“Giselle… I…”
But, she wouldn’t let him say that he wasn’t driving, it was his aunt, who lost control of the car because of a massive heart attack.
Leering at him, Giselle spat out one final thing.
“Get out of my room, and don’t you ever come back! I don’t ever want to see you or talk to you again!”
There was nothing Conyer could do but remove himself from her room, and possibly from her life. From her life?! His Bible, however, remained on her bedside table when he exited.
Chapter 5
After two more meltdowns, two confrontations with nurses who didn’t attend to her the way she thought they should, five times ignoring people saying hello when they passed or came into the room, and one refusal to even say she was sorry to the janitor who had to clean up the mess she had caused when she shoved her meal tray away and onto the floor, making the point that she would not eat, Giselle had been moved down two floors to a “regular care” room.
Rather than feeling any gratefulness that she was making progress and could be de-classified, no longer a “critical care” patient, Giselle was perturbed that she had to share the room with another patient. In fact, she summoned a nurse immediately. When the nurse responded, asking if she could help Giselle with anything, Giselle set her jaw and told the nurse that she wanted a single-occupancy room. Knowing that her bill was being handled had given her a sense of entitlement and an obnoxious demanding spirit. She didn’t hold down her voice. In fact, when the nurse said she’d find out about the possibility, Giselle raised her voice and told the nurse “That’s all!,” virtually dismissing her. She couldn’t see around the partially closed curtain between her bed, so she had no idea that the other patient and her guest were rolling their eyes at each other, and mouthing “Whoa!”
After several moments, the nurse returned to advise Giselle that there were no single-occupancy rooms available at that time, on that floor or any other. Giselle’s response was predictable. “Yeah, right. Thanks a lot!”
Yet again, two young women behind the privacy curtains reacted to the new patient in the room. This time it was a shake of their heads, and one mouthed to the other, “Unbelievable!”
Giselle would have preferred the curtain remain between them. She was in no mood to talk to anyone, but that wasn’t what happened.
The visitor pulled back the curtain, revealing both herself and the patient she was visiting.
The patient was the first to speak.
“Hi, my name is Doris. We thought we should open this curtain so you could get some of this sunshine on your side too.”
Giselle responded half-heartedly. “Thanks.”
“And, my name is Awsty,” added the visitor.
A quick heartless response, “Hi. I’m Giselle.”
When Giselle seemed unlikely to share some pleasant conversation with them, Awsty and Doris continued talking with each other.
“Well, I’m getting really close to finishing classes, and pretty soon I’ll be taking my state nursing board exams. I’m spending almost every day and night studying, and that’s when I’m not actually in conference with my advisor or at the hospital.”
“How’s Mason reacting to not getting you exclusively to himself?” Doris asked.
“Well, you know Mason. He’s just so sweet and patient. I’m so blessed, Doris. I just love that man so much!”
“You’re blessed. That’s for sure.”
The very second the word “blessed” had escaped Doris’s lips, Giselle made a humph sound that was meant to mock the very word itself.
“Blessed,” mocked Giselle, in a quiet voice, but one she very much meant for the two young women to hear.
Ignoring her, although they both had heard and knew it was a pointed commentary on Giselle’s emotional and spiritual condition, they continued their conversation.
“So, how go things with you?” asked Awsty. Since you two broke up, are you seeing anyone else? And, by the way, what happened with you two?”
Doris shrugged her shoulders. “I really was starting to care about him, Awsty. But, something happened that made me question his character, and after that it just went downhill.”
“What?”
“Well, we went out to dinner one night. We were having a super time. He was so congenial, and warm, and I just thought everything he said was so funny. We laughed and laughed until I actually had a stomach ache. I had been thinking for some time that I truly hoped the relationship would lead to something permanent.”
“And…” Awsty prompted.
“Well. We’d finished our dinner and had decided to get some yogurt at that cute little place on Davis Avenue.
“Within no more than three minutes after we pulled into their parking lot, another car came in. It was obviously another couple on a date.
