Christmas on the Children's Ward

by Carol Marinelli

  ‘Who’s the lucky bunny, going home?’ Eden asked, walking into her allocated bay on the Ward, incredibly pleased to see Priscilla sitting on Rory’s bed and playing a board game with him.

  ‘Me.’ Priscilla grinned, looking up from the game. ‘Dr Nick said I could go home this afternoon. Mum’s finishing work early to come and get me.’

  ‘Well, good for you,’ Eden said as Priscilla turned her attention back to the game.

  Picking up Priscilla’s chart, Eden turned to the food chart that was being kept on the girl, checking off the contents of the tray and filling in what Priscilla had eaten. ‘How did you go with lunch today?’

  ‘OK.’ Eden shrugged, not bothering to look up, and her nonchalance was the best reward of all. The fact she’d eaten a plate of steamed fish and vegetables and a bowl of jelly was just as it should be—no big deal.

  ‘How are you doing, Rory?’ Eden asked as Priscilla skipped off to the loo. She popped the tympanic thermometer in his ear and watched as he shrugged his shoulders.

  ‘OK.’

  It was a very different OK to Priscilla’s, and not for the first time Eden realised Rory had been having a hard time of it lately.

  ‘A bit fed up, huh?’ Eden asked.

  ‘I guess so.’ Rory gave another apathetic shrug and let out a long sigh. When Eden didn’t rush to fill the long silence, Rory finally elaborated. ‘Priscilla’s turned out OK now she’s stopped all her whingeing.’

  ‘And now she’s going home?’ Eden asked, sitting on the bed. ‘Like Declan did. You miss him, don’t you?’

  ‘Even if he was just a kid, Declan was cool.’

  ‘Declan,’ Eden whispered, ‘was way too cool to be five! You know,’ she continued, ‘that once Priscilla’s gone home her bed will be filled within a few hours. Before you know it, there will be another kid in there…’

  ‘Waking me up in the middle of the night because he doesn’t know where the call bell is, or because his mum’s gone home.’ He gave a very weak smile. ‘As soon as I’ve broken them in they’re ready to go home.’

  ‘You’re really very good with the other patients,’ Eden said. ‘I know they can be a pain sometimes, but the night nurses tell me you’re a real help at night if one of the other children are upset. Dianne, the night sister, told me that one night you had one of the little ones sitting on your bed at three in the morning playing a game with him when he was missing his mum and the nurses were all busy.’

  A hint of a blush darkened his cheeks.

  ‘That’s really kind of you Rory.’

  ‘I guess.’ Rory was pleating the sheet and Eden noticed that his nails needed cutting, but she made a mental note rather than saying anything. She wanted to wait until Rory elaborated, finally he voiced what was really on his mind. ‘School breaks up today. For Christmas,’ Rory added, and Eden nodded.

  ‘You’ll be back at school by the time the summer break’s over.’

  ‘Yeah, but who will I be sitting with?’ Rory growled. ‘You get to meet your new teacher on the last day of term and choose who you’ll be sitting beside next year. I bet I’ll be sitting on my own.’

  ‘I’ll bet you’re not.’ Eden gave him a little nudge with her elbow. ‘It might seem an age to you since I was eleven, but I can remember it very well. I can remember there was this girl in my class called Alison Davies…’

  ‘Did you like her?’ Rory asked, and Eden screwed up her nose.

  ‘She broke her arm, just her arm, mind—nothing near as bad as you—and she was only away one week. Well, the day she came back, everyone crowded around her, wanting to sign her cast. All the teachers said that we had to be nice to Alison.’ Eden pulled a face and managed to make Rory smile with an alarmingly good impersonation of a jealous, petulant eleven-year-old. Even her voice adopted a preadolescent surly ring. ‘Everyone wanted to be Alison Davies’s best friend.’

  ‘Yeah?’

  ‘Yes.’ Eden grinned and corrected at the same time. ‘You’re going to have metal rod sticking out your legs, which is way more cool than a cast. You, Rory, are going to be fighting them off with a stick.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Really,’ Eden said. ‘I’m working over Christmas—well, I’m on nights for Christmas Eve and Boxing night and then back for four nights over New Year—and I for one can’t wait.’

