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Post by Katrina on May 25, 2005 21:14:57 GMT 1
note: this is the sequel to Not Just a River in Egypt Part 1George Woodson sat back against the thin hospital pillows watching the plain white ceiling; she gently laid her left hand to her abdomen where her unborn baby grew. Her thoughts again wondered out in to the corridor where her husband was sat, she knew he was there. She could sense him. The thought of him there made her feel slightly sick, he was the reason she was here, he was the reason that she’d nearly lost their baby. She thought back to earlier that day She came round only seconds after hitting the ground, her hand instantly went to her abdomen, and she felt for where her baby was. She screamed out again, what seemed like hours later, her husband appeared at the top of the stairs, he looked down. Different emotions passed over his face; he rushed down and looked at her. Tears streamed down her face “don’t let me lose the baby” she pleaded with him. He gulped, feeling extremely guilty. He grabbed for the phone and hastily dialled 999 reeling off the information to the control woman. He knelt down beside his wife and gently stroked her hair, she shrugged him off. He turned and looked at her trousers; red spots were seeping through the black material George tried to forget about it, she turned and looked at the grainy black and white photo on the bedside table – the first photo of the baby. You could hardly make anything out but to her it was the most beautiful thing in the world. The doctors hadn’t really explained why she had bleed but she knew they would in due course. Suddenly she felt very tired, she closed her eyes and let herself drift off. Outside the room, Ronnie Woodson was sat on a hard plastic chair leaning against the hard plaster of the wall. His mind was filled with images of his wife on the floor, the blood on the trousers, the howling ambulance, and the doctors crowding around her bed in the ward. There’d fixed the tear pretty quickly but he couldn’t help think about what could have happened. All his emotions were mixed up – part of him felt scared that the baby might die but another part hoped that it would die. While lost in his own thoughts he died notice that a little girl had walked up to him. The child was quite small with a bandana covering her face, large expressive brown eyes and a metal IV pole by her side. She looked curiously at Ronnie, dropping a little note in to his lap before walking off. When he came back to his senses Ronnie opened the piece of paper and smiled as he read the note which was written in a very adult style. Dear Mister I saw you come in; I hope your wife is Ok and your baby too. You look very Worried and sad so I hope they are. You also look very kind and if you Are here tomorrow, I will come Visit. Good luck GRACE Bluebell Ward
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Post by Katrina on Jun 1, 2005 19:49:23 GMT 1
Prt 2
Ronnie groaned as he woke up the next morning, the hard plastic hospital chair had done absolutely nothing for him. He sat up slowly and in turn stretched out his limbs in turn. He noticed that in his hand there was a piece of folded white paper, he smiled slightly when he remember that it was a note from the mysterious Grace. He stood up slowly and walked over to the nurse’s station, a young midwife was stood there.
“Excuse me, could you tell me what Bluebell Ward is” Ronnie spoke softly, the midwife looked slightly confused for a second and then she smiled
“Bluebell’s the kids ward” with that she turned and left the station. Ronnie turned and went back to the chair, he sat down and unfolded that note again, and the writing looked too grown up for a child. For a second it crossed his mind that it was nurse that had sent it too him but he quickly reminded himself that his wife was in the room opposite. It was a couple of hours later when he heard the creaking of the ward door open. The small girl walked in to the ward again, wearing the same bandana and hospital gown as yesterday, she also still wheeled the IV beside her. She smiled at Ronnie.
“Your still here” she spoke in a happy sing-song voice that matched her wide smile; Ronnie smiled back at her realising that she was Grace. “How’s your wife?” she looked at him curiously trying to work out why he wasn’t smile like that other men she saw around here. Grace sat on the chair next to him. “She’s” Ronnie screwed up his eyes when he realised that he didn’t actually know “I don’t know, we’ve had a falling-out” a tear slipped down Ronnie’s cheek, Grace passed him a handkerchief “It’ll be ok Mr er” Grace looked at him and he smiled back at her “I’m Ronnie”
“I’m Grace. I’ll come see you again sometime” Grace stood up and when Ronnie wasn’t looking she slipped in to George’s hospital room.
