Free Medical Mission by George Ivanoff Page A

say. He tried to swallow the dryness from his mouth. ‘Just missed you … so much.’
    The tears rolled down his cheeks.
    Mum’s eyes welled up as well. ‘I’ve missed you, too.’ Holding Nate in one arm, she saton the bed beside her first son and gave him an awkward, one-armed hug.
    Josh sniffed back the tears as he turned to the baby. It was kind of squishy-looking, with its eyes shut tight and had a drooling mouth. No, not it , Josh corrected himself. Him. Nathan. Nate. My brother.
    Josh smiled at his new sibling. ‘He’s out of the … plastic box?’ He couldn’t remember the word.
    His mum smiled. ‘Yes. He’s out. His lungs have developed well. He’s breathing without a ventilator. And he’s strong enough to come home. And soon you will be too.’
    â€˜I see we’re awake,’ said a nurse, striding into the room and snatching the chart from the end of his bed. She made some notes and then hung it back. She checkedthe IV drip. ‘How are you feeling?’ she asked.
    â€˜Okay,’ said Josh, automatically. Then he realised that it was true. He was feeling okay. ‘Better. A lot better.’
    â€˜Good,’ said the nurse. ‘The antivenom treatment is almost done. It’s in the IV. No allergic reactions. But we’ll keep an eye on you for a while. Assuming all goes well, and I’m sure it will, you’ll get to go home tomorrow.’
    â€˜So I won’t miss The Flying Doctors ,’ said Josh excitedly.
    â€˜Flying doctors?’ The nurse looked confused. ‘They brought you to Adelaide, but they’re gone.’
    Josh laughed. ‘No. Not the real ones. The TV ones.’
    The nurse frowned. ‘I’m not sure I follow you.’
    â€˜Doesn’t matter,’ said Josh.
    â€˜Ooo–kay. I’ll just leave you to rest, shall I?’ She turned and left the room, a bemused expression on her face.
    â€˜Now, don’t get your hopes up,’ said Mum. ‘We’ll see how you’re feeling after you get home before we make a decision about you going to the drive-in.’
    â€˜I have to go to the fundraiser,’ insisted Josh. ‘More than ever now that the RFDS saved me!’
    â€˜Wellll … we’ll talk about it with your father when he gets here.’
    â€˜Dad?’ Josh tried to push himself up into a sitting position. ‘Dad’s coming?’
    â€˜Of course he is, love,’ said Mum. ‘Hebooked a flight a soon as he found out what happened to you.’
    â€˜He did?’ Josh felt his throat tighten and his eyes prickle – but his face brightened. ‘He didn’t say anything about coming.’
    â€˜Oh dear, you know he often doesn’t say things when he should. And he’s been so overworked lately. And worried about Nate and me.’
    â€˜He didn’t come here for Nate,’ said Josh in a tiny voice. ‘But he’s coming here for me.’
    â€˜He wanted to go with me and Nate,’ said Mum. ‘But he knew I’d be okay. He said he didn’t want to leave you alone.’
    Tears were now streaming down Josh’s face. ‘I can’t wait to see him.’

Josh looked out the window.
    Marceline waved from the Trash and Treasure Market, which had been set up on trestle tables at the back of the drive-in. It was packed with people going through all the stuff that had been donated.
    As the car slowly cruised by, Josh saw Jason, Lee and Ramone behind the foodstalls, which were also set up on trestle tables by the building. There were lots of people lining up for cakes, pizza and sweets.
    The car came to a stop as Ratchet, Sally and Pete approached. Josh opened the window.
    â€˜Good to have ya join us,’ growled Ratchet, shoving a giant container of popcorn at him. ‘Decided to use the machine.’ Josh watched as the corners of her mouth twitched, then rose. She was smiling.