Then Nikki looked at me the way Peaches would, her eyes wide, waiting for me to say something she wanted to hear.
“Let’s go!” I said louder than I needed. I tried to drown out that little voice that comes sometimes when you might be making a big mistake.
Once we rounded the corner, I saw that Mama’s car was gone. I was a little glad, so she wouldn’t ask about my knee. Nikki and I hurried into the garage to get Nikki’s old bike. It was neon green—her favorite color last year.
Before we could even get out of the garage, Nikki’s mama hollered out the window.
“Where are you two going?”
“I’m letting Georgie ride one of my bikes back to Tammy’s.”
“Streetlights, Nikki. If they’re on five minutes before you and Georgie are in the house, it’s gonna be trouble…. Georgie?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said.
She poked her head out more. “Your mama waited, but I told her it was best for her to get on to the hospital. Sorry that Peaches isn’t feeling well, but she’ll be better soon.”
“Thank you, Ms. Cora.”
“You two want anything to eat?”
“Not right now, Ma,” Nikki said.
“What about you, Georgie?”
“Ummm. Do you have any apples and beets?” I asked, thinking of my plan. If I was going to give Peaches a transfusion, my blood needed to be strong as can be.
“Beets?” Nikki said. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Not everyone has a vendetta against vegetables like you, missy,” Ms. Cora said. “I’m afraid we’re out of beets, but let me slice up some fresh apples for you.”
“Thank you,” I said, trying to avoid Nikki’s eyes.
As soon as her mama left the window, Nikki scooted closer. “I would check you for a fever, but that don’t tell if you’re crazy. Why you holding us up for apples? And beets?”
“I need to eat better, and beets are good for my blood,” I said. “You remember, that’s what the health teacher said. Tangie eats them all the time.”
“When did you start worrying about blood and stuff? Ohhhh, did you come on your—”
“Ugh, it doesn’t have anything to do with that.” I almost said it did. If I said that my Girl Time came before Nikki’s, I bet she wouldn’t speak to me for weeks.
Nikki’s front door opened, and Ms. Cora stepped out. “Here you go, Georgie,” she said, sealing the Ziploc bag. “I cut you up two whole apples and a half a carrot. Try to work some magic and make your BFF here eat some.”
“I’ll do my best, Ms. Cora.”
“Have fun. And don’t let them streetlights catch you.”
“Yes, ma’am,” we said together.
“Tell Tammy’s mom I said hi,” she added.
We bobbed our heads, and she waved to us as we pedaled away.
Nikki sighed. “Whew, that lasted forever.”
On the bikes, it took us less than two minutes to get to Tammy’s. When we got close, Kevin didn’t pay us attention but fiddled with the chain on his bike. Without looking up, he said, “I was ’bout to leave.”
“Had to get something for energy,” I said, and offered up my snacks. He downed an apple slice.
Nikki flipped her hand at him. “You wasn’t going no-where, because you want Georgie to be your girlfriennnnd.”
“Shut up, Nikki!” I cried.
“Y’all ready to go or what?” he said, and kicked dirt from his tire.
“You sure you know the way?” Nikki said.
“Yep. Go by myself all the time,” Kevin said.
“We better get started. My mom don’t play around about them streetlights,” Nikki said.
I stuffed an apple slice in my mouth and put the bag in the pouch on Nikki’s bike. Nikki turned to Tammy. “You remember what I told you.”
“I got it. I got it. I’m not a nincompoop,” Tammy said.
“You don’t even know what a nincompoop is,” Nikki shot back, copying me.
“I know I’m not one ’cause my mom said so,” Tammy said.
Kevin took off. Nikki and I waved to Tammy and followed him.
“You three was gonna keep fussin’ until it was too late to leave,” he said, standing up and leaning his body from side to side as he pedaled.
I didn’t answer, saving all my breath for the long ride and plus my knee was hurting like it was about to break in half.
