“Comin’, Momma,” I hollered as I rolled my eyes. Upon seeing my cheery mother, I had to grin.
She began, “Listen honey, I’m sorry about having Joseph come over, but…”
“No, Momma! It ain’t no problem. Joe’s da bomb! We went ridin’ up yonder of that there hill beside Grandpappy’s shed. First time he ever did ride a horse. But Momma,” my eyes shut, “Joe said he gots cancer.”
“Well,” my mother began, “I’m very surprised he told you. It’s not every day Joseph meets a new friend. Honey, Joe is very sick. His father told me today things aren’t so great. But I want you to know…”
Ring! Ring! Ring! “I got it,” I mumbled under my breath. “Howdy. Muck residence.” There was a sudden burst of tears on the other end. “Excuse me, ma’am, you good?” I questioned.
“Yes, dear. Is this Diane by chance?”
“You best believe it,” I exclaimed sarcastically.
“Could you and your mother please come to the High Virco Hospital?”
“Ain’t no prankster be callin’ my home,” I yelled.
“Diane! Don’t hang up. My name is Tracy. I work with your mother. Mr. Flumb asked me to call. They have admitted Joseph and he wishes to see you.”
“No!” I berated her as I pinched myself. ‘Only a dream…Just a dream,’ I repeated to myself while swaying my body back and forth. Fear like a lost child in a crowd of adults rose in my gut and formed tiny air bubbles in the back of my throat.
“Are you there, Diane?” Tracy called out.
“Y’all tell Joe I’ll be right there.” Without another wasted minute, we rode to the hospital. Glancing around at all of the doctors, I managed miniature goosebumps.
“Excuse me, young lady,” a husky man in uniform grabbed me. “We cannot allow you to proceed through this door.”
“Why not? I ain’t no kid. I’ve done been through puberty.”
With a slight giggle, Dr. Mann said, “Young lady, what is your name?”
“Well I’m Diane Muck,” I said.
“Hi, I’m Dr. Kevin Mann.”
“Howdy mista,” I nodded my head.
“You cannot go past this door, Diane, because we are completing surgery at the moment.”
“Affirmative, doctor. Ya see, my buddy’s here lying in one of them there beds,” I exclaimed while pointing to an empty bed in the hallway.
“Let me help you find this friend of yours,” he offered.
“Good deal,” I smiled. Upon reaching room D14, my goosebumps were apparent. This time, they were gigantic! As I gazed into the desolate room, I noticed one young man lying helplessly in bed. “Joe!” I hollered as I took a dive to give him a hug.
While holding me back, the doctor explained, “Joe is not responsive at the moment. His treatments are having weird effects on his body.”
“Hold up!” I whispered. “He can still hear me though, right?”
“He sure can. I will be outside at my desk. Holler if you need anything.”
“Nahh…I’m good. I’ll holla at cha.” As I gazed at the lifeless body before me, a warm tear dribbled down my rosy pink cheek. A finger slightly twitched on his tiny hand. With a grasp as swift as the wind, I held his fragile limb placing my fingers around his fist. Waiting an eternity to catch my breath and speak, I noticed Joe seemed oddly different.
Beep. Beep. Beee…I threw my head up like a baseball player swinging his bat around for a grand slam hit. Glancing at the monitor I noticed a straight line. Before I had the chance to run for help, a squeeze crumpled my fingers, or so I thought. “Joe!” I hollered at the top of my lungs. And just then, it was over.
As somebody freed his hand from my deadly grip, his arm went limp and fell beside his bed to the floor. Ten thousand people came charging into this little room, but I hardly noticed. Curling up into fetal position, I cried myself to sleep while being comforted by my mother. “It ain’t fair,” I choked. My lil’ Joe was gone.
