Chapter Six

Two days later

Gwen was returning to their class from the playground after recess with Susan and they were talking animatedly about the new cartoon that was soon to be released in Cinemas when she accidentally bumped into Freda Thompson the queen bee of the school and the owner’s daughter.

“Are you blind?”. Freda’s eyes flashed as she stared down at her shoe and saw Gwen’s footprint on her beautiful white sneakers. It was Friday so it was sportswear day in school.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t see you.” Gwen apologized. She moved to clean Freda’s shoe when the girl angrily shoved her in the chest hard and she fell to the ground.

“Don’t touch me!”. Freda snarled.

“Hey! That’s not nice!”. Susan chided and bent to help Gwen up.

Freda glared at the two of them and flounced off.

“Are you okay Gwen?”. Susan inquired as she dusted off the dirt on Gwen’s clothes.

Gwen put her hand on her chest and rubbed as her heart raced in her chest. “I’m fine.” She replied breathlessly.

“Your heart?”. Susan looked concerned as Gwen rubbed that spot.

“It’s fine.” She assured her. “I need just a minute.”

Susan looked around and realized that they were the only one on the playground and she became scared.

“Get on my back.” She crouched down in front of Gwen. “I’ll carry you.”

“There’s no need for that.” She sidestepped Susan. “Let’s go.”

Susan searched her face to be sure she was really fine then she nodded and they continued on their way.

“What are you two still doing outside?”. The assistant head master Mr Gregory demanded glaring at the two of them.

“Er… Gwen was having trouble breathing so we had to slow down. We’re sorry Mr Greg.” Susan apologized.

Mr Gregory was very mean and all the pupils hated him. He didn’t like children all that much so the children knew to steer clear of him because he was trouble with a capital T.

“Do you also have the same problem?”. He asked Susan.

“No sir.”

“I’m in a good mood today if not I’d have punished both of you for being tardy.” He told them. “Now run to your class.”

“Sir?”. Their eyes widened.

“I said run to your class!”. He snapped.

The girls yelped and took off running. They got to their class and met their teacher already teaching so they knelt down at the door as per the rules of lateness and waited until she turned to look at them with her beady little eyes.

“Recess ended almost ten minutes ago.” Miss Ursula said. “Where have you two been?”.

“We…”

“Shush.” She cut them off. “Go to your seat Susan.”

“Thank you ma.” Susan scrambled up and rushed to her seat.

“You are always using your fake heart problem to get out of punishments well you’ve entered my trap today.” Ursula told Gwen. “Raise up your hands and close your eyes.”

“Ma she really has…” The class representative Cole began but a glare from her silenced him. “Sorry ma.” He apologized.

Gwen did as the teacher ordered and willed her heart to slow down. It was thumping wildly in her chest and she was beginning to feel dizzy.

Susan kept one eye on Gwen and the other on Miss Ursula. It was known within the inner circle that Miss Ursula had once lusted after Gwen’s father after his divorce but he’d politely rejected her so she was going after his little girl like a shark after blood in water.

Gwen’s vision became blurry as time went on and it felt like hours instead of just two minutes. She shook her head to clear it and her hands fell limply to her side as she stood up.

“What are you…”

“Susan.” Gwen whispered before she slumped to the floor.

“Gwen!”. Susan shot up from her seat at the same time Cole did and they both rushed to meet her.

“She’s hardly breathing!”. Cole exclaimed. “We have to take her to the hospital!”.

“Her heart problem is real?!”. Ursula’s eyes widened in fear. “Hey Jesus.” She put her hands on her head.

“Somebody help!”. Susan screamed.

It was all a flurry of activity as teachers arrived wondering what was happening and they went to call the school doctor who thankfully was still around.

“Her pulse rate is low. She needs to be hospitalized.” The doctor told them. “Now.”

A male teacher quickly lifted Gwen in his arms and rushed downstairs while the doctor followed behind him. They put Gwen in the car, got in and the doctor drove off.

“Does anyone have her father’s phone number?”. Mr Greg asked.

“I know it.” Susan spoke up.

Greg pulled out his phone. “Tell me.”

Susan quickly recited the number for him and he clicked on the call button, put the phone to his ear and waited as the phone rang. It rang and rang but Jesse didn’t pick.

“No answer.” Greg said. 

“There’s a no phone policy during working hours at the factory.” Susan muttered. “Can I call my mother sir? She’ll be able to get through to his supervisor at work.”

“Take my phone.” Ursula handed Susan her IPhone. “Call her.”

Susan took the phone in surprise and dialed her mother’s number, clicked the answer button and put the phone to her ear.

“Hello?”. Abby picked on the second ring. “Hi Miss Ursula.”

