The Order of the Pig Story 2: Friends Don't Quit!

Chapter 3 - Dr Hadrian

I carried him all the way to the vet. He must have been tired from this morning's drama because he fell asleep. We walked into the vet and, surprisingly, we saw...

Petra: "Stella? Lluna? What are you doing here?"

Stella: "Oh hi. I brought Lluna here for her leg. She tripped over a rock yesterday and hurt it. Why are you here? With a sleeping pig?"

Olivia: "Aiden kicked Reuben's eye and it's gotten worse."

Jesse: "I still wanna punch him in the face!"

Lukas: "We all do, Jesse. We all do."

We went and checked in at the desk.

Receptionist: "Hello. What are your names?"

Jesse: "Hi. My name is Jesse. These are my friends. Olivia, Axel, Petra and Lukas."

Receptionist: "Why are you here today?"

Jesse: "My pig, Reuben, here got kicked in the eye and it's gotten worse."

Receptionist: "Ok. Come right through."

Jesse: "See you later, Stella, Lluna."

They just nodded. We walked in to the examination room.

Receptionist: "A doctor will be with you shortly."

And she walked out.

Jesse: "Wake up, Reuben."

His eyes fluttered open. He looked around the room and tried to make a run for it.

Jesse: "Reuben!"

I caught him just in time.

Jesse: "It will be ok. We're all right here."

I put him on the examination table. He was still shaking though. Suddenly the doctor walked in.

Dr Hadrian: "Reuben?"

Petra: "Yes. This is Reuben."

Axel: "And you are..."

Dr Hadrian: "You can call me Dr Hadrian. And you are..."

Jesse: "I'm Jesse and these are my friends, Olivia, Axel, Petra and Lukas. And You already met my pig, Reuben."

He walked towards Reuben and tried to examine him but he backed away.

Jesse: "Reuben! Don't be scared. Dr Hadrian is going to make you all better. If you be a good boy, maybe Axel will give you a cookie."

Axel makes the best cookies. Reuben looked up at us.

Axel: "Yeah. A really big one!"

Reuben finally let the doctor examine him. He loves cookies.

Dr Hadrian: "I see. This eye appears to be infected. How was this caused?"

Olivia: "Someone kicked him."

Dr Hadrian: "Oh dear! That's not good at all..."

I mumbled to myself.

Jesse: "Tell me about it!"

Dr Hadrian: "We will have to keep Reuben here over night for further examination."

Jesse: "WHAT??!!!"

Reuben ran into my arms.

Jesse: "No! Why?! I can't! He can't!..."

Dr Hadrian: "I understand you are upset. But if you want me to make him better..."

Jesse: "No! I can't leave his side! I promised!"

I hugged him closer. Tears were slowly falling down my face. My friends held me.

Lukas: "Jesse. It's the only way."

Petra: "You can come back and get him in the morning."

Jesse: "But I promised I wouldn't leave his side."

Olivia: "We know. But you don't want his eye to keep getting worse, do you?"

Jesse: "No."

Axel slowly and gently pulled Reuben away. My friends started to walk me out. I ran back to Reuben and hugged him. Reuben whimpered.

Jesse: "You gotta be brave, Reuben. Can you do that for me?"

He nodded.

Jesse: "I'll see you tomorrow, buddy. I love you."

We started walking slowly out the door. I looked back to see Reuben waving his little hoof at me. I waved back. By this time, Tears were streaming down my face. We were nearly out of the vet, where I heard Reuben squeal.

Jesse: "Reuben!"

I started running back but Axel held me back.

Petra: "Jesse. Reuben's going to be fine."

I was struggling to get to Reuben but Axel still held me back.

Jesse: "Let go, Axel! He needs me! I need him!"

Lukas: "Jesse! Stop!"

I stopped.

Lukas: "Reuben would want you to be brave too."

I stopped struggling. We all walked out and Axel carried me. He's a big guy and he's very strong so he can easily carry me. I was too upset to walk. Ever since I met Reuben, we've always been together no matter what. It's going to be a hard night.