Bettany checked Hannah's injury. "Skin abrasion. You'll need a preventive vaccination."
Gilbert nodded. "The rabies vaccine will do. It'll take roughly four to five doses."
The smile on Hannah's face froze.
No. I just got scratched by a cat! Not a dog! Why do I need shots for rabies?
She began to wail at the top of her lungs. "I don't wanna! I don't want an injection!"
Bettany shook her head. "No can do. There's a risk of rabies if you don't get the shots."
Blake crossed his arms and smiled mirthlessly. "Do you know what rabies is?"
"It's a virus that enters your body through your wounds and burrows into your brain…"
Big Headed Hannah cut in before he could finish. "That's okay!"
It's just the brain. Dad always says I don't have one so it doesn't matter!
Blake stared at her in disbelief. "..."
Lilly tried to convince her otherwise. "Maybe you should take the jab, Hannah."
"Daddy said rabies turns you into a dog that drools all the time. You won't remember us and will bite anyone you see. You'll kick the bucket after that and I won't have you anymore, Hannah."
Lilly looked close to tears.
Josh helpfully added, "You might even eat poop."
Huh?
"..."
Eat...what…?
I won't remember everyone?
Kick the bucket?
I won't get to play with Lilly anymore?
Hannah wanted to cry. "O…Okay then. Can we do…just one?"
Bettany was surprised to see her willingness to compromise.
"No. You need four to five doses. Five doses mean five jabs. Four doses mean three jabs," Gilbert said.
Hannah didn't think about why four doses meant three jabs and immediately answered, "Four doses!"
That was how a decision was made. After everyone had eaten, Bettany whisked Hannah away.
Blake was the designated driver.
"You seem to have a lot of time on your hands today," Bettany said.
She recalled how Blake wanted to resign. His boss had even come to her to ask for clarification.
She kept her eye on him day in and day out for fear that he would run away regardless of whether he had a mission or not.
"I got half the day off," he answered.
He came home to see his precious daughter.
Bettany twitched.
Hannah was afraid of needles. She'd always caused a fuss whenever injections were involved. It took three grown adults to hold her down for it to be administered.
Bettany was terribly afraid that Hannah would go back on her word, which was why she agreed to her request to have Lilly accompany her.
It seemed only Lilly could hold her down…
Even if she couldn't, they'd still have God of Battle himself with them. Surely they'd be able to subdue her.
Lilly had brought both Polly and Mr. Tortoise along out of worry.
Polly stared at the cat from within the pet luggage.
"Bye, idiot!" Polly squawked at the cat.
"..."
Lilly knelt down and said seriously, "Be good. Don't damage anything!"
"Look! You hurt Hannah. Now she has to go get injections."
"You scared Polly too. Look at what you've done!"
She nudged the cat's head.
The tabby cat sat obediently in place with its head hung low.
Even Lilly couldn't help but feel sorry for it and switched to petting its head. "Alright. A cat who can change is a good cat. Wait for us to come home and we'll give you a name!"
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Anyone Dares Bully you, Call Uncles!