  Rory gave a very dubious frown. ‘Who’d actually want to be here?’

  ‘Me.’ Eden smiled. ‘Christmas is great on the children’s ward.’

  ‘For the little kids,’ Rory said, but Eden shook her head.

  ‘For everyone. I know this is probably the last place you want to be right now but, believe me, Rory, you’ll remember this Christmas for ever.’

  Rory gave her another dubious look. ‘I doubt it. Anyway, it’s not as if there’s a Santa or anything.’

  ‘Isn’t there?’ Eden said, treading very carefully as she spoke. Rory was at that horribly awkward age, caught between childhood and adolescence, hearing from his mates that it wasn’t really true yet wanting to believe all the same. Eden thought about it for a moment and then shook her head. ‘I don’t care what anyone says, there’s definitely magic in the air at Christmas. You’re going to have a great day, you just wait and see.’

  They weren’t empty words either—Christmas in hospital really was a special time and Eden felt a pang of guilt at her own selfishness, knowing the huge effort everyone went to to ensure that those who had to be there really did have a Christmas to remember. As the countdown started, the atmosphere, not just in the children’s ward but around the whole hospital, heightened. A job lot of Christmas earrings must have been purchased because everywhere Eden looked the floor was being mopped or the meals were being delivered by women of all ages with twinkling Santas or snowmen dangling from their ears. The admin staff joined the party, too, with tinsel wrapped around their badges. Every ward in the hospital was decorated in its own unique way, there were massive hampers at every nurses’ station, and whether you were going to borrow an ampoule of penicillin or beg for a few hospital gowns till the linen was delivered the following morning, undoubtedly a book of raffle tickets would be waved in your face—the proceeds going to raise funds for that particular ward.

  Even Donna, who had insisted on good taste, stunned everyone by arriving on the ward with a stack of tabards she’d made herself for the nursing staff to wear. And when Eden arrived on Christmas Eve she was delighted to find her navy culottes and white shirt, transformed by the red tabard, covered in reindeers and jolly fat Santas that Becky handed her as she followed her into the changing room, grabbing the opportunity, while the ward was quiet, for a quick five-minute gossip before handover.

  ‘Donna made these?’ Eden checked, tying the tabard at the sides and putting in her various pens and a small torch.

  ‘She did.’ Becky grinned, sitting down on the bench and idly flicking through an ancient magazine as Eden got ready to start her shift. ‘Though I’ll bet she’ll want them returned washed and folded by Boxing Day!’

  ‘I am sorry,’ Becky said again, for probably the hundredth time since the roster had been rearranged, looking up from her magazine and catching Eden’s eyes in the mirror. ‘I really feel awful that you’re stuck here tonight instead of zipping up the freeway with a back seat full of presents.’

  ‘Well, don’t be.’ Eden shook her head, wrapping a bit of tinsel around her ponytail. ‘It’s not as if I’m replacing you, Becky. You were never supposed to be working.’

  ‘I know,’ Becky sighed, ‘but my house is ten minutes away. You’re missing out on being with your family.’

  ‘Becky.’ Eden turned from the mirror and smiled at her friend. ‘I admit I was a bit put out at first, but I soon got over it, and, as it turns out, I’m actually glad I’m working tonight. It means I’m going to spend Christmas day with—’

  ‘Nick Watson.’ Becky gave a dreamy sigh. ‘You know, if I’d have known that was part of the deal when Donna asked for volunteer
s, I’d have put my hand straight up.’

  ‘Becky!’ Eden grinned, ignoring, for a moment the fact Becky had deliberately missed the point. Despite her smile, Eden was more than a touch concerned about the constant jaundiced air that seemed to surround Becky whenever she spoke about her marriage. ‘What about Hamish?’

  ‘What about him?’ Becky rolled her eyes but her expression changed, not just her face but her entire body drooping. Her shoulders slouched, her face dropped into her hands and Eden watched as a tear slid out between Becky’s fingers. Crossing the room, Eden sat down on the bench and put her arm around her friend.

  ‘What’s going on, Becky?’

  ‘You tell me.’ Becky gulped. ‘He’s out every night, meeting Vince or George or whatever name he can come up with.’

