Finally Home

89. Jenna

We all dressed in black in the morning. Brendon and Sarah brought Tyler and I some black clothes. I had them put Rosie in a black t-shirt and jeans. We'd called Erin and Jill and told them the plan. Unsurprisingly, they were on board immediately.

When they all texted that they had arrived, Tyler and I told Sam we would be right back. She was in a bit of a better mood today, but not by much.  She had just finished eating her breakfast and was reading a novel for school that Jill had brought on her last visit.

"Whatever," Sam said, dismissively.

Tyler and I went outside to the hallway where everyone was waiting. Brendon was getting weird looks because of what he was holding.

"It looks great!" I said, admiring the arts and crafts skills of the four of them; Josh and Debby and Brendon and Sarah.

"It's still a bit damp," Brendon said. "But considering it doesn't need to last long, I guess it's fine."

Debby handed us our bag of clothes and Tyler and I went into the washrooms outside Sam's room to change quickly.

"Okay," I said taking a deep breath. "We ready?  I hope this goes well and doesn't blow up in our faces."

We were getting some very weird looks from other patients and their visitors.

"Mama, I gotted to paint!" Rosie said, taking my hand.

Tyler picked her up and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Think Sammy is going to like this?"

"Is party! Sammy loves parties," Rosie said.

We got into a sort of procession and Brendon pulled up the agreed upon music and as I opened the door, he pressed play.

Sam looked at us all as we walked sombrely into her room, each of us holding up the almost life sized paper mache leg our friends had made and painted the night before.

"What the hell?" Samantha said as we walked quietly into her room. We walked up to her bed and placed the 'leg' on her tray table.

"Today," Brendon said, turning off the funeral march he'd been playing. "We lay to rest, Samantha Joseph's right leg. It was a good right leg. Sturdy and got Samantha from place to place with relative ease. Samantha's right leg was brave and strong. Even when tested and tried and even broken, it always tried its best to heal.

When Samantha's right leg got an infection, we all thought 'Sam's leg is strong. It'll recover from this'. Unfortunately, Samantha's leg, after a valiant fight, had to be removed.

I will always carry with me fond memories of Samantha's right leg. I'll think about it when we go to Disneyland. Sam's right leg loved Disneyland. It also loved swimming in the ocean, travelling with her parents, and participating in sports.

Though Samantha's leg is no longer with us, it will be fondly remembered as a good and loyal right leg."

I was trying to stifle a laugh. I chanced a glance at Sam and saw a frown on her face. But this time, it was a frown of confusion. She was trying to figure out what was going on exactly.

"I remember the first time I met Samantha's right leg," Josh said. "I'd been trying to get in touch with Tyler for a week because he'd called me to identify himself and Jenna to a teenager that had landed in their backyard. I flew to Columbus from LA because I couldn't get a hold of him and I was worried he'd gotten into something troubling.

The day I arrived on their doorstep, I remember clearly. There was Samantha's right leg, attached to Samantha, standing in the kitchen helping with dishes. She was very nervous and skittish and her right leg almost took her out the back door. But they warmed up to me and before too long, Samantha's right leg would find its way to lying on me.