it's 1:36 and I don't want to write
anymore but I am scared not to write.
because if i don't write, i am procrastinating
and this retirement thing is not going to work.

pete called the doctor
and Doctor Hendricks said he would be there
in an hour.

pete got molly into bed and put a cold compress
on her head. she was shivering so much even though it
was a hot june night and pete had put a red and white
quilt over molly and she lay motionless in the
four poster bed.


pete was pacing back and forth in the living room
and his hand were jammed into his jean pockets when
doctor hendricks had arrived.

"Where is she?"
"Upstairs," replied Pete in a hushed voice.

"I never seen her this bad, doc. What are
we going to do?"

Doc Hendricks looked at Pete.
He had lost so much weight and he looked so worn.

"Well, let me see the patient, and then we'll talk."

Doc Hendricks had known Molly and Pete all their lives.
He had delivered Meghan when Molly was 19.

Meghan was a beautiful child.
she had grown up to have
golden red hair and brown eyes large and soulful
in a face filled with freckles.

Always a playful child. and she had brought much
happiness to her mother and father.

she loved to sing and she used to have a knack for
twirling. she could twirl faster than any child
he ever knew. and her laugher always filled the air.

the whole thing was a shame. a shame the way she had
died.

he climbed the last step to the second floor landing
and turned to the right. Molly and Pete's bedroom
was furthest down the hall if he remembered.

he opened the last bedroom and peeked in.

the bed was empty.

"What the?"
Puzzled he looked around. Molly was standing by the
window looking out towards the fields.

"She's out there. I have to go find her."

"Molly, you need to get some rest."

"No, I need to find my daughter."