Kids Can - Chapter 1

The children enjoyed the short ride to the hospital. They played games and watched the different scenery flash past the window of their car. Swinging around a bend in the road they were surprised to see a large oak tree standing proud in the middle of a huge parking area.

Mama, slowed down as she turned the blinker on and turned right into the parking lot. "Ok you to let's see if we can find a place to park." After searching for a spot to park mama pulled in and turned off the engine.

Placing her right arm over her seat she turned to the children and smiled. "Well we are here."

Looking out of her window at the big buildings Sandy took a deep breath. "It's a big building mama are you sure we are the right place?"

"Yep." Mama said unbuckling her seatbelt and stepping out of the car before opening the back door to help her little ones out. As they began toward the door Sandy began to notice the flowers that lined the walkway.

"Mama, can we plant flowers like these at home?" Sandy asked as mama pulled her along because she paid more attention to the flowers and their bright colors then where they were walking.

"Well we can definitely try." She said as they came up to big glass double doors. On each door were big bright smiley faces. As they stepped and thru the doors, they were immediately greeted by a young woman wearing an outfit that looked like a candy cane.

Her pants, shoes, and shirt were white, but she wore a red and white striped smock.

"Hi there?" She said smiling "how may I help you?"

"We are here to take the tour," the children replied at the same time.

Mamma smiled down at her little ones and looked back at the woman. "Yes we are here for the tour so these two can see where they will be staying."

"Of course," The young woman in the candy striper uniform replied and smiled. "If you would follow me, please."

She led them to an office just a few doors down from where they stood. After knocking twice, she slowly opened the door and said something neither mama nor her children could hear; then refocused her attention back to mama and the two children. "You may go in." she said, opening the door wider, granting them passage.

After the three entered the office, the candy striper closed the door and went back to wait for others to arrive for the tour.

Within minutes the office door reopened and people began filing out, grouping up ready to take the tour to the children's ward.

There must have been five children and their parents all walking down the long hallway to the elevators. When they got there, the same young volunteer, who greeted each one when they first walked into the hospital, was standing there waiting. She held out a balloon for each child as they entered the portal which would start them on their adventure for the day.