A Little Excerpt

September 2009

Kevin Maggliardi and his older sister, Addison, came home from school for the day. Kevin was a sophomore, and Addison was a senior. They went to high school in Cranston, Rhode Island. Kevin had been struggling with cold and flu symptoms but ultimately decided to suck it up and go to school.

When Kevin walked through the front door of their house, he felt a sharp burning sensation and nausea in his stomach. Before, he knew it, he was kneeling on the floor, throwing up on their rug just inside the house.

His parents rushed toward him and gave him a trash bin to throw up in. Kevin was so embarrassed. His face was flushed, his heart was pounding so hard that he felt like it could burst inside his chest, and he had the worst nausea that he remenbered having.

He sat upright with his back against the door, and his arms over the trash bin. If he made any sudden movements, he would probably get sick again. His dad picked him up and carried him to the couch, so he could rest. Kevin knew he couldn’t go to school the next day. He had a fever of 102.