Chapter 5
“Oh
God, Cici, you’re finally here. It’s Mr. Mahler. He’s
so sick and scared. He’s been asking for you and Nick all afternoon.”
“Why
didn’t someone get him to the hospital? His heart has been toying around for a
few days.”
“Honey,
he’s a no code. He wants to die here. We can’t take him.”
“Yeah…right.
Dammit. Okay, let me go see him.”
Ciara threw her lab coat on over her shirt.
What a dichotomy. A high school jersey underneath her lab coat. She’d been at
the home for a year now and was on the payroll. Her role there was still
supportive in every way, no medical care until she started college, but Jane
allowed her to be a bit more involved in the patients day to day needs. Bed
side love was her strength. Mr. Mahler was one of her favorites but he had
fallen quite ill in the last few weeks. She and Nick would spend many off hours
with him whenever they could. And when Nick was off at auditions or tapings for
local shows, she took over both roles. Now…well, now it was looking like this
show might be over.
She
walked to his room and stood in the doorway for a few moments just watching his
labored breathing, looking around for any sign of family support. Flowers,
cards, a bedside chair that looked used. No such luck.
The man was alone. Totally alone. It made her sick. As she made her way to his
side, he stirred and slowly turned his head to his visitor.
“Cici, honey…you made it.”
“Of
course I did, Charlie. You doubted me?”
He
reached a shaky hand up to touch her arm, smiling when he made contact. “I’d
never doubt you. You’re always here for me, aren’t you?”
“Yep.
Now what’s this I hear about you giving everyone grief last night, huh? You’re
supposed to be NICE to the night shift!” She took a seat on the edge of his bed
and gently brushed his hair to the side, amazed at how fine and soft it was.
Just like a baby…somehow it seemed like we made a full circle with life. Enter
completely in need of love and care and exit the same way. What was the point?
“I
know, Cici…I’m sorry. I’m…hey, where’s your little
partner, huh? Where’s Nicky?”
“Oh,
Charlie, you know Nick. He’s chasing the stars in
“Oh
good. He’s IS going to be a star someday you know that?”
“You
know, Charlie, I think you’re right. He’s something else.”
“Yes,
yes he is.” The older man turned his head away and sighed heavily. “I’m feeling
a bit tired honey. Thanks for stopping in.”
“You
sure you don’t need anything?”
“Just
you. Bring Nicky in when he gets here, okay?”
“Yep.
Will do. You rest now.” She leaned down and kissed the man’s cheek giving his
hand another squeeze before she left him to sleep in peace.
Ciara walked to the nurse’s station and
plopped down in a chair feeling helpless, useless and simply worthless. The
head nurse caught her eye and she joined her young friend for a short break.
“What’s
up, Cici?”
“Eh,
Mr. Mahler. Thanks for calling me, but…I know I ask this all the time…are you
SURE he doesn’t have any family?”
“None
that will come when we call, no.”
“How
can people DO that? How can they sleep at night? It makes me sick. He’s so
alone.”
“Well,
that’s why we’re here, honey. Part of our job is to make sure these people are
never alone.”
“I
know, and I’m honored. This is why I want to go into nursing for crying out
loud.”
“So,
you know this is part of it. You just get used to it, I guess.”
“I
suppose. And what about Nick? The kid is 12 years old. How is he gonna deal
with this today?”
“He’s
seen a few go over the years. He cries, mopes and then picks himself up like
everyone else.”
“I
like Jane and all, but I don’t think I could expose my kid to this crap. I
mean, I know what it’s like to be scared and in the hospital and feeling like
you’ve been hit by a truck…or a caravan of them. I can deal with this stuff.”
“Well,
he can too. She thinks it’s made him more sensitive to the needs of others, and
from watching him grow up here I’d have to say she’s right. If the patients get
too bad, she won’t let him in there.”
“Will
she let him in to see Charlie? He really wants to see Nick.”
“Probably.
They’ll be back in a bit. Why don’t you make your other visits…let the old
farts cheer YOU up for once, huh?”
Ciara smiled at the older woman, happy to
have someone with experience and yet, still have her heart out there for all to
see. “Good thought. I could use a dose of laughter. Where’s Karl? He out
playing cards?”
