July

My mother and I wait along with my father, who sat in the hospital bed which looked more like a crib designed for adults with all the fancy silver guard rails and oversized buttons.

“Damn, I betta start movin,” my father blurted out. “This damn medicine they gave me got me shittin like mad.”

This special phrase, over the last few weeks, has become my cue to help my dad up and get his portable recliner as he called it. It just looked like a potty chair to me.  Personally, I think my dad should have just slept in the potty chair. I mean, that’s where he spent most of his time. He gave up the repetitive trips to the bathroom after the second day of being in the hospital and just opted for the potty chair. No matter how many times I was faced with this situation, it always made me laugh. Just seeing the relief on my fathers’ face was so satisfying since lately, there’s been very little to make me laugh, give my father relief or satisfy any of my family.

“Hello, did I catch you at an awkward time?” A voice questioned from outside of the state of the art curtain separating the rooms.

“Nope, you’re a lil late for the awkward part. Come on in”, my dad joked.

            The curtain opened to reveal a white man of short stature who pearly lab coat had to be tailor made for him. I’d never seen a doctor that short let alone a coat for him to wear.  Was this clean shaven mid forties guy really the doctor?

            “Good to see you again Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson and is this your son?”

“Yes sir, my name’s Farrah.”

            “Glad you’re here Farrah. I’m Dr. Novak a heart specialist.  I’m glad you’re both here,” Dr. Novak said.  “I have something you all need to hear and I’m gonna be straight forward.”