Her

Part Twenty-Two:

Maddox, Aunt Janet and I sit in the hospital room silently; the ticking of the clock fills the room with the only sound besides the heart monitors. It feels so peculiar to be back in a hospital scenery, but I like this one much more than I like the last. Aunt Janet, which she tells me is her name, is ecstatic and is still blubbering over me, but she has calmed down now. Maddox's sweet, beautiful eyes dance everywhere around the room except for at me. 

After more moments of silent nothings, I burst. 

"What did you tell my 'mom' on the phone?" My curiosity is rising up a mountain. Aunt Janet had told me that she wouldn't make me explain anything because she didn't want me to have to tell everyone the story multiple times. I like that she thought of me like that, so genuine and kindly, but I can tell she can hardly wait. If she was pacing the room right now, I'm sure you would be able to see the ground by now. And we are on the second floor. That is how crazy her energy is vibrating off of her, into the room. 

"I just told her that there is an emergency and the hospital name and to just come quick." She looks up at me and grabs my hand gently. "Oh, honey. How I have missed you so much, Joy. Just wait until your mother sees you." She chuckles and brushes her hair behind her ears.

"You keep saying 'Joy'. Is that like, my name?" I timidly peek at Maddy, and he seems intrigued, but is still not looking at me.

"Yes, honey! That is your real name! Didn't you know?" Aunt Janet shakes her head with laughter. "What happened that you would forget your- well. I can wait until later."

"Uhm... no. I didn't know my real name. But seriously? Joy?  Out of all the names in the world, they chose Joy ?! I mean, I'm happy, or should I say joyful  that I found out my name but..." I trail off, muttering "Joy." one last time. Across the room I can hear Maddox quietly whisper, "I'm still calling you Disney princess names." 

"I didn't choose it, so don't be mad at me!" She throws her hands up in defense, still laughing,"It was the name of your mother's best friend growing up."

"Was?"

"I think she died when they were in high school. Wow... that seems so long ago. She and your mom were extremely close though, but I didn't fancy her much. I had other things that I did, so I never hung out with your mother's crowd. Your mom was always out somewhere so it was hard for me to keep track of all her friends. Joy left a large hole in your mom's heart and life, but a deeper impact that helped her be who she is now."

I process this information for a moment. I mean, she died and that sucks, but I feel like I was named after an amazing person. Unless she was supposedly just some partier like my 'mother'?

"Wait so my mom partied all the time?"

"No, honey. She just didn't like being at home. There was, and is, so much to experience in the world, and she has always wanted to get all of it. I have admired her for it for years; I'm not as bold as her." Well my mom doesn't sound like a total lost cause, so far. Nurse Bear shuffles in and says, "Joy Ganley, this is your name, correct?", pushing a steel cart adorned with a clipboard, glasses of orange juice, and three trays of what I hope is food. I nod. Woah, I have a last name, too! "And this here lady is your Auntie?"

I hesitate. "Uhm, yeah. It is." She turns her attention to Janet and says, "And you are Janet McNeely, correct?"

"Yes I am."

"Thank Jesus. Some answers, finally! We was all out there tryna figure out who this lovely buncha folks was. Y'all are a very strange group. This one here didn't know her name or nothin' and the handsome one there don't like to give answers either! I'll just need ya' to fill out these papers, please." Throwing her head back and laughing with relief, not quite a cackle, she hands a clipboard to Aunt Janet. Attached is a thick stack of papers which I assume are all about moi. I like her laughter. It makes me feel all bubbly, and it forces me to laugh, too. 

"Her mother will be here soon, but I will be happy to fill out what I know is fact."

"Mmm, be my guest! As long as water is wet, I won't wanna fill out nothin' like that."

Aunt Janet laughs again, "At this point in life I'm just numb to paperwork." Bear wheels the cart next to my bed and pulls over the little desk attached to the bed. She sets a tray down and orange juice and I can see the steam curling up from under the cover. My stomach feels ravenous and I realize it has been awhile since I have eaten. Did we get food yesterday? I don't remember. She places a tray on Maddy's desk-thing, too, then wheels the cart back to Aunt Janet. I lift the lid off and through the hot steam I see sunny side up eggs, perfectly toasted bread, and mouthwatering bacon. Who knew hospitals had this good of food? Actual food is amazing. I feel ravenous, and instantly start devouring the hot food on my plate, chewing and swallowing like wild lions tearing a gazelle apart. Intense, but this is how hungry I feel.

"Typically we don't do this but you have been here awhile and alls you've had is coffee!" Then she shuffles to the door, saying, "Eat up, y'all! And gooood morning!"

"Thank you ma'am! Good morning to you as well!" Aunt Janet replies along, with my and Maddy's 'thank you's with mouths full of food.

"None of that 'ma'am' crap. Just call me Bear!" And with that, the door is shut.