Chapter

1

One Week Earlier

"Hey, Lemon! Wait up!"

From halfway down the corridor Lemon Mint turned to see a huge cloud of silver balloons drifting toward her. Bobbing along under them was a short, cute, dark-haired mare, clutching the balloon strings as if the helium could lift her to the ceiling. Sky, lemon's best friend, rushed up, panting.

"Where's the party?" Lemon asked.

"These are for the foal in Room 901," Sky said. "He's got so many toys and flowers in there already, there's no room for him. What are you doing on the Foals Floor?"

"I just got assigned here this morning," Lemon said. "Some change from the Orthopedic Floor! You wouldn't believe how many ways ponies find to break their bones!"

Sky rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it," she said dryly.

"Come on," Laurie said. "I have to deliver these X-rays to the Nurse's Station."

The mares fell into step as they walked down the gleaming corridor and Lemon dropped her X-rays off. They were both wearing the drab tan tunics all student volunteers wore. But on Lemon's willowy figure, it didn't look bad.

"Meet me in the cafeteria for lunch?" Sky asked.

"Sure. Maybe today's the day you'll find that handsome med student you've been dying to meet. Then you can retire for the rest of the summer and concentrate on your social life."

"Get real! In this?" Sky stopped and gave a vengeful tug on her tunic in disgust. "I don't know how you manage to look so put together wearing it. It's not fair!" Sky shook her dark, curly mane with envy and despair. "Anyhow, I wouldn't quit now. It's not the worst summer job I've ever had. I've stopped hating you for talking me into it."

A pegasus nurse in starched white cap and uniform bustled up the hall, carrying a tray of medicines in her mouth. She glowered at Lemon and Sky as she came up to them. Taking the tray out of her mouth with a hoof she said, "Okay, girls. Get on with your work. You can't just stand here chatting all day." She carefully put the tray back in her mouth and she was off with a swish of her tail.

"Uh-oh!" Sky warned. "That's Nurse Willow, Ember Willow. Stay out of her way. They say she actually smiled once, but that was probably before you and I were born. Here's 901. See you at lunch."

Sky pushed open the patient's door and shepherded her balloons inside. Lemon continued down the hall a few steps. The noise of construction grew louder as she approached the new wing that would soon become part of the hospital. Outside the heavy door that blocked off the view of the new wing and partly muffled the din, Lemon saw the bright warning signs: DANGER! KEEP OUT!

Inside, the brand-new Flash Fear Wing was being built with ten million dollars that that Flash Fear, son of Flash Sentry and Princess Twilight Sparkle, had recently donated to Stalliongates Hospital. As a descendant of the Sparkle family, Fear shared a family trait with his grandfather Night Light--he liked to help out communities.

The Fear Wing. Not exactly the greatest name for a hospital wing, Lemon thought with a shiver. She stopped to listen to the construction ponies work, hammers banging and saws...well...sawing. In a sudden lull, she heard a very different sound: A foal was sobbing nearby.

She looked around. The quiet sound was coming from Room 903, just across the hall. Lemon crossed to the door and listened to the soft, pitiful, weary weeping that sounded as if it had been going on for a long time. She knocked on the door to Room 903 softly and quietly tiptoed inside. A small colt was lying in the high white hospital bed. His head was turned away front the door.

"Hello, there," Lemon greeted. The foal did not turn toward her. He just continued crying, more softly now, his voice hoarse. Lemon looked around the room. It was bare of flowers, toys, cards. There was nothing to cheer up a sick, frightened foal. "I came to visit you," Lemon said.

The crying stopped with a small gasp, but the little colt kept his face turned away. He stared out the window opposite the door, ignoring her. Lemon stepped to the end of his bed to read the medical chart hanging there: "Tick Yearling...three years old...pneumonia." His temperature had been normal for several days, so he should be going home soon. Why was he so unhappy? She approached the far side of the bed.

"Hi, Tick. My name's Lemon. I work here." She looked down at the small, pale face. His sandy mane was tousled on the pillow, and his muzzle was sprinkled sandy freckles. "I'm a student volunteer," Lemon continued in a quiet voice. "I run errands--like, I deliver things, and sometimes I visit ponies who feel sad and lonely away from home. Is that how you feel?"

Tick hiccuped once and sniffles. Lemon pulled a tissue out of the box on the side table and dabbed at Tick's wet cheeks. He sniffles again and turned away. Lemon took his small hoof in hers.

"I don't blame you. I'd cry, too, if I were stuck in here. But you're almost better. I bet you'll be going home soon." A tiny sob escaped from the colt, and he squeezed his eyes tightly shut. "Don't feel like talking? That's okay. I'll just keep you company for a while." Lemon stroked his soft hoof, trying to sooth him. "Would you like me to read to you? I could get a book and read you a really nice story. Would you like that?"

The door opened abruptly, and Nurse Willow marched in.

"What are you doing in here?" she demanded.

"I-I was just talking to Tick, to cheer him up," Lemon explained.

"Don't waste your time," Nurse Willow said brusquely. "He won't talk to you. He won't talk to anyone. You're only bothering him. And you're I the way here, anyhow. Will you please leave."

Lemon was stung by the nurse's harsh tone. But she reminded herself that most nurses were terribly overworked and could get pretty grouchy. One of her friends at Stalliongates High, Melody Burns, said that her mother, who was also a nurse, was always tired and cranky.

As Lemon left the room, she glanced back once more at Tick. He was watching her now, his tear-filled eyes staring at her from behind Nurse Willow's broad back.

Lemon felt a sudden jolt. She was sure that, silently, the colt was pleading with her.

Author's Note

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