Never Grow Up

by Karen Kingsbury

  “Dad.” Ashley sat next to Kari. Brooke was in the front passenger seat. “I want you to know something.”

  “Yes, Ashley.” Dad smiled over his shoulder at her. “Tell me.”

  “I’ve thought about it.” Ashley smoothed the wrinkles from her jeans. “And I feel ready to perform surgery today. If that’s what we need to do.”

  Dad looked at Ashley in the rearview mirror. “No one will be performing surgery today.”

  “But I’m ready.” Ashley held a finger up in the air. “I’m not afraid at all.”

  “Yes.” Dad’s voice was patient. “It takes more than courage to operate on someone, Ashley. You have to go to college many, many years for that.”

  Kari put her hand over her mouth so Ashley wouldn’t hear her laugh. Her sister was hilarious.

  Ashley was still trying to get into the operating room at Dad’s hospital. “Here’s something.” She leaned forward. “What if someone else does the surgery? Can we just peek inside?”

  “I think you’re a little confused.” Dad chuckled. “We will not be going near, nor will we be performing, any surgeries today.” Dad paused. “Got it?”

  Ashley’s eyes got wide, and her mouth hung open. “I truly thought that was the whole point, Father. To take part in a surgery.”

  Kari tapped Ashley’s shoulder.

  “Yes?” Ashley turned to her. “Can I help you?”

  “The point today is to learn more about different jobs and see what we enjoy.” Kari looked at her notebook again. “Let’s all collect observations. Then we can share them.”

  “I like that!” Brooke looked back at Kari and Ashley. “We can do that!”

  Ashley smiled. “Maybe I could draw something.”

  “Exactly.” Dad nodded. “There you go, Ashley.”

  Kari smiled at her dad in the mirror and took in a deep breath. In a few hours she would know if she wanted to be a doctor. They were entering the hospital for a behind-the-scenes look. Like Charlie Bucket heading into Willy Wonka’s factory. She could hardly wait. In fact, the closer they got to Dad’s work, the more Kari was sure a hospital was exactly where she wanted to work. And that there was nothing she’d rather be than a doctor.

  Just like her dad.

  * * *

  An hour later Kari knew the truth.

  Behind the scenes at the hospital was nothing like Willy Wonka’s factory. The walls were a green shade of yellow, the lights hummed, and machines were always beeping. This was different from the part of the hospital where Alex stayed. There they had toys and bright colors in every room.

  She flipped to an open page in her notebook: Buzzing lights. No toys. Kind of… creepy.

  Next Kari and her sisters sat in a stuffy room watching a video on the life of a hospital employee. They were with a few other kids whose parents worked here. The place smelled like old coffee and cleaning supplies.

  A friendly woman with beautiful dark skin and a hundred pretty braids stood nearby. She was in charge of the students for Career Day. Her name was Miss Brandy. She held a clipboard and tapped her foot to the upbeat music coming from the TV.

  On the screen a professional-type woman said, “So you see”—her voice sounded smart—“there are several hospital jobs besides being a doctor or nurse.” Pictures of workers came on the TV. The woman finished her point. “You could be a janitor, a receptionist, or you could work on the kitchen staff. You might work in X-ray or other diagnostic testing areas.”

  Kari thought about that. Die-agnostic? She pushed the idea from her mind. The idea that she might work at a hospital someday seemed less and less likely.

  The video ended and Miss Brandy turned off the TV. “There you have it. An in-depth look at what we do around here. Any questions?”

  Kari raised her hand. “Where’s my dad?” She hoped maybe he could take them home early.

  “Your father is with a patient. We’ll go see him soon.” Miss Brandy looked around. “Anyone else?”

  “What sort of training do I need to be a janitor?” The question came from a boy who looked about Erin’s age. He had spiky hair. “I love trash.”

  “Hmm.” Miss Brandy paused. “I’m not quite sure about the training. But there’s a role for everyone, especially at a hospital. Here, you can definitely find something that makes you happy.”

  The spiky-haired kid smiled. Satisfied.

  Ashley raised her hand. “Miss Brandy?”

  “Yes, Ashley?”

