The Gift

The process took about 45 minutes to complete and I know it’s finished when the clicking stops and I start moving back towards the room, but of my white donut.

“Very well done,” Trevor says walking back into the room. He takes my hand and pulls me upright and I swing my legs over the side. Trevor grabs my beanie and hands it to me, then puts on my slippers while I tug my beanie down over my cold ears.

I hop down and sit in the wheelchair. “So what’s the damage?” I ask.

“Well, I might be able to afford that Porche now,” he kids. “And I think I got a little closer to figuring out what all those weird shapes are that show on the monitor.”

I roll my eyes and say, “With me.”

“Oh, well you’ll have to wait for the official word young lady. Your doc should get the results later today and talk with you and your parents.”

“Not even a hint? Unofficially?”

He frowns and is silent for a minute. “Promise me you won’t get upset? And remember, it’s not final. I’m not a doctor.”

“Promise,” I say knowing that the techs do this for a living and they might not be doctors but they know what they are looking at.

“The good news is it doesn’t looks like it’s spread. The bad news is it doesn’t look like it’s gone away as much as it should have.”

I should have felt like crying but I had known deep down what the results would be. So no tears came. “Thank you for being honest,” I tell him.

“You deserve it hon. I’m sorry I couldn’t give you better news.”

“You might yet. Got Ben’s number?” I ask hopefully.

He chuckles and says, “Try zero.”

Huh? I figure he means 411 and sigh. Maybe if I knew his last name – “What’s his last name?” I ask quickly.

“Why all the interest?” he asks me.

I can tell he’s teasing me but my darn ears still turn red. “We met yesterday but he had to leave and I didn’t get a chance to get his number. And he said to call,” I add the last quickly.

He eyes me skeptically but then winks at me. “So I get credit for good news if I tell you it’s McKinley?”

I wanted to hug him. “Thank you,” I say instead and beam.

“Well, at least I didn’t ruin your day,” he says opening the door and pushing me out to the outer room.

I look around hoping to see Ben but he’s long gone. “Transpo’ will be here shortly to get you,” Trevor says to me. “It looks like my next guinea pig is here,” he says to the next kid as he pushes her in.

I slump in the chair, waiting for someone to come get me. Expecting to feel drained from my gift being used, I realize that I feel unexpectedly energized and full of energy.

The same man who brought me came back to get my saying, “You’re still alive? Man, they are getting lax in there. Guess I’ll drop you off where I found you then.” He smiles and goes behind me and pushes. We make the return trip to my room and I ask him to tell Jason or someone at the nurses’ station that I’m back and ready for breakfast and to please pull my door closed on his way out, which he does.

I turn my chair to face the bed, then hop onto my bed and whisper, “Lucas, I have a question,” and wait.

Staring at the chair, I wait but nothing happens. I guess I just expected him to appear before me. Maybe he didn’t think it was important enough.

A knock came from the door. My breakfast. “Come in,” I say.

The door opens and Lucas steps in, dressed in a button-up shirt and slacks. He closes the door behind him and says, “May I?” pointing at the chair.

“That’s what it’s there for,” I say. “I mean, I put it there for you,” I correct, flustered.

“What?” he asks.

“It’s just you don’t look like… a ninja or a biker. Or even the grim reaper. You look like a normal person.”

“Thank you. Since you missed out on breakfast and need to eat, I decided to dress accordingly so I didn’t delay your food.”

He points to the door as another knock comes. “Come in,” I say again.

Jason comes in and sets my tray down on the table, then pushes it over near me since I’m not laying down. He looks at Lucas, then back at me and says, “It’s not visiting hours yet.”

“This is my…” I start and Lucas finishes, “Uncle.”

“From out of town. He’s got to be somewhere else later. So they let him come early.” God, I hope I wasn’t turning red. “He won’t be long,” I add and Lucas smiles at Jason.

Jason smiles back and says, “Okay, because I like you Mandy. Don’t let your food get cold.” He walks out, closing the door behind him.

I pull off my beanie and toss it on the nightstand.

“Nice color,” Lucas says.

Ignoring that I say, “My question. Actually since you sort of alluded to it, I have two.”

“Don’t upset Jason. Eat as we talk,” he replies.

Ugh. I move the table in front of me and adjust the height, then lift off the lid. Grabbing my fork I take a bite without even looking at what it is. Swallowing, I continue. “I’ll start in order. Did you come with me last night?”

“No.”

“Then how did the people at the nurses’ station become statues?”

“Your gift comes with a few perks. One is the ability, when necessary, to well, pause time for a short period. Like I did when we first talked in the corridor.”

“How –” I began when he lifted a finger and says, “You said two.”

Gah. What the h… “I don’t get follow-ups?” I ask.

“Like that one?” he replies and smiles. “I’m only kidding. Eat and ask whatever you need to.”

I swallow another bite – whole – I think. “How do I do it? Pausing.”

“You don’t – as least not controllably. It will happen when you need it to automatically. So you can’t cheat time. He doesn’t like that.”

Huh?

“Next?” he probes.

“You told me I had to give my time to someone and it was my choice.” I pause trying to figure out how to phrase it so I don’t sound too selfish.

“Eat and ask. Take your time.”

I fork up another mouthful, swallowing it after a chew or two. No coming up with a better what, I decide to just ask. “Earlier, the PET scan tech touched me and I gave him time. I didn’t feel a pull and I didn’t get a chance to decide to give him time or not. It’s like he stole it.”

“Ahh,” Lucas says, “You met Trevor then.”

I nod. “Then let me put your mind at ease. You didn’t give him your time. Actually it was just the opposite. Trevor has a slightly different gift and he uses it without knowing it. He actually gave you time back. And before you ask, no, your time isn’t almost up.

“Trevor was gifted with an incredibly long lifespan and he is able to transfer that time based off of sympathy. Most of the kids he sees get some time from him. That’s just the way he is. The kids usually don’t know about it, however. Because of your gift, you were able to sense it.

“Not many people have his ability. Then again, not many people are chosen for your ability either.”

“Oh,” was about all I was able to come up with.

“So, have I answered all of your questions?” he asks.

“Is there anything else I should know? Or should ask but I’m not? Or forgetting?”

He smiles wide at me. “If there is, you’ll ask later I’m sure. And you should feel better than you have in a long time thanks to Trevor’s gift. It’s like a picker-upper. So until you have more questions, you should really eat.”

I look down at my food and see the cover is still on my plate.

Umm, ohhh-kay. I look back up to ask what’s going on, but the chair is empty and my door is still closed.