Runaways (Orphans 5)

returned to her bedside.

"Don't be silly, Butterfly. You couldn't help it,"

Crystal said.

"I'm going to get it. I just know I'm going to get

it," Raven worried. "What'll we do if I can't work? It

will take us forever to earn our money back!" "Let's not worry about things until we have to," Crystal advised. "We've got enough problems

right now without thinking up more."

And that was the truth.

We had a very busy dinner that night and could

have used Butterfly's help. Danny popped in almost

an hour after the rush had begun. He started to bus

some tables and then disappeared in the back when

two friends of his arrived. Raven said she thought

they were smoking dope. She had gone to the

stockroom for Charlie and observed them through the

partially opened rear door.

"Don't tell Patsy," I said. "Not now."

Whenever we had a lull in activity, Crystal left

to check on Butterfly. The second time, she returned

to tell me her fever was nearly 103.

"If it doesn't break in an hour or so, Brooke, I

think we ought to take her to the hospital. I'm afraid I

might not be right. Maybe she's having a reaction to

some virus, or something she ate."

Raven and I looked at each other. Disaster was

looming. The hands of the clock ticked us closer to it

every minute. Working hard was the only way not to

dwell on it. Finally, business slowed and the last few

customers began to think about leaving. That was

when Danny reappeared.