“So, Rita, what’s for dinner?” my dad asked, “I am hungry and sleepy.”
“Um, there’s a menu,” she handed it to my dad, “You can choose only the dinner items for obvious reasons, but other than that, that’s about it.”
“Do I like, give someone my order?” my dad asked.
“Yeah, me. I’m like a flight attendant, but without the flight part.”
“That’s awesome!” I told her.
“I know.” She replied, “So, Catherine are you getting anything?”
“I see the In-N-Out sign. Do they have In-N-Out here?” I said in a hopeful voice.
“We do actually! Did you already pick something?”
“DOUBLE DOUBLE BURGERS AND FRIES ANIMAL STYLE!” my dad and I said at the same time.
Rita looked surprised. “Animal-style it is! I’ll be back with your food.” She walked out of the room to where I assume the cafeteria was.
“This is a nice hospital! I wish I could’ve been here as a kid.” I told my dad.
“I know right. And these chairs are actually really comfortable. I slept in this for 2 days. It wasn’t that bad.”
“I would test it out, but I’m too lazy to get up.”
“Yeah. I’m too lazy to pick you up. Speaking of picking up, I saw you eyeing Dr. Cartwright when he caught you.”
“I was not!”
“Oh really. Then why are you blushing?”
“Alright, fine. I was. Is that a sin?”
“In your case, yes. I mean, after all, you do have a boyfriend.”
“Fudge ice cream! I have to call him!”
“Don’t worry, I already did.”
“Dad, don’t get offended or anything, thank you for calling him, but he probably wants to hear the sound my voice, not yours. Again no offense.”
“None taken. I get it. Next time when you’re awake and conscious, and don’t sleep on doors, maybe, just maybe, I’ll give you the phone.”
I sniffed the air, “Fine. I smell burgers and fries…… I smell In-N-Out burgers and fries.” The smell got stronger. “Rita, is that you?!”
Of course, Rita came in with two trays of In-N-Out’s Double Double Animal Style burgers and fries.
“RITA!” my dad and I exclaimed!
“Yes, it’s me! I’ve come with your food. I didn’t know what drinks you guys wanted, so I just got water. Is that fine?”
“Totally! Yeah. It’s fine.” My dad answered. Rita gave us our trays and we dug in write away. 5 minutes into eating, I realized we forgot to pray.
“Dad, we forgot to pray!” I told him as smacked him on the back.
He choked on his food while I told him about forgetting to pray. He also got up, and staring pacing, as if that was going to make things better. I wanted to help him, but it was way too funny that I couldn’t. He groaned something that sounded like, “Help me.” I finally leaned over when he came near my bed, and patted him on the back really hard. The food came up, and he immediately ran to the trashcan. When he came back, he started rubbing his upper back. It looked really weird.
“Ow! That really hurt.”
“Oh, please. I only patted you on the back.”
“More like punched me in the back.”
“Whatever. I saved you from potentially dying.”
“Hmph.”
I took his tray from him.
“What was that for?”
“You didn’t say three words.”
“What, I love you?”
“No!”
“You are awesome?”
“No!”
“I give up, then!”
“Just say ‘thank you,’ and all will be well.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. Thank you, Cassidy.”
“You’re welcome, Dad.”
“So can I get my food back?”
“Here.” I picked up his tray and gave it to him. Because he started eating again, I took his tray, yet again.
“Hey!”
“Three little words.”
“Thank you, Cassidy.” He said annoyed. I gave him back his food, while giving him a big, cheesy smile. He gave me one, but it only lasted one second. From the time Rita came in, I remembered that we forgot to thank Rita. Stupid memory.
“Rita, I’m so sorry. We forgot to say thank you, so thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome, and I think you guys forgot to pray again.”
I looked at my dad. He was eating his food. His eyes met mine. Actually it was more like pierced. He shook his head and said “NO!” He knew what I was going to do. “YOU BETTER NOT!” he said with his mouth full.
“Don’t choke.”
“You little …”
“Negative connotations, Dad. Think about it.”
“Actually, you were thinking it. I wasn’t until you brought up connotations.”
I was quiet. Had he actually defeated me at my own game? He had a smirk on his face. That smug bastard.
“You know what,” Rita said as she got off the wall, which I didn’t notice where she was, “I’m just going to pray.” She bowed her head down. My dad and I also bowed her heads down. In that split second we put our heads down, Rita’s head was already up, and she said “Amen.” My dad and I looked at each other with a “how the hell did she say words that damn fast” look. Rita started talking again, “There. Now, there will be no more hitting, causing choking, and negative connotations. Alright?” my dad and I nodded, “Good.”
