Runaways (Orphans 5)

"The measles! Oh no," Raven said. And then

her eyes filled with fear. "Will we all get it?" "I won't. I had it."

"So did I," I said. "Raven?"

"I'm not sure. I can't remember if it was the

measles or the chicken pox," she said in a panic. "If you get it, you get it," Crystal said stoically. "You're better off getting it over with," she

added. "But isn't it a kid's disease?"

"No," Crystal said. "Adults can get measles if

they never had them as children."

Butterfly moaned again.

"I don't feel good," she cried.

"What do we do, Crystal?" I asked.

"There isn't much to do. Keep her comfortable,

get some acetaminophen . . ."

"What's that?" Raven asked.

"It's just Tylenol."

"Well, why don't you just say what it is then?"

she said.

"That's what it is," Crystal replied coolly. "Stop

arguing about it. We don't have any, do we?" I asked. "Maybe Patsy does," Crystal said. "She should

be up in about an hour."

"Do you think she'll make us leave?" Raven

asked. "Do we have to tell her?"

"I don't think she would do that," I said. "What

do you think, Crystal?"

She considered while Butterfly squirmed with

her discomfort, coughed and sniveled before moaning. "She might want us to take her to a doctor and

that could create problems," Crystal said. "Maybe

Raven's right. Maybe we shouldn't tell Patsy anything just yet, Brooke. We'll just say she's got a headache and a little cold. If she comes in here and sees Butterfly like this she's liable to figure out it's the

measles."

I nodded.