"Miss Emmie, here we are." Nelson said as he parked the car.
"Thank you Nelson," I said grabbing the bag of stuffies and climbed out of the car.
Nelson followed me inside as I went to the children's ward. The nurses smiled at me and nodded their heads telling me I'm clear to go ahead. I smiled at them while Nelson stayed behind at the Nurs's station and went from room to room spending time with each of the kids and giving them a snuggly. It wasn't until I got to the last room that I felt my heart hurt. She was a young girl about my age and looked really sad. She had brown hair and brown eyes, with fair skin. I knocked on the door to her room and she looked up.
"May I come in for a bit?" I asked.
She sat up nodding her head, "S-sure.." She whispered.
"My name is Emmie, what's your?" I asked sitting down in the chair next to her bed.
"Amanda." She said in a whisper. "Amanda Roberts."
"Do you mind if I ask why you're here in the hospital?" I asked her.
"My heart is failing." She whispered. "I'm waiting for a heart transplant."
"I'm sorry." I whispered not sure what else to say. Then I decided to change the topic, "Do your friends come visit you?"
"No. I don't have friends or family. I'm a ward to the state." She said sounding very sad.
"That must be really difficult.." I paused for a moment then looked at her with a smile. "I'd like to be your friend!"
"Really?"
I nodded, "Yes!"
"Why?"
"I think you'd be an awesome friend and I already love being around you."
She smiled, "Really?"
"Yes. So from now on, we are friends and I'd like you to call me Emmie and I'd like to be best friends. I'll come visit you every day and I'll bring some games and other things too."
"I hope you mean it.."
"I do." I grabbed her hand and squeezed it briefly.
"Emmie, it's time to go." Nelson said knocking on the door.
I frowned, "I can't stay for a few more minutes?"
"Afraid not, your father wants you back home."
I nodded turning to Amanda, "I have a present for you" I pulled out the last snuggly, a panda, and gave it to her.
She took it with joy, "A panda? They're my favorite!" She exclaimed.
"Mine too!" I said looking at Nelson who knocked on the door again. "I'm sorry I have to go now but I'll be back tomorrow."
"Will your parents be mad?"
"No, Amanda. In fact, my dad lets me come here whenever I want as long as it doesn't interfere with school."
"I wish I could be in school." She frowned.
"I'll bring my homework and we can do it together." I said before waving goodbye to her and leaving. Once we were in the car I looked at Nelson in the rearview, "Nelson, where is dad?"
"Still in his study, but he did request for you to go to him once we are home." Nelson replied.
I nodded letting the car fall silent as Nelson drove me home. Once home I climbed out of the car and went running through the house to my father's study and knocked on the door then poked my head in. My father was sitting at his desk rubbing his temples staring out the window. I take it the girls are really driving him crazy.
"Daddy?" I said and he looked over replacing his frown with a smile.
"Come in, Emmie." He waited until I walked in and closed the door before speaking, "Did you get to visit many kids today?"
I nodded sitting down in the chair across from him, "I did. I even made a new friend. Her name's Amanda and she's waiting for a heart transplant."
"That's good." He smiled. "I wanted to make sure you are willing to go to the school your sister wants to go to."
"I'll be fine, daddy. Please don't worry."
"Those schools are tough. The kids in them can be mean. Especially if you aren't open about your resources. I'm also afraid your sister will cause you trouble."
I smiled at him, "I'll be okay. I promise"
"If you're sure." He smiled gently back.
"Daddy," I said suddenly, "I have a request."
"It's not often you ask me for things, what is it?"
"My friend, Amanda, she's my age and in the hospital. She can't attend school. I promised her I'd bring my homework so we could do it together, but I'm afraid she wouldn't be able to learn properly by doing that."
"What is it?" He asked after I paused for a while.
"Is there any way we can pull some strings and help her with a laptop and get the school to record the classes I have for her so she can participate too and I can take double the homework home to giver her a copy?"
"What about her family?" He asked.
"She doesn't have any... She's an orphan like I was but she's a ward to the state. I'm her first friend and I don't want to abandon her.. She was very sad when I visited her and she had nothing in her room unlike the other kids. No visitors. Nothing.."
My father nodded, "I'll look into it and get back to you. However, it is time for you to sleep because tomorrow you start school."
I nodded, "Daddy, can I go to the hospital every day and do homework with her?"
"When we don't have family events, that is fine."
I jumped up hugging my father tightly, "Thank you!"
He laughed patting my hands, "You're welcome, Emmie. Off you go. Don't forget to eat before go to bed."
"I won't. Goodnight daddy." I gave him a kiss on the head and bounded for the door but stop briefly, "How long are you going to hide in here?"
"As long as it takes for your sister and mother to get their lives together and stop acting so entitled." He said pointing to the couch in his office already made up with blankets and pillows for bed time.
"Daddy you might as well move in here permanently." I said making him laugh, "Please still have meals with us. I don't know if I can bare them without your company."
My father nodded and I left the office going to the kitchen getting a bowl of fruit to eat for dinner. Afterwards, as I promised, I went to bed in anticipation for the following day.