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Post by Katrina on Jun 5, 2005 14:43:11 GMT 1
Part 3
Grace looked at George from just inside of the door, the little girl couldn’t help but notice the sad look on the woman’s look, even from where she was stood Grace could see tear tracks running down George’s face. Just looking at the woman made Grace feel sad because she knew that outside of the room, there was a man feeling exactly the same. Grace moved slowly closer to the bed. Sensing someone else’s presences in the room George raised her head, it took her a second to see the little girl, George had been expecting another nurse or a doctor. “Hello, can I help you?” George spoke softly, but still it shocked Grace. Grace recovered quickly but she stopped where she was stood which was very near to the end of the bed. “You can come closer” Grace walked forward slowly, stopping just a few feet from the top of the bed. “Ok now, what’s your name? I’m George” Grace laughed at, a smile lit up her entire face “But George is a boy’s name. I’m Grace” George smiled at the little girls comment, then she noticed Grace’s IV pole “Would you like to sit on the bed Grace?” the child nodded and George placed her ultra-sound photo on the bed before gently lifting Grace up. The little girl hardly weighed anything. It was lifting a feather. Grace had caught sight of the photo “Is that your baby?” she smiled looking at it, she had always dreamed of being an older sister. George nodded. “Where’s the daddy? Why’s he not here?” Grace asked innocently, but at that George burst in to tears, Grace’s looked shocked, but she grabbed her little arms around George’s neck. “it’ll be ok, I know it will” the child reassured thinking about the man outside the room, slowly she started to formulate a plan in her mind.
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Post by Katrina on Jun 6, 2005 18:08:02 GMT 1
Part 4
“Why are you in the hospital, Grace” George asked curiously when she’d got over her tears. Grace looked sad for a second; she hated talking about why she was in hospital. She looked straight at George for a second before turning her head so she could look out the window.
“I’m dying” Grace spoke softly trying to make it so the older woman wouldn’t hear her, but George heard. She felt a tug at her heart and her eyes filled with fresh tears, Grace turned back to face her. Grace smiled softly
“but I’m not scared cos I’ll be able to fly then” George felt the tears spilling over and running down her cheeks, Grace raised the arm that wasn’t hooked up to the IV, gently she stroked the tears away with her finger.
“It won’t be sad when it happens George, I don’t have anyone to cry over me and I won’t cry” through teary eyes George looked at the child, it was all in her eyes. They were so grown up; they reflected something way beyond her six years. Grace suddenly yawned; she’d had a very exciting day making two new friends.
“I have to go now but can I come visit again? Will you be here tomorrow?” George nodded, Grace climbed on to her knees and gently kissed George on the cheek,
“I’ll see you tomorrow, bye-bye” George gently lifted Grace down on the bed and the little girl walked off, she turned back just before she left the room and waved. The second the child left the room, George lay back on her pillows and cried, Grace was to young to talk the way she did and she was way to young to be dying. Grace’s words rang in George’s ear ‘I don’t have anyone to cry over me’ mentally George replied ‘I’ll cry for you Grace’
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Post by Katrina on Jun 7, 2005 17:10:30 GMT 1
Part 5
“Can I go see my new friend Lissy?” Grace looked up at the nurse who was checking the little girl’s obs. Grace hated being cooped up in the ward especially when she wasn’t under-going treatment. Lissy smiled at the little girl,
“As long as you don’t go too far or tire yourself out to much” Grace smiled gratefully, slowly climbing off the bed. For once she didn’t have the IV attached to her arm. Lissy smiled before leaving the room to attend to the other child in the ward. Grace gently tugged a t-shirt over her thin frame before putting on a pair of trousers. After she was dressed and had her bandana firmly in place, Grace left the ward pretty quickly. She followed the familiar route to the maternity ward, saying hello to all the porters she saw along the way. She gently opened the maternity ward door walking towards the room where she’d seen George the day before. Just as she was about to enter she saw Ronnie sat opposite the door just staring at it. He couldn’t even see Grace, his eyes had large dark rings around them, tear tracks stained his face and his mouth seemed set in a permanent frown. Grace mentally made a note to try and cheer him up later but for now she wanted to talk to George. Grace slipped in to the room and was greeted by a large smile for her newest friend.
