Zzzzz...

Heidi flipped through the Spring Term Test results. Each MEMO card had been returned with Mason’s corrections in red. All tests were already given back to each test taker except for the children that lived in her home while the rest of their family was in Sylvania. Ginni’s test was sent back already to the Golightly Silk Cats. She was going to ask Harlin to send them back to their parents tomorrow (Monday). Just then, she heard a thunk. Heidi turned around and saw Henry had fallen asleep while he, Grace, Honey and Hopper were watching the Nature Channel.

That’s weird, Heidi thought. Didn't Henry just wake up from a nap? The Hopscotch mother’s mind swerved around her past memories. Henry always seemed to fall asleep at the most unexpected times. At meals, bathtime, playdates, stroller rides and learning, the list could go on and on.

Heidi got suspicious, perhaps Henry was through a growth spurt or…; Her thoughts were cut short by one of her daughter’s yelling, “No, that’s preposterous!”

It was Bellia, of course, only Bellia would yell the word, “preposterous” that much. Heidi went upstairs to find Karen, Bell and Bellia at the balcony with their favorite book, Book of Needlework. “What’s wrong?” Heidi asked, slightly sure that the fuss Bellia made was not that big of a deal.

Bell let out a giggle, “Bellia got all mad because Skip’s shower was too loud for her to read.”

Heidi let out a sigh of relief and her thoughts wandered back to Henry. She explained to Harlin the issue and Harlin suggested calling the young rabbit’s parents. Heidi agreed and opened the phone book. “There it is!” Heidi told herself, “Periwinkle Milk Rabbit Residency.”

Kate Fleur, the Periwinkle Milk Rabbit mother, picked up, “Hello, may I know who I’m speaking to?”

Heidi opened her mouth to speak, but Kate continued, “I am a very busy woman, you know. I’m a nurse, but I do a doctor’s work, so I guess you could say I am a doctor. A very busy doctor.”

“I’m sorry to bother you, Mrs.Fleur-”

“Please, call me Kate or Nurse Fleur or Nurse Kate,” interrupted the busy rabbit.

Heidi replied, “Oh, forgive me, Nurse Kate, but your son, Henry, is in my care. You see I’m Heidi-”

“I know who you are,” interjected Kate, “So what’s wrong? Can we speed this up? I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m busy. I am a nurse with a doctor’s responsibility after all.”

“Yes, you said that already,” Heidi said, trying her best to keep calm.

“I know, just wanted to get the message loud and clear,” claimed the nurse, “So you were saying?”

“Well, Henry sleeps a lot at random times, so I was wondering if anything is wrong,” explained Heidi.

Kate was finally quiet for a moment before saying, “As a nurse with a doctor’s role, I believe this is because of a growth spurt.”

Heidi anxiously countered the nurse’s reasoning, “I understand, but I’ve seen growth spurts first hand, I am a mother of 7.”

“Are you questioning my diagnosis? I work at the hospital first hand, I’m practically a doctor for crying out loud! Let me go get my husband, Doctor Alex Periwinkle,” Kate said with clear annoyance.

There was another moment of silence before a male voice came to the phone. “Hello, this is Doctor Alex Periwinkle speaking,” he greeted.

The conversation seemed to repeat itself, Alex repeatedly saying he’s a doctor, Heidi trying to get to the bottom of everything and then Kate butting in and saying she was a nurse with a doctor’s role. Harlin overheard it all and decided Heidi needed a break, he grabbed the phone and the conversation just ended up going in circles.

Alex stated several times to Harlin, “I am a doctor, didn’t I mention that?”

Harlin would just keep saying, “Yes, I know that.”

Then Alex would say, “You did? I must have forgotten I mentioned my important role at the hospital. I am a doctor, you see. A highly important and busy doctor.”

Kate soon would interrupt, “And I’m a nurse with a doctor’s role!”

Finally, a little girl’s voice was on the other side of the phone. Harlin overheard rustling and flipping and finally the Periwinkle Milk Rabbit father said, “Ah, here it is, Mr.Hopscotch. Henry was diagnosed with narcolepsy when he was 9 months old,” informed the proud doctor, “That means he will sleep at random times of the day.”

Heidi grabbed the telephone and screamed with frustration, “Henry has been living with me for months and you never bothered to tell me that?!”

Heidi almost never lost her composure, so Harlin thought it would be a good idea to get his raging wife away from the phone. “Um, goodbye!” Harlin quickly said as he immediately hung up.

The phone rang again and Harlin insisted he should pick up. “No, no,” protested Heidi, “I shouldn’t have yelled at them like that. I think I should apologize.”

“I guess so,” agreed Harlin.

Heidi picked up the phone and Alex’s voice was on the other end.

He said, “Hello, Heidi, I just want to explain that we did inform you of our Henry’s narcolepsy. If you remember, Henry came with you sister and niece, along with two cats to come to the Cloverleaf Countryside.”

“Yes, I remember my sister, Teri, bringing Olive, Ginni and Henry over.”

“Well,” continued the doctor, “We told her about it and politely asked her to pass the information you.”

“I see, thanks for letting me know. I am sorry for shouting at you and Kate,” apologized Heidi.

“Nurse Kate,” Kate corrected.

Heidi said her goodbyes and hung up the telephone. She explained everything to Harlin and said she had one more call to make, a call to her older sister. At the Lakeside Lodge, Teri had been treating herself to a slice of cake and a glass of lemonade.

Despite, Freya’s argument about how it was bad for you, Teri was already eating a second slice. The phone rung abruptly and Freya got down the stairs,

and picked up.

“It’s for you,” Freya said, handing the phone to her mother.

Teri asked, “Yes? What is it?”

“Teri!” raged Heidi on the other end, “How could you not tell me Henry had narcolepsy?!”

“What do you mean? Oh, right! He did have narcolepsy, I must have forgotten,” Teri said without a slight bit of guilt, “Bye sis! Come to my house later! I’m celebrating my VERY TERI-ness with some cake.”

Heidi turned to look at Henry, innocently sitting on one of the living room’s green couch, peacefully sleeping. No mater what, she would care for him just the same.