  ‘People are busy around Christmas,’ Eden soothed. ‘Loads of parties and drinks after work.’

  ‘Hamish doesn’t have a job,’ Becky pointed out, and Eden felt her heart sink. ‘And even if I stretched the boundaries and gave him some grace, how come he’s out every night until three in the morning?’ Becky’s tear-streaked face turned to Eden. ‘We normally get up at six and meditate for half an hour before the kids get up, but Hamish is so worn out from the night before, I can barely raise a good morning, let alone…’

  ‘What?’ Becky frowned as Eden’s hand tightened on her shoulder. Eden had nowhere to go except the honest truth.

  ‘I love you dearly, Becky,’ Eden said, her lips trying so hard not to twitch. ‘And I know that none of this is funny. I just can’t get past the bit about you meditating…’

  ‘Philistine!’ Becky managed a very wobbly smile. ‘You should try it someday.’ The tiny diversion was over and Becky took a deep breath. ‘I love you too, Eden, but I hate the fact I’m sitting here on Christmas Eve pouring my heart out to you, telling you that my marriage is as good as over. He’s all grumpy when I ask him where he’s been, says that we’ve been married for ten years and that surely by now I should be able to trust him.’

  ‘And do you?’ Eden asked, but Becky just shrugged. ‘He could just be…’ Eden struggled to come up with a scenario, but Becky was only too happy to fill her in.

  ‘Playing around?’

  ‘I didn’t say that.’

  ‘You didn’t have to.’ Becky blew her fringe skywards. ‘I know I’m not the world’s tidiest wife or the best cook…’ Very deliberately Eden didn’t comment. ‘And I know that Conner’s not exactly the world’s most disciplined kid, but I truly thought those sort of things didn’t matter to Hamish, I really thought we were a team.’

  ‘Talk to him,’ Eden urged, and Becky nodded.

  ‘I’m going to…’

  ‘Just not tonight, huh?’ Eden said perceptively, and Becky crumpled.

  ‘I just want Conner to have a great Christmas. Once that’s out of the way, I’m going to ask him just what the hell’s going on. He’s either in or out of this relationship as far as I’m concerned, not somewhere in between.’

  ‘It will be OK,’ Eden soothed, but with more conviction than she really felt. She hated the fact her friend was in so much pain, but felt powerless to help. She wished she had a little bit of the Christmas magic she’d promised Rory in her tabard to sprinkle over Becky. ‘You’re going to be fine, Becks.’

  ‘I know,’ Becky gulped, wiping her cheeks with her hands and standing up. ‘Knowing my luck, I’ll end up paying him spousal maintenance or, worse, he’ll sell one of his stupid paintings the day I sign the divorce papers.’

  ‘It isn’t going to come to that,’ Eden said, standing up as well, glancing at her watch and seeing it was just after nine. ‘We’d better go into handover.’

  ‘Thanks, Eden.’ Becky sniffed. ‘I feel better now.’

  ‘I haven’t done anything,’ Eden pointed out.

  ‘I was thanking you in advance.’ Becky grinned. ‘If I leave Hamish, Conner and I will be on your doorstep!

  ‘Joke,’ she added, linking her arm through Eden’s and heading out onto the ward.

  Even though the conversation had been gloomy, the mood on the ward wasn’t. Every television was tuned to Carols by Candlelight, and the tree looking prettier somehow. The whole ward hummed with expectancy. ‘Bet you can’t wait for tomorrow.’

  ‘I can’t,’ Eden admitted. ‘I feel like a kid myself I’m so excited.’ And despite what you think, it has nothing to do with Nick Watson.’

  ‘I know,’ Becky sighed. ‘I was just teasing.’ The conversation stopped as they reached ISO one. A tuxedo was out of place on the children’s ward, especially one worn with a surgical face mask, but the tall, blond man wearing it, checking the charts outside the cubicle, carried it extremely well!

  ‘I thought you were supposed to be at the doctors’ ball,’ Becky chided him.

  ‘I’m just checking his meds,’ Nick answered, ripping off the mask. ‘And making sure that his day leave order is signed for tomorrow.’

  ‘You could have rung for that,’ Becky pointed out. ‘And since when did you have to wear a mask to check a chart?’

