The rain poured down Almanzo's hat as he knocked on the Oleson's back door.

"Who could be here at this time of night? Harriet asked. "People can be so inconsiderate."

"I'll get the door." Nels said as he folded his newspaper.

He opened the door and saw Almanzo standing there with a stern look on his face.

"Almanzo! Come in out of the rain!" Nels exclaimed. "What can we do for you?"

"Jenny told me something tonight, and I need to know if it is true or not." Explained Almanzo as he walked in the house. "She told me she is dying of some disease. She said she got this disease from Nancy. Now, we haven't heard that Nancy has been sick, and I know Nancy has been known for lying in the past. So I just want to make sure this isn't a misunderstanding. I mean I hope it is a misunderstanding but…"

"Almanzo, have a seat. I will get Nancy."

Almanzo sat down.

"Nancy!" Nels yelled up the stairs. "Come down here please!"

Nancy hurriedly came down the stairs. "What is it Father?" She saw Almanzo sitting in the parlor. "Good evening Mr. Wilder."

"Nancy, Mr. Wilder said Jenny is sick with a disease."

"Oh, no! I didn't think she would say anything."

Almanzo started to plead. "Nancy, please tell me what is going on. Jenny said you were sick too."

"Well, I am sick. Mother, Father, I am tired of hiding this from everyone. I am dying!" Nancy described to Almanzo what had been going on

Harriet burst into tears. "It's true. She is dying. We just haven't told anyone because we don't want to admit we are losing our daughter. So we pretend everything is okay. We try to live everyday normally. We don't know the name of the disease but it slowly kills you."

"And, Mr. Wilder," Nancy added, "Jenny took a sip of my drink today at school. So, she has bacteria from me. Now, I didn't know she took drank my tea. I would have never let her if I knew."

"Yes, and the doctor said any form of bacteria spread to anyone else is a risk." Nels said.

"I see." Almanzo said numbly.

"Nancy's doctor is Des Moines, Iowa. He is a very good doctor. You might want to take Jenny there. You know, there is a chance Jenny isn't sick." Nels tried to comfort his friend.

"Yeah, but we better not risk it. I guess we will leave in the morning. Thanks for your help." Almanzo got up and left the Oleson's home.

"Almanzo," Nels stopped him. "We will be praying for your family."

"Thanks." Almanzo walked outside. The rain had stopped.

Jenny, Laura, and Mr. Edwards waited anxiously at home. It seemed like Almanzo had left hours ago. Finally, they saw the doorknob turn. Almanzo walked in.

"Well?" Said Laura before Almanzo had even shut the door.

"Nancy was not lying. She is very sick. And it is very possible that Jenny is sick. They told me Nancy's doctor is in Des Moines, Iowa. We will leave for Des Moines first thing in the morning."

Jenny saw tears streaming from Laura's eyes. "It is okay Aunt Laura. We don't know if I am sick yet, and even if I am it is okay. I will be brave. Whatever is supposed to happen will happen. I have learned to accept any challenge."

Laura started to cry even more. "I have to go see my parents."

As the Wilder's loaded the wagon they saw Albert walking down the street. "Jenny!" He yelled.

"Yes? Albert?" Jenny asked surprised.

"I was wondering if you wanted me to go with you to Des Moines. Maybe you will feel better having a friend to talk with. Also, you remember I have gone through a similar incident. I almost died."

"Yes, I remember. If you want to come with us, it is fine with me as long as it is okay with my aunt and uncle."

"You seem to be taking this whole ordeal very bravely." Albert complimented.

"Thanks. I learn from the best. You were very brave when you were sick."

Albert was able to go. It was a quiet ride to Des Moines. No one talked much. They finally reached the Des Moines hospital. It was the largest hospital Jenny had ever seen. Everything seemed so surreal to Jenny. From the wagon ride, all the way until they entered the doctors office. The hospital appeared to be lonely, cold, and unwelcoming. The walls were an off white and they had to climb many stairs.

Doctor Jacobs was nice and helped the Wilders, and Albert feel less scared. He explained what Nancy had and asked them many questions.

"So, tell me again what happened with Nancy?" He asked.

As Jenny answered he wrote down notes a piece of paper.