“When the guy opened his car door, he thrust it open too far and it really slammed into our car. Right on the passenger side, where I was sitting.
“The guy had a bit of an attitude and kind of sneered at us when he got out of the car and stood there examining the extent of the damage.
As soon as we heard the guy’s sneer, he yelled at the guy, “What? You think this is funny?!”
The guy didn’t say anything, he just grinned. To be honest, I just think he didn’t know how to react in front of the girl he was with. I think if he’d just apologized and told us he would take care of it, and given us his insurance information, it would have been over. But, he didn’t. He just went around his own car the other way, and opened the door for his date.
“He lost it. He ran around to where the guy was standing and shoved him. And, of course, the guy shoved back. Then he started swearing at the guy. I’ve never heard such language in my life! Not from a believer!”
“What did you do?” asked Awsty, with a shocked expression on her face.
“I walked around and took hold of his arm. I was going to ask him to let it go. Just get the guy’s license and insurance information and we could go.”
“And…” Awsty prompted again.
When Doris didn’t respond, Awsty asked again, “And…”
“He shoved me. Pretty hard, too. And told me to stay out of it.”
“He shoved you?!”
“Yeah. Awsty, I was so embarrassed. I wasn’t hurt physically, but by now there were people standing around, watching, and I was just plain humiliated. And, I haven’t seen him at church since. Someone said he’s started going to another church. Seems like he just slunk away.”
Giselle had not been part of the conversation, but she had obviously been eavesdropping, because out of nowhere she piped in, “Yeah. Guys stink! You should see the guy who did this to me! And he thinks we’re going to get all buddy-buddy now. I told him today to get out and not come back.”
Simultaneously, Awsty and Doris turned to see Giselle exposing her pitifully broken body.
Both girls gasped when they saw her. Giselle was actually glad that the bandages were no longer on her lacerations. The black sutures made everything look so much more gruesome than if they’d been just covered white patches of gauze. If she looked like this, and there was nothing she could do about it, she was going to milk the sympathy for all it was worth.
“Oh, Giselle. I’m so sorry!” This from Doris.
Awsty stood and went to Giselle’s side. She took Giselle’s hand and held it in both of her own.
“Oh, Giselle!” She wanted to say more, but what could she possibly add?
At this sudden display of sympathy from someone that didn’t know her, Giselle reached around with her free hand and grabbed Awsty around the neck. Pulling her toward herself, she broke down for the zillionth time that day and cried deep racking sobs that sounded to Awsty as though they came from the deepest part of Giselle’s soul.
When no further words of comfort came from either girl, Giselle just clung to Awsty’s neck. And that was fine with Awsty. She ached for this young woman. She knew she would sit here huggin
g Giselle, until Giselle decided it was time to break apart.
*****
As per her promise to both patients, Awsty returned to the hospital the next day after school. And, as per her second promise, she brought both Doris and Giselle a prize. She knew she should probably be studying, but she truly felt like her poor brain couldn’t take in anymore academic information. And, as much as she wanted to visit again with Doris after her appendectomy, her heart was just breaking for the young woman named Giselle.
Arriving late-afternoon, Giselle wasn’t in the room. The bed was made and Awsty wondered if Giselle had been dismissed already. That couldn’t be, could it?! Her injuries were too extensive. And, she had only been brought down from ICU yesterday, or was it the day before? She couldn’t remember.
“Hey, girl! How you feelin’ today?” asked Awsty, with her usual broad smile. Between the Lord and her new husband, Mason, Awsty almost always had a grin that just couldn’t be turned off.
“Ok. Well, actually, I’m not feeling great. I’m in a lot of pain still. In fact, I think it’s getting worse. Looks like I might have to stay a day or two longer than planned.
“In fact, when you leave today, would you call Pastor Johnston or Pastor Greg and tell them I don’t think I’ll be back to work until the middle of next week?”
