The First Three Rules by Adrienne Wilder Page B

made a slash. “Fine, no report.”
    Ellis shut his eyes and Jon covered him back up.
    Doctor Bramblet gave them both a sideways glare and shook his head. “I’ll send someone to take you downstairs in a few minutes.” He left.
    Rudy said, “You said a cuss word.”
    Ellis opened his eyes back up.
    “You aren’t supposed to say those words.”
    “Sorry,” Ellis said. “I forgot.”
    “They’re rude.”
    “Yeah, they are.” A deep line cut across his forehead and he grimaced.
    Jon took Rudy by the elbow and led him over to one of the chairs. “You sit here and let your brother rest.”
    “Am I in trouble?”
    “No. He’s just really tired.”
    Rudy sat and stared at his feet.
    “Jon,” Ellis said.
    He went back to the bed. “Yeah?”
    “Thanks.”
    “I’m sorry I didn’t insist you come here sooner.”
    “My fault. I should have tried harder.”
    “Can you take Rudy to get some breakfast? I’ll pay you back.”
    “I’ll take him, but you will not pay me back.” Ellis started to argue, but Jon put a finger over his lips. It struck him how soft they were. Ellis’s gaze shifted, his pupils dilated, and his breath hitched. Even though Jon didn’t want to, he pulled his hand away. “You will not pay me back. I’m doing this as a friend.”
    “Just a friend?” Ellis’s eyes widened like the question caught him off guard. Some color returned to his cheeks.
    “I’ll be anything you want me to be, Ellis.” Jon leaned closer. “Anything.”

Chapter Four
    Ellis was sick but Rudy wasn’t too worried, because his friend Jon was there to make everything better. He followed Jon to the elevator and waited while he read the list of words on the sign beside it. Then they went inside and he punched a number.
    “Where are we going?” Rudy hoped it was to eat oatmeal. He was hungry and he wanted a glass of milk. His stomach growled.
    “To the cafeteria to get some breakfast.”
    “What if they don’t have oatmeal?”
    “I’m sure they will.” The elevator stopped. Rudy made sure to keep his hands close to his chest as he followed Jon. No touching. That was important.
    “But what if they don’t?”
    “You could get eggs and biscuits.”
    “I eat oatmeal for breakfast.”
    “You never eat anything else?”
    “Sometimes I eat cereal. But not the kind with marshmallows.” Rudy didn’t know why it was such a big deal to poop blue, but it seemed to upset Ellis so he didn’t argue. But he sure did like marshmallows.
    “If they don’t have oatmeal, I’m sure they’ll have cereal.”
    “What if they only have the kind with marshmallows?”
    “Then you can eat eggs.”
    “I don’t eat eggs.”
    “You don’t like them?”
    “They’re yellow. I don’t like yellow.”
    Jon gave him a funny look then he laughed. Rudy laughed too although he wasn’t sure why.
    Close to the end of the hall, a rich salty scent permeated the air. Rudy inhaled. It tasted greasy, like pot roast. They went through a set of double doors and into a room with lots of tables and chairs. There weren’t many people and they all looked tired. Jon led him over to a long bank of food items. The set up made Rudy think of ice cream, but everything was hot here. Heat fogged the glass in front of him.
    “Do you have oatmeal?” Even as he said it, he wondered what the other food would taste like.
    “You sure that’s what you want?” Jon said.
    “Is it okay if I don’t?”
    “Sure.”
    “I can have bacon instead?”
    “Absolutely.”
    “Ellis says bacon is expensive.”
    “Well, you don’t have to worry about that today.” Jon gave the lady wearing the puffy white hat his order. “Is bacon all you want?”
    Rudy pointed to the toast. There was gravy over to the side. Sometimes they had gravy when Ellis made beef patties. The woman filled a plate with everything Rudy pointed to. He didn’t pick too many things. Ellis always told him if he wanted more, he could go back because if he got more than he could eat it