Orphans 1: Butterfly by V. C. Andrews

Author:V. C. Andrews [Andrews, V. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Horror
Published: 2011-06-12T18:11:29+00:00

Eight

I tossed and turned for hours that night, and when I finally did fall asleep, I had so many

nightmares, I kept waking up in a cold sweat, and by morning I was actually shivering and the back of my neck ached. I fell asleep again just before I was supposed to get up and get ready for school. A soft knock at the door woke me. Sanford looked in.

"You should be getting up, Janet," he said with a smile.

I nodded and started to sit up when the ache traveled down my spine and I groaned. Sanford grew concerned and stepped into my room.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't feel so good," I complained. "My neck aches and I'm cold," I said through chattering teeth.

He put his hand on my forehead and looked even more worried.

"You feel like you have fever. I'll get a thermometer," he said and hurried out of the room. He was back in less than a minute and put the

thermometer under my tongue.

"I was afraid of this," he muttered. He paced as he waited. "You've been working too hard on your schoolwork and your dancing. You need more time to rest. You're growing, too, and all this is so new and frightening for you, I'm sure. No one listens to me, but I know I'm right about this:'

He looked at the thermometer and nodded.

"A hundred and one. That's a fever. You stay right there, young lady. I'm sending Mildred up with some aspirin for you. Does your throat hurt?"

I shook my head.

"No, just my neck and shoulders ache. And the backs of my legs," I added, but they were always aching so I didn't think anything special about it.

He stared-al me a moment.

"I've changed my mind. I won't give you aspirins yet. I'm taking you to the doctor," he decided. "Just throw something on, anything, I'll meet you downstairs," he added, and left the room.

I got up slowly, washed my face, and dressed in an old flannel shirt and a pair of loose-fitting jeans. As I passed Sanford and Celine's room, I could hear their muffled voices. Celine sounded very upset.

"What are you talking about?" I heard her say. "That's nonsense. People don't get sick from dancing too much."

"I didn't say that was the only cause. The child's exhausted."

"Nonsense. She's young. She has an unlimited well of energy," Celine insisted. I didn't have the strength to listen to more so I slowly made my way downstairs.

When Sanford joined me in the entryway, he offered to carry me to the car, but I wasn't in that much pain and I felt silly with him just holding my arm as if I were some old lady.

"I've already called Dr. Franklin. He's a good friend and he's coming into his office a little early just to see you first," Sanford explained.

"Is Celine angry at me?" I asked. She hadn't even come to see how I was.

"No, of course not. She's concerned, that's all," he said but quickly looked away.

The doctor examined me and concluded that I had the flu.

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