Something to Take with You

It was the usual routine, Marissa took the elevator to floor 3, and walk to wing C to visit her grandma who was ill with Alzheimer's. Marissa walked into room C324 expecting to find her grandmother's small, fragile frame laying in bed. Instead she found a young boy laying in bed. Still small and fragile but youthful. He was bald and had cocoa brown eyes full of innocence. He was in the classic blue polka dotted hospital gown. The boy looked away from the cartoons on the hospital television and looked at Marissa, who he found quite gorgeous.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I must have the wrong room this isn't C324?" Marissa asked as she stood in the door frame.

"No it is. Are you the Angle that's come to take me away?" The little boy asked in a small weak voice with a wink.

Marissa giggled. "Well aren't you to cute. Actually I came to see my grandma."

"Oh she must of been the person my room got switched with."

"Which room would she be in?" Marissa asked.

"Hmm... I don't recall. Maybe if you lay here with me, sweet thang, and watch some cartoons for a while that may help re-jog my memory," The boy said as he lightly patted the side next to him, gesturing for Marissa to sit down.

Marissa laughed at the boy's attempt to flirt with her. "Nice try buddy, now could you please tell me where my grandma is?"

The little boy sighed. "C325, right next door."

Marissa smiled. "Thank you," she said.

"No problem."

Then Marissa headed out the door to visit her grandma. Marissa tried to open the next door but it was locked. There was a sign taped to the shaded glass window on the door. It read: "Patient, Margarita A. Santiago is currently at Therapy. Will be back at 1:10"

Marissa looked at her lock screen on her phone, The time read: 11:13. Marissa had 2 hours to kill. Marissa decided to go back next door to talk to the little boy. He looked like he needed a friend.

She opened the door interrupting the boy's spongebob marathon.

"You came back? I should have known. I usually have that sort of effect on the ladies," The boy said.

"Aren't you a little young to be talking to 'the ladies'."

"Hey I'm 9 and 3 quarters," The boy defended.

"Oh I'm so terribly sorry sir my mistake," Marissa said with a chuckle as she made her way over to the boy's bed. Marissa took a seat next to him.

"You're forgiven and just how old might you be?" The boy asked.

"I'm 17, way to old for you," Marissa answered.

"Well age is only a number. I'm Jackson but you can call me Jack," Jack introduced himself and held out his frail hand for Marissa to shake.

"Marissa." And Marissa shook his tiny hand.

"Ah Marissa, an oh so beautiful name for an oh so beautiful girl. So what brings you back? Was it my charming good looks or my adorable personality?" Jack questioned.

"A little bit of both actually and plus my grandma is in therapy at the moment," She answered.

"Ah I see. Well I hope you like Sponge Bob."