“Hello Grace” George greeted the child cheerfully. Grace walked towards the bed quickly; it was easier for her today without the IV pole attached to her arm. She clambered up on the bed and sat opposite George smiling.
“Are you going home today Grace? You don’t have your IV and you’re not in a hospital gown” Grace frowned slightly,
“I could go home but I can’t” George looked confused, “what I mean is, I could go back home but they wouldn’t be able to give me the care I need” again George looked confused. Then she looked at Grace, the child’s sad face broke George’s heart. Grace pulled herself in to George’s lap and cuddled up to the woman. Grace took a deep breath
“I don’t have any parents George” tears formed in Grace’s eyes, it always upset her talking about it. the child buried her head in George’s hospital gown, the older woman gently hugged the child like the child had longed to by hugged.
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Post by Katrina on Jun 10, 2005 13:51:17 GMT 1
Part 6
Grace pulled away from George’s hug, she was smiling once again.
“Would you like to meet another friend of mine George?” Grace looked at her friend, her eyes wide. George nodded slightly worried about where the child was going to take her. Grace climbed down of the bed and took her friends hand. George got down of the bed and groaned as her feet touched the cold floor; she looked around on the floor to find her slippers. She slipped them on before allowing Grace to lead her. Grace opened the door and went off in to the corridor, the little girl sat down opposite the room.
“my friend will be here soon” George sat down next to the child slightly confused as to why they were sat just outside of where they’d come from. Grace looked up and down the corridor a few times before catching sight of who she wanted. Her smile widened, lighting up her face. Ronnie sat down again not even noticing Grace; his eyes again went to the door. Grace tapped his arm; she had a dislike for being ignored. Ronnie turned and looked at her. She was up on her knees, so Ronnie couldn’t see behind her. Grace leant forward
“I have something for you” Ronnie looked confused, Grace climbed down off her chair allowing Ronnie to see his wife for the first time in three days. George turned and saw him, her eyes a mixture of fright, love and anger. Both of them turned to Grace, who was looking at them. Grace rolled her eyes
“You two are so frustrating. I mean it’s so obvious that you love each other. You’ve both been moping. So get over yourselves cos it’s not just you any more is it. You’re having a baby. Someone who’ll be totally dependant on you. if you two are always moping it won’t be fair on your child” then she stopped. She felt her head going light. She fell to the floor …
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Post by Katrina on Jun 10, 2005 20:12:53 GMT 1
Part 7
Ronnie scooped Grace up of the floor cradling the unconscious child in his arms. He turned to look at George; the two of them just looked at each other united in their worry for the child. The two of them began to walk towards the door at the end of the corridor; George held it open for Ronnie who walked out quickly. The two of them walked quickly towards the children’s ward. Ronnie could hardly believe how light the little girl was. They reached the kids ward, George pressed the buzzer and the door swung open. The two of them raced towards the reception desk. The nurse, Lissy, took one look at the child in their arms before leading them in to Grace’s room. Ronnie gently placed the child on the bed; he noticed after he’d done that, that the bandana Grace wore had fallen off. Ronnie stroked the little girls head in disbelief; the child had only a light fluff of hair on her haed. George had also noticed. She turned to Lissy who nodded. Grace began to stir on the bed, her eye lids opened slowly.
“I” she looked around the room allowing her eyes to adjust to the light. She smiled slightly when she saw both George and Ronnie in the room with her. Lissy walked towards her, taking the little girl’s pulse and watched her breathing. Lissy smiled when she’d done.
“Ok Grace, we’ll leave you alone for a little bit to relax” with that Lissy led, George and Ronnie out. The three went to the reception desk, Lissy smiled at them
“Grace seems really taken with you. It’s great to see her smile so much, poor little mite” Lissy frowned “I shouldn’t really tell you this but you seem like nice enough people. Grace has lived in a children’s home since she was a few days old. See her mum just abandoned her. She’s had a few foster families but nothing series anyway a few years ago Grace got sick, they found out it was leukaemia nobody wanted her then. She went through chemo and it did go away but it came back again a few months ago but this time nothings going to work. It’s a shame really; Grace will probably stay here till the day she dies when really she could go home. She’s got a few months left but the home can’t give her the care she’ll need” a tear slipped down George’s face as she heard this. She felt so sorry for Grace. George yawned
“Can we come visit her tomorrow” George spoke softly, pleading with her eyes. Lissy smiled.
