In the Woods When First We Met

93. Fever

Monday was another happy day for Anne.

She and Gilbert arrived at school a bit early, which meant Anne had a chance to chat with the other girls for a few minutes before class started. She didn't even have to ask how Billy was doing, because Josie asked first.

Jane reported, "He can breathe on his own now. So I think if he can get some sleep, he'll get better. See, he hasn't really been able to get any good sleep because he can only breathe when he's sitting over the stove- and he can't sleep if he's sitting over the stove, of course. When he tries to lay down, he can't breathe again. It's been a struggle."

Mr. Phillips called them to attention and began their school day.

Back at the Andrews house, Billy was able to breathe on his own, which meant he could finally lay down and try to sleep.

But his fever was still going strong, and it was keeping him awake. He was shivering one minute and sweating the next.

Mrs. Andrews put a hot water bottle in the bed with him, but Billy couldn't seem to get warm, no matter how many times she changed it or the abundance of covers she put over him. "I'm so c-c-cold," he said, his teeth chattering. His mother, feeling sorry for him and being unable to do any more, sat holding him, wrapped up in quilts.

Only a few moments later, he'd be sweating profusely, clawing at the quilts to untangle himself, as if he were being strangled, and Mrs. Andrews would desperately try to cool his forehead with a cold cloth.

Finally, about three o'clock in the afternoon, the fever broke.

He slept the rest of the day, and into the night, not waking up at all until the following day.