“Mommy, it’s Susan.”

“Susan? Are you okay?”.

“I’m fine. It’s Gwen.”

“What happened to my baby?”. Abby sounded panicked. 

“She fainted in school. She was having trouble breathing so the doctor took her to the hospital in his car. We tried reaching uncle Jesse but he didn’t pick up.” Susan said.

“Don’t worry I’ll let him know. Do you know the name of the hospital she was taken to?”. Abby inquired.

“No.”

“Okay. I’ll call Jesse now.” Abby said and hung up. She called Jesse but he didn’t pick as Susan said so she called his supervisor at the factory who was a friend of hers and it went through.

“Abby hi. What’s up?”.

“I’ve been trying to reach Jesse but he’s not picking his phone. Can you find him and tell him that Gwen is in the hospital? I don’t know where yet.”

“No problem.”

“Thank you.” Abby hung up. “Oh God please let her be fine.” She prayed. Jesse would be devastated if anything happened to Gwen.

Jesse rushed into The Floral hospital with Abby and they hurried over to the nurses station but there was no one there.

“Where are they?”. Jesse demanded.

“Can I help you sir, madam?”. A nurse walked up to them.

“Yes. My daughter Guinevere Billion was rushed here sometime ago. I want to know where she is.” Jesse said.

“I’ll check.” She skirted the counter and began to type on the computer for a few minutes before she looked up at Jesse. “She’s in the emergency room and the attending doctor would like to speak with you.” She informed him.

“Sure.” Jesse nodded.

“Come with me sir.” The nurse went ahead.

“I’ll wait here.” Abby told him.

“Thanks.” He smiled and hurried after the nurse.

They stopped in front of a door with a nameplate that read Dr Alexander Peters, cardiologist. The nurse knocked on the door and a voice from inside told her to come in which she did.

“Doctor, the little girl’s father is here.” The nurse informed him. 

“Oh good let him in please.” Dr Alexander said.

Jesse stepped into the office and the nurse closed the door. He walked up to the doctor’s desk and shook his hand then sat when the doctor told him to.

“I ran some tests on your daughter and the results didn’t come out good Mr Billion.” Dr Alex informed him somberly. “With a heart condition as severe as hers, she should have been homeschooled instead.”

“I know.” Jesse sighed. “It’s just… I don’t have money to get her a private teacher and when I suggested homeschool to her… she didn’t talk to me for days.”

“You’ve been buying her drugs right?”.

“Yeah but it’s finished. I was sourcing for more money to buy her new drugs. I didn’t think… this would happen.” He shook his head sadly. “Please tell me she’ll be fine until I can get some money for her drugs.”

“I’m sorry Mr Billion but from what I saw… She has a couple of days before her heart gives out.” Dr Alex said.

“I can’t lose her. She’s all I have.” Jesse protested. “Is there anything we can do?”.

“Of course there is. What she needs to survive is a new heart. Once she gets that then she will be fine.”

“A new heart.” Jesse repeated. “How much will that cost?”.

“Well for starters, she’ll have to be flown abroad for surgery and you know very well that some organs are more expensive than others.” Dr Alex took a deep breath. “I’ll just give you an estimate for your travel expenses, hospital bills… It should cost you about three to four million naira.”

Jesse felt like his world had just ended when he heard the outrageous amount.

“Four million?”.

“Approximately four million and it depends on whether she’d get the heart on time. I have a friend abroad who is also a cardiologist like me, I can refer you to him.”

“Um… Sure.” Jesse nodded still dazed. “And you’re sure she won’t have any more problems with her heart if she gets a new one?”.

“Yes, at least ninety nine point nine percent sure.”

“I’ll get the money. Today or tomorrow.” Jesse promised. “Can I go see her?”.

“Of course.” He nodded.

“Thank you doctor.” Jesse shook hands with him and left.

Jesse went to see Gwen with Abby and though they weren’t allowed to stay long but they were able to pray for her before they left.

“What did the doctor say?”. Abby inquired.

“She needs a new heart and to travel abroad for her surgery, I’ll need about four million naira for all the expenses.” Jesse replied in a hoarse voice.

“Four million? Where will you get that kind of money from?”. Abby asked.

Jesse let out a sigh. “I’ll go and meet my father.” He said. “I’ll grovel if I have to.”

“I’m very sorry all these things are coming at you at once Jesse. I wish there was something I could do to help.” Abby said.

“You’re doing it. Can you stay with her please? I’ll try to come back soon.”

“Sure, take your time.” She said.

Jesse hugged her then turned and left.

It had been over eight years since he last saw his parents and he hoped that the years would have softened their hearts towards him because he had no one to turn to.