Chapter 3

           WhatIamtryingtosayisthatitallcameunexpected.

           ItstartedoffbadlybecausewhenIwentdownathalfpastsevenIsawherlyingbythescreen,she’dknockeditoverinfalling,andIkneltbyherandherhandswerelikeice,butshewasbreathing,itwasakindofraspingsigh,veryquick,andwhenIliftedherbacktobedshecameto,shemusthavefaintedinthenightwhenshe’dgonebehindthescreen.Shewascoldallover,shebegantoshiverterribly,andthentosweatmoreandshewasdelirious,shekeptonsaying,getthedoctor,getthedoctor,pleasegetthedoctor(sometimesitwasgeneralpractitioner—G.P...G.P.shekepton,overandoveragain,likearhyme),itwasn’therordinaryvoicebutwhattheycallsing-song,andshedidn’tseemtobeabletofixhereyesonme.Shewassilentawhile,andthenitwas"YankeeDoodleDandy,"onlythewordswereallslurredlikeshewasdrunkandshestoppedinthemiddle.TwiceshecalledMinnyMinnylikeshethoughtshewasinthenextroom(itwashersister),andthenshestartedtomumblealotofnamesandwords,allmixedupwithbitsofsentence.ThenitwasshewantedtogetupandIhadtostopher.Shereallystruggled.Ikeptontalkingtoherandshewouldstopaminute,butsosoonasIwentawaytolookaftertheteaorsomethingshewasoffagain.Well,Iheldheruptotrytohelphertodrinktheteabutitmadehercough,sheturnedherheadaway,shedidn’twantit.