The Christmas gift - A Christmas story - Chapter 5
Terrence carried Jonah to the shelter and went in at the side door. There were not many beds open because of the extreme cold, but he found a bed in the furthest corner. He tucked Jonah in and grabbed a blanket to sleep in front of the bed. Jonah slept peacefully, but somewhere during the night he started coughing. Terrence gave him some water and Jonah went back to sleep.
Terrence was worried about Jonah and he knew the exposure to the cold weather today with all the running was not good for him. He already had a weakened immune system because of the lack of food, so he expected the worst.
Terrence checked on Jonah every half an hour and his suspicions were correct. By two o clock that morning Jonah had a terrible fever and he knew that he had to get Jonah to a doctor in the morning. This little guy crawled so deep into his heart, it would break if something happened to him.
They had a very restless night and by morning, Jonah had such a high fever that he started hallucinating. He spoke about his mom, and Jack and his dad, and by six o clock Terrence was frantic.
He fetched some breakfast for Jonah and a cup of cocoa, but Jonah didn't want to eat anything. Jonah just sat there curled up on Terrence's lap, coughing up a storm.
The clinic opened at seven, and by then they were the first people inside. Terrence realized that it was a danger zone for Jonah, but he also knew that he had no choice, but to bring him in. After the nurse examined Jonah, she looked at Terrence as if it was his fault, and then phoned an ambulance to take Jonah to the hospital.
Terrence stood there watching, while the paramedics loaded him in the ambulance and drove away. He knew that Jonah was in safe hands now and searched in his pocket for the piece of paper with the address on it.
Yesterday after Jonah ran away, he walked over to Jack. He didn't say a word about Jonah, but promised Jack that he would notify him if he ever saw him. Jack handed him the address and fifty dollars.
Terrence wanted to buy Jonah an extra coat with this money, but now it might not even be necessary. Terrence sighed heavily, and then checked in his pocket for the address, and took the nearest bus to get him closer to Jonah's house.
Twenty minutes later he stood in front of the house. It was a very neat little house with a pretty garden. He stood across the road and waited until Jack left for work, before he walked over and knocked on the door.
The door was answered by a little girl that looked so much like Jonah, that Terrence got tears in his eyes.
"I need to speak to your mommy please" Terrence said and waited on the porch while the girl called her mother.
"Good morning, can I help you?" Jonah's mom asked anxiously and stood behind the door.
She looked scared and Terrence noticed all the signs of a battered woman. His own mother had been abused by his father, so Terrence knew exactly where Jonah was coming from.
"I have news about your son...Jonah..."
Her eyes welled up with tears and she quickly checked outside to see if Jack has left.
"Please come in."
She opened the door for Terrence and as he walked in, there was a very familiar smell, but he couldn't put his finger on it. When he walked into the living room, he saw the half-drunk bottle of Whisky on the table. Memories of his own childhood flashed before his eyes, and he knew where the smell came from.
"I know where Jonah is, but he needs you now." Terrence said, and then explained what happened.
She invited him to sit down while he told her everything about Jonah, and he also told her that he had been looking out for Jonah for the last eight months.
Tears streamed down her face while he told her, but Terrence did not feel one bit sorry for her. He told her where to go and then stood up to leave, but hesitated and turned around again.
"You can't bring Jonah back here, he doesn't deserve this life. Jack is on a mission to find him, and it might not be my place, but I won't allow him near that child."
Terrence walked towards the door but she stopped him.
"Please would you come with me to the hospital?"
Terrence nodded and went outside while he waited for her on the porch.
Fifteen minutes later she came outside with the little girl clinging her hand. Terrence smiled at her and the three of them walked down to the bus-stop.
-To be continued
Chapter 1- https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-christmas-gift-a-christmas-story-chapter-1
Chapter 2-https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-christmas-gift-a-christmas-story-chapter-2
Chapter 3-https://steemit.com/story/@giantbear/the-christmas-gift-a-christmas-story-chapter-3
Chapter 4- https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-christmas-gift-a-christmas-story-chapter-4
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O how I love your stories - you are blessed with a wonderful talent - keep it coming.... cannot wait for the next part.
Good one. I wouldn't like Jonah go back to that abusive father either. I never could understand such a thing.
My dad was 'n dominee and had to visit (huisbesoek) all kinds of homes. He once told me that some of the homes smelled like poverty. I think, if I look back to some of his other references, that the smell of alcohol and unclean bodies must have been part of the smell of poverty.
I am so glad you wrote your story again, please let Jack die form some horrible thing.
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I just stumbled upon this part. The story seems interesting. That means I got a bit of catchup to do. Gonna read from the beginning! Nice work.
Poor Jonah. Glad you gave him a good friend in Terrance. Enjoying the story immensely.
Wonderful post!