"Jenny, I am going to test you to see if you are infectious. Now, we will have to send the test to the lab, and that will take several days. You might want to stay in Des Moines while the results are being processed. I will let you know as soon as we receive news."

"We didn't expect to stay more than a day." Laura admitted. "What will we do for money?"

"I guess I will have to find a job in Des Moines so we can stay here. That way if something happens to Jenny we will be right in town."

They had been in Des Moines for a week and there was still no news. One day as they sat in the hotel reading, there was a knock at their door. No one got up. Albert looked at Jenny, Jenny looked at Laura, and Laura looked back at the door.

"I'll get it!" Albert said after the knock was heard again.

He opened the door and there stood a bellboy. "This is a telegram from Doctor Jacobs."

Albert grabbed the telegram and read it aloud. "It says: 'Wilder family, please come to my office as soon as you receive this telegram. Sincerely, Doctor Jacobs.'"

It seemed like in no time they were there in the same unfriendly hospital. They passed the same bland walls and walked up the dreadful flights of stairs. Doctor Jacobs met them at the door.

"Come in and have seat." He said. After they were all seated he told them the news they had all been waiting for. "Well, the results came in this morning and I don't know any other way of saying what I am about to say, but Jenny has indeed caught the disease Nancy is sick with."

No one said a word for the longest time. Finally, Jenny spoke up. "Well, I guess I get to see my ma and pa sooner than I thought!"

"That is very brave of you to think like that Jenny." Said Doctor Jacobs.

"Well, I know I am going to heaven, so I am not scared." She explained.

"I am so sorry about all of this. I wish there was something I could do to help. I need to tell you some more about this disease though. Actually, there is not much I can tell you. The illness is unnamed. I know I already told you how it slowly kills your immune system, but it differs form every person. Nancy has lived a long time, considering. You, however, might be a different case. You may live a very short time, or you may live longer than Nancy will. Soon you will feel symptoms. You will become more tired, less hungry, you may have headaches, you will become pale, and shake, and you won't be able to concentrate very well. Have you had any of these symptoms yet?"

"No, sir." Jenny thought for a minute. "Well, actually I have had some headaches in the past few days."

"Well, whenever you feel badly, just stop what you are doing and rest. Okay?"

"Okay. Thanks Doctor Jacobs."

Jenny slowly tied the ribbon in her braid. Her hands shook as she did so, but she was smiling. It had been a month since Jenny had been diagnosed, and everyday she became weaker.

Nancy was not doing well either. She knew the end was near, and in the last four weeks she had been nice and actually made friends.

As Jenny glanced in the mirror one last time, she heard a knock at the door. It was Jeb.

"Hi Jenny. You look nice." Jeb was all dressed up.

"Why thank you Jeb. You don't look bad yourself." Jenny complimented back.

"Are you ready to go to the dance?"

"Yes, but I need you to do me a favor."

"Sure, anything."

"I want you to go to the dance with Nancy."

"What? Why?"

"Because this will probably be her last dance."

"But it will probably be your last dance too."

"Yes, but I know you like me. This will make Nancy happy, and it will actually make me happy as well."

"If you say so. At least let me walk you to the dance and then I will pick up Nancy."

"Okay!" Jenny slipped her hand into Jeb's.

Jeb danced with Nancy the whole time. Jenny watched with pride. She did dance with some friends, and she really did have fun especially because she knew Nancy was so happy.

The dance went by very fast and it was soon time to go home. Jenny was waiting outside looking at the stars. Jeb walked over to her. "Jenny, did you have fun?"

"I did. Thanks for dancing with Nancy, Jeb. Did you have fun?"

"Yeah, but I want to dance with you. Nancy has left. I saved the last dance for you, Jenny." He held out his hand. "Come on, the band is still playing."

They walked in and danced their last dance together. After the dance Jeb walked Jenny home. That was the best night of Jenny's life.

Jenny and Nancy both died the day after the dance. They had accomplished their goals and their families knew they had died happy. The funeral was a time of sadness, but also a time of celebration. Jenny and Nancy both had been promised that when they died everyone would talk about all the good times they had had together, the impact they had left on the earth, and most importantly people would remember Jenny and Nancy were both in heaven and were now healthy and happy.