Kim yarned as she woke up from her nap.''Are we there yet?'' she asked her dad,''No, Honey, not yet,''he said.
Kim sighed and looked around. She saw her 6 year old sister, Amy, sleeping in their big brother's lap. They were both fast asleep. Kim looked up to see her mom studying a map and laughed to herself. Everyone knew they didn't need that map when they had a GPS, but they let Mom keep the map for''just in case.''
Dad took a deep breath and grunted. ''James,''Mom said, looking up from her map,''I can drive if you need me to.'' No...it's okay,''he replied between deep breaths,''just having...a little...chest pain.''Mom watched him sympathetically. ''I'll be fine,''Dad said
Worried for her dad, Kim pulled out her ipod to distract herself from the thoughts of the possible things that could happen to him if he didn't go in for a check-up. When she glanced out of the window, Kim noticed that they were in the desert. We must be close to Texas now, she thought. Kim closed her eyes and crossed her fingers in hope that they would get to their aunt's house sometime soon.
A couple of songs later, they reunited with socilization. A few houses and burger places were visible. Kim sat up with excitement.
''We're not there yet,''Mom said, sensing Kim's excitement,''we still have a couple of towns to go through.'' Kim grunted and slouched down. That's when Amy woke up and looked out the window. ''Look at the people,''she said,''You think Auntie knows them?''No,''Kim mumbled. ''We're not in the same town as her yet.''oh,''Amy said and rested her head on Nick's shoulder.
Kim looked upto see her Dad gripping the steering wheel with his head down, groaning.''James! Watch out!''Mom shouted. Dad swerved then pulled the car to a complete stop and Amy covered her ears to the sound of the screeching tires. Now Nick was awake.''What is it?''he asked.''I think we almost hit a dog,''Mom said,''James, go check it out.''Dad groand as he got of the car to check on the possibly dead dog.''Is it dead?''Kim asked, sticking her head out of the window.''I...think so''Dad shouted from outside the car.''Daddy killed a puppy?!''Amy gasped.''Yup, now we can have it for dinner,''Nick teased.''Ewwwwwwww,''Amy said and stuck her tounge out at her big brother. All or a sudden, some lady came screaming down the syreet.''Oh NO!''she cried,''you hit my grandbaby's dog!''
''We are so very sorry,''Dad apologized.''Don't be,''the lady said,''that little mutt got on my last nerve.''Dad laughed,''I'll be happy to carry it somewhere safe for you.''That'll be great. Can you just set it on the sidewalk for me so it won't be in the middle of the street while I call Animal Control to come get it?''No problem,''Dad said.
As Dad bent over to get the dog, there was aloud thump.''James!''Mom cried. Everybody hopped out of the car to see their Dad laid out on the ground.''Nick, get him into the car right now!''Mom yelled. Then she turned to the lady,''Where's the nearest hospital?''Uhhhh, you have to take the freeway,''the lady stammered back. Mom rolled her eyes as I to say''That's not an answer'' and called 911. The ambulance was there within minutes. Mom rode in the ambulance with Dad while Nick drove the family's van with Kim and Amy panicking in the backseat.
When they got to the hospital, Dad was rushed inside. Mom told the children to follow her inside. As they walked into the hospital, they noticed that it was very small and only a few people worked there. The few that did stared at the family as they walked inside-not one friendly smile.''I'm scared,''Amy whispered.
Don't be,''Nick told her
One of the nurses told them to have a seat and someone will be there to help them in a few minutes.''I have to go potty,''Amy said.''Kim,''Mom asked,''can you please take her to a bathroom?'' As Kim and Amy walked through the corridors, Kim noticed her Dad lying in a bed, unconscious, and two doctors talking over him.''he can be another one of our experiments,''the shorter one of the two doctors said,''Maybe it'll work this time.'' ''We can't risk his life, he may not make it,'' the taller doctor said.''He's already dying,''the smaller one protested,''his lungs have given out and''NO, end of discussion.''
Scared, Kim picked Amy up and ran until she found a bathroom. When the doctors spoke to mom, they told her that they would have to keep Dad overnight to do surgery. Mom didn't understand what he needed surgery for, but she was to tired too ask questions. So they asked for directions to the nearest hotel and left after they checked in on Dad.
On their way to the hotel, everybody was in a bad mood and Amy kept crying,''I miss my daddy!''and''I want my daddy!''Eventually, Kim got tired of it and yelled,''Then go get him!''The car grew silent.''Kim,''her mom told her,''don't be mean.''Nobody spoke for the rest of the ride.
When they woke up the next morning, Amy was gone. They searched the entire hotel and there was no Amy.''Maybe she tried to go to the hopital,''Kim suggested.''Only because you told her to,''Nick said,''How smart of you!''I didn't think she would really leave,''Kim argued.''When DO you think?!''I think alot. Like right now, I'm thinkingof bashing you in your jaw.''Hey,''their mom interrupted,''That's not going to help us find Amy. So stop it.''The two teens hushed and continued to look. After two hours of knocking on people's doors and asking everybody they saw, the family went to the hospital.
''Make sure you look around as I drive,''Mom told Kim and Nick. At the hospital, nobody had seen her. So Mom Called the police and prepped herself to tell Dad that she lost their youngest child. When the shorter doctor from last night came out, Mom asked to see Dad immediately. The doctor sighed and said,''I'm afraid that won't be possible, he passed away last night.'' ''WHAT?!''Mom cried.''Something went wrong in the surgery and his body didn't respond well to the medicine that we gave him.''
''What do you mean something went wrong? Are you not a licensed surgeon? Did you not know what you were doing?!'' ''Ma'am, I am sorry for yourlost,''the doctor ignored her questions. As Mom argued with the man, Kim told Nick about the conversation she heard between the two doctors the day before. Nick thought for a second then interrupted Mom's yelling at the doctor,''Where is he?''
The doctor looked at him,''Excuse me?''
''Where is my father?''Nick demanded.
''I'm afraid you can't see him right now, he is still in critical condition.''That just won't do,''Nick said and started to run through the hospital looking for his dad. He looked in the room they kept his father in last night and every other door he passed by. Kim ran by his side with the doctor chasing them and their mom chasing the doctor. Kim and Nick worked together to look in every room to find their father.
While Nick was looking in one room, he heard Kim scream and ran to the room where she was. He stopped in his footsteps and his jaw dropped when he walked into the room. His dad was there, alright, with every bit of his insides laid out on the tables surrounding him. When their mom and the doctor caught up, the doctor spoke quietly.''You shouldn't have done that,''he said. Then he tried to ram himself into Nick, but Nick punched the doctor in his face and ran. Kim and their mom followed behind him. As they ran out of the hospital, they found Amy sleeping in the hallway. Mom scooped herup and kept running. They hopped in the car and drove off the doctors yelling at them. When Amy woke up, the first thing she asked was,''Where's Daddy?''
