That's DADDY

2

***

Camille opened the door to her house, something was quite off but she could not put her finger on it. "Hello? Granny?" That was it, Camille's grandmother usually was here preparing for dinner everyday that Camille got home. Instead of her grandmother Dorthy, it was her mother, Jhene, taking a gulp of something in her cup.

"Hey Camille." Jhene says tiredly. Camille was used to her mom being tired all the time. She was used to seeing her slug around the house barely wanting to be bothered. Her mother had worked long hours to raise Camille and since her parents have gotten older, she has to work longer hours to take care of them too. Camille has offered to help by looking for a job, but her mother insists on her staying in school, that was her job.

"Hey mommy, what are you doing here so early? Where is poochie?" Camille asks.

"Poochie is in the hospital, she had a stroke." Her mother says nonchalant.

The news was like a spear threw Camille's heart. Her grandmother was like another mother to her, she had raised her all her life and was always there for her when her mother wasn't. Camille tried not to cry, but the thought of her grandma being in any type of pain or struggle pained Camille. One time, Dorthy had stub her toe and Camille cried for hours, although Dorthy did not shed one tear, Camille knew her grandmother was very fragile and hated to see her get hurt in fear of something greater happening to her.

"Please don't cry Camille, she will be fine, poochie is a warrior." Her mother's Jamaican accent was evident in her voice although she spoke proper English.

"May I go see her?" Camille asked, trying to soak in her tears.

Jhene groaned, "Camille, I just left from there and I am very tired. If you want to talk to her the hospital's number is on the fridge." she says nodding her head to the indicated spot.

Camille nodded her head, "Yes mommy." She then goes and copies the number on her phone.

"Ask for room 627." Jhene calls out as Camille walks into her room.

Camille waits patiently for the phone to ring, and when it does her heart skips a beat. She loves her grandma so much, she can't wait to talk to her, making sure she is okay.

"If this is an emergency, please hang up and dial 911." The operator says before the phone starts ringing again. "Hello? Welcome to the Emergency Medical Center, how may I help you?" A woman on the other end of the line ask.

"Can I get the emergency department?" Camille asks, twirling her hair anxiously.

"Yes, one moment please."

Music.

"Hello, this is the emergency department, how may I assist you?"

"May I get room 627?"

"Yes, one moment please."

More music.

"Hello?" And old hardy voice came from the other end. It's was Frank, her Grandad.

"Hey pa. How's Poochie doing?" Camille wasted no time in asking.

"Eh, she fine. She just can't move a'h ertian side of ha body. " His voice was rusty. Frank had smoked cigarettes since they moved to America and after awhile the Tabacco took a toll on his voice, along with his lungs, throat, and face.

"Can I talk to her? " she ask.

"Yeah. Hold on, cause she can't move, a'h gotta hold da phone for er. "

"Hellooo...?" Dorthy's voice was weak. Camille did want her talking, she didn't want to take all her strength away trying to have a conversation.