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Chapter One
Morgan had never been in an ambulance before. It was smaller inside than he had imagined. His mother and two paramedics were in the back with him, Mrs. Pasalaqua was in the front seat with the driver, and his father was following in the family car. Lights were flashing, sirens were screaming, and Morgan just wished they'd all stop making such a big deal.
"What's your name?" asked one of the paramedics. He flicked a small penlight across Morgan's eyes. "Do you know your name?"
"That's a stupid question," Morgan thought, "of course I know my name."
"Your name?" the guy asked again, this time putting his hand in front of Morgan's face. "Okay, how many fingers am I holding up? What day of the week is it? Do you know what today is?"
"What's with these guys?" thought Morgan. "C'mon, Morgan," said the other paramedic, "do you know where you are? Talk to us."
"Morgan? Morgan, honey, answer the man," his mother added.
Morgan tried to...but couldn't.
"Mmpghmmnghp" was all that came out. He tried to move his lips, but they wouldn't budge. "Mmpgghgmnp!" Still nothing. He couldn't open his mouth. He stretched his face and twisted his nose, dropped his chin, furrowed his brows, and pulled with all his might...but his lips wouldn't move.
"Stop making faces at the nice man, Morgan," snapped his mother.
"I'm not making faces, I can't open my mouth!" Morgan yelled, grabbing his mother's hand. But all that came out was "Aomn mou mghigh aieies, uaow ain ouwamm mm mmauoeu!"
The paramedic quickly leaned into Morgan with a puzzled look on his face. He reached across him, snatched up a tongue depressor, and aimedit at Morgan's mouth, but missed and stabbed the pillow as the ambulance swerved into the hospital parking lot and stopped with a sharp screech. The back doors were flung open, and the paramedics hurriedly began unclicking and reclacking all kinds of things. They rolled and bumped Morgan out of the ambulance and wheeled him across the parking lot. Morgan stared up at the night sky. The gurney popped a little wheelie as it thumped over a speed bump.
"This isn't a grocery cart, you know," Morgan thought, shooting the paramedic a look.
One more thump up a curb, and the stars disappeared from Morgan's view. The bright lights of the hospital loomed over him.
"Aiooioaiiouummphooieaiinuuaaiieeaae!" (Why is everybody making such a big deal!) he screamed.
The paramedics wheeled Morgan into the emergency room.