The Narrow Escape. (Chapter 26)

At Mac Davenport's house, Brian and Dawn Canfield were preparing the
feed bowls for the rabbits under the supervision of their father, Gary, while
Mac was at County General Hospital recovering from his injuries from
rescuing Richard Williams from the burning auto accident.
 Gary watched his two children as they went through their tasks and
Gary thought to himself, Mac, this was a great opportunity for them.
 Brian put a bowl of dog chow in front of Cornelius' doghouse while
Dawn came up with a watering can to fill the dog's waterbowl.
 Gary observed how Brian and Dawn went about their chores
according to the directions Mac Davenport wrote down for them
without having to refer back to them.
 After feeding Cornelius and Kato, the siamese cat, they then went to

the garage and to a steel cabinet where Mac kept the rabbit food and

got it out to feed the rabbits. Gary thought again, Good job, kids, you're

doing great.

 Brian and Dawn first headed to the hutch that housed Tabitha
and Big John, the two Flemish giant rabbits with Brian sliding in
the food and Dawn filling the glass watering bottle attached outside
the mesh of the hutch.
 Brian then looked down at the ground under the hutch and said,
"Uncle Mac said to clean under the hutches every other day so the
droppings don't pile up."
"Eeyew," Dawn gasped, holding her nose, "This part I don't like."
"I know Sis'," Brian said, "But its part of the job, and we both have

to take turns cleaning out Kato's litter box, too."

 "At least Kato is out more than he's in."

 "I know what you mean. Because of that, there isn't much to pick

 up."

  The two children made their way to the hutch that housed Duke

and Duchess, the white mini-lops, with Duchess being the pregnant

doe who was carrying Brian and Dawn's future birthday gifts.

 As they neared the hutch, Brian set down the large pitcher that

was used to pour the food into the feedbowls and pulled the

latch to open the hutch door. As he peered inside he looked into

the small wooden box inside the hutch and noticed that Duchess

was lying on her side, breathing somewhat rapidly, otherwise

she was not moving. Duke seemed to pace around nervously.

 Dawn was the first to react. She put her hand to her mouth

then exclaimed, "Brian! Duchess looks sick!" 

 "I see that, too," Brian replied, doing his best to not get anxious

for his sister's sake, "I think she's in labor!"

 Brian then turned to face his sister and noticed the anxiety on her
face and did what he could to comfort her.

 "Sis," Brian addressed her, "Uncle Mac said for us to call him

when Duchess goes into labor. Go tell Dad what's happening,

I'll stay with Duchess, okay?"

 "Okay," Dawn answered, a little shaky.

 "Hey, it's gonna be fine, now go get Dad."

 Gary heard Brian and Dawn speaking to each and noticed the

tone of anxiety in there voices and got up from the lawn chair

that was placed behind the garage and faced the area where

the rabbit hutches were. He went toward the hutch where

the children were and called out, "Brian! Dawn! Is everything

all right?"  Gary then saw his daughter run toward him and

when she reached him she exclaimed, "Duchess is going to

have her babies. She looks sick!"

 "Okay, okay," Gary said, trying to calm her," I'm calling Uncle

Mac right now."  He then added, "And when I am through talking

with him, I want you to take my cellphone to your brother so he can

keep him informed on what's happening, alright honey?"

 "Okay, Daddy!"

 Gary pressed Mac's cellphone number and waited for Mac to

answer.

Mac was lying in his hospital bed in a light doze when his cellphone

rang. He snapped awake immediately and reached for the cell that

lay on the nightstand next to his bed.

 As he answered he heard Gary telling him of the news of Duchess

going into labor.  Mac listened intently:

 "She is lying on her side?" Mac said.

 Pause.

 "Okay."

 Pause.

 "You see one?"

 Pause.

 "You see another? Great!"

 Pause.

"Uh-Huh?"

Pause.

"Good!"

 Mac listened quietly for maybe three full minutes then with

raised eyebrows, "Seven so far?"

A longer pause, then, "You sure that's the last one, Brian?"

One more long pause and, "Okay, then." A short pause

and then, "Now don't touch them, but go get that lamp

next to the back door of the garage and that extension cord 

and hang it just under the mesh atop the hutch, remember

how to do it?"  A pause then, "That's correct, that will keep

them warm. You did real good, Brian. Please put your Dad

back on, thank you."

 As he and Gary were talking, Mac thought he heard a Code

Blue, the hospital 's code name for a cardiac arrest. He did

however, hear clearly the number of the room when the page

was repeated, Room 15, Richard Williams' room!

 Mac sat up in shock, the cellphone away from his ear, and

the tiny, distant voice of Gary Canfield calling, "Mac, are you 

still there? Mac? Mac? Is everything all right? Mac! Can you

hear me?"

This concludes Chapter 26.