When Frank took me to the hospital, we got on the I-85 North and were there in about fifteen minutes. Kevin’s way took us through the side streets near the expressway. Horns blaring and engines rumbling made it difficult to hear. Kevin steered us away from any big potholes. I could tell that he could go faster than he was going. Anytime I heard loud voices, I thought for sure we’d been spotted.
After about twenty minutes, neither Nikki nor I did much talking. Instead of trying to keep up with Kevin, I glanced at Nikki and slowed down. Her bangs had looked like a big, fluffy caterpillar earlier, but now they had flattened and were nearly covering her eyes. Still, I’d bet she’d ride blind before she’d be the first to stop.
“Kept…I mean, Kevin…wait up!” I said.
He didn’t stop but circled around and pulled up behind us.
Nikki moved her bangs out of her eyes, “Whatcha stopping for?”
I huffed. “’Cause I’m tired.” I parked on the sidewalk under the shadiest tree I saw. After I caught my breath, I grabbed my apple slices and bit into one. Kevin didn’t say anything as he took out a small towel and wiped his face.
“I could’ve gone another few blocks,” Nikki said, sounding like the time she tried to blow up too many balloons.
“Plus my knee is hurting,” I said. There was some truth in that, but if fibbing stopped Nikki from having an asthma attack, fine with me. Anyway, the apples needed time to get in my system.
Five minutes into our break, Kevin said, “If you two are finished resting, we got about another thirty minutes to go.”
Nikki took a puff of her inhaler. “What you two wait-ing for?”
We headed off again. No one talked at all. Kevin kept us mostly on the sidewalk, but there were a few times we had to use bike lanes. As much as I could, I tried to keep Nikki in the middle whether she liked it or not.
“We’re a couple minutes away,” Kevin yelled.
When we entered the crowded parking lot, my arms and legs felt like worms. I barely had the energy to wipe my shirttail across my face. Nikki’s chest was heaving so hard that she put her hand to her heart.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Yeah. I’m good,” she said as her breathing slowed.
Before I knew it, Kevin had jumped off his bike. Lots of Lego block–looking buildings with sharp edges and rows of windows surrounded us. The main entrance to the hospital had huge revolving doors framed by trees sitting in gigantic pots, and the driveway circled to let patients off in the front where wheelchairs waited, like a hotel for sick people.
“It’s best to walk the bikes from here, because of all the traffic from the parking garage,” Kevin said. I caught up with him, Nikki at my side. “I got a place where our bikes will be safe.”
He took us to the dental clinic entrance. A door led to an uncovered walkway between buildings. We followed as he opened the door and we bounced our bikes down a few stairs.
“I lean mine up against the side of the stairs. You can use the railing for your locks if you want.”
“I’m always losing the key or forgetting the combination, so I left ’em home,” Nikki said.
“Dang! I didn’t think about ’em either,” I said.
“Should be okay. I’ve been leaving my bike here without any problems.”
“Look at your bike, then look at mine,” Nikki said. “What if”—she wheezed a little—“what if there is a problem?” She finally broke down and took out her inhaler again.
I clapped my hands. “I got it. Nikki, you stay here with the bikes. We’ll be back after I check on my sister and talk to
the doctor.”
Nikki stared at me like I had two heads. “What? You ain’t a mama. You can’t talk to the doctor.” She sucked the inhaler again, this time longer than before.
“Well, I’m about to,” I said.
Nikki twisted her mouth to one side. “Whatever-dot-com.”
I sucked my teeth. “That’s so played out.”
“Whatever ain’t played out.”
“Nurses and doctors talk to me all the time about my mama,” Kevin said.
He didn’t have to help me convince Nikki that I wasn’t crazy, but it made my case and shut up Nikki—two for one. At that moment, I decided to stop calling him Kept Back and make Nikki stop, too.
“Are you gonna stay here or what?” I asked Nikki. I knew better than to mention it to her, but even the hallways in the hospital were a block long and her breath was still coming in wheezes.
She reached in her purse. “Yeah, I guess so. Bring me a soda.”
I hit my pocket that was full of change. “I got it.”
