Today is the day that Brooklyn and I was supposed to visit the pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins and spend time in the corn maze. Since Brooklyn is not here I am going to check with Donna's mother and her doctor and see if she can go instead. I know she would really enjoy the time away from here, and have fun.
"Hun, how about we let her bring a few of her friends too. You can bring some of yours too, and that way you guys can both do your separate things, but both still be able to go?" Ed De Bunt'e ordered rather than asked.
"Sounds great! I will start calling some of my old school friends now."
"No hun, hospital friends. Teens that will not have to stay here and spend their time alone."
I sighed and then began to think of who to ask. He told me that I could ask any one who had a blue or green dot on their door. I began to search for the dots of those particular colors and as soon as I came upon a door with a dot of blue I knocked.
"Come in", said a weak and crackly voice from the other side.
I went inside and saw a girl about the same age as me lying in bed. She looked so sick, and seemed to know that death was upon her. She had such a beautiful smile, and asked me to sit down. I told her of my plans to go to the pumpkin patch, and have a day filled with fun.She said it sounded fun, and hoped that I would have fun. I asked her to go with me, and she looked at me and a said with much shock, "Why would you want to take a girl like me, I am going to die soon. I am an orphan, no one wants me. Take someone else that deserves to go."
I looked at her and said, "I want to take you because you are my friend. I care about you, and can't think of anyone else I would rather take. I was invited to a meeting by a girl named Jen, and I didn't go because I didn't want to listen to a load of garbage. I want a friend that is down to earth and isn't going to feed me full of false hope. I want you to come with me, will you please?"
She agreed to come with me, and told me that her name is Melanie Hoover. I told her that my name is Jaedyn, and that I hope we can be great friends.
***The Next Morning***
Dear Diary,
I didn't get a letter from Dylan yesterday. That's strange, but anyways. I am unable to talk now, I must get ready for my adventure today. Melanie is the only person that I invited. Dr. De Bunt'e invited several other people for me. I am only going to hang out with Melanie, so I don't care.
"I am so nervous", Melanie chirped in my ear.
I am in my room trying to apply make-up, ans Melanie is abuzz. She seems revitalized, and ready to tackle the world. I had on a new pair of jeans, and my new band-tee from Hot Topic. After applying make-up I struggle to put my leg braces on, and eventually a nurse comes in and helps me. Soon we make our way to the elevator and go down to the first floor, and wait to leave.
"Each of you must wear a mask, and it is to remain on at all times. We have provided markers if you'd like to decorate your mask before our departure. Also, if you are attached to a pole please make your way over here at this time."
I, of course, made my way over to line that had formed. When it was my turn a short nurse removed my bags of fluid and medication and put it a special backpack on my back that will allow me to get around easier on our trip today. I then went back over to Melanie.
"I'm all ready now", I tell her.
She turns around and I stare in horror. She has the scariest mask covering her mouth and nose. She hands me one almost identical to hers. She says,"I hope you don't mind, but I decorated your mask for you."
About fifteen minutes later, we are all ushered outside and loaded onto a small bus. We spent about thirty minutes getting loaded onto the bus because several of the kids were really weak or couldn't walk. We had twenty-four kids going, and almost that many adults going. Also, there would be a team of nurses there that would be ready to step in if any of us got injured or needed medical attention. The ride there would last about two hours, but that was okay. We all laughed, and enjoyed being away from the hospital. The further and further we got away, the better we seemed to feel. We told jokes, and made funny faces. Several kids fell asleep, and we then quietened down. We plugged in earbuds and headsets so we wouldn't disturb the resting teens, and small children around us. By the time we reached our destination I was the only kid still awake, and I needed to pee badly. I was the first to get off the bus, and was allowed to go to the restroom in eye-sight of the bus. Once I returned we was told that the vast majority of us needed to receive medicine, and once that task was finished we would be able to enjoy our day. Melanie and I, as well as almost all of the other children, heard our name called to come over to the tent where the nurses had already set up. We each received our medicine and a walkie-talkie. The other children outside received theirs too. We were told to buddy up and to stay with our buddy at all times. Us older kids could walk around without a chaperon, but the younger kids couldn't. We were also told our rules:
1) Stay inside the yellow rope surrounding the specified area we was visiting.
2) Do not go into the corn maze without first coming back here to get an adult to go with us.
3) Always keep our walkie-talkie powered on.
4) If one of us gets hurt, or we get separated from our buddy radio in for help IMMEDIATELY.
5) Meet back at the pavilions in 1:00 for lunch.
Melanie and I then set off to begin our adventure. It was only 10:17 in the morning so we had plenty of time to hang out together. We went on the rope bridge, and squealed when it swung back and forth. We even zip lined on the lower one, and received a bravery badge. We had so much fun, and enjoyed the time we spent together. We went into the actual pumpkin patch, and had our picture taken among the pumpkin display. We heard several loud pops, but didn't think nothing about it. Soon after we was radioed in and asked to report back immediately. We did and saw that there was dozens of police cars and ambulances surrounding the area, and saw many crying children and adults alike.
"Have either of you saw Donna,Kristi, or Nurse Kate", a worried nurse asked.
" We passed them about an hour ago by the duck pond", we said confused.
We was then told the bad news:
"A group of robbers chose to come here today. They robbed the main office of the visitor building and then made their way here. Several shots were fired, and two children were struck, one boy died. We have made contact with everyone except for Donna, Kristi, or Nurse Kate. We need all of you to report the main building."
We made our way over there in tears, and tried to stay strong for the small children we saw that didn't fully understand the situation. They just thought that Donna, Kristi, and Nurse Kate had got lost. We sat in somber silence, and tried to pretend that everything was okay. Several nurses came and began administering medications to those that was time for their medicine. We all just sat there and held still for our injections. We was too stunned to try to resist against the injections.
