Free Emma Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice by Coco Simon Page B

scenarios in my mind.
    Also, the truth is, I lied to Jake. I wouldn’t have been brave enough to get the operation myself. I would be so scared of the needles and the blood and the knocking out that I would rather live with the sore throats and ear infections for the rest of my life than get the operation, and that was pretty sad. So after worrying about Jake for a while, I started to worry about myself! Like, what if I needed an operation one day or some kind of medical procedure? What would I do? I tossed and turned for another hour or so, and then I must’ve drifted off because suddenly I heard my parents going through the house whisper-shouting, “Jake! Jake! Where are you?”
    Jake was still in bed with me, but he had pulled the covers up over his head. I lifted them off his face, and he was staring at me wide-eyed with fear. I couldn’t bear to rat him out, but luckily my mom opened the door and said, “Emma, honey! Have you seen . . . Oh, Jake! There you are!” He was busted.
    â€œNo! No! No! No! No!” Jake started to yell.
    My dad came into the room and hauled Jake out of my bed and then out of my room to get on his clothes. He shut the door behind him, but Jake’s yelling continued. Sam and Matt were surely awake by now too.
    â€œYou’re a good big sister, Em,” said my mom. She smoothed my hair back from my face and bent to kiss me on the forehead.
    â€œI feel terrible for the little guy,” I said.
    â€œI know. Me, too,” agreed my mom.
    â€œDoes he really have to get it?” I whispered.
    â€œYes,” my mom said with a sigh. “Wish us luck.”
    â€œLuck!” I said, blowing her a kiss.
    She opened the door to leave, and I could hear Jake screaming, “Emma! Emma!”
    â€œOh, Mama! Poor Jake!” I wailed. Jake’s screams cut through me like a knife.
    Suddenly, Jake flew back through my door and into my bed. He was dressed (in his officer T-shirt the girls had given him, of course, and the hoodie my mom had gotten him at Matt’s game), but hysterically crying. “Emma! Help me! Help, Emmy! Keep me here with you!”
    My dad stood in the doorway, his hands jammed deep into his pockets, his face red with exertion.
    â€œJacob!” he bellowed.
    â€œI don’t know, honey,” my mom said to my dad. “Maybe . . .”
    â€œWe’re going,” said my dad definitively.
    Suddenly, I had an idea. “Mom. Why don’t I come with you? I have nothing at school today. Notests, nothing. And I haven’t missed one day yet this year!”
    â€œOh, Emma . . . ,” said my mom.
    But Jake stopped crying, like someone had just turned off a faucet. “Yes. Emma’s coming with me!” he yelled. He wasn’t exactly cheery, but it was like he seized on the idea for some reason and now he started to beg. “Please, Mom, let Emmy come!”
    â€œFine, but let’s go!” snapped my dad.
    My mom and I looked at each other and shrugged. I hopped out of bed, grabbing Jake by the shoulders. “No more nonsense, okay? If you start this up again, I won’t come, do you understand?”
    He sniffled and nodded.
    â€œEven at the hospital!” I said firmly.
    He nodded again, and then he grabbed me into a hug. “Oh, Emma! I love you!”
    â€œLove you too, buddy, now get out so I can change.”
    He left, and I whipped off my pj’s and threw on some sweats and a soft T-shirt, plus a pair of cushy socks and my slides. I jammed a couple of books into my backpack and grabbed my phone from the charger.
    In the hall I ran into Matt stumbling sleepily to the bathroom.
    â€œSorry, gotta go first!” I said, ducking in front of him.
    â€œWhat?” said Matt crankily. “Why?”
    â€œGoing to the hospital with Jake,” I said, closing the door on Matt’s face.
    â€œYou’re skipping school?” demanded Matt,