Racing to the Hospital

 

 

We hadn’t run ten yards from the axeman’s house, when we spotted the purple Subaru waiting to Uber us away.

“Hello again, ladies!” Miko said, with a grin. “Ready to roll?”

Jumping into the car, Tabitha smiled. “How cool is my mom? It’s amazing. It’s like she knew everything before it even happened.”

I nodded.

“It’s amazing, alright. Except for the part where I fell out of the tree and almost got killed ten times.”

Miko’s grin faltered.

“Yuck-yuck, ladies!” She motioned to Cosmo. “No way is that mangy mutt allowed inside my taxi. He stinks to high heaven.” She pointed outside. “Out, get him out!”

“No-no, Cosmo has to come with us,” I said. “Miko, I promise we will write you a million-star review, but we are in a huge life or death situation, and we got to get to the hospital, so please-please step on it!”

Miko didn’t budge.

“Will you tell everyone you know to buy my kid’s cookies?” she asked.

“If you get us to the hospital in time, I’ll do even better,” I said. “I’ll get Tabitha’s dad to buy all of your daughter’s cookies, Miko, every last box.”

“Every box?” she said. “I got like ten cases more in the trunk.”

“Go!” I pleaded, while Tabitha shouted, “Drive!”

Away we went. Miko stepped on the gas pedal.

Cosmo stuck his head out of the window, enjoying the new scenery and new scents like a prisoner who had just been released from jail. Tail wagging and pink tongue lolling out of his mouth, he dog-smiled at the world.

Minutes later, Miko skidded to a stop in front of the hospital. Hurrying out of the taxi, I told her Mac’s room number so she could sell Girl Scout cookies to Howard, then Tabitha and I sprinted to the front doors.

I held Leon with my good arm. Tabitha clutched stinky Cosmo.

Automatic doors opened. As we raced toward the elevators, we heard a man shouting, “Excuse me! No animals are allowed in this hospital.”

Up ahead, I saw it was Neck Tattoo and Muscle Guy Guard. The security guards marched toward us. Time went into slow motion.

Their eyes widened in surprise.

“Whoa, hey,” Neck Tattoo said. “It’s the Lost and Found girl. That’s her!” The guards looked at me like it was Christmas morning. The hunters had finally trapped their prey.

“Grab her!”