第6章MissingTheDance

第6章missingthedance

“wouldyouliketobemydatefortherotcdance?”askedrick.icouldn'tbelievehewasaskingme.mytwobestfriendshadgottendatesweeksago,soihadgivenuphopeofanyonefromrotcaskingme.rickwasthecutestguyintheclub!hewantedtogowithme?“areyouserious?”“it'ssemiformal,soyou'llneedadress,butmyparentswillpayfortheticketsandthelimo,”heresponded.howcouldiaskformore–achariottakingprincecharmingandmetotheball?mymouthworded,“yes,”asmyheartleaptwithjoy.ihadneverbeentoasemiformaldancebefore,andnowwasmychance.thiswouldbethebestnightofmylife!

themomentgothome,itoldmymomaboutrick'sasking.immediately,shetookmeshoppingtofindtheperfectdress.wewenttothehairdresser'stomakeanappointmentforfridaybeforethedancetohavemyhairandnailsdone.iwantedrick'seyestoliterallypopoutofhisheadwhenhesawme.iwantedhimtotakeonelookatmeandfallinlove.couldithappen?wouldit?couldibetransformedintoabeautifulprincess?beforeiknewit,dayshadpassed.icouldn'tsleepatall.butterfliesflutteredinmystomach,andmyheadwasthrobbing.fridaymorningiwokeupandthewholeworldseemedtospin.itriedtoliftmyheadoffthepillowbuticouldn'tmove.

“honey,you'regoingtobelateforschoolareyouokay?”mymomcameintothebedroom.herhandflewtomyforehead.“ohno!you'vegotafever.”ididn'tfeelhot;ifeltcold,soverycold.mymotherhelpedmedress,andshedrovemetomydoctor.ihadbeenthereonlyafewminutesbeforemydoctorcalledanambulance.icouldn'tunderstandallthatmydoctorwastellingme.allicouldhearwasamuffled“one-hundred-four-degreefever.”thehospital'sbrightlightingwasblindingasanursewithlong,darkhairstucktwoivsinmyarm.ididn'trememberseeinghercomeintomyroom,onlytheblanketbeingthrownontopofme.“cold,verycold,”isaid,“theblanketisfilledwithice.”sheexplained,“youhaveabadinfection.yourdoctororderedfluidsandantibioticsforyou.justrest.”iclosedmyeyes.

itseemedonlyafewminuteslaterwheniheard,“goodmorning.”mydoctorwokeme.“i'mgladyousleptthroughthenight.luckily,we'vebroughtyourtemperaturedown.youareonespeciallittlegirl.youhaveaveryseriousear,nose,andthroatinfection,butitseemswenowhaveitundercontrol.”“mom?”igasped.“dad？.”i'mrighthere.“mymothergrabbedmyhand.ilookedandmyparentsweretherebesideme.”didimissthedance?“mymomsmiled.”icalledrick.igothisnumberoutofyouraddressbookandlethimknowthatyouwereinthehospital.“□”ohno!“icried.”there'llbeotherdances,“saidmydoctor.”bethankfulyou'llbealivetoseethem."dayspassed.

igotincreasinglystrongerandnolongerhadatemperature.theydiscoveredthatihaddevelopedaverybadstrepinfectionthatwastreatedwithantibiotics.ihadn'theardfromrickatall.thatbotheredme.iworriedthathewasangry.notonlyhadimissedthedance,buthisparentshadalsospentthatmoneyonalimo.ihadletthemalldown.whocouldblamehimifheneverspoketomeagain?icaredsomuchaboutlookinggood,ihadwornmyselfdown.thesamenursewhohadgivenmemyivscameintomyroomholdinganotherhospitalgown.“putthisonbackwardssoyourrumpwon'tshow,”shesaid.

“whydoineedtodothat?aren'tigoinghometoday?i'vegotonegownonalready.”sheleft,shuttingthedoor,andalthoughididn'tfeellikeputtingonanothergown,ididwhatsheasked.maybetherewasanotherx-rayortestmydoctorneededbeforeicouldbereleased.suddenlythedoorswungopenandstandingbeforemeweremyparentsholdingballoonsandatapeplayer,mytwobestfriendsinformals,theirdates,andrickinatuxedo.

“wouldyoucareforadance?”rickasked.“justbecauseyoumissedtherotcdancedoesn'tmeanwecan'thaveourownrighthere——rightnow.”tearscametomyeyes.“sure,”istammered.thenurseclosedthecurtainsandleftonlythebathroomlighton.myfriendscoupledtogetherasrickwrappedhisarmsaroundmeandbegantoswaytothemusic.“i'msogladyouareokay,”hesaid.“icalledyourparentseverynighttocheckuponyou.”“theydidn'ttellme.”ipulledatmyhairsoitwouldn'tlookunbrushed.“don'tworry.”hesmiled.“youlookbeautiful.”

forwhatseemedlikehours,myfriendsandidanced.wedidn'tmindthepeoplewatchingfromthehallormyparentsdancingbesideus.mytwohospitalgownswerelessthanformal,butididn'tcare.whenthetapewasover,rickhelpedmeintoawheel-chairandtookmedownstairstothelimousinewaitingtotakemehome.neverwilliforgetthatafternoonforaslongasilive.ididn'thavemyhairfancilydoneorevenaprettydress,butilearnedhowtofeeltrulybeautiful——tobeloved.