Hello, and welcome to bedtime stories with me. ARAT okay. So we are reading a book I wrote, which is called the pesky kids two bear in the woods, and we're up to chapter seven. All in the mind. Here we go. When April woke up a bright white light was shining right in her eyeball. Well, her pupils aren't dilated said a wavery voice. The light flicked off April blinked, trying to take in her surroundings. An elderly doctor was standing by her bed. Joting notes on a clipboard is that badass, Joe, he and Finn were standing on the other side. April had never had so many people standing around her. She laying a bed before. No, it's good. Said the elderly doctor. It shows she hasn't had any intercranial bleeding. At least none that's shown up yet. She's awake said Finn. He'd noticed April's eyes blinking. The doctor looked up from his clipboard adjusting his thick lens glasses. So he could peer at April. Hello? I am doctor VA said the doctor IM patronizingly slow tones. You are very, very old muttered. April. Dr. VAs did look like he was well into his eighties. His hair was snow white and slicked into a hairstyle that men hadn't worn since the second world war, he inspected April as if she was a laboratory spec specimen. Mm. She presents all the symptoms of severe concussion. Dr. VA said to Joe, the insensible speech is a clear sign. Hey, who are you calling? Insensible asked April. She tried to swing her legs out the bed so she could confront Dr. VAs. Luckily for the doctor, the bed had rails along the side. So she was thwarted. Actually. She always talks like that said Finn. Joe noded really asked Dr. VA. Joting another note on his clipboard. What does insensible even mean? Asked April. She looked almost distressed. She was so confused. Where's pumpkin, pumpkin repeated Dr. VA questioningly. She has an emotional relationship with a vegetable. It's a dog. She named him pumpkin. Explain Joe, did someone steal pumpkin demanded April. Had you considered whether she's been suffering brain damage for quite some time. Dr. VAs asked turning to Joe, Joe looked horrified to be asked such an important question. Um, he splitted it would explain a lot said Finn, she's not that bad. Joe finally got out. You may think that because you see her every day said Dr. VAs, you haven't noticed her slow dissent into this state because you are her father. What cry, Joe? I'm not her dad where brothers explained Finn. Dr. VA looked at Joe. Dr. VAs was six feet tall, but Joe was a couple of inches taller and stocky too. I'm only 16 protested, Joe. Then you are not. The next of kin said, Dr. VAs, what are you even doing here? This hospital has no security accused April Joe. You gotta get me out of here before the collective come. They've probably got pumpkin already. Shh said Joe, pat in April's arm, you hurt your head. Dr. FAS is just looking after you. He's not a real doctor argued April he's too old doctors make so much money. They all retire well before they hit 90. I'm not 90 protested. Dr. VA, how would you even know us April? You couldn't even tell that Joe was 16, that they teach you that at medical school, any vet worth their salt can tell a dog's age just by looking at its teeth. Just then they were disturbed by the sound of arguing out in the corridor. Step aside, demanded mayor Albright. This is important. Mayor or business, the door burst open. And she stro in flowed closely by Constable pike. What is the meaning of this? Ask mayor Albright. Huh? So Joe accurately summarizing all their thoughts. Is this the girl making the outrageous claims the mayor demanded of Constable pike? Uh, yes, your honor. Your worship. I mean, your Manness said the Constable, what outrageous claim asked Finn? The claim that Dr. VA is nighty. The claim that someone stole her dog or the claim that she's in danger of being kidnapped the claim, the mayor whipped her head around to check that there was no one behind her listening in then leaned in to whisper that there was some sort of animal in the forest. I'm pretty sure there are lots of animals in the forest at fin. It's the forest after all. That's where they live. I'll have no smartness out of you. Thank you said the mayor. You'd rather, I was stupid asked fin. Yes. Said the mayor. It's what she's used to living in this town. Mud at April, lying back with her eyes closed. Her head really did hurt. No one else saw it. Did they ask the mayor? Claire at Joe, then Finn no said Constable pike. And how many of you were out there? Continue the mayor. Uh, two adults, seven kids and a dog said the Constable Palm saw said, April, he'll back me up. No one is gonna believe you said mayor. All right. So they certainly aren't gonna believe your dog. My sister is not a liar said Joe trying his best to get out the words to defend April<laugh> the mayor that's as maybe, but the fact is she's got a serious head injury. Isn't that right doctor? Oh yes. Dr. VA, she needed 11 stitches in the scalp across the frontal bone and a lump swelled up to the size of a lacrosse ball. Is that really the medical term for it asked fin sarcastically a lump the size of a lacrosse ball. They encourage us to speak in layman's terms. So Dr. Asked defensively, Walt layman plays lacrosse asked Finn, hang about, said April struggling to open her eyes and win in against the glare of the hospital's bright fluorescent lighting. Is the mayor saying that I'm a liar? No said fin soothingly. She's saying you're off your rocker. She isn't said Joe patiently. The mayor is just concerned. You might be confused from the bang to your head. I am not confused said April sitting up her head spun and she took a moment to balance herself in a seated position. I may have been suffering, terrible head pain and had blood flowing down my face into my eyes at the time. But I know what I saw. I saw a bear. I wasn't confused. I wasn't insane. I was terrified because a great big real life, Harry bear was standing over me. And that is a fact that is 100% true. Yeah. The speech might have been more convincing if April had not concluded it by vomiting all over the side of the bed, splattering, the mayor's fancy city board shoes on the bright side, it was an effective way to get everyone who wasn't related to her to leave the room so she could get some rest. Dr. VA declared that April would have to stay the night in hospital for observation. And 20 minutes later, dad finally turned up. It had taken the hospital a while to reach him because ever since professor Maynard's phone call, he'd taken to hide in his phone in a Ziploc bag in the toilet system, dad was horrified to see April's so badly hurt. The stitches were covered by a bandage. So he couldn't see those. But the concussion had caused her to develop big black and purple rings underneath her eyes. On top of that, she looked sickly pale from having thrown up. Dad settled into a seat next to her feeling like a terrible father, even though, and also because he hadn't done anything, Joe and fin made themselves as comfortable as they could on the couch in the waiting room and settled in for the night. Dad was terrified of leaving April on her own in case a collective agent showed up and Joe was worried about leaving April and dad in case April was insulting to the nurses and they retaliated by injecting her with something they shouldn't and fin stayed because there was no way he was going back to their big, old house, full of taxidermied animals on his own April drifted into a fitful sleep. She was very worried about the bear, but she didn't have the strength to do anything about it. Maybe she would when she woke up and that is the end of the chapter. So we'll leave it there until next time. Goodbye.