevated. He put her on the couch and grabbed the phone to call an ambulance.

“Dawn, are you okay?” Jessie asked.

“Stay back from her for now. Don’t overwhelm her.” Mark said.

Jessie nodded. He sat on a different couch with Patrick. Mark called the paramedics then called Tate and explained she was bitten by a snake while playing tag and that the ambulance is coming with animal control. Tate is coming back to check she is okay.

Dawn laid back as Mark suggested. Tate arrived moments before the animal control. Tate saw the ambulance arrive with animal control and they checked the snake. Mark led them to it and they looked through the drill holes.

“It’s a Lycodon Capucinus also known as the Common wolf snake. They aren’t poisonous. But it is a good thing you checked. Most people ignore snake bites and end up dead shortly afterwards.” The animal control employee said.

“If it isn’t poisonous, can you get it out of here?” Mark asked.

“Yes.” The animal control man said.

The paramedics rocked up. Dawn covered her face with a cushion from the couch to hide her embarrassment.

“Hello!” The paramedics called out.

“Come in!” Mark shouted.

They came in and saw Mark out the back. They walked to Mark.

“We were called about a snake bite?” The paramedic asked.

“We just confirmed it wasn’t poisonous but I still wouldn’t know how to treat it. She’s on the couch.” Mark said.

Mark led them to Dawn.

“She’s the one hiding.” Mark laughed.

The paramedics laughed as Tate watched cautiously.

“What’s the patients name?” The paramedic asked.

“She’s not saying, she’s not good in social situations. Too many people.” Tate said.

“Her name is Dawn.” Mark said.

“Hello Dawn. We are going to check the bite now.” The paramedic said.

Dawn raised her thumb without removing the cushion from her face. Jessie and Patrick laughed. They picked up her leg and looked closely. They cleaned it and squeezed out some saliva that was at her ankle bone dripping out still. They cleaned it again then added a band aid then wrapped it tightly.

“Lucky it wasn’t poisonous huh.” The paramedic said.

Dawn raised her thumb again. The paramedics laughed.

“Dawn, I thought it bit your side?” Laura asked.

The paramedics looked at Laura confused.

“Before I grabbed dad, she grabbed her side and gasped then I saw it drop.” Laura said.

“Were you bitten more than once?” Mark asked.

Dawn stayed quiet for a moment.

“Snitch.” Dawn grumbled.

“That’s a yes.” Tate said.

“Have you got a sheet, we can’t just expose her sides to look.” Wendy said.

Wendy was the female paramedic.