Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 134 - Waiting

Breakfast in the cafeteria at Children's Hospital was unremarkable, although it did help to pass the time.

"Does anyone know when Matt will be here?" Zack asked afterwards while he, Susan, Greg and Julie were walking the halls of the hospital, on their way back to the surgical waiting room.

"After class, that's all I know," Susan told him. "How was your French toast?"

"Edible ... that's all I can say for it," Zack said. "Your bagel and bacon looked better."

"It's hard to go wrong with a toasted bagel," Susan remarked. "The bacon was good though. Are you sure you don't mind that I had it?" she asked her husband.

"I understand your need for comfort food this morning," Greg assured her. "For you, bacon fills that need. You were raised on it. There is no need for you to follow the sort of dietary restrictions Julie and I do when you don't want to. You know I've never required that of you."

"I know, but still. I don't mean to be disrespectful of you or your faith ... especially not today," Susan said.

A gesture from Greg let her know her concern was completely unfounded.

The foursome entered the elevator, rode to the correct floor and got off.

"Is this the same elevator we went down on?" Susan asked looking around at the unfamiliar surroundings when they got off.

"I don't think so," Greg told her. "Perhaps we should ask?"

"That might be better than wandering around the hallways blindly," Julie agreed.

"Are we lost?" Zack asked.

"I think we might be," Susan said.

Zack looked critically around at the halls and the signage in their immediate area. "Nah, we aren't. This way."

Zack set off confidently down a long, relatively straight hall. Greg, Susan, and Julie all looked at one another before following him. There was a jog in the hallway partway down, then another. They passed through an unfamiliar section of the hospital, looking in through the open doors of patient rooms to see children in their beds. Some were bald, prompting Susan to look about for signs. She found one suggesting this was an oncology ward.

"This doesn't look like a surgical ward to me," Julie remarked.

"No, it doesn't. The children look like cancer patients," Greg commented.

"It may be a post-surgical ward for pediatric oncology patients," Susan proposed. "Either way, these kids look very sick."

"Yeah, they do," Zack agreed.

They were just considering turning back when they passed yet another sign pointing the way to surgery. Feeling more encouraged, they made another turn. Gradually the section of the hospital they were in began to look more familiar. They passed a second elevator, then suddenly they knew where they were.

c

"There you are." Matt was standing in the doorway of the waiting room looking towards them when they rounded a corner and were suddenly there.

"Were you waiting for us?" Susan asked.

"Yes. I got here a half hour ago. I asked the nurse if she knew where you were, and she said you went to the cafeteria. I went down there looking for you but I couldn't find you. I just got back. I couldn't figure out where you went," Matt said.

"They took the wrong elevator coming back and almost got lost," Zack said.

"We have been walking through the halls on this floor for a while," Susan agreed. "The two elevators are close together downstairs, but up here you have to walk way around to get from one to the other. The surgical suite must be in the way."