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Nicky looked out of the window. He hoped to see Joe come running so they could play together but Nicky knew deep down inside it wouldn't happen because Joe was in the hospital with something called appendicitis. Nicky knew that his Mom tried to explain what appendicitis was but instead, Nicky had run to his room crying and refused to listen.
Nicky had cried all night because he feared losing his only best friend. The best friend who understood Nicky better than anyone else, the best friend who came up with the best adventures in the world, the best friend who always could make Nicky laugh. And Nicky had never told Joe that he was Nicky's best friend.
Nicky looked up at the sky. It was almost morning and he knew what he had to do. He had to see Joe now. But how? He thought for a long while. His Mom or Nonno didn't have a car but there was the bus and the bus had a sign where they were going. So all he had to do was to find the correct bus and then he could see Joe. He ran over to his laptop and started to search for the correct bus that drove to the hospital. After some searching, he found the bus. He wrote down the information on the bus and got dressed. Then he walked into the kitchen and took the apple juice.
"I thought I was an early riser," Nonno said. "Why are you up so early today?"
Nicky looked down at the floor as he started to shift on his feet. He hadn't thought about that he needed to tell them he was leaving the house. It was one of the rules.
"I..I...Want..." Nicky stuttered. "I want to see Joe. I need to tell him something important. And sorry that I was about to leave the house without telling you or Mom."
Nicky started to cry when his Nonno pulled him in for a hug.
"Because you were honest," Nonno said. "I'm going with you. Ok?"
"Thanks," Nicky replied as he rubbed his eyes. "I found the bus that drives to the hospital. It leaves in fifteen minutes."
"Go take your shoes on a jacket, while I tell your Mom that we're going on a trip," Nonno replied. "Be back in a moment."
On the bus, Nicky looked out of the window thinking about how he should tell Joe, that he was his best friend. When they reached the hospital, Nicky was grateful that Nonno was with him because the hospital was big and he was sure he would have gotten lost.
"Fifth floor," Nonno said when they stood in the elevator. "Unless you want to take the stairs."
"Elevator is fine," Nicky replied. "How are we going to find Joe?"
Nonno showed the text from Joe's mom. Nicky nodded and started to repeat to himself that Joe was in room number 5.
"Hi, Nicky," Joe's mom said with a smile. "Joe is waiting for you."
Nicky nodded as he slowly opened the door. Joe was lying in the bed closest to the window.
"Nicolò," Joe said with a tired smile when he saw Nicky. "How glad I am to see you."
Joe reached out his hand and Nicky almost ran over to the bed so he could take Joe's hand.
"Are you ok?" Nicky muttered as he started to snift on his feet again. "I was worried."
"I think we need to talk under our blanket sky," Joe said. "Kick off your shoes."
Under the blanket sky meant that they pulled a blanket over them and talked in private. Joe moved a bit over in the bed so there was room for Nicky. Nicky crawled up in the bed and lay down next to Joe, who pulled the blanket over them.
"I didn't mean to make you worry, Nicolò," Joe said. "It's the last thing I want to do because you're my best friend. The best friend in the entire world."
"Really?" Nicky asked and Joe nodded with the smile Nicky loved more than anything in the world. "You're also my best friend in the entire world, Yusuf."
"Let's swear on it," Joe said. "That we always will be each other's best friend in the entire world."
They made their secret hand sign. Nicky yawned.
"Sorry," Nicky said. "Haven't slept last night because I was worried about you."
"I was also worried about you. Worried that I would never see you again. Until the doctors told me what appendicitis is," Joe admitted as he reached for his phone and turned on the flashlight. "Look here."
Joe held the flashlight over the scar on his tummy.
"Now that the appendicitis is gone," Joe said. "I can never be sick of that again."
Nicky looked at the scar but resisted touching it.
"Did it hurt?" Nicky wanted to know. "When they removed your appendicitis?"
"It hurt before they made me sleep. But when I woke it didn't hurt anymore," Joe replied. "And in two days I'm home again. Then we go on an adventure together again."
"I like the sound of that," Nicky replied with a tired smile. "If my appendicitis gets ill one day will you visit me?"
"Try stopping me," Joe replied. "Even if I have to travel to Jupiter then I'll be there."
"You're silly as always," Nicky said. "That's why I know you'll be ok again."
Joe laughed and when he looked at Nicky, Nicky had fallen asleep. Joe smiled as he also closed his eyes. It was so good to have a best friend in the world. Something both boys agreed on. Both today and as they grew older.