Arthur belongs to Marc Brown

--

“You can stay in the guestroom with Patricia.” Mrs. Read said.

“That sounds good to me.” Mr. Dimes said.

That night, at eleven p.m., Arthur was tossing and turning around in bed.

“No! No!” Arthur called out as the dream started.

Arthur was on film when the Giant Dr. Wilson was crushing all the buildings.

“I thought I said no plays!” Dr. Wilson echoed.

They all ran away from her and she got Arthur as she took off with him. Two hours later, when Francine found him, he was on the ground on his side with his head on the arm.

“Arthur!” Francine shouted as she ran to him crying.

When she turned him on his stomach, he was unconscious as she tried to do CPR. When Dr. Green found out what Dr. Wilson did to kill Arthur, she got fired. His parents weren’t happy about her either as the dream ended.

Arthur was still tossing and turning while moaning.

“No! No!” Arthur called out as he was starting to sweat. “No! No!”

Mrs. Read came in to him and went to him.

“No! No! Get away!” Arthur continued. “No! No!”

“Arthur, honey, it’s ok. I’m here.” Mrs. Read said as he woke up. “You were having a bad dream.”

Arthur was frightening and buried his head near his mother’s shoulder.

“Still worried about not able to be in the movie if it’s not better by that day?” Mrs. Read asked as Arthur nodded. “It’ll be alright.”

“I can’t imagine about not doing it April or see it on my birthday.” Arthur said.

“I know. It’s going to be ok.” Mrs. Read said.

The next day, Arthur was back at school. Francine was thrilled about that.

“I’m glad you’re back.” Francine said.

But Arthur was really quiet and Francine was concerned about that.

“Are you alright? You seem quiet today.” Francine said.

She’s good at giving anyone advice including Arthur who can be very nervous about anything since he’s not used to strangers much. He’s been like that since he was younger and nobody knows why. Francine’s been like a girlfriend to Arthur since preschool and wouldn’t trade him with any boys.

In Mr. Ratburn’s classroom, when the class was doing math on the board, Arthur didn’t raise his hand for answers at all. He was quiet for the whole time. He just had his hand on his head. Mr. Ratburn was worried about that.

“Is he alright?” Mr. Ratburn asked.

“I don’t know. He was like that when he arrived. Something must if happened.” Francine said as she went to him. “Are you alright? We’re worried.”

Arthur didn’t answer at all his tears started to roll down.

“Maybe he and I should go take a walk and talk for a bit.” Francine suggested.

“I would.” Mr. Ratburn said.

“Come on, Arthur; let’s go for a walk and talk.” Francine said.

He just nodded and they left. They were near the lunchroom.

“Are you upset about something? We were wondering about that since you weren’t talkative this morning.” Francine said. “How did the operation go?”

“It went well, but it’ll be better in two months. If it’s not by then, I might be able to do the movie in April or see it on my birthday.” Arthur said as he dried his tears.

“Uh-oh. That doesn’t sound good.” Francine said.

“I know, I just it’ll be better by then.” Arthur said as he was about to cry.

“It’ll be ok.” Francine said comforting him.

Arthur hugged her as he started crying. After school and rehearsal, he was home running upstairs to his room as he got on his bed curling himself up.

“Arthur?” Patricia asked as she came in and sat next to him. “Are ok now?”

He didn’t look up he was still curled up. Patricia was rubbing his shirt trying to comfort him.

“Still worried about you might not be able to do the movie?” Patricia asked.

Arthur just nodded.

“It’ll be ok.” Patricia said. “My dad started house hunting today and already found one right next door to Peter’s.”

“Cool.” Arthur said as he sat up on his knees. “I just hope I’ll be able to be in the movie and see it. Not seeing it would be the horrible birthday, wouldn’t it?”

“Yeah it would.” Patricia agreed.

At six pm, Mrs. Read called, “Kids, dinnertime!”

All the kids except Arthur, who was still in his room, came downstairs for dinner.

“Arthur, honey, dinner’s ready!” Mrs. Read called again.

But Arthur never came down and Mrs. Read was worried about that.

“I’ll go see him. You guys can start without me.” Mrs. Read said.

When Mrs. Read went to him, she noticed him on the bed being curled up again and she sat next to him.

“Arthur, sweetie, it’s time for dinner.” Mrs. Read said.

Arthur didn’t answer at all. Mrs. Read noticed he was also crying.

“Is anything ok?” Mrs. Read asked her son.

He turned and noticed her there as he sat up and hugged her.

“I’m sure you’ll be able to do the movie.” Mrs. Read said comforting him.

“I’m hope so.” Arthur said drying his tears.

“Do you want anything to eat?” Mrs. Read asked.

“I’m not in the mood to eat right now.” Arthur said.

“If you change your mind, we’ll save some for you.” Mrs. Read said.

“Ok.” Arthur said.

At nine pm, he went to bed so he can feel better in the morning. Thirty minutes later, he was asleep when he started tossing and turning as the dream started.

Arthur was on film when the Giant Dr. Wilson was crushing all the buildings.

“I thought I said no plays!” Dr. Wilson echoed.

They all ran away from her and she got Arthur as she took off with him. Two hours later, when Francine found him, he was on the ground on his side with his head on the arm.

“Arthur!” Francine shouted as she ran to him crying.

When she turned him on his stomach, he was unconscious as she tried to do CPR. When Dr. Green found out what Dr. Wilson did to kill Arthur, she got fired. His parents weren’t happy about her either as the dream ended.

Arthur was still tossing and turning.

“No! No!” Arthur called out while he was moaning. “No! No! Get away!”

Arthur was also screaming in his sleep.

“No! No!” Arthur continued. “No! No!”

Mrs. Read came in and went to him.

“No! No!” Arthur continued on. “No! No! Get away from me! No! No!”

“Arthur, sweetie, it’s ok. I’m here.” Mrs. Read said as he woke up. “You were having another bad dream.”

Arthur hugged his mother tightly and said, “I don’t know what would Dr. Wilson if she tells me not to be in the movie and I’d do it anyway.”

“It’ll be ok.” Mrs. Read said.

“Can I please sleep with you?” Arthur asked.

“Sure.” Mrs. Read said.

What’s that he did and felt a bit better.

TBC