Too Close

10

The next couple of months at school weren't as easy for Calypso. She kept worrying about her dad, and she knew that if something happened to him, he'd never tell her. Ravi was really supportive and he tried everything that he could to calm her nerves. Calypso was still eager to come home again. The next chance she got was spring break. She'd planned everything with the twins weeks before hand and when it was finally March 21st, she was packed and ready to go. Somehow she'd managed to drag Alex and Ravi out of bed at 6:00. The trio managed to catch the 7:30 train to Poughkeepsie.

"Hey. Everything's going to be fine," Ravi reassured when he saw the fear in Calypso's eyes.

"Yeah. I've been told that these things develop slowly. Your dad's probably not going to be any different than he was during Christmas break," Alex said.

"Not helping," Ravi muttered, elbowing his sister.

"Guys, I'm fine, just worried," Calypso said quietly.

"Like Rav said. Everything's going to be alright," Alex added.

Everything was not okay. When the trio reached Calypso's house, they found it completely lacking of life and people- especially her dad. Mr. Redmond, Calypso's long time neighbour, was outside in his garden.

"Hey, Cal!" he called.

"Hi!" She replied. "Do you know what's going on with my dad?".

"Oh, hon." He said in a consoling tone. Oh, God. He's going to say that he died, Calypso thought as she could feel emotions bubbling up inside herself.

"He was put into hospital about two weeks ago," he continued. Mr. Redmond placed his old, bony hand on Calypso's shoulder. She heaved a sigh of relief. Hospital is better than dead, she said to herself.

"Do you and your friends want to come inside for some pie? The Mrs. just baked one," Mr. Redmond asked.

"If you don't mind, I'm going to have to decline your offer. I'd like to check up on dad as soon as possible, But thank you," Calypso answered. She looked at Ravi who nodded assuringly. If she was going to visit her dad, she probably couldn't do it without emotional support.

"I'm Calypso Masterson, here to see Mr.William Jay Masterson. I'm his daughter and these are my friends," Calypso said to the receptionist.

"MmmKay. He's in room 305b . Third floor. Visiting hours end at 8pm," she replied in a bored tone.

"Thanks," Calypso said. The trio stood anxiously in the elevator. Ravi grabbed Calypso's hand and squeezed it tightly. As they reached the third floor, Alex stepped out first.

"Hospitals give me the creeps," she said.

"And they have a weird smell," Ravi added.

"Okay here it is," Calypso said, directing their attention to the tab jutting out from the top of a doorframe that read "305". As soon as the three of them stepped into the room, Calypso's father greeted them.

"Hey, Lambkin!" He rasped. A sickly mint green coloured hospital gown was draped over him and he was getting oxygen from a tank. Everything was either the same ugly green, a beige, or a whitish grey.

"H-hey, Dad," Calypso managed to stutter. She couldn't stand to see her father like this, and the environment certainly didn't help. Sitting down on the bed next to him, Calypso intertwined her fingers with his.

"Hi, Mr. Masterson," Ravi said with a slight wave.

"Hello, Ravi. How are you doing?" Mr. Masterson replied politely.

"Good, thanks. It looks like you aren't doing as well," Ravi frowned.

"Yeah. Well, the old lungs finally gave up and submitted to lung cancer," Calypso's father patted his chest slightly.

"Is there anything that they can do for you? To help your breathing, I mean," Alex asked. Alex was usually more pepped up than this, but the hospital surroundings and situation seemed to really bring her down.

"The only thing that can really be done is a transplant, but that can only be done if there's a donor," Mr. Masterson replied.