“Most
likely. Don’t take any money or he’ll win it right out of you.”
“No
problem there. I’m broke as usual. Thanks, Connie.”
Ciara peeked out to the courtyard and
smiled, seeing Karl out at the picnic table trying to convince one of their
newer patients to take him on in a game of poker. She figured she’d better butt
in before there was a disaster.
“Karl!
Hey there! Are you trying to cheat poor Mr. Anders out of his money?”
“Cici! Now you know me…would I cheat?”
She
gave the new patient a knowing look. “Uh, yeah, you would. Mr. Anders don’t
trust this man. He’s sweet and charming…and a real snake.” Winking at Karl, she
took at seat with the two gentlemen, grateful for a glimmer of life in the day.
“Oh,
you wound me, young lady. What brings you here today? I thought you had
Thursdays off.”
“I
missed you, so I came in. Is that okay?”
Karl
lifted his deck of cards in invitation. “Poker?”
“Oh,
no you don’t, Karl. Don’t you go cheatin’ Cici out of her money. You know what a lousy player she
is.”
Ciara turned to the young voice and smiled.
His blonde hair shone in the sun and blue eyes danced with the adrenaline from
a hard days’ work singing and dancing. She got up to greet the boy quickly
turning him away from the other men. “Mr. Mahler, Nick…he’s not doing well.
He’s been asking for you.”
“Yeah,
Mom told me. Will you come with me?”
Turning
back to the older gentlemen, Ciara called, “Hey,
boys. We have to go take care of something. Can you be trusted, Karl?”
“Yes,
yes…I’ll leave the poor fool alone.” Mr. Anders just silently smiled, never
being one of many words.
The
young friends walked hand in hand to see Mr. Mahler, and for how exhausted and
ill he was, he eyes lit up at their appearance. “Well, there’s my sweet couple.
Come in and sit with me.”
Mr.
Mahler had always teased the two, saying they’d made an attractive couple. No
words of logic on their ages made any difference to him. So, they just went
along with it, playing his game, letting him feel like a successful matchmaker.
“How
are you, Charlie? Cici said you’ve been kind of tired
today.”
“Yeah,
real tired, Nicky. I was wondering…I know the nurses won’t want me to, but
could we go outside for a little bit? I just want…I want to feel the air on my
face.”
Cici and Nick shared a glance and figured
it couldn’t hurt. Together they worked to sit him up a bit on his bed, checking
every few minutes to see if he was still okay. They tossed an extra blanket
over his legs and wheeled him out to the courtyard where it appeared that Karl
was indeed beating the pants off of poor Mr. Anders. Not to disturb the game,
and just wanting some time alone with Charlie, they pulled him to the opposite
side of the yard and watched the sky change from day light to dusk.
“Nicky,”
Charlie was fighting for breath, but still seemed so strong of mind, “will you
sing something for me?”
Nick
looked up at Ciara with just a hint of fear on his
face. “Uh, yeah…sure. What do you want me to sing?”
“Anything,
Nick. How about something you sing with those boys you talk about at your
auditions?”
“Hmmm…okay.
Ci, you might need to join in here.” He squeezed her
hand again amazed at his own nervousness. Somehow he knew this was the most
important audience he’d ever performed for. With one more tentative breath, he
finally began.
Sometimes
in our lives we all have pain,
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise, we know that there’s
Always tomorrow.
Lean
on me when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on.
For it won’t be long, ‘til I’m gonna need somebody to lean on.
“Keep
going, Nicky…just sing it again.”
“Okay…”
Before beginning he looked at Ciara and silently
asked her to join in. Everyone who sang a note knew some kind of harmony to fit
in with this one. Surely she could add on.
Ciara nodded and Nick started again,
startled at the pretty addition Ciara’s voice made to
his. They sang through the song again and again at Charlie’s insistence,
continuing on even when he was too tired to ask. Finally, they silenced and
stood on either side of the man’s bed, listening to…nothing. As the sun set on
the horizon sending off hues of purple, orange and pink, the sun also set in
the life of Charlie Mahler.
***