“Be back here in thirty minutes.” Nikki sat on the stairs and folded her arms and pouted like a little kid in time-out, that copycat Lucinda purse flopped in her lap. “Not one minute longer.”
“Okay! Okay!” I said.
If they needed to get me ready for the transfusion right away, Kevin could come back to get Nikki. I wasn’t crazy. I knew they’d have to tell Mama, but she’d never suggest I do anything to help. She didn’t even think I was strong enough to know Peaches’s real condition. Maybe the doctors would convince her like they did on TV. Kevin opened the door for me.
“Not one minute longer, Georgie. I mean it!” she said right before the door closed. Kevin and I had started across the parking lot.
Nikki opened the door and shouted something else, but I couldn’t make it out over the traffic noises.
Kevin stopped right before we entered the elevator. “Wanna go back and see what she said?”
“Probably just reminding me to get her soda,” I said, hoping that was really what it was.
It took us about ten minutes to get to the pediatric floor. All the hallways were white and shiny, and everyone was at least a foot taller than us.
With all the confidence I had, I marched up to the nurse’s station that was like a beehive on the quiet floor. “I need to see Patrice Ranee Matthews,” I said.
“Good afternoon, young lady. Let me check that patient for you,” the nurse said.
I folded my arms. “I’m her big sister.”
The nurse stared at the computer screen for a few seconds. “I apologize, but she can’t have any visitors.”
“Why?”
“She’s been moved to ICU. She’s resting now.” My stomach quivered, but I didn’t speak.
“I’m on my way to check on her. Stay here and I’ll tell you how she’s doing when I return,” the nurse said.
“Okay,” I said.
ICU…ICU. Then I turned to Kevin. “That’s the Intensive Care Unit.”
He glanced down. “Yeah, I know. My mom’s been there a few times.”
“A few times? It’s not the place people go before…” I thought I could get the words out.
“Before they die?”
“Yeah.”
“I used to think that, too. But it isn’t.”
“I hope your mom stays out of there.”
“When your sister comes out, she’ll stay out for sure. My mom…?” He shrugged.
His words encouraged me to do the transfusion even more. If the nurse got to my mother before I talked to the doctor, my chances of doing the transfusion were done.
I ran after the nurse. “I want to see the doctor who’s looking after my sister. I need to talk to that doctor right now!”
I shouted it so loud, the nurse hustled back. She locked her arm with mine and ushered me back to her station. “I’m just coming on duty. Where are your parents?”
“No, please. They can’t know I’m here, yet,” I said. “They’ll just take me home like I’m a baby.”
“You have to calm down. Did you come with an adult?”
I pulled in my lips and held them tight.
“Georgie?” a voice called out.
Just then, Tangie grabbed my shoulders and turned me around to face her.
“What are you doing here?” she snapped.
“Did she come here with you?” the nurse asked.
“Yes…Yes, ma’am,” Tangie said.
“I’ve been as understanding as I can be,” the nurse said crossly. “We can’t have outbursts like that. She doesn’t want me to tell her parents she’s here, so you’re responsible for her.”
Kevin stood nearby, not saying much, but not leaving me either.
“Sorry,” Tangie said. “She’s all right now.”
“We have to be mindful of the other patients.” The nurse scowled and hurried away.
Tangie rushed me to the nearest corner. “Now, answer me. What are you doing here? Your mom told me you were at Nikki’s.”
“I was. But Mama wasn’t letting me see Peaches.”
“Nikki’s mama dropped you off?”
“No, we came on our bikes.”
“All that way?” I nodded. “You can’t be serious.”
I nodded again.
“You came with him.” She shot a look at Kevin.
“He comes here all the time,” I said.
“You better be glad that my dad and your mom are in the cafeteria. Why didn’t you wait for them to bring you?”
“’Cause they won’t, and they keep treating me like a baby. I want to talk to her doctor myself. She’s gonna die, and it’s all my fault. I didn’t mean to leave her alone.” I sucked in my jaws, bit my lip, didn’t blink. I tried every trick I knew to keep from crying, but I lost. I flicked tears with my knuckles. “Now she needs a blood transfusion. I gotta help her right now.”
