The Gift

I walk out of the room and get to the nurses’ station when the clerk calls me over. Walking over, she tells me they have something for me. She points to a door behind the desk. “Go in,” she says.

Suspicious, I walk over to the door which says Break room. I open the door and gently get pulled inside where a group of nurses were gathered. The door closed and the clapping started.

Uhh. “What’s going on?” I ask to no one in particular.

Someone hands me a cupcake with a candle in it. “It’s not my birthday,” I say lamely.

The clapping stops and someone says, “No, but you seem to be able to work miracles.”

Huh?

“You’re the only person to be able to break through Brittany’s depression and get her involved in life again. It’s been weeks now,” says another nurse.

I blew out the candle before it makes a wax topped cupcake. “Not to mention what you did with the others,” says the first. “We all took turns going over to watch.”

“You should go into nursing,” someone says.

“Not enough time,” I say quietly. “I’ll be back, and she has my room number so she can call me. No promises that I can do more however.”

“Enjoy the cupcake,” one of the nurses say. I get hugs from all of them before they let me go, and then from the clerk as well before I get back to the elevator. Catching the elevator, I go back downstairs and head to my room for lunch.

Once I get back to my room, I plop down on my bed and am surprised that I’m not totally worn out. I opt to eat sitting in my chair, so I drag it back around the bed and move my table around in front of it.

Sitting, I contemplate all that’s happened today. So much all in one day, and it was only half over. I want to feel sorry for myself, for all the kids I met today, heck, for all the kids in the hospital, but I know it will do no good. If anything, it will just get me depressed, which would be counterproductive.

Instead, I think of the good things: Holly finding herself and finding the strength to do something she wanted to do. Brittany for finding the strength to do something she needed to do. Trevor, for finding the kindness to do something he wasn’t even aware he was doing.

A small voice in my head that sounded like Lucas adds me, for the willingness to do something I didn’t have to do.

I smile to myself. My daydreaming was interrupted by a knock on the door. Expecting Jason with my tray I was surprised to see Anna holding a Styrofoam container and cup. “Heading to lunch?” I ask.

“Kinda,” she says walking in, setting both down on the table in front of me. “I heard about what you did this morning. You impressed a lot of people, me included. I however, know you had it in you. So instead of the mess they call lunch today, I brought you something special. A bacon cheeseburger, fries and a strawberry shake.”

“Really?” I say, my eyes going big. It’s been a long time since I had a shake.

“Really,” she says opening the container. She pulls out a straw and a long soon from one of her pockets and sets them down saying, “Can’t forget these. Wouldn’t want you getting a milkshake mustache.”

I grab a fry and pop it into my mouth. Yum. Warm, crunchy, and chewy all at the same time. Much better than the tepid, rubbery ones we get with meals. I chew and look at Anna.

“What?” she asks.

“Umm…” I begin, not knowing how to ask.

“Spit it out little hero,” she tells me.

“Okay, well, I know you’re busy but… when you have time… well, I know it’s not your floor or your patient but… I think Brittany – the girl I helped today – could use some of your special, umm, treatment,” I ramble, knowing it was a lot to ask. More than I had the right to, and certainly more than Anna deserved after all she had done for me.

She didn’t even hesitate. “Absolutely.”

It surprised me and I’m not sure why. I guess it shows on my face.

“Oh, don’t look so surprised... You know we mainly work on one floor, but we do cover other floors occasionally. Even if not, I’m sure I can trade a few hours with a nurse from six. And if I couldn’t, I’d come in on my day off to do it… Simply because you asked me to.”

My mouth drops open at that. What? Why?

Anna didn’t miss my expression. Well, she really couldn’t. “Why so surprised still? I picked you for a reason, and the reason is obvious to all of us. It’s you that has a hard time seeing it. But it looks like it’s finally starting to come to your attention. Most of us go into nursing because we like to help people. It certainly isn’t the money or the hours. If it weren’t for the unfortunate circumstances, I have a feeling you would end up in some sort of medical job. As smart as you are, I’d say doctor.

“Anyways, I’m getting off track. The reason why I’d do it simply because you ask, is that you’ve identified a need in someone and if you could do it yourself you would have. And because you asked, you felt strongly enough that it was important to Brittany’s well-being. More important that your own comfort, or discomfort rather, at having to ask me. So of course, I’ll do it. Have anything special in mind?”

Since her issue is her legs, I figure something to get attention up instead of down was needed so I explain my idea. “Her hair. Maybe… red. It comes down to her armpits so it will take longer than mine, but with the attention at the top end, she’ll feel less conscious over the bottom end.”

Anna thinks about this for a minute, then says, “That makes perfect sense. Sure. As long as her parents don’t object. And after what you did today, I expect they’d adopt you if you needed to be, so I don’t think it should be too hard to convince them. At least for me.” She smiled at that last statement, a gleam in her eyes. “Now, eat up before it gets cold and your shake becomes nothing more than strawberry milk.”

I start eating the hamburger and Anna asks, “Still happy with the hair?”

I nod and manage to say around my mouthful of food, “Seen Holly?”

“Oh yes, quite the talk your candy striper. I assumed you had something to do with that?”

I smile and nod. “Well good for her. And you. Next Brittany. We’ll be able to start up a punk girl band soon.”

I giggle. After taking another bite I cover my mouth and mumble, “Pop. Don’t like punk. Can’t understand the words.”

Anna laughs at that and says, “Okay hon, my break’s over, gotta run. I’ll keep you updated with Brittany.”

I wave bye, my mouth too full to talk. She leaves and I mow through my food. Sucking the last of the shake through the straw, I look at the door, and not seeing anyone, I let out a loud belch.