Dance and Drama

Chapter 6

Mom and I said our goodbyes and she drove off. I watch the car go farther and farther and I can faintly hear mom scolding Nicky for his behavior. I let out a sigh before turning back to my friends. "Little siblings... they can be so annoying sometimes." I said. "But you can't help but love them." Frida responded. "Girl, imagine havin' two older siblings who can't even speak without shoutin' all the time. That's my brothers, Terry an' Tyrone for ya." Andrea laughed. All of us laughed. "Ready to visit Mrs. Bruins." Frida asked. "I'm ready. I got a card for her." Andrea said as she pulled a Get Well card out of her coat pocket. "Good. Let's go." We waved goodbye to Mrs. McGee, Frankie and a fresh baby Honey as well and we walked to the nearest Bus Stop. And waited twenty minutes for that confounded bus to show up. On board, I looked at the passing buildings and cars. Frida was putting on her ear buds to listen to whatever music that's playing on her phone. I can't imagine Mrs. Bruins' condition while she's in the hospital. She probably can't even speak without breaking into a fit coughing. Poor Mrs. Bruins. Our stop was getting closer. Once we get off there, we walk down the street, stop at the little Flower Shop and buy a small bouquet of daisies, because that's her favorite flower, and walk the three blocks all the way to the hospital where she's staying. And that's where the bus is heading next. I tapped Frida's shoulder and asked her "what was that song you played on your phone?" "Oh, that song is called 'Set Your Mind Free' by Night Owlz!" She said. She got really excited to the point where she's on the edge of her seat. "They are my FAVORITE Kpop group! They have been nominated for the Euphoria City Music Awards and they're popular all around the WORLD!" She almost let out a fangirl scream, but she was able to stop herself by covering her mouth and all that came out was a squeak. Thankfully no one looked at us. We got off the bus two stops later and there was the little flower shop. Andrea rushed inside and shortly walked back out with a little bouquet of pink daisies. That deed was done. Now we had to walk to the hospital. We opened the main entrance and we were greeted by doctors walking or running everywhere, some woman in labor being rushed to the Delivery room and can hear a few people crying in the waiting room, mouring for their loss. I felt uneasy for a moment until Andrea wrapped her arm around me. "Honey, Mrs. Bruins will be okay. No disease will take her away from us." That made me feel better. We walked up to the front desk. "Hello there. How can I help you today?" The worker behind the desk greeted us. I responded to him. "We are here to visit Mrs. Helen Bruins and give her these flowers and card." The worker smiled. "How sweet of you ladies. Just tell me your names and I'll print out your visitation passes."
"Nora Parker."
"Andrea Chesterfield."
"Frida McGee."
"Excellent..." The worker typed our names and our passes were slowly printed one by one. "There you go. Mrs. Bruins is in Room 512 on the fifth floor. Enjoy your visit." "Thank you." We all said to the worker, grabbed our passes and walked to the nearest elevator. It wasn't long before we reached the fifth floor. We got out and looked for room 512... which was on the other side of the entire floor. I walked up to the door and knocked. A nurse came out to greet us. "Hello. Are you here to visit Mrs. Bruins?" "Yes. We came to see how she is and give her these flowers and card." I said. The nurse gave us surgical masks to wear before she let us in and Mrs. Bruins was laying in her bed with a breathing mask on her face. She looked pale, but her face lights up when she saw us. "Hello, girls--" She burst into a really loud fit of coughing. I felt so bad for her. "What happened to you lately? Are you getting any better yet?" Frida asked anxiously. The nurse came over to answer Frida's questions. Mrs. Bruins tried to answer, but she couldn't stop coughing. "When Mrs. Bruins arrived, we had to figure out what was wrong with her lungs. She told us she had lost some phlegm and she scoughed up some blood before she finished speaking to us. We ran an examination and a diagnosis, turns out, she is suffering from Tuberculosis. I'm sorry to tell you this ladies." I felt a lump in my throat. I wanted to cry, but the nurse held my hands to reassure me. She continues to speak. "But if it makes you feel any better. We did whatever we could to treat Mrs. Bruins' condition. And according to her, it's working. Slowly, but surely." Mrs. Bruins nodded her head, her coughing was slowing down and she said softly. "I promise, girls... I'll get better soon..." I still felt like crying, but I felt a smile on my face. Andrea walked over with the flowers and card. "Here, Mrs. Bruins. We got these for you." She placed the card into her hands and the flowers were placed on the nightstand next to her. "Thank you..." She whispered before coughing again. The nurse placed a hand on my shoulder. "That was so nice of you, ladies. The world needs more people like you." "Thank you." I said to her. Shortly, Andrea, Frida and I left the hospital and headed home.