“Oh my goodness, Georgiana…You can’t…I mean…You can’t control…” She handed me some McDonald’s napkins from her purse. “It’s going to be okay.”
How stupid did I feel? There I was talking about Mama treating me like a baby, and I stood there crying like one.
“What’s your name?” she asked Kevin.
“Kevin…Kevin Jenkins,” he replied.
“Do me a favor, Kevin. Take Georgie to that waiting room over there.” She put her hand on my shoulder again, but this time it was much softer. “I’ll go find the doctor for you, okay?”
“I’m not leaving,” I reminded her.
“I know you’re not, Georgie. I wouldn’t have left, either,” she said.
My knees were shaking. The sadness I felt about Frank and Tangie coming back to the same hospital where they lost Morgan piled on top of everything else. I couldn’t speak.
Kevin motioned his head toward the hall. “Better get to the waiting room like she said.”
I nodded and followed him. Kevin removed a few newspapers from a chair, and I sat down. I put my hand to my throat, hoping that would make the boulder stopping me from speaking go away.
“You want some water or something?” he asked.
“No, I just want to talk to the doctor.”
“Was that your sister, too?”
“Stepsister.”
“Oh. Least you have people at the hospital with you.”
“I guess. It’s not helping Peaches come home.”
“It might.” He bent down and retied his worn Chuck Taylors.
“Doesn’t your dad ever come?”
“Not since he moved to Rochester.”
“They got a divorce?”
“You only need one of those if you ever got married.”
I twisted my lips to the side. “Not all parents gotta get married. My mom and dad did, but now they’re divorced.”
“Well, my dad wants me to move in with him. But my mom doesn’t want me to go. She keeps going in and out of the hospital, and I was skipping school to see about her. Missed too much and had to repeat.”
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I wiped my eyes. Kevin walked over to a small table and yanked two tissues from the box.
“Thanks.” I pressed the tissues against my face and tugged my nose, too embarrassed to blow. I was hoping that I felt stronger because of the apples. I only wished that I had known what to do the very first day Peaches was in the hospital. That way I could have eaten a bag of apples and two whole bowls of beets by now.
After a few minutes, Tangie returned with the nurse and a woman with tiny braids like Tangie’s and a quarter-size birth mark on her temple.
“Are you Georgie?” she asked. She had a gap between her two front teeth.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Kevin stood up so the doctor could have his seat, but she kneeled in front of me. I balled up the tissue and put it in my pocket.
“How are you, Georgie? I’m Dr. Harris, Patrice’s doctor.” She held out her hand for me to shake. It was warm, like I was putting my hand inside a mitten. If I decided to be a doctor instead of a judge when I grew up, I’d remember to shake hands with almost-teenagers like they were adults, not toddlers.
“I’m fine…. I want my sister to get better,” I said.
“We all do. That’s why she’s here. I’m working on getting her better even as we speak.”
“If that’s true, why can’t I see her?”
“Because the room she’s in is for extra-delicate little girls, and we got to make sure that everyone who comes in contact with her has a strong immune system. You know what that is?”
“The science teacher said it’s inside stuff that stops us from getting sick.”
“Looka here! We got an up-and-coming doctor. And that system is stronger when you’re older. That’s why we can only let older people in right now.”
I blinked to focus and cleared my throat. “I know a way I can help her.”
“You’re praying and thinking about her every day, right, Georgie?” Tangie said.
The nurse tapped on her clipboard. “That’s the best medicine.”
“But I want to do something else,” I said. “Can I, Dr. Harris?”
“Why don’t you tell me what it is and we’ll see?”
A woman and a little girl walked into the room and sat on the other side. Someone was calling names on the loudspeaker. I tried to concentrate, but I couldn’t stop rocking. I put my hands on my knees and squeezed real hard to stop them from shaking. I wouldn’t mess up.
Love Like Sky Page 8
