Not Like the Movies

Chapter Six

     "What?" I choke. It feels like my heart is trying to force itself out of my throat. "But..." I struggle to find holes in the doctor's statement, "But he doesn't smoke!"

     Dr. Holden looks at me sadly. "He doesn't have to. You can get lung cancer from things other than smoking."

     My fingernails cut into the skin of my palms. I blink to keep focused. Dad. Cancer. I won't break down in front of my sister and grandmother, I won't. "What's going to happen to him?"

     "First, we'll be putting in a chest port," seeing my confused face, he pauses, "Like a tube in his chest that we can put IVs into so we can have easy access to major veins. We'll try chemotherapy, and hopefully that will do the trick. The first round of chemo will take a week or two, but we may have to drain his lungs first, which will add to his stay."

     I slowly nod, trying to wrap my mind around the facts the doctor just spurted, so I can remember them. I struggle to keep my voice level as I ask, "Can I see him?"

     Dr. Holden shakes his head. "I'm sorry, but he needs his rest. In a day or two, once he's more stable, you are welcome to visit. But for now, we need to fill out some forms."

                                                                      * * *

     Downstairs in the waiting room, my grandmother surprises me by taking the pen for the forms. "I know the information, darling. We've been in touch over the years, an what you need to do right now is go home and pack your suitcase. You'll be staying with us while John's here." she smiles kindly at me, "Ariadne will drive you."

     I stiffen, but my mind is spinning too much to complain. I hate the idea of living in that mansion, even if it's only for a little while, but I have no choice. We need to pay for the chemo somehow, and with my dad not able to work, we need to rent money to pay the hospital bills. We'll have to give up the apartment for a while. Without objecting, I follow Ariadne out to the parking lot. 

     She doesn't even look like she cares that her father has lung cancer.

                                                           * * *

     The room Ariadne shows me looks like something out of those $7.00 decorating magazines. The walls are cream, the furniture is cream, and the bedspread, curtains, throw pillows on the couch, and lamps are all sea-foam green. Yes, the couch. My new bedroom has a couch, as well as an ensuite bathroom. My worn, old, duffel bag is a black stain on the perfect room. 

     As soon as Ariadne leaves, I flop down on the bed. I sink into the soft matress. Pulling my cell phone from my pocket, I dial a number I know by heart.

     "Hello?" answers Jack in his heavy east-end-of-london accent. 

     "It's me." I reply.

     "Hey love, how are you?" I hear a bang over the phone as he drops something. "Why'd you leave during the test today?" 

     I think about telling him there and then, but instead ask "Can you come pick me up?"

     "'Course. I'll be there is half an hour."

     "Jack, I'm only ten minutes away from your youse. Can you came any sooner?" I'm close to tears now, but I don't want to cry.

    "I just got out of the shower, love. I'm still in my Eddie Grundies."

     "What?" I ask increduously. I can never understand his Cockney rhyming slang.

     "My underwear. I'll be there as soon as I can."

     I tell him the adress, and pocket my phone. I lie back on my bed, hoping that he'll be here soon. I    need to talk to someone right now, and my sister and grandmother sure aren't options.