Tenth PSI

[a_gentle_boy]

[open call]
 . . . Hello?  Um.  Is this . . . Is this the right number?  This is Mayfield Elementary . . . ?

I'd, um.  I'd like to call in sick.  Lucas . . . Last name?  Ushiromiya.  . . . . . . . .  There isn't any -- A-Ah.  Lucas . . . Lucas Fawlin . . . Grade 7.  No, I just haven't been feeling well . . . Ah.  Mostly fever . . . . . . . . A hundred and um.  Three or four.  U-Up my . . . No.  No.  My mouth . . . A few days.  No.  I haven't seen the nurse . . . Um.  Not yet . . .  My parents . . . ?  They're not home.  And I . . . I don't want to bother them . . . I don't know.  I . . . I really don't think I can.  I don't . . . But I -- I know, but.  It's just . . .  I'm really not . . .

. . .

O-OK.  OK.  I'll try . . . I'm sorry for the trouble . . .

[Ten minutes after this call is made, an unsteady figure walks out the steps of 846 Goldberg, his face flushed and his eyes glossy.  Twenty minutes after that, the boy slowly begins to kneel to the sidewalk somewhere on the route to school, but fails to make it all the way before collapsing forward.  He does not get back up.]

((Feel free to make responses to the phone call or anytime that Lucas is spotted on the street, either after he faints or before.
EDIT: For continuity's sake, I'm going to refer to Margot as finding Lucas first if I make any reference to this simply because she had the first thread.  I wasn't expecting so many replies; thanks everyone!  He'll still remember everyone's kindness to him, though.))

Comments

[no-mountains.livejournal.com]

[Crouching down next to Lucas one of the times that he fainted, and wondering what he should do now. The usual "get Norway" doesn't really work here.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

((Aha, Lucas has apparently fainted seven or eight different times. I wasn't expecting so many responses!))

[Perhaps it would be good just to stay by him. He appears to be sleeping quietly, and the flush on his cheeks is the only indication that anything is really wrong. From time to time, he murmurs some words -- If Denmark listens closely, he'll catch the names 'Kumatora', 'Duster', and 'Claus' a lot.]

[no-mountains.livejournal.com]

[XDDD he's just too cute when he's in trouble?]

[But this doesn't look good. He scoops the boy up and carries him to a nearby bench, draping his jacket over him.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Outwardly, he's burning, but he seems to feel cold anyway since he subconsciously curls up under the jacket. After a little bit, his murmuring seems to die away.]

[no-mountains.livejournal.com]

[Trying to cool his head with some beer.]

Hey, hey! Wake up! Where are you from? You should see a doctor!

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas half-murmurs something under his breath.]

I'm OK . . . I just need . . . sleep . . .

[no-mountains.livejournal.com]

You need to go home before you sleep!

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

. . . Mnh.

[Lucas makes an effort to climb off the bench but only manages to tangle himself in the jacket.]

[no-mountains.livejournal.com]

I can carry you home if you can tell me where that is.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

846 Goldberg . . . I'm sorry for the trouble. Mr. Denmark, right?

[no-mountains.livejournal.com]

Yeah!

[Trying to pick the boy up. No problem. ...the problem is now. Where was Goldberg St again?]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Somewhere over the rainbow! Maybe. Or it might be in the direction Lucas is pointing.]