  “Perhaps you could tell me where the surgery room is? I was hoping to watch an operation.” She stood and nodded. “I believe that should be next.”

  Kari tugged on Ashley’s sweater. “You better behave!” She clenched her teeth and spoke in a low tone.

  “Don’t!” Ashley frowned at her. Then she looked back at Miss Brandy. “Well?”

  Miss Brandy’s eyes looked like they might pop out of her face. “I’m sorry. But you children will not be anywhere near an operating room.”

  “My sister is a comedian.” Brooke patted Ashley’s head. “She knows we can’t perform surgery. We’re just kids. But maybe one day.”

  Kari liked the sound of that. We’re just kids. Sometimes it was hard to remember.

  “That’s good.” Miss Brandy exhaled. Her face looked relieved. “Something to look forward to, Ashley. Growing up has its benefits.”

  Performing surgery? Kari didn’t see that as a benefit.

  Ashley took a seat and crossed her arms. She was clearly not pleased.

  Brooke looked at Miss Brandy. “I was wondering about… what was it? Patient therapy?”

  “Yes.” Miss Brandy’s face lit up. “Physical therapy.”

  “That’s it.” Brooke was beaming. She clearly loved this medical stuff.

  For a few minutes, Miss Brandy told Brooke what physical therapy is. “It helps sick people get back to their everyday lives.”

  “That’s cool.” Brooke jotted something into her notebook.

  Kari couldn’t believe it. This medical stuff was like Christmas for Brooke.

  Miss Brandy took everyone into the hall and to an empty hospital room where she explained various medical trinkets and tools. Kari tried to focus. With every hour she was more sure that working at a hospital wasn’t her thing. Sure, her dad helped people. He even saved lives.

  That didn’t mean that she had to like it, too.

  “Okay.” Miss Brandy put her hand in the air. “Line up. We are going to go to the cafeteria, tour the kitchen, have some lunch, and then you can meet up with your parent or guardian.”

  The students followed Miss Brandy out of the room and down another hall. Kari was last in line, right behind Ashley. Suddenly commotion broke out behind them. Four people ran down the hallway pushing a stretcher and looking very nervous. They were shouting back and forth about something Kari couldn’t understand.

  It seemed scary and stressful.

  That settled it. Kari never wanted to work in a hospital. Being a doctor was out of the question. She had no idea hospital work was so serious. Which meant there was something else she would one day have to do.

  When she grew up.

  But for the life of her, Kari couldn’t figure out what that something was.

  As Kari and her sisters ate lunch with the other kids on Career Day, Ashley kept the conversation lively.

  “I’m Wendy.” She shook Miss Brandy’s hand. “Not sure you knew that.”

  Kari rolled her eyes and smiled. That Ashley.

  “I didn’t know.” Miss Brandy studied the name tag on Ashley’s sweater. “It says there, your name is Ashley.”

  “Yes, I know.” Ashley peeled off the name tag and folded it into a tiny square. “That’s my real name. It’s confusing.”

  Miss Brandy definitely looked confused.

  “Oh.… I’m Wendy in the Peter Pan play.” Ashley did a single laugh as she looked around the table. “I should’ve started with that.”

  Pretty soon, though, Brooke cut into the conversa
tion and the rest of lunch the talk was about doctors and specialties and operating. Kari was surprised they didn’t break into a discussion about surgery again.

  When she finished eating, Kari jotted six observations in her journal.

  Miss Brandy is nice. I wouldn’t make a good janitor. Some people cook food at a hospital. Which is very needed, even if the food didn’t taste the best. The walls are a strange color. I do NOT like the scary looks on the nurses’ faces running down the hall.

  She closed her notebook and looked at the nearby window. A bird fluttered onto a tree branch and the sun streamed through the scarce leaves. Kari sighed. She planted her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her hands.

  I want to be outside with the birds, she thought. Or dancing with my friends. Or learning history in Ms. Nan’s class. She took a bite of her salad. It tasted the same way the hospital smelled. Which gave Kari one more thought, the detail that probably best summed up her thoughts about working at the hospital. The observation was this:

  I want to go home.

