"Daddy's all wet!" laughed the five year old, as he added a mound of fluffy white bubbles onto Leo's soaked mass of black hair.
"I still have to take a shower though - then mop up the bathroom. Nick, I think there's more water out here than in the tub!" Leo said, laughing as he removed the bubbles from his head, and rained them down on his only child.
After a quick but playful hosing down with the shower nozzle, Nick was lifted out of the small tub, and dried.
In the middle of the night:
"What's wrong, Nick? I heard you coughing." asked Leo, checking his son's forehead then gasping involuntarily.
"Let's go see a nice doctor, okay? I'll carry you." he suggested. After feeling how hot Nick was, Leo's stomach clenched.
"Please Lord, this can't be happening. Not so soon after Christine..." he thought to himself, forcing the line of thought out of his head.
He wrapped his tiny child in the Superman blanket, and carried him to Old Dragon. The beat up station wagon which tended to roar at completely random moments. For once, she purred like a kitten.
"Don't worry, we'll be there soon." Leo whispered, more to himself than the sleeping child. Then he pressed his foot firmly on the gas pedal, deliberately disregarding the speed limit.
Carrying Nick into the ER, he said a little prayer. "Please let my child outlive me. I couldn't bear going on alone."
Several hours later:
"You were right to bring him in, Mr. Ward. It's Covid. We will give him the best possible care."
"Thank you, Doctor." replied Leo, shaking the doctor's hand, then returning to the waiting room.
Four days later:
"I'm sorry, Mr. Ward. There's nothing more we can do for Nick. The virus will have to run its course, one way or another... He will be more comfortable at home, and we can't spare the space. We're already overcrowded, and have been advised to expect a new wave of patients at any time."
"I understand. Thank you for everything you did to help my son." Leo replied, forcing calm into his voice.
The next day:
"Well, this is it. I hope Mr. Morde is in a good mood." Thought Leo, as he called his boss.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Morde. I won't be able to come in, at least for a few days. My five year old son has Covid, and I can't find anyone to watch him. Plus I have been exposed."
"I'll just have to find someone to replace you, then. Don't bother coming in or calling. I need people I can rely on. Plenty of carpenters would jump to have the opportunity I gave you. I hope your son gets better, by the way. Goodbye, Mr. Ward."
"What am I going to do, God? I have to pay the bills, and Nick's medical expenses. Please help me!" begged Leo, dropping to his knees on the slick white linoleum of the kitchen floor.
Two days later:
"The bills are coming due soon, Jesus. You know I can't look for work because Nick still isn't out of the woods yet. Please, heal my son. And if it's your will, guide me to where you would have me serve." Leo prayed aloud, kneeling beside the cot he had placed in Nick's room.
"What was that noise?" thought Leo, grasping the metal cot frame to help himself up. Looking out the window, he gasped. A white van was crumpled into a light pole. It was difficult to tell where one ended and the other began, amidst the jumbled mess.
"Nick seems to be comfortable for now... Maybe I can run out there and stay with them, until an ambulance can get here." thought Leo, his phone already in his hand.
"Yes, thank you Ma'am. I'll stay on the line." he promised, slipping the device into his pocket as he approached the accident.
Heaving a sigh of relief, he realized that there was only one occupant, who was breathing. The passenger side was completely destroyed, but miraculously the driver was in a little pocket of unbent metal, almost like a bubble.
"It's a miracle. How else did that part hold up?" he thought, as he gently cleared the broken glass away with his sleeve, then placed a finger on the neck of the still figure who was slumped over the steering wheel.
"His pulse is steady. And I don't see any blood. Maybe he's just got a bump on the head." Leo thought with both hope and amazement.
Knowing not to move the man, who could very well have back or neck injuries, he simply stayed there. Ready to reassure the victim should he become conscious, he pulled out the phone.
"He's alive, and I don't see any signs of blood. But he's unconscious. Please get the paramedics here ASAP." Leo said, looking back towards Nick's window.
"Their ETA is three more minutes. Don't try to move or wake him, just stay there." came the calm voice through the speaker.
Two hours later:
"Hi, Daddy. May I please have some juice?" asked Nick sleepily.
"Of course, I'll get it for you now." Leo replied, jumping to his feet. Almost not daring to hope, he felt the child's forehead.
"He's cooler, and this is the first time he's asked for anything! Thank you for this improvement, Lord." whispered Leo, as he quickly strode towards the kitchen.
"It's no coincidence that Nick's fever broke right after the accident, is it Jesus? I was home for a reason." said Leo, as he took two tall glasses of orange juice back to Nick's room.
Later that night:
"I'm sorry, Mr. Ward. I'm not allowed to give you that information. But there's someone here who can, if I may give her your number? She's quite interested in talking to you."
"Of course." replied Leo, hoping he had done the right thing by leaving the man inside the van.
"Thank you so much for helping my Dave. He's lucky you called the paramedics right away, he had a stroke. That's why he hit the pole. Another few minutes, and things would have been very different..." A female voice said, with the now familiar sounds of a busy waiting room in the background.
"How is he?" asked Leo.
"Stable... But recovery will take time. I'll keep you updated on his recovery. Thank you again for everything." she replied.
Three weeks later:
"Hello? Is this Leo Ward?" asked a slightly slurred voice over the phone.
"Yes." he replied.
"You don't know me, but I've heard plenty about you. My name is Pastor David Grady - the man you saved. Now, I want to do something for you." he said, with obvious joy in his voice.
"I don't expect anything. I just did what anyone else would." Leo replied with surprise.
"Be that as it may, a little birdie told me that you are looking for work. The church needs a lot of renovation, and I want you to be in charge. That is, if you are still available?" he asked hopefully.
"Yes, Sir - oh, thank you God!" exclaimed Leo, in a shout of joy.
Cover image made in Canva using their gallery
This fictional story is dedicated to the young son of one of our very own Hive members. The child is bravely fighting Covid, and all prayers and positive thoughts are most welcome. His dad is also having severe financial issues.
100% of the payout on this post will help the family.