Adapting and Conquering (The story of Bertha's rise and fall)

Chapter Twenty-Six

Hey Paul!

Hey Bertha. Whats up?

Do you know if Katie is gonna visit Heather today @ the hospital?

Ya she is. So am I.

Do u think u could drive me? I want to apologize to them both...

Sure, we can pick u up. Me and my brother are going.

K thx :)

Np cu :)

A silver Honda pulls up in my drive-way around 6 PM. I jump up from my perch by the window, assuming it's Paul and his brother. For old time's sake, I wore jeans instead of my usual short-shorts and a fuzzy pink sweater.

"Bye Dad!" I yell as I run up to him and kiss him on the cheek (or what if I'm just licking him again? No one knows...). "I'll call you if you need to pick me up or anything."

"Have fu- Um... I hope you get everything sorted out sweetie. Be safe!" He replies, catching himself after he almost instructed me to have fun at a hospital.

Since my mom is driving Billy to Karate lessons, I just grab my purse and phone and run outside. Paul and his brother come out of the car to greet my Dad.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Berlage," Paul says as he and his older brother shake his hand. "Bertha, this is my older brother, Charlie."

"Hi Bertha," He says warmly.

After we are all situated and my Dad has been assured that I will be brought home before nine, we all get in the car and Charlie drives us to the hospital.

"So... What happened to Heather, it must be terrible for you too, Charlie."

"Yeah. It's terrible what happened to her and Grup... "

"You just miss her because she always lets you borrow her video camera!" Paul teases him.

"No!" He protests. "She also doesn't mind when I steal a bunch of m&m's from her room!"

We all laugh and Charlie turns and winks at me. "I'm kidding of course. It's terrible what happened. Our Mom, Heather's Aunt Karoun, is very worried."

"Oh. sorry I brought it up then." I say, embarrassed.

"Oh, don't be." Paul waves it aside. "It is good to talk about it. We should be happy, we're blessed it's only a few broken bones. And she's healing pretty fast too. Only her leg looks serious, but everything else is healing well."

"Oh good!" I say, genuinely glad at her recovery.

Charlie laughs. "That's the Heather we know. Always sassy and defiant, she's already fighting back! That's how you know she's getting better! Today she insulted me for wearing red shorts with a brown shirt. She told me it's ugly." He laughed.

I laugh too, even though the closer we get to the hospital, the bigger the pit of dread grows in my stomach.