“Of course. I’m so sorry, Doris. I know you must be feeling disappointed. But, in another couple of weeks you’ll be back to your ol’ self and chasin’ Pastor Greg and Pastor Johnston around their desks,” said, Awsty, trying to get her to cheer up some.
“And, where’s Giselle? Surely they haven’t released her yet, have they?”
“No. She’s down in therapy. I think it might be another hour or more before she’s back.”
“How’s she doing today? She just broke my heart yesterday! She never said what happened to the guy, did she? Surely he’s been arrested by now, right?
Before Awsty even finished talking, Doris simulated a pouting child.
Without answering the question Awsty proffered, instead Doris said, “You said yesterday that you were going to bring Giselle and me a prize today.”
“I did.”
“Well, where do you have it hidden? There’s nothing here but you, and your purse.”
Before answering, Awsty unzipped her voluminous purse and pulled out a zippered storage bag, and a hair dryer.
When Doris saw the two pitiful items taken out, it was apparent on her face that she was disappointed. She told Awsty minutes later that when she saw the hair dryer, that she thought Awsty was going to do something with her hair, and since she would be lying around in bed for days yet, it seemed like an exercise in futility.
“Hey, before you get all pitiful on me, wouldn’t you like to know what I’ve brought? Geez, girl, at least let me open the bag and show you the wealth of ‘gorgeousness’ I’ve got inside.”
With these words, Awsty unzipped, turned the bag upside down and allowed the entire contents to fall on the bed next to Doris. The response was an immediate squeal of delight from the ailing Doris.
“You brought the nail wraps! You brought the nail wraps! Do I get to pick out my own?!”
Awsty laughed at Doris’ enthusiasm and told her that she absolutely could pick out her own wraps.
There must have been twenty different styles, everything from demure to raucous and almost bawdy. Doris stopped talking with Awsty and focused all her attention on the adorable nail wrap possibilities.
Deciding within three minutes which ones she wanted applied, Doris hugged her chosen wraps to her chest.
“Oh, I just love these!” They were a white background with musical notes all over a treble staff.
“Awsty, I’ve never had nail wraps before. I’d never even heard of them until you told me about them. This is just the most exciting gift I’ve ever been given when I’m sick and pitiful. Well, at least they’re in the running for first place with these…” And, with lightning speed, she opened her bedside table and pulled out a sampler box of chocolates.
“Ooooo…” replied Awsty, who loudly slurped and swiped imaginary drool from her mouth and chin. Doris got the point and offered Awsty one. Her choice was even faster than Doris’ choice of nail wraps. A chocolate-covered pecan cluster! Awsty popped the whole thing in her mouth with no ceremony at all. All Doris could do was laugh, with each guffaw, holding her appendectomy site. Awsty giggled too, but only until the chocolatey goodness began spreading in her mouth. Then, Doris might as well have been out of the room, because Awsty closed her eyes, chewed slowly and “Mmmmm’ed” her way through the sugary delight with total concentration.
“Who gave these to you?” asked Awsty after enjoying her piece of chocolate sugariness.
“It’s from the church staff. Pastor Greg brought it by earlier.”
Once the cluster had been consumed, while Doris thoroughly perused the wraps she’d chosen, Awsty began setting up the items she’d brought and would need. Orange stick, coarse nail file, smoothing nail file, a small pair of pair of nail scissors, alcohol swabs, cotton balls, and of course, the already displayed hair dryer.
As Doris’ eyes landed yet again on the hair dryer, she whimpered, “Oh, no!”
“What?”
“You’re not allowed to bring anything electric in the rooms. They won’t let us use the outlets. They’re supposed to be used explicitly for hospital-related things.”
“Yeah. I knew that. That’s why I brought my battery-operated one. Although…” Awsty hesitantly said, “I forgot to check to make sure the batteries in it are still good.”
Quickly turning on the appliance, Awsty and Doris simultaneously responded in kind.
“Whew!”
