Informing Faye

Nurse Karlee works quickly with Brianna. First, assess the blow to the head, check for concussion, probe the cut on her temple. Next, the hand, prod it, correct the wonky fingers, eliciting moans from the redhead, then wrap it all up in bandages.

“Her hand’s broken. You should go to the hospital,” she tells Brianna. “They’ll need to check for damage from the concussion.”

Blair has her phone. She’s already phoned emergency services. “How long?” She puts her phone against her chest and turns to Karlee. “They can’t get here for at least an hour.”

“Tell them not to bother then. I’ll take her to A&E myself.”

You help Karlee support Brianna to the carpark and her car, while Blair chivvies the other girls back to the changing rooms. Brianna is only just shorter than you, and the same height as Karlee, so the two of you support her easily. It’s while you’re helping Brianna into the car that Blair returns.

“I tried phoning her aunt,” Blair states, “but all I’m getting is voicemail.”

“We could check whether she’s home,” you suggest.

“You know where she lives?”

“Yes, she lives next door to me.{if Faye = 1} I know her aunt {endif}.”

That decides it. You see Karlee drive off to A & E with Brianna while you hop in Blair’s car to head home. Before Blair can do that, though, she must check on the other girls in the changing rooms. She leaves the girls and locking up to one her assistants and emerges from the changing rooms with a school uniform draped over her arm.

“One of the other girls took Brianna’s bag and phone, but they didn’t pick up her uniform. We can take it back with us.”

You volunteer to put the uniform in your rucksack. Then you set off for Brianna’s place. She parks in the road, and you lead her up the drive.

{if Faye = 1}The doorbell is answered by Faye. She’s wearing a light summer dress and has her phone pressed to one ear. She continues speaking into it while she nods her welcome.

“Oh, it’s my new neighbour, John. Yes, the cute one. I don’t know, give me a chance to ask him. Look, I’ll phone back in a mo.”

She takes the phone off her ear then turns to you with a big smile.

{else}The doorbell is answered by a short, large breasted, red headed woman about the same age as you, with green eyes and freckled face. She’s wearing a light summer dress and has her phone pressed to her ear. She raises one eye on seeing you.

“I do believe it’s my new neighbour. I know, about time he showed himself. I’ll phone back in a mo.”

She takes the phone off her ear then turns to you with a big smile.

“You must be John Smith, our new neighbour. I’ve tried introducing myself, but every time I’ve popped round you haven’t been there. I’m Faye Ollins.”

{endif}

“Hi, Faye, I’ve just come from the school. Brianna’s had an accident.”

“What? What happened?”

Blair is the one who tells Faye what happened, quickly pointing out she had been trying to contact her.

“I’ve been on the phone for the last hour. Ah, that’s why I’ve got all these missed calls. Where is she?”

“Nurse Karlee’s taken her to the hospital.”

“Oh, shit. She that bad?”

“Broken hand, possible concussion.”

Faye’s freckled face pales at the words. “Oh, poor girl, I’ve should go to her.”

“I’ll drive you to the hospital,” Blair volunteers.

“Oh thanks, yes.” Faye continues to dither in the doorway, uncertain what to do. You have to help her. First, she needs to get her housekeys and a handbag, dithering at each stage. You enter the house to help, and she apologises for the mess. She seems caught between acting a host and rushing to her niece’s side. You make it clear the latter is preferable. You get to Blair’s car. You consider letting them go without you, but it’s obvious Faye wants your company, so you hop into the back of Blair’s car and join them.

The hospital is at the edge of town. Blair is familiar with the route and with the layout of the hospital. She drops you and Faye at the entrance to A & E, while she heads off to find a parking spot. You escort the ginger haired aunt into the building.

With no sign of either Brianna or Karlee, you have to ask reception. The receptionist points you to one of the side rooms, partitioned from the main one by a curtain. At that moment Karlee’s heart shaped face pops out from behind the curtain. She beckons for Faye to join her. You indicate you’ll wait in the main reception. After a few minutes Blair joins you.

“Mondays are not normally this exciting. I mean I like a bit of excitement, but not this type. I’ll be drowning in red tape for the rest of the week. If you could help, it would appreciated.”

“Red tape?”

“Yes, paperwork. Every accident must be reported, with the correct forms. Dr Stricture will want to know everything, and Layla’s a stickler for the everything done by the book. They’ll want to know everything. What happened. How it happened. How it could be prevented. Everything.”

“We have to look after the girls.”

“Yes, even when the girls don’t want to look after themselves. I’ll tell you what the problem was, someone wasn’t paying enough attention to what they were doing. One girl wants to show off. One girl doesn’t notice. Wild swing. Ball goes in the wrong direction. Broken hand and concussion. I told the girls to stay behind the balls, but Brianna wasn’t. And now several hours of my life will be messed up trying to find a way to stop girls being girls.”

“I’ve been told I’m good at paperwork, so if you need any help.”

Blair’s smile is appreciative.

You don’t have to wait too long before Brianna, Faye and Karlee are finally discharged. Brianna has her whole wrist and hand wrapped in bandages. She looks groggy. Her aunt and Karlee are both supporting her as she walks, but she is taller than both making the vision comical.

Blair drives the three of you home. Karlee did offer, but it makes no sense that you’re split between the cars because the 3 people without cars live next to each other, while the 2 drivers both live the other side of town. Brianna and Faye take the back seats, while you sit in the passenger seat next to Blair.

You see Faye and Brianna into their house, then bid farewell to Blair, before entering your own house. It’s late now, and you’re exhausted. You quickly head to bed.