One Janelle is your best friend Dana We should go Dana stood at the bottom of the stairs She looked over at her dad who was waiting in the hallway truck keys in hand I went already with Grandpa remember I know But that was weeks ago The truck’s all fixed now and For now Dana said with a half smile It’s such a long way Dad I think we’d better take it easy on that old truck You need it for work After being laid off from the factory all winter Dana’s dad had started his own lawn-care business business back in April He’d been so busy all summer he didn’t have time to take Dana to the library or 1
the swimming pool let alone drive to the children’s hospital an hour away to see Janelle Dana’s mother didn’t have a car She was intense about doing her part to save the environment and always took the bus to work As a result Dana and her brother Dale walked everywhere or took their bikes When Dana’s grandfather had come to visit for a week at the end of July he’d taken her up to the hospital in his little rental car He’d helped her find the right room Janelle’s mom and dad and aunt and uncle were there everyone talking in whispers Nelly was pale Her entire left leg was set in a cast and rested in a harness suspended above the bed It looked uncomfortable It also looked like it would be really hard for Janelle to move around but maybe that didn’t matter because she was so very very still Her eyes were closed Dana felt ill Her heart thumped oddly She wiped her sweaty hands on her shorts and took a deep breath She was still trying to get up the courage to walk over to the bed when a nurse had come in and shooed everyone out Too many visitors she said This girl needs to rest 2 Sylvia Taekema
Dana’s grandfather had spoken with Janelle’s parents in the hallway outside the room for a few minutes while Dana sat on a bench Then he took her out for a milkshake but she didn’t really taste it He told her all kinds of funny stories from his travels but she only half heard them I know you’re disappointed about not being able to visit with your friend her grandpa had said resting a hand on her shoulder Dana didn’t tell him that she had actually felt relieved Over the next few weeks Dana had tried a few times to call Janelle’s room Dana’s mother had gotten the number for her The first time she called the phone just rang and rang and that scared her Why didn’t Janelle answer Had something bad happened It wasn’t like she could go anywhere with her leg the way it was The second time a nurse answered and said Janelle was with a physiotherapist The third time Janelle’s dad answered and said she was down at X-ray He asked if Dana could call back in a half hour or so Sure Dana had said But she didn’t She just didn’t 3 Ripple Effect
