Monique, Peyton, and me were at the Barking Crab for Lunch.
Monique laughed.
"You were freakishly large."
"I agree. You are freakishly large." Peyton agreed.
"No, I'm not. Don't say that."
"You guys good?" I questioned.
"There's the guy right there. What did I tell you?"
"I agree that you are freakishly large." She continued.
"That's not funny."
"Hey, Joe! Joe, man!"
"Number one."
"Joe, Joe, Joe..."
"Joe, Joe, Joe..."
She laughed.
"Is it always like this?" Monique questioned.
"Nah."
"What? You have a big game coming up?"
"Yeah. The Championship." Peyton answered.
"That's exciting. Eight years old and already going to big events like that, huh?" She inquired.
"I like it." Monique gave her opinion.
"Yeah. Unfortunately, Peyton's going to be home by then."
She stopped smiling.
"Her Mom gets back from Africa in a few days."
"Well, can't you just go home after the game?" She questioned.
"No. I have to get back before she does." Peyton answered.
"What did you say?" I questioned her.
Peyton took a bite of her dessert.
"You said you'd have to get back before she does?"
"Mmm?"
"Isn't your Mom picking you up?"
"Well..."
"Peyton."
"I was planning to tell you, Joe. I really was. But... Actually, it's a really funny story. You're going to love it. It's just LOL..." She stalled.
"Quit stalling."
"I'm supposed to be studying at a special ballet program this month but instead, I snuck away to come meet you." Peyton confessed.
Monique was shocked.
"You ran away?"
She took another bite of dessert.
"You ran away?"
"Mmm. Yummy dessert."
"Is your Mom even in Africa?"
"About that..."
"Oh, what have you done?" I inquired.
"Okay. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation and everybody...." She started.
"The press is going to eat me alive." I cut Monique off.
"What a stupid, stupid, stupid thing for you to do."
Peyton was sweating.
"Did you ever stop and think about how this was going to impact me?" I questioned her.
Peyton coughed.
"Oh, stop it. That's not going to work this time. You're in serious trouble."
"Okay. She's sweating like crazy. She's coughing. Her lips are swelling."
She leaned closer to her.
"Oh, come on. Don't fall for that. She's a little world-class performer."
"I don't think she's acting right now. Give me one second."
Monique had put her hand up to me.
"Are you allergic to something?" She questioned.
"Nuts." Peyton answered.
"Did you know that?" Monique inquired.
She was checking her dessert.
"The dessert has nuts. Take her to the hospital. Come on." Monique ordered.
I picked Peyton up.
She wrapped her arms around me.
I put Peyton's green coat over her.
"Hospital. Where's the nearest hospital?" I inquired.
"Ninth and Woodrow. I'll get the car." She answered.
I ran off with Peyton.
"Where you going? What are you doing?" Monique fired off questions.
"Move, move! Move!" I ordered.
"Excuse me, sir."
I pushed my way through a bus crowd.
I ran across the Bridge.
She clung to me.
Peyton coughed.
Horns honked.
I dashed through automatic doors marked emergency entrance.
"Help! My daughter needs help! Help!"
"What do we got here?"
"Help. She's allergic. She can't breathe. She's allergic to nuts."
A male nurse took her from me.
"Looks like an anaphylactic reaction. Set her down."
He put Peyton on a gurney.
"She can't breathe."
"Baby. Baby, open up your mouth."
She was gasping for air.
"Airway's almost closed. Let's move her."
"Ten liters non-rebreather mask."
They rolled Peyton away.
"Peyton. Peyton."
The Doctor barked orders.
A female nurse was holding me back.
"I'll show you to the family waiting room. It's going to be fine. They're going to take good care of her. She'll be okay."
