She called the Fire Department. They had a bright red ambulance that they kept so shiny and clean and looking like new, called County Ambulance # 1. Mommy said, "Linda, dear, they can help us more there in the hospital. You and I will ride there together in a beautiful ambulance. You can tell all your friends about it when you go back to your school."

I couldn't talk, but I nodded my head. We took my blue blanket and my rubber-foam pillow, and the man who came laid me gently on the stretcher. Mommy sat with me and held my hand. It was nighttime, and we rode slowly to the hospital.

It was Halloween time. I didn't know, then, that Halloween meant Hallowed Eve. I thought Halloween only meant parties and fun and tricks or treats.

When we got there, I had to be taken to the children's ward, the Johnston Ward. But they let Mommy stay. She sat up all night on a chair.

The next day was Halloween, October 31, 1950. There were lots of children. I watched while Mommy helped make a party for them.

We had bought lots of Halloween plates and napkins and things at Hochschild Kohn's at Belvedere Avenue while I was feeling well one day. I helped pick them. Mommy took them when we left the house, telling me she would give me a Halloween party.

She used all these things at the children's party. They were all sick children, but they enjoyed the party.

In a couple of days, we were given a private room. This time it was on a higher floor, the fourth floor, Room 412.

Granddaddy came to see me every day. Mommy stayed with me. She never left me except on voting day, and that was a very important day. Then Mrs. Thomas came and stayed with me a little while. On Tuesday, November 7, 1950, Mommy went all the way to Towson, but a man gave her wrong directions, and she couldn't find the voting place. She ran into the house and brought me a few things instead.

Mommy rubbed me with cocoa butter and took care of me. I felt very, very bad part of the time. She could always make me feel better by soothing me though.

One day, when Granddaddy stood near my bed, I ached so I groaned. Mommy soothed my head and my legs, and I couldn't make any other sound to let her know she helped me. We always had helped each other when I was home.

One day I put my arms around my Mommy, and I said, "Mommy, I want you to live forever."

"Oh, but I'll get old, and I won't be pretty."

"I'll always love you, Mommy, no matter how old you are."

I wanted Mommy to know I'll never stop loving her.

I know she will never stop loving me, too.

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