The Crooked Path by Irma Joubert

Author:Irma Joubert
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2017-09-22T04:00:00+00:00

Marco improved over the weekend. His cough still rattled but his temperature had come down. But early on Tuesday morning Lettie received a call from a very agitated Aunt Gertie. She spoke so loudly that Lettie had to hold the receiver away from her ear.

“Marco had such a bad case of the chills in the middle of the night that I nearly called you,” Aunt Gertie shouted.

“I’m on my way,” Lettie said.

She put her head around her parents’ door. Her father was still in bed. “Aunt Gertie called,” she said.

“I heard,” said her father. “Do you want me to come along?”

“No need, I’ll fetch you later.”

When she walked into Marco’s room, she could see he was gravely ill.

“Let’s take your temperature,” she said, slipping the thermometer under his tongue. She placed her hand on his forehead. He was very warm. “Does your chest hurt?” she asked.

He nodded.

She took the thermometer out and looked at the reading. His temperature had shot up to a hundred and two degrees. A cold realization gripped her.

She took out her stethoscope. “Do you have trouble breathing at times?” she asked, examining him.

He nodded again.

She straightened up and stroked his hair. “Marco, I’m going to admit you to the hospital,” she said.

“No! Please don’t!” he exclaimed. “I want to stay here, in my bed, where it’s nice and warm. Aunt Gertie can look after me.”

She shook her head. “You need more care than she can provide, Marco,” she said seriously. “Can I pack a few things? Pajamas? Toiletries?”

“Pneumonia?” he asked softly.

She nodded. “I’m afraid so, Marco. But if we treat it without delay, we can stop it in time.”

He lay back against the pillows, his eyes closed. “I hoped . . .” He fell silent.

When she laid her hand on his brow, it felt cold and clammy. “You’ll feel better soon enough,” she tried to comfort him. “I’m taking you in now, then I’ll fetch my dad at home for a second opinion.”

“Is he back to working a full day?” he asked, his eyes still shut.

“Half day,” Lettie said as she packed his bag, “but he’s back on his feet. Come, put on your warm coat and we’ll go. Here, take the scarf as well, and wrap it around your nose and mouth to keep out the cold air.”

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