skippingschool-2

By the time the plane had landed in Denver, Elizabeth was exhausted. She had
slept sporadically on the plane, as all she could think about was Aunt
Susan. Believing it better not to wake anyone at either her Uncle's house or
her grandparents, Elizabeth make her way to the entrance of the airport and
hailed a taxi. "Mercy Hospital please," she told the taxi driver. The man,
whose placard above him read, "George Kaplan" looked at the young girl
clutching the rabbit and nodded. If wasn't his job to question why some kid
would be out at a time like this.

During the ride he asked, "Hey, kid, are you ok??" Elizabeth nodded and
after a few minutes she spoke up, "It's my aunt, she's been in a car
accident and....well..she may not.." Elizabeth couldn't continue and driver
didn't need her to. He understood. The remainder of the trip was in
silence, with an occasional sniffle from his young passenger.

By the time, he pulled in the visitor parking lot of Mercy Hospital it was
almost 2 in the morning. She was sure visiting hours would be over, but she
had to know her Aunt's condition. The driver announced, "We're here." and
she nodded and took a deep breath. Oh God, how she hated hospitals.

She reached in her pocket and pulled out several wadded up bills, unfolded
them and gave them to the driver. From the backseat she again stared at the
hospital and took another long deep breath. Mr. Kaplan smiled as if he
understood her hesitation and said, "Do you want me to wait for you. They
may not let her have any visitors." She nodded and got out of the cab,
"They'll let me see her." He smiled at her determination and watched her
walk inside.

She searched and found the ICU and inquired on the condition of Susan
Porter. The nurse at the station didn't even look up, as she sternly
announced, "You'll have to come back later. Visiting hours are from 10-8
ONLY." Elizabeth didn't move. The nurse looked up and saw a young girl on
the verge of tears. Her clothes were wrinkled, hair astray, but at the same
time, she looked very determined. "You don't understand," she began, "I have
to know how she is. I just in from the airport, I just have to see her." The
nurse's demeanor softened, "Listen Miss, visiting hours are over, but if
you promise to be quick, I'll let you see her. She's very weak and she is
still unconscious. She is in critical condition. Her chances of survival are
slim, but if she can regain consciousness, she'll have a good chance. "

Elizabeth followed the nurse down a corridor into a larger room where her
Aunt was connected to a variety of tubes and machines. Her head was bandaged
and she was aware that it was those machines keeping her aunt alive.
Elizabeth stroked her aunt's cheek and took her hand in hers and silently
cried. The nurse said, "Why don't I leave you alone for a few minutes. Go
ahead and talk to her, just because she's unconscious, doesn't mean she
can't hear you. I'll come back in a few minutes when your time is up."

She nodded and began to talk, "Aunt Susan, I'm so sorry this had to happen
to you. I brought something for you," she held up the rabbit as though she
could see it and continued, "remember that summer, I was 7 and I had forgot
my teddy bear and you made me this white rabbit? Well, I brought it for you.
Maybe it'll make you feel better, like it still does me." She wiggled the
ears of the rabbit and continued, "The ears are a bit worn, from the times I
tried to bite them off. One of the legs is a bit crooked, on account that
Frisky, our old lab tried to tear the rabbit apart. You'd think I'd have
outgrown this rabbit, but I haven't. It always makes me feel close to you. I
call it my Sue Sue Bear - since that's what mom used to call you. Please
wake up."

The nurse came in later and found the girl asleep in a nearby chair and the
little white rabbit resting on the arms of her aunt. She hated to wake the
girl, but she had no choice, rules had to be followed.
Not knowing where to turn, Elizabeth took her backpack and wondered the
halls of the hospital. She finally found a seat and sat in the corner of the
cafeteria. She was cold, alone and desperately wanted her parents, yet she
didn't want to face them. She thought of buying a plane ticket home with the
money her mom had given her, but she knew she still have to face her
parents eventually, so out of boredom, she took out her notebook and began
writing:

"Dear Mom and Dad
I am very sorry that Aunt Susan is in the hospital and I am very sorry that
I was not in school when I should have been."

Elizabeth stared at the paper. She had so much to say, but didn't know where
to start. She started doodling in the margins and when they were filled with
stars, squiggly lines, and other designs, she began to write again.

"I know how much you must be disappointed in me. I wish I could go back and
change things, but I can't. I know that I am in a lot of trouble, probably
the most I've been in."

Tears fell as she continued to write, pouring out how she felt. Soon the
paper was filled. She knew she had more to say, but needed a moment to
think. She put her head down on the table and in no time, she was asleep.

Sometime later, Elizabeth woke to find herself in bed. Immediately, she
wondered, was it all a bad dream. She looked around the room and knew it
wasn't hers, it was her mom's old room in Colorado. She remembered falling
asleep in the cafeteria at the hospital. She also vaguely remembered her
dad waking her up and helping her to the car. She didn't remember getting
into bed or anything. It was all very strange.

She made her way to the bathroom and on the way out bumped into her
grandfather. As unusual, he greeted her with a warm hug. "Well, its about
time you're awake." She looked at her watch, it only read 11 something, but
in actuality it was well after noon. She smiled meekly as she walked back to
her room. She had a million questions.

As she grandfather filled her in on how she got there, her parents walked in
the room. Neither one looked very happy. Elizabeth inquired about her Aunt's
condition and was given a cold reply, "Same as before, No change." She
attempted to inquire about the accident, but was cut short when her dad
addressed her grandpa, "Dad, do you think you could leave us alone for a
minute, we have some things to discuss with Elizabeth." He nodded and
slowly left the room.

Her dad took the chair vacated by grandpa and frowned at his only daughter.
"Well, what do you have to say for yourself?"   Elizabeth looked up at both
parents and began to realize she was in more trouble than she imaged.   "I'm
sorry," was all she could say. After a long silence, he said, 'Well, as I
see it, I expect more than I am sorry. You have a lot of explaining to do.
Elizabeth, your mother and I are very disappointed in you. Neither one of us
expected this from you. While we are here, you are grounded. You are not to
leave this room without permission of your mother or me. I suggest you use
this time to think about your behavior."   All she could do was sigh, "I
only did it yesterday and I swear I will never do it again."

James looked at his daughter and listened in awe, as he heard her say, she
had never skipped school before. His mind reeled back to yesterday, when he
had seen those notes. He glanced at his wife and continued, "You've never
skipped school before??" Elizabeth immediately knew where the conversation
was going and said nothing. Her mother eagerly answered, "I swear she just
said, that she's never skipped school before." Elizabeth listened to the
dialogue and said nothing, what more could she say. She just dug herself in
a huge hole.

He stared at his daughter and finally said, "I do not believe this was the
first time you have skipped school." Elizabeth began to cry. "Do you want
to know why??" When she did not respond, he continued, "I saw the notes."

Elizabeth was at a loss for words. He gave her a moment to sink in and
continued. "I also know about the one you were planning to write for your
absence yesterday." To illustrate his point, he picked up her notebook,
opened it up and read, "Please excuse my daughter, Elizabeth..." it was the
note from yesterday.

She watched as he stood up and turned the chair around he was sitting in and
said, "Elizabeth Susan Morgan - Come here!!"