*****
During the application of wraps to the first hand, neither Awsty nor Doris spoke. Awsty had only applied the fashionable nail wraps to her own nails, and seemed a bit stumped on how to turn Doris’ hand to get the best position for application. She was too focused on her task to chat. But, by the second hand, and after at least a gazillion times Doris sighing, “Oooh…” in total appreciation of the first hand’s fingernail adornment, the girls began their casual conversation.
“What made you choose the musical pattern? Oh, wait… a memorial to the seven years of piano you took, right?”
“Yes, m’am. I may not play the piano much anymore, but it’s still a very real part of who I am.”
Awsty was quiet for a couple of minutes, while she used her own nails to force the wrap of the current finger as far back into the cuticle as possible.
“Owww!” yelped Doris.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Dor. Sometimes I forget everybody isn’t as insensitive to this as me.” She lifted Doris’ finger up to her lips as though she were going to kiss “the boo-boo,” but let go of Doris’ hand when Doris started laughing.
A few more minutes of silence ensued before changing the conversation to something new.
“How was Giselle doing this morning? I know she was rude and unkind yesterday, but, Dor, that girl has really been through something horrible. You couldn’t see her wounds as well from the bed here, but I saw them up close and personal. She must be in such emotional turmoil, as well as being so beat up! My heart just breaks for her. And, I’d like to wring the neck of the guy that did this to her!”
“Oh, Aws, you have no idea! I got to talk to her in length yesterday afternoon and evening after you left.”
“Oh good. I had the feeling she needed to vent.”
“More than you can even imagine.
“First off, she won’t be having anyone visiting her or taking her home. Her folks are missionaries in…” She paused, thinking. “I think it’s Guatemala. Maybe Zimbabwe. I can’t remember.
“Anyway… she hasn’t even told them what happened. She said she told the doctor she’d tell them about it when it’s all behind her.”
“Poor thing. No support. No wonder she’s so distressed.”
“Oh, you haven’t even heard the
worst of it. She’s a professional ballerina. She was supposed to be going on a European tour with her dance company in a few days…”
“Oh, no. You’re kidding.”
“No, and it gets even worse. The doctor told her there was so much muscle damage to one of her legs, as well as a screw having just been put in to hold one of her legs together, that she won’t be able to dance anymore.”
Awsty sat slump-shouldered as she finished up Doris’ nail wraps. There was little casual chit-chat. When she finished, she told Doris to hold up her nails and look at them.
In usual circumstances, Doris and Awsty both would have been oooing and aahing, but the mood in the room had changed radically. Both women were deeply saddened over Giselle’s situation. Especially, since they had no idea what to do to help her.
Doris put her hands down finally, and looked Awsty in the eye.
“Aws, that’s not even the end of it.”
“Oh, Dor, what else could there be!?”
“She has no place to live. She came back home just long enough to gather a few things her parents put in storage for her, and then go join her dance company. She’s been staying in a motel.”
“Doris, what’s she going to do?”
“I don’t know. I just feel so bad.”
When Giselle entered the room, both women perked up immediately and acted, for Giselle’s benefit, that everything was fine.
Chapter 6
“Hey, Giselle. I’d ask how you’re doing today, but I can see from your flushed face, that they’ve worked you hard down in physical therapy.” Shaking her finger at the girl as though she were warning a small child, Awsty said, “You better have behaved yourself down there and worked hard, or I’m not giving you the prize I promised yesterday.”
The truth was that Giselle was so worn out, that she didn’t know if she should just say that she had worked hard, or if she should just acknowledge Awsty’s comments with a nod.
She decided on the prior. It took all the little bit of remaining energy she had just to get up out of her wheelchair and onto her bed, after which she turned her head to face Awsty and simply and softly said, “Hi.”
Awsty could see from the lack luster of Giselle’s response, that she was both tired and frustrated. Awsty decided not to tease her. Giselle wasn’t up to it. Instead she left Doris’ bed and scooted a chair over beside Giselle.
Fixing His Broken Ballerina: Volume 1 Page 4