At lunchtime all children are given a meal. Some children may not be allowed to eat if they need a special exam or receive special treatment. John has to become used to this: they bring him one of those large plastic trays with a cover to keep the food warm. Underneath he finds a plate with food and soup in a mug with a cover. And also a little plate with dessert.
In the morning you will be given slices of bread and you can choose what to put on it. John always asks for wallops of chocolate spread. John loves chocolate. But on his first morning in hospital, he wasn’t allowed to eat anything.
- This is because of the operation, says Peter, the nurse. When John awoke after the operation, he was incredibly thirsty. He could have drunk a whole lake.
- Peter, can I have a glass of water, I’m so thirsty! asked John.
- You must wait a while until you are fully awake, said Peter. You may only take a tiny sip.
- That’s funny. I really am awake. Look at me; my eyes are wide open, said John.
- That’s true, but your tummy is not yet fully awake. That’s because of the anaesthesia, replied Peter.
Luckily John was allowed to drink a whole glass of water by lunchtime. Karen, the nurse, brought him some sandwiches but he wasn’t really hungry. He just felt incredibly tired. John looked at Rupert, who had been asleep for ages. John thought – he’s probably tired after the operation – and his eyes felt heavy, they closed by themselves. He dreamed of the Lego house that he would build in the playroom tomorrow. When he woke up, his mum was there, and Aunty Mel and daddy, and Jenny.
Wow, look here: Aunty Mel has brought him a box full of sweets. Oops, Peter doesn’t think this such a good idea; sweets and cookies don’t taste at all nice together with the doctor’s pills.
- I suggest you keep them for home, says Peter.
- You may choose just one sweet now. If you were to eat them all at once, you would feel terribly ill and have to throw up.
John gives Jenny a sweetie. Jenny is allowed to eat sweets, because she is not ill. Jenny has to play alone at home for now.
- When are you coming back home? asks Jenny.
John also gives a sweet to the little girl who is staying in the room beside his. Her name is Molly. She has broken her leg and has to stay in bed all day long. Her leg is in a cast and is pulled up sideways with a chain. John feels very sorry for her. Peter rolls her in the bed to the playroom, so that she can join in the fun from her bed.