“Of course, Grace’ll love having visitors” George beamed, before waving goodbye to Lissy. Ronnie followed his wife out of the word. The two of them walked back towards Maternity. Neither of them spoke, both of them were thinking about Grace. They stepped in to the maternity ward. A thought crossed both their minds at the same time. They stopped and looked at each other. Ronnie leant forward and gently kissed George’s cheek
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Post by Katrina on Jun 14, 2005 21:58:18 GMT 1
Part 8
For the next few days, George spent most of her time with Grace, telling the child stories and playing games with her. Then it came to the day when George was due to be discharged from hospital, doctors had no doubt in there minds that George and her baby were perfectly healthy. George had no idea how to break the news to Grace. George smiled at Lissy who was stood behind the nurses station, Lissy looked sadly at George
“Grace is having a bad day, being in hospital is really getting her down” Lissy looked at George who was now frowning “but I’m sure seeing you will cheer her up” George walked away from the nurse, opening the door to Grace’s room. The little girl was lying on the bed staring up at the ceiling.
“Your going home aren’t you? Well good-bye then. I know you won’t want to visit me no more” George noticed a tear slip down Grace’s cheek as she said this “why would you want to visit me. Why would anyone want to visit me” George walked towards the bed and sat down on the chair next to it
“Of course I’m still going to visit you. Grace, I love visiting you, your helped me and Ronnie didn’t you, I mean we’re not perfect or anything but we’re better” Grace turned and looked at George, the child hastily wiped a tear from her eye, she hated crying.
“I love you George. I think your going to be a brilliant mummy, in fact I wish you were my mummy”
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Post by Katrina on Jun 21, 2005 21:58:48 GMT 1
Part 9
George felt tears welling up in her eyes as she looked down at Grace. The child was now looking extremely embarrassed about what she’d just said. Grace longed for something to twirl around her finger. George gently lifted Grace of the bed placing the child on her lap. Grace instantly cuddled up to George.
“Will you come see me tomorrow?” Grace asked softly, she looked up at George for once her eyes showed exactly what she was, a scared little girl. George wrapped her arms tighter around Grace
“of course I’ll visit tomorrow, and I might even bring Ronnie” Grace’s face lit up at that idea. Gently George placed the child back on the bed, she leant down and kissed Grace lightly on the forehead
“I have to go now ok sweetie but I’ll come tomorrow and the next day” with that George turned to leave but she didn’t leave the ward, she walked over to the nurses desk and started to talk with Lissy who eventually called over the doctor Emmie. The three of them spoke quietly together for almost forty-five minutes.
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Post by Katrina on Jul 9, 2005 20:18:48 GMT 1
Part 10
For the next few weeks, George was busy making plans. Every day she went in to see Grace, and every day she felt a greater need to tell the child her plans. Lissy and Emmie had been brilliant; they had helped every step of the way. It was almost a month later, that everything was finalised. George was so excited; she could hardly keep her smile from taking over her entire face. As she slipped in to the ward, she noticed that Lissy was suffering with the same problem. The nurse nodded slightly to George before wandering in to the main ward. George opened Grace’s hospital room door, the little girl was sat on the bed reading. She looked up
“You’re a doctor George, what are shoulder blades for?” George looked slightly confused, every medical fact she’d ever read, came to mind but she couldn’t recall anything on shoulder blades. Grace grinned
“Our shoulder blades are where are wings once were and were they’ll be again” Grace gently touched her left shoulder blade “I’ll have mine back soon. Beautiful white wings made up of fine feathers” George felt tears welling up in her eyes. Gently she sat down on the edge of Grace’s bed.
“Grace, sweetie, I have something to tell you” a look of worry passed of Grace’s face. A thousand awful thoughts ran through her mind. George smiled slightly “its something nice” Grace smiled, she looked at George curiously. Her eyes rested on the small bump.
“Is it the baby?” Grace’s face brightened. She loved hearing about the baby. George shook her head slightly
“me and Ronnie, well we’ve been wondering, would you like to come live with us for a while?”
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