Paisley circled today’s date on her calendar. Taye, her favorite nurse, was kind enough to bring it for her a couple days ago. Paisley stepped back and examined the almost perfect circle around the 30th of October. One day until her favorite holiday; Halloween. The staff at her hospital always threw a party for the kid’s department. In fact, St. Miracle’s was well known for their Halloween parties. This year, strictly because of her treatment, Paisley wasn’t allowed to wear a Halloween costume that was too scary. But that’s okay; Paisley decided to go as a fairy princess this year …. A dead one. Taye pulled a few strings.
Knock, knock.
Paisley jumped back into bed. She wasn’t supposed to be up yet.
“Come in.“Paisley croaked. Her voice was very raspy today. The doorknob slowly turned and
Taye’s cheerful face was revealed. Paisley was relieved. It was just Taye.
“Good morning sunshine!” Taye said.
“Look what I got you for your Halloween costume!” Taye cried.
“What?!” Paisley asked. Taye held up a pink, diamond tiara and a tube of fake blood. Paisley’s face lit up.
She bounced up and down in her bed.
“Thank you so much!” She cried.
“No problem sweetie, anything for my favorite patient.” Taye replied.
She poked Paisley’s nose and stroked her blonde, curly hair. Paisley’s emerald eyes glowed with excitement. Taye walked over to the closed blinds and opened them, letting the sunshine in. She plopped down in the loveseat beside Paisley’s bed and opened her ponytail, letting her straight black hair fall over her shoulders.
“Well, I’ve got about ten minutes before I’ve gotta go and check on Tillay. What do you wanna
do?” Taye asked and smiled.
Paisley’s face lit up.
“See, See My Playmate!” She cried, excitedly.
It was their favorite game to play. In fact, that’s how they met. When Paisley first came to St. Miracle’s, she hummed See, See My Playmate when she couldn’t sleep at night. Then one night, when Taye was working a night shift, she came in and introduced herself and kept Paisley company. From then on, she and Taye have gotten very close.
Paisley sat up in her bed. She interlocked her pinkies with Taye’s and began to sing:
See, see my playmate
Come out and play with me
And bring your dollies, three
Climb up my apple tree
Holler down my rain barrel
Slide down my cellar door
And we’ll be jolly friends
Forever evermore.
Taye laughed and began her part:
Oh no my playmate
I can’t come play with you
My dollies have the flu
Boo hoo, boo hoo
Can’t holler down rain barrels
Or slide down a cellar door
But we’ll be jolly friends
