Chapter
9
After Nick left, Brian's parents arrived.
"How are you doing, Babyduck?" Jackie asked as she came up
and kissed his forehead.
"I'm okay. They haven't done anything to me yet," he replied.
Just then, an orderly brought in Brian's breakfast. He wasn't very
hungry, but he managed to force some of the food down.
Nick showed up again after breakfast with the Dreamcast. He hooked it
up for Brian, and they played for awhile.
Around ten, a nurse came into Brian's room, wheeling an empty
wheelchair.
"Hi! You must be Brian," she said. "I'm Terri. I'm here
to take you for your first round of chemo." Brian forced a smile to hide
his fear. Terri helped him into the wheelchair.
"How long does it take?" Brian asked.
"About an hour," Terri replied.
"Okay. I'll see you in an hour then," Brian told his parents
and Nick.
"Do you want me to go down there with you, Brian?" Jackie
asked.
"No, Mom," Brian said. "I'm not a kid. I'll be
fine."
"Okay," Jackie said hesitantly as he was wheeled away.
***
When Brian was returned to his room, he felt horribly nauseous. Terri
helped him climb into his bed, and he sank back against the pillows, waiting
for the nausea to pass. However, it didn't pass. It just seemed to get worse.
His mother stayed with him and rubbed his back as he threw up into a basin over
and over again. Finally, Brian fell asleep.
***