  Kari realized that people needed to work at a hospital. They had to cook and clean and care for the patients. Patients like Alex. And all of them were gifted to do so. And they all seemed to like it. They had found what they were passionate about. And while Kari didn’t really have a desire to follow a career path at a hospital, she was grateful for the people who did.

  And in that moment, Kari knew her time at the hospital hadn’t been a total disaster. In fact, she was glad she’d come along. Not because Career Day had shown her what she wanted to do when she grew up. But because it had done a very nice job of telling her what she did not want to do.

  And that was at least part of the answer.

  14 Career Day Confusion

  ASHLEY

  Ashley wasn’t listening to the hospital conversation between Brooke and Miss Brandy. Because something amazing had happened! The nice woman had given them each a piece of paper with a list of jobs they could do at the hospital. And that was the highlight of lunch for one reason.

  The page was the perfect kind for making a paper airplane.

  So while everyone else at the table talked, Ashley folded the top right corner of the paper toward the center, then she did the same to the other side. A few more bends and tweaks and she had a fine-looking jet. Not just any jet.

  This was a 747.

  She held the plane up over her head and inspected it. “Whooosh,” she whispered low. “You’re going to fly across the whole cafeteria.”

  Before anyone could stop her, Ashley stood and held the plane high. Then with the exact right speed, she shot the paper jet through the air.

  “Ashley!” Miss Brandy was on her feet now, too. “What are you doing?”

  “Flying! Look at it!” Ashley didn’t take her eyes off the plane. It drifted across the tables and chairs and came to an impressive landing just shy of a table of people in white coats. Doctors, probably.

  “No.” Miss Brandy’s voice was louder than before. “That is unacceptable.”

  Before Ashley could run after her plane, Miss Brandy marched over and grabbed it from the floor. She was not holding it the most gentle way, which meant the wings were getting bent.

  Miss Brandy returned to the table and set the damaged 747 down beside her. She raised her brow at Ashley. “We do not throw paper airplanes across the cafeteria!”

  Kari and a few of the kids at the table smiled. But no one laughed.

  Ashley waved her hand toward the rest of the room. “I think the people liked it. This place isn’t very entertaining, Miss Brandy. If you haven’t noticed.”

  At that, one girl let out a small giggle. But she slapped her hand over her mouth. Apparently no one wanted to take Ashley’s side here.

  “Ashley, sending paper airplanes across a room full of people can be dangerous.” Miss Brandy pulled the paper jet closer to herself. “Please finish your lunch.”

  The dots were not connecting for Ashley. She raised her hand.

  Miss Brandy let out a loud breath. “Yes, Ashley?”

  “Excuse me… but how is it dangerous… watching a paper airplane soar overhead?”

  For a few seconds Miss Brandy looked stumped. Then her face got more stern. “For one thing… you could poke someone’s eye out!”

  Ashley thought about that. “I will say… no better place to have your eye poked out than at a hospital.” She looked around at the other kids. “Am I right?”

  No one said a word.

  “Right or wrong, the plane is mine now.” Miss Brandy settled back into her seat and after a few seconds she picked up the conversation with Brooke and a couple other students.

  Fine, Ashley thought. Her captured plane seemed to cry out to her from across the table where it sat. Come get me… I want to fly. “Not today, little jet,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry. You have to stay in paper airplane jail.”

  Ashley leaned back and crossed her arms. Suddenly she felt bad about her paper airplane. And the way she’d talked to Miss Brandy. “Excuse me.”

  Miss Brandy raised her eyebrows. “Yes, Ashley?”

  “I’m sorry.” She really meant it. “You’re right. Paper airplanes should be outside. Free. Like the birds.”

  “Yes.” Miss Brandy smiled. “I agree. Thank you.”

  Ashley was glad that was behind her. Even still, she would have to tell Elliot that the hospital Career Day was a bust. They didn’t get to perform surgery and they didn’t see a single patient. She did, though, have a nice conversation with a cook named Lenny from Fort Lauderdale.

  If she had to work at a hospital she would probably be the cook. Like Lenny.

  After lunch they toured the emergency room, and Ashley and her sisters got to wait in their dad’s office. He was almost finished for the day. When they were alone in the small room, Ashley saw the most beautiful sight.

  Behind Dad’s desk was a painting of an enormous boat sailing a stormy sea. It reminded Ashley of the pirate ship in Peter Pan! “Can you see me there?” She stood and walked to the painting.

  Brooke and Kari stared at her. “In the painting?” Kari joined her near the piece of art. She squinted at the painted ship.

  “Yes!” Ashley pointed to a window on the ship’s lower half. “I’m in there.” She held up her arms and let them fall to her sides. “Can’t you see it? Wendy Darling.” She tapped the canvas. “That’s the ship Peter Pan took from Captain Hook, and I’m behind that window!”

  Kari turned and stared at her. For a long time. Finally she shook her head. “You’re one in a million, Ashley. That’s for sure.”

  Just then the door swung open and Dad stepped inside. “Hey, girls!” He smiled. “Here I am!” He sat at his desk. He wore a white coat like the people in the cafeteria. “How was the day?”

  Brooke was beaming. Even her cheeks were all lit up. “I know for sure I want to be a doctor, Dad.” She ran to him and hugged his neck. “This was the best day all year!”

  Kari came next. She admitted that working at a hospital wasn’t for her. “It doesn’t smell good.”

  Dad laughed. “You get used to it. But I understand, Kari. Being a doctor isn’t for everyone.”

  “It’s not for me, either.” Ashley put her hand on her father’s shoulder. “But I did meet a nice cook named Lenny from Fort Lauderdale.”

  Dad, Kari and Brooke all looked at her. Like they were trying to figure her out.

  Finally their dad chuckled. “Maybe you’ll be a cook, Ashley.”

  “No.” She pointed to the artwork behind the desk. “I’m going to make paintings like this one.”

  Everyone agreed and Dad hugged her close. “You’ll be the best artist in all the world!”

  His words stayed with Ashley the rest of the day and even as her family sat down to dinner that night. “Dad says it’s okay if I don’t work at a hospital.” Ashley grinned at him. “Because I’ll be the best artist in the world.”

  Their mother nodded. “He’s right, Ash
. If you work hard and keep drawing, there really are no limits!”

  Ashley liked that. No limits. It was the way she’d felt about her paper airplane until Miss Brandy took it. “One question.” Ashley turned to Dad. “That whole ivy thing. Why do the patients need ivy?” She looked around at Mom and her siblings. “Ivy makes me itch.”

  A happy laugh came from their father. “Honey, we give them an IV. It’s a tube we put in the veins of many patients. That tube helps us give them medicine.”

  “Wow! I had no idea.” Ashley gave him a thumbs-up. “I will say, Dad, that’s very impressive. Whoever thought of it.”

  Next, Luke talked about helping Mom at the shelter downtown. But the whole time Ashley studied her dad. He looked happy. Even though he’d been dealing all day with bloody cuts and broken bones, beeping noises and very sick patients. He barely had time to visit with Ashley and her sisters, or eat lunch today. Still he came home happy.

  Every day Dad helped Mom in the kitchen and he helped Ashley and the rest with their homework. If his work made him tired or sad, he never brought that home.

  He knew how to carry the heavy.

  Which was a gift. Like a superpower.

  Kari took a bite of her meat loaf. “Well, all I know is the best part was when we left the hospital and went outside.” She jabbed her fork in their father’s direction. “We played tag with Dad.”

  “Hey, that almost rhymes!” Luke hit the table a few times. “We played tag, uh-uh-uh… with our Dad, uh-uh-uh!”

  Ashley joined in, pounding the table till the glasses rattled. Kari stood and danced around the table with Erin, and Brooke dinged her glass with the fork. “We played tag, uh-uh-uh… with our Dad, uh-uh-uh!”

  Mom and Dad watched in sheer delight. At least it seemed that way. And when the moment was over, the kids took their seats again. Ashley slid her chair close to the table. “You’re welcome.” She smiled and nodded. “For that performance.”

  “Yes, thank you! Wow!” Mom laughed and looked at Dad. “I mean, John. We could have our own show.”