Life and Death

Katie's face is in a pot boy the time Toola and I return.

"Oh, god, Katie! What's wrong?!" I run over to her side.

Katie lifts her head. She looks terrible; her eyes are red and a thin line of blood is tricking down the side of her mouth. I look in the pot. There's a bit more blood in there.

"Nothing...I'm fine, I'm fine." Her voice is hoarse.

"You certainly don't sound fine." Toola Roola is just as concerned as I am.

I sit down next to her. "That's it, you're staying home." I get up to call the school.

"Toola, do you think you could take care of her while I'm gone?"

"Sorry, Feather, but I have to critique an art exhibit later on today." She looks up and smiles. "But I think I know just the four to help."

"Four? That seems a bit much."

"Don't worry. I've got it covered." Toola runs upstairs.

        "Feathe...You needn't worry about me. I'm"—cough—"perfectly capable of taking care of myself." Katie tries to stand up. Her wobbly knees throw in the towel and she falls back on the couch again.

"Katie, you're in no condition to get up and walk around to get what medicine and food you need." I start dialing.

"Feather, listen, if you think—"

"Hello? This is Feather McTallison. Is this the school office? Katie's terribly sick, she's coughing up blood." Pause. "Yeah, that Katie." Longer pause. "Yes. All right. Please tell her teachers to give me her homework. Okay, thanks. Bye."

         Then Rainbow Dash appears from the top of the stairs, with three Breezies. "Darling? It's Rainbow Dash and some Breezies. Toola Roola sent us. She's such a dear."

Katie mumbles, "What kinda Rainbow Dash are you..."

Rainbow trots over to my sick roommate. "Oh, poor darling, you really are sick."

Katie backs up into the couch. "What in the...! You're not Rainbow Dash! You don't have wings! And your"—cough cough, wheeze—"cutie mark's different! And your mane is too! And why are you so chubby looking?"

Rainbow looks appalled. "I...what?"

I tug lightly on Rainbow's mane. "Heh heh, can I speak with you a moment...?"