So I went with my friend Sheeva yesterday to run some errands. Overall it was rather uneventful...until we visited my ten-year-old friend Jacob in the hospital. Who knew a hospital visit could be the highlight of one's day?

Poor Jacob. He's in the hospital with pancreatitis, gastritis, and some other unfortunatitis. He has apparantly struggled with gastro issues since he was two, but I believe his mother said this is the first time he's been hospitalized for it. (everybody pray for young Jacob, please)
Now, ordinarily, he is an excitable, active, super-affectionate, brash, totally wired little boy with an impassioned penchant for causing trouble. But I figured that, what with the extended hospital stay--complete with hospital smell, IV nutrition and liquids-only diet, stale stuffy room, excruciating pain, and morphine--he would be a little out-of-character. And Sheeva confirmed that when she visited the hospital the day before, she said he was positively miserable...b-e-g-g-i-n-g for solid food, and bawling out of discomfort.

On the car ride up, Sheeva told me about how she walked in the door, and Jacob got out of bed and gave her a huge hug and kissed her cheek (aww). As the visit progressed, I suppose Jacob's four-year-old brother Jonathan was apparently looking too comfy with Miss Sheeva...because Jacob felt the need to intervene. "Jonathan, you better not kiss her," he warned, "she's MINE!"
Later, when a nurse came in to check on him, she saw new faces in the room and asked who these new people were. Mr. Barnes introduced the nurse to his wife, his mother-in-law, and Sheeva, "a family friend." Jacob corrected his father, "My girlfriend!"
He referred several times thereafter to his cherished "girlfriend". And Jonathan was clearly jealous.

Sheeva and I were cracking up over this story on the way to the hospital. Soon we were there, and made our way to the room. Sheeva walked in first, and was warmly greeted by our young invalid. He stood up on his bed and hugged her quite tightly (aww). I followed her in to the room. Jacob didn't see me right away (he was too busy greeting Sheeva), but when he looked up at me, he yelled "ASHLEY!!" and jumped into my arms and gave me a most emphatic smooch on the cheek. Then he turned to Sheeva and said, "You just got dumped!"

He quickly invited me to have a seat on his bed, where he took advantage of the close proximity, scooting closer to me and snuggling my arm and showing off all his toys and the balloons and flowers people had brought him.

Only his grandmother was there with him when we first got there, but his mom, dad, and brother arrived shortly thereafter. Sheeva told Mr. and Mrs. Barnes that Jacob had a new girlfriend, and little Jonathan sat on Jacob's bed and listened. When Sheeva finished, Jonathan looked up at my face and said, "Hi."
"Hi," I said.
"What's your name? I know who you are..."
"My name is Ashley. How are you Jonathan?"
"Good."
Jonathan blinked at me. Then he turned to Jacob, "You dumped Sheeva?"
"Yup!" he said.
Jonathan looked at Sheeva, then he looked back at me.
Turning back to Jacob, "You dumped Sheeva for her??"
"Yup!"
And little Jonathan gravely replied, "You can't dump Sheeva..."

Heh heh. At least Jonathan remained loyal...

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Yeah....definitely the redeeming highlight to an otherwise stressful day. One which required chocolate to pacify me. *sigh* Sweet little boys....
Oh, and make sure you all pray for Jacob. They're hoping to take him into surgery to have his gallbladder and appendix removed tomorrow (Friday).

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Bless you all!
~Ashley~