Chapter 5
Maria woke up in daze. She yawned and stretched out. She looked at the clock. It said 10 o'clock. She sat up and turned on the TV
'Nothing on, as usual.' Maria thought. She turned around and lay back on her pillow on her face. She felt soft, cushiony strands on her face. She got up and looked on her pillow.
'My hair!' thought Maria. 'My hair. I hate this. I HATE ALL OF THIS!' she screamed in her head. She let out a loud scream and broke down crying.
"What's all this commotion?" said a nurse, entering Maria's room. She looked at Maria and noticed the hair and the little bald spots on her head. She looked at Maria with sympathy.
"It's alright, child," said the nurse. "You knew it was going to happen. It's okay. Hang on, I'll be right back."
Maria looked up and saw the nurse leave the room. She just laid her head down and cried all the more. She did know that this was going to happen, but she still couldn't be prepared for it.
"You know, it doesn't look too bad." a voice came. "It's gotta happen sometime."
Maria looked up and what she saw kind of surprised her.
"Just go away." sobbed Maria. "Nothing you can say can cheer me up. Nothing" Her voice was barely audible.
"Maybe not, but I could try. It doesn't hurt to try."
Maria just kept her face away from him. She couldn't face him.
"Hey, how about letting me in, huh?"
Maria smiled.
"Sorry about that." apologized Maria. "Come on in."
"That's okay." replied the guy. He hesitated for a moment, then said "My name's Josh, Josh Ramsay. What's yours?"
"My name's Maria Scriber." she said softly.
"Well, nice to meet you Maria Scriber." He paused for a minute, then said, "I'd like to thank you for cheering up my little cousin. He couldn't stop talking about you. It was adorable. He said he wants to come and visit you. I'm not sure when, but I thought you might just like to know, that's all."
"Oh, no problem," replied Maria. "Your cousin is so adorable. It was no trouble at all. I just love children. I used to volunteer at the Sick Kids' Hospital. I was surrounded by kids. It was so much fun."
"Really? That's sounds like fun."
"Yeah. Wh-" Maria got cut short.
"Well, here we go. These are all that you need." said the nurse.
In a basket were all sorts of wigs of different colors and styles. Maria just looked and stared and tears welled up in her eyes again. Josh noticed.
"Hey, don't cry. It's okay. Listen, if you want, I can stay and help you choose one. Not like I'm going anywhere."
Maria looked up at him through her tears.
"Thanks," she replied with a smile. "I'd like that."
The nurse smiled at the two and quietly exited the room.
A little while later, the nurse peeked in Maria's room to check up on her. Maria and Josh were fooling around trying on different wigs. Josh kept making her laugh, while wearing what looked like a clown wig. He made funny faces at the same time.
'Good thing Josh's here. She sure needs a laugh.' thought the nurse. She just smiled and walked away.