  ‘He was crying.’ Nick held his hands up in a helpless gesture. ‘What was I supposed to do?’

  ‘Out, Cinderella,’ Becky shooed. ‘Go and have some fun. It’s Christmas Eve!’

  ‘Well, if you insist.’ Nick grinned. ‘’Night, ladies.’

  ‘’Night, Nick,’ they both answered.

  ‘I’ll pick you up around eleven?’ Nick checked as he headed off, turning around, for a brief moment his eyes meeting Eden’s.

  ‘Fine.’

  ‘Gorgeous, isn’t he?’ Becky sighed, but just as Eden was about to agree she realised the conversation had turned back to Ben and both women stared through the glass for an indulgent moment at the little boy sleeping on his back, his thumb half in, half out of his mouth, dark eyelashes fanning his permanently red cheeks.

  ‘I really admire you, you know. Sometimes I feel myself getting a bit too close, getting too attached to a poor little mite that’s got no one. Do you remember Dwain?’

  Eden shook her head.

  ‘He was before your time, a little guy from the Solomon Islands with leukaemia. He was just gorgeous.’

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘Nothing.’ Becky shrugged. ‘I knew I was getting in too deep so I told Donna I was getting too attached and asked not to have him allocated to me any more. And that was that.’

  ‘But was it?’

  ‘No.’ Becky shook her head. ‘Believe me, you’re doing the right thing, Eden, sometimes it hurts more to walk away.’

  From every room the television had the same picture, and obs were taken and meds given to the background noises of Carols by Candlelight, various celebrities from around Australia delivering the Christmas message through song, and on more than a few occasions Eden found herself darting into the pan room to take a steadying breath or blow her nose, only to be met by Dana or Rochelle doing exactly the same thing. The ward round on Christmas Eve on a children’s ward was both the saddest and happiest place to be. Happy because who couldn’t be moved by the excited chatter, the expectant faces, the palpable air of excitement as the children were tucked in for the night? But it was tempered with sadness too, sharing a pensive, brave smile with a parent who knew they had to make the most of this night, who knew, more than any parent ever should, that this Christmas was special, and that the best they could do was make the very most of this precious child that had touched their lives.

  Turning off the television and quietly tying a stocking to Ben’s cot, Eden gazed down.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  ‘I’LL just take this,” Eden said, retrieving the bedpan from Rory in virtual darkness, knowing how embarrassed he was by the whole procedure, ‘and then I’ll come and check your temperature. Merry Christmas, Rory.’

  ‘Yeah.’

  Returning two minutes later, Eden pulled out her pen torch and flashed it so she could locate his ear, pushing in the probe and listening for the almost simulta
neous bleep as his temperature was recorded.

  ‘You’ve got a new roommate,’ Eden whispered.

  ‘How old?’

  ‘Twelve.’ In the darkness Eden grinned as she felt Rory’s interest go up a notch. ‘He’s feeling pretty sorry for himself. He fell off his skateboard yesterday evening and had to go to Theatre to have his arm set.’

  ‘Was he wearing pads?’ Rory whispered back, by now an expert on accident prevention.

  ‘No.’ Eden shook her head. ‘I think he’ll need a bit of cheering up, given it’s Christmas and everything. Can I leave that to you?’ She just made out Rory’s nod in the darkness and even though it was six a.m., even though Rory was no doubt about to drift back to sleep, Eden was just too excited to resist. ‘Why don’t you have a drink?’

  ‘I’m not thirsty,’ Rory said.

  ‘You should drink lots,’ Eden insisted. ‘The doctor told you that. I’ll just turn on your bedside light and pour you some water.’ Flicking on the light, she fumbled with the jug and poured the reluctant Rory a drink. Seeing that he’d gone back to sleep, she pulled out her thermometer again, ‘Sorry, Rory, I have to take your temperature again.’ As Rory’s eyes flicked open, Eden picked his chart off the end of his bed and started to fill it in, smothering a smile as Rory, despite the bulky traction, pulled himself to a sitting position.

  ‘What’s this?’

  ‘What?’ Eden frowned.

  ‘This,’ Rory said, gesturing to the massive bedspread covering him, with just his foot, hanging from the traction, sticking out the end of the bed